Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Generalist Advantage
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| E68: No Bullsh*t Strategy with Alex M.H. Smith. | 14 sept. 2026 | 00:48:05 | |
Why Listen: This is for you if you want strategy explained the way it should be: plainly, honestly, without buzzwords. Episode Description: What happens when two people who think about strategy just start riffing? That's this conversation a back-and-forth dissection of why so much of what passes for strategy is actually just a goal wearing a strategy costume, why most people are wired to see a business as a pile of disconnected parts rather than one whole thing, and why the people who can hold the whole picture are rarer than most organizations realize. Along the way, the conversation stumbles onto a genuinely surprising point of convergence: psychological research on who thinks in wholes versus parts lines up almost exactly with what generalists have been arguing about themselves for years. It's a conversation about what real strategic thinking actually demands — and why that has far less to do with frameworks, five-year plans, or jargon than with the discipline of seeing a business as one thing, not a stack of departments. Key Highlights:
About Alex: Alex M.H. Smith is the founder of BasicArts and author of No Bullsh*t Strategy. He writes The Rare Mind on Substack, cutting through jargon-heavy strategy advice with a direct, no-nonsense approach to helping businesses find real competitive advantage. Find Alex Here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-m-h-smith/ Website: https://basicarts.org Other links: Book — No Bullsh*t Strategy; Newsletter/Substack — The Rare Mind (theraremind.substack.com); Find Us: Connect with Julie on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lavergne/ Follow the podcast's LinkedIn page for next Episode release https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-generalist-advantage/?viewAsMember=true Visit our Website https://8ballclarity.com/ Don't forget to leave a 5* review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts – The more reviews, the bigger the impact. | |||
| E67: The Future of Food with Lee Cadesky. | 13 août 2026 | 00:36:05 | |
Why Listen: This is for you if you're curious about food — not just what's on your plate, but everything that got it there — and want to hear the case for why generalists make the best food scientists. Episode Description: Food science sounds like a specialty. It isn't. It's every other science, applied — chemistry, biology, engineering, and a healthy dose of psychology, all pointed at the plate. In this conversation, Lee Cadesky, food scientist and innovation director at Maple Leaf Foods, unpacks why the field is one of the best-kept secrets for generalists: you can specialize and hybridize two disciplines, or you can generalize and become the person who gets every specialist in the room. Drawing on the "seven forces" framework from her book, Grub, she traces how proteins, genetics, culture, and technology all collide on what ends up on our tables — and why the biggest innovations in food rarely come from food itself, but get imported from other industries entirely. We also get into the harder truths: why technology alone won't fix food affordability, why writing a book that's genuinely broad makes it brutally hard to market, and why the future of food may change less than we think, because culture is stubborn. Whether you're weighing a specialist path against a generalist one, or just want a sharper way to think about what's on your plate, this conversation reframes food as a lens for thinking about breadth itself. Key Highlights: - Generalist Path: Food science rewards two routes — specialize in two fields and hybridize them, or generalize and become the one who gets all the specialists in a room; going from generalist to specialist is far harder than the reverse. - Seven Forces Framework: Lee's book maps food through proteins, biochemistry, genetics, preservation, culture, trade, and technology — the same lens that explains why we eat the way we do today. - Borrowed Innovation: The biggest advances in food — x-ray detection, hyperspectral imaging, autonomous tractors — weren't built for food. They're imported from other industries because food rarely has the capital to innovate on its own. - Affordability Over Security: Technology can make the food system more efficient, but it can't fix affordability by itself — that takes policy, not just innovation. - Marketing a Broad Idea: Lee's biggest lesson from writing Grub was that the breadth that feels true to a generalist is exactly what makes an idea hard to market — you need one sharp angle, even when your thinking is wide. About Lee Cadesky: Lee is a food scientist, innovation director at Maple Leaf Foods, and author of Grub: Why We Eat, Why It Matters, and the Seven Forces That Shape Our Food. Find Lee Here: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-cadesky-a4393827/ • Website: leecadesky.com Find Us: • Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lavergne/ • Follow the podcast's LinkedIn page for next Episode release: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-generalist-advantage/?viewAsMember=true • Visit our Website: https://8ballclarity.com/ Don't forget to leave a 5* review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts – The more reviews, the bigger the impact. | |||
| E66: The Three Conditions of Trust with Jay Gosselin. | 06 août 2026 | 00:37:14 | |
Why Listen: You lead people and have never been taught the specific skills that actually build trust — not the vague advice to "be more empathetic". Episode Description: What if the most overlooked leadership skill isn't strategic thinking, but simply being trusted? Jay Gosselin, career and leadership coach, founder of Discover Year and 3C Team Building & Training, and author of the upcoming book The Master Gardener, has spent years studying what he calls interpersonal leadership — a framework built on psychologist Carl Rogers' three conditions for trust: empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. Jay and Julie dig into why generalists, with their built-in curiosity and comfort moving between specialists, may be uniquely wired for this kind of leadership, why psychological safety (validated by Google's own research) depends on the same conditions, and why being honest and being kind are not actually in tension — just badly practiced together. Key Highlights: - The Three Conditions of Trust: Carl Rogers' framework — empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence — as the foundation of what Jay calls interpersonal leadership. - Interpersonal Trust vs. Operational Trust: Why most people default to judging leaders on competence and reliability, when trust is actually built through connection first. - Generalists as Natural Interpersonal Leaders: How curiosity — the trait that drives someone to become a generalist in the first place — is also the core ingredient of building trust quickly across many different people. - Honesty Without the Jerk Tax: Why almost everyone names honesty as the trait they trust most, and almost everyone is afraid to practice it themselves. - Psychological Safety, Correctly Understood: What Google's Project Aristotle actually found — and why psychological safety doesn't mean comfort or the absence of disagreement. About Jay Gosselin: Jay is a career and leadership coach, speaker and founder of Discover Year, a career development program that helps its students better understand what they want in life and build the skills to go out and get it. To date, he has shared his message of purposeful exploration and discovery with over 15,000 people. He is also the Founder of 3C Team Building and Training, a leadership development company that helps individuals and teams improve their trust, communication and teamwork. Since 2015, Jay has worked with over 500 teams and 6,000 professionals, helping them be more productive and feel more connected. Most recently, he is the author of an upcoming book, The Master Gardener: An Inspiring Journey to Interpersonal Leadership, a modern-day fable that helps its readers understand and experience the traits and behaviours of what he calls Interpersonal Leadership through an engaging and relatable story. His background in Counselling Psychology, combined with his talent for connecting authentically with all different types of people, enables his clients to access meaningful insights and take action towards a richer, more fulfilling life. Find Jay Here: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaygosselin/ - Website: www.3cteams.ca Find Us: - Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lavergne/ - Follow the podcast's LinkedIn page for next Episode release: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-generalist-advantage/?viewAsMember=true - Visit our Website: https://8ballclarity.com/ Don't forget to leave a 5* review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts – The more reviews, the bigger the impact. | |||
| E65: The Connective Tissue: Sense-Making Healthcare's Wicked Problems with Rhonda St Croix. | 27 juil. 2026 | 00:33:57 | |
Why Listen: You're drowning in information and need a real framework for sense-making, not just another buzzword to add to the pile. Episode Description: Healthcare is one of the clearest examples of a paradox playing out across every industry right now: deep specialization is more necessary than ever, and it's exactly what's leaving so many wicked problems unsolved. Rhonda St. Croix, Executive Director of the Office of Learning and Connecting at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, has spent three decades moving between non-profit, government, and for-profit systems, and landed on a simple but under-practiced answer: someone has to be the connective tissue. Rhonda and Julie dig into why sense-making has become the leadership skill nobody quite named ten years ago, why "agile strategy" scares people even when it's exactly what they need, and why being the one generalist on a team of specialists stops feeling like being a lone wolf once you get comfortable with the value you actually bring. Key Highlights: - Sense-Making as a Skill: Why filtering signal from information overload has become a defining leadership capability — and how to actually build it. - The Specialist Paradox: How healthcare's deep expertise creates exactly the kind of siloed thinking that wicked problems can't be solved by. - Agile Strategy, Without the Scary Name: Why calling it "iterative" instead of "agile" makes leaders more willing to actually practice it. - Comfortable Being the One: What changed once Rhonda stopped seeing herself as the outlier on a team of specialists and started seeing it as the value she brings. - Design Thinking in an Hour: A real example of giving a room of specialists permission to "think wild" — and the usable ideas it produced fast. About Rhonda St Croix: Rhonda is the Executive Director of the Office of Learning and Connecting at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She has spent more than 30 years in non-profit, government and for-profit sectors and developed experience in change leadership, learning and leadership development, and growing high-value creating teams. She is a reformed "change-the-world" advocate whose core belief is that transforming ourselves and growing our own leadership makes the greatest positive contribution to the spaces we work and play in together. She is an insight junkie, passionate about the future of life/work and on a mission to learn and share the best wisdom to support people to grow, lead, mobilize and thrive in these uncertain times. She is a fitness enthusiast especially loves hiking and strength training (recently managed to do a real chin up). Find Rhonda Here: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondastcroix/ Find Us: - Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lavergne/ - Follow the podcast's LinkedIn page for next Episode release: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-generalist-advantage/?viewAsMember=true - Visit our Website: https://www.8ballclarity.com/ Don't forget to leave a 5* review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts – The more reviews, the bigger the impact. | |||
| E64: When Engineering Teams Stall: The Hidden Role of Generalists in Complex Work with Marc LeBlanc. | 08 juil. 2026 | 00:36:26 | |
Why Listen: You work in engineering or technical teams where smart people still struggle to move things forward Episode Description: Managing complex work isn’t about having the smartest people in the room—it’s about making sure they’re actually solving the same problem. Marc LeBlanc, Sr Mrg of Engineering at General Dynamics, brings a systems-level perspective shaped by years moving across engineering, software, and business leadership, now overseeing multiple specialized teams. His experience reveals a consistent pattern: when experts gather without someone bridging perspectives, progress stalls—even when everyone is highly capable. Key Highlights:
About Marc: Marc Leblanc is a mechanical engineer who pivoted into software—starting with low level driver development—before stepping back up into full scale design, requirements engineering, and systems of systems architecture. With 27. Years of experience, and leveraging that technical depth, he transitioned into the business side of engineering, managing costs, software portfolios, capital planning. He also leads 6 different specialty teams that support the entire engineering organization. Find Marc Here:
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| E63: Bridging the Gap Between Communities and Local Government with Peter Boyd. | 24 juin 2026 | 00:40:30 | |
Why Listen: You’re trying to influence systems that are rigid, slow, or highly structured—and want a more practical way to do it Episode Description: Local government sits at the intersection of policy, process, and real community needs—and that intersection is far messier than it looks from the outside. This conversation explores what it takes to operate effectively in that space, where rigid structures meet constantly shifting human realities. With a background spanning community development, Peter Boyd shares how working across communities, systems, and internal constraints has shaped his ability to navigate complexity and drive meaningful impact. At the core is a challenge many professionals in the public sector face: how to create and communicate value in environments that prioritize specialization, compliance, and clearly defined roles. We unpack how generalists can bridge gaps between policy and practice, why understanding community context changes everything, and where local governments often struggle—particularly when it comes to trust, adaptability, and translating insight into action. This is a grounded look at working inside systems that are built for clarity, while dealing with realities that rarely are. Key Highlights:
About Peter: Peter Boyd grew up helping on the family farm, studied and worked in landscape design and construction, found himself in leadership roles in voluntary community organisations, ran for and narrowly missed out on being elected to local government, started and failed a small business, mentored youth, and had many other experiences woven in between. All this before stumbling into a 'professional' career path in local government community development that has been anything but a clear path. Working in community engagement for one of the largest councils in Australia at time of recording, Peter is now reflecting on how his diversity of interests and experience has somewhat contradictorily made him a specialist in his field while also carving out an opportunity to push his generalist thinking further. Find Peter Here:
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| E62: Why Analogies Are Catnip for Generalists with Carolyn Duckworth. | 16 juin 2026 | 00:35:45 | |
Why Listen: You want better tools for helping others “get it,” especially when the topic is complex, cross-functional, or emotionally charged. Episode Description: Analogies aren’t just clever turns of phrase—they're tools for meaning-making, leadership, and connection. In this episode, we sit down with Carolyn Duckworth, Head of Sales (North America) at Kepner-Tregoe, to explore how analogies help generalists explain the unfamiliar, bridge perspectives, and lead with clarity. We unpack why generalists are often wired to use analogies well, the limits of this cognitive shortcut, and how to wield it more intentionally in our communication and problem-solving. Whether you're in sales, consulting, or navigating cross-disciplinary work, this conversation will sharpen how you use—and recognize—analogies in everyday decisions. Key Highlights:
About Carolyn: Carolyn Duckworth is the Head of Sales (North America) at Kepner-Tregoe, a consulting company that helps people learn and apply critical thinking skills to daily work. She great at connecting people – to ideas, to ther people and communities where ever the opportunities is ripe for exploration. Find Carolyn Here
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| E61: When You Can’t Explain What You Do with Heather Cayouette. | 13 mai 2026 | 00:28:07 | |
Why Listen: You understand your value—but struggle to explain it in a way others immediately get. Description: Heather Cayouette didn’t write a book to buildauthority—she wrote it because she couldn’t clearly explain what she actually did. After leaving an executive role to build a more flexible, multi-dimensional practice, she found herself facing a familiar generalist challenge: everything made sense in her head, but not to others. Reset the System became a way to articulate that thinking—connecting strategy, operations, risk, and leadership into a single, coherent approach. What emergesis a perspective grounded in systems, not silos, and a reminder that generalists often need to build their own language before others can understand their value. Key Highlights: · Articulation gap: Why generalists often understandtheir value internally but struggle to explain it externally · Systems thinking: Moving beyond functions to connectstrategy, operations, risk, and leadership into one view · Writing as clarity: Using structured thinking (likewriting a book) to define your offer and perspective · Vulnerability in visibility: The challenge of sharing ideaswithout a traditional “expert” identity About Heather: Heather Cayouette is the CEO of Firefly Strategic Consulting and the author of Reset the System — a practical, systems-firstframework for helping leaders cut through complexity and build organizations that actually work. For over two decades, Heather has worked alongside leaders of small and mid-sized organizations navigating the kind of systemic friction that quietly erodes clarity, confidence, and momentum. Her work naturally spans strategic operations, IT, governance, privacy, and AI readiness — because the problems organizations face rarely respect disciplinary boundaries. That breadth is exactly what makes her effective. Heather's superpower is makingintimidating topics — privacy, cybersecurity, business continuity, risk, operations — accessible and interconnected across functions, so that the solutions that emerge are practical, proportionate, and built to last. She holds dual privacy certifications (CIPP/C and CIPT). Find Heather Here · LinkedIn: LinkedIn · Website: www.fireflyconsult.ca · Other links: Subscribe to my newsletter Find Us · Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lavergne/ · Follow the podcast’sLinkedIn page for next Episode release: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-generalist-advantage/?viewAsMember=true · Visit our Website: https://8ballclarity.com/ Don’t forget to leave a 5* review on Spotify or ApplePodcasts – The more reviews, the bigger the impact. | |||
| E60: No Title, No Problem: Thriving Without a Traditional Career Path with Heidi Hauver. | 07 mai 2026 | 00:52:27 | |
Why Listen: You’re ready to move beyond job titles and explore what impact looks like on your own terms. Description: What if your career didn’t need a linear path or even a defined destination? In this conversation, we sit down with Heidi Hauver, a business leader and seasoned HR leader a to explore what it truly means to be a generalist in today’s world. From breaking free of rigid roles to embracing a multidimensional professional identity, Heidi shares an honest view on how we can reimagine our careers. Whether you're pivoting, freelancing, or navigating a portfolio of roles, this episode is packed with insights on defining success on your own terms, integrating community work, and leaning into curiosity as a lifelong compass. Key Highlights:
About Heidi: Heidi is a business leader with more than 20 years of experience shaping high-performing teams and thriving workplace cultures. A trusted advisor to CEOs, founders, and HR leaders, she has guided organizations through growth, transformation, and the constantly evolving world of work. Recognized for her leadership and community impact, Heidi is passionate about helping organizations reimagine what’s possible in an AI-powered world, unlocking new potential for people, teams, and culture. She holds designations as a Certified Human Resources Executive, Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CHRL), Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional, and Certified Coach Practitioner. Find Heidi Here:
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| E59: The Overlooked Opportunity: Acquiring Businesses as a Generalist with Markian Pergat. | 24 avr. 2026 | 00:39:31 | |
Why Listen: Episode Description: What emerges is a reframing of risk, ownership, and value creation. Generalists aren’t at a disadvantage here—they’re often better suited. From navigating ambiguous deals to systemizing messy operations and building trust with owners whose identity is tied to their business, this is less about capital and more about perspective. It’s a conversation about seeing what others overlook—and knowing how to step into it. Key Highlights:
About Markian: Markian Pergat is an entrepreneur and small business investor who creates freedom, space, and exit-ability for established blue collar businesses owners. He’s been on all sides of the negotiation table, has transformed unsellable businesses into attractive enterprises, and works with owners looking to de-risk and optimize for lifestyle and exit value. As a small business “value & exit maker”, Markian uses his proven EXITS Methodology to attain ideal outcomes for owners, both personally and professionally. His big picture is to retire small business owners with pride, and keep their legacies alive. Find Markian Here:
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| E58: The PolyInnovator Approach: Turning Curiosity into Innovation with Dustin Miller | 13 avr. 2026 | 00:42:45 | |
Why Listen: Episode Description: At the same time, it pushes beyond the identity of being a generalist into the realities of operating as one. There’s tension here—between freedom and constraint, exploration and focus, input and output. Dustin unpacks how to navigate that tension, how to create structure without losing curiosity, and why emerging tools like AI may amplify those who can connect across domains—not just specialize within them. Key Highlights:
About Dustin: Dustin PollyInnovator is a Writer-YouTuber-Podcaster-Streamer Powered by the PIOS, Host of The Polymath PolyCast + Creator Spotlight 🎙️ Find Them Here:
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| E57: Improv: The Behind-the-Scenes Skill of Generalists with Joel Zeff. | 05 mars 2026 | 00:36:44 | |
Why Listen: Episode Description: Whether you're pivoting careers, leading teams, or just trying to stay present through disruption, this conversation offers permission to experiment, laugh more, and keep going. Key Highlights:
About Joel: Find Joel Here : Website: Joel Zeff LinkedIn: Joel Zeff - Joel Zeff Creative | LinkedIn You Tube: Joel Zeff 2025/2026 Awesome Keynote Reel Find Us :
Don’t forget to leave a 5* review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts – The more reviews, the bigger the impact. | |||
| E56: Building with AI: A Generalist’s Guide to Clarity and Context with Alex Poulin. | 26 févr. 2026 | 00:32:33 | |
Why Listen: Episode Description: In this follow-up episode with Alex Poulin, we move beyond definitions and into the lived experience of trying to apply generalist thinking in a fast-evolving AI landscape. We talk about decision fatigue, system design, automation overwhelm, and how pen-and-paper thinking might still be the most underrated tech of all. If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by the endless tools and advice—build an agent! automate your life! prompt your way to clarity!—this episode offers a more grounded, human take. We explore how generalists can better identify problems worth solving, build workflows that evolve with them, and treat AI not just as a tool, but as a thought partner. Key Highlights:
About Alex: Find Alex Here:
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| E55: The Rise of the AI Generalist with Alex Poulin. | 19 févr. 2026 | 00:40:38 | |
Why Listen: You’ve never fit neatly into a job description—and now AI doesn’t either. Episode Description: We explore what it means to be an AI generalist in a rapidly shifting world of work. Our guest is Alex Poulin — a critical thinker, marketing expert, and current prompt engineer at Meta. We unpack the mindset, skills, and systems thinking that define generalists and why these traits are uniquely valuable in the era of generative AI. We dive into the emerging landscape of AI agents, the evolving structure of organizations, and how generalists are well-positioned to lead the way. Whether you're navigating your own multidisciplinary path or figuring out how to work alongside AI, this conversation offers both clarity and inspiration. Key Highlights:
About Alex: Professional dot-connector with a critical thinking obsession. Alex bounced between data science, research, and marketing, not aimlessly, but curiously. The pandemic provided the perfect opportunity for him to test what he was learning about critical thinking by teaching it online as a writing tutor. It was while in marketing where things changed for him: the advent of ChatGPT. Alex pivoted hard into prompt engineering, started teaching it, and that momentum carried him where he currently works at Meta.
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| E54: Reframe: How Generalists Thrive in a Changing World with Siobhan O’Riardan. | 05 févr. 2026 | 00:35:52 | |
Why Listen: Episode Description: Key Highlights:
About Siobhán: Find Siobhán Here
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| E53: Running Seven Businesses with Jared Hamilton. | 22 janv. 2026 | 00:39:28 | |
Why Listen: You’re tired of advice that says “pick one focus” and want to hear a different take from someone who didn’t niche — and still succeeded. Episode Description: What does it take to run seven businesses, coach other founders, and still find time to be a father of five, a hockey coach, and a community leader? In this episode, we sit down with Jared Hamilton — a farmer, entrepreneur, and systems thinker — to unpack the mindset and operational strategies that make it possible. Jared shares his journey from piling sod as a teenager to leading multiple companies across agriculture, real estate, and services. Along the way, he opens up about the crises that shaped him, the systems that saved him, and why he refuses to niche — despite all the advice to the contrary. Whether you're building something new, navigating burnout, or questioning whether being a generalist is a liability or an advantage, this conversation offers grounded wisdom and practical insights. Key Highlights:
About Jared: Jared Hamilton is a farmer, entrepreneur, and coach who wears many hats. And by many hats...he runs 7 businesses. You heard that right. 7. From growing turf to raising chickens to running teams, he’s built systems to make it all work. and mastered crossover skills — in business, farming, and life, combined our two or many, he’s looking to grow and expand his own business through strategic partnerships and Mergers and acquisition as well as coach other founders and CEOs. Find Jared Here:
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| E52: AI Is Disrupting Consulting – And that’s a good thing with Jen Rice. | 15 janv. 2026 | 00:45:30 | |
Why Listen: You want to understand how AI is reshaping strategy, roles, and value delivery in professional services. Episode Description: In this forward-looking conversation, Jen Rice, founder of Groundbreaking, joins to explore how AI is disrupting the consulting industry—and why that disruption is forcing a long-overdue shift toward outcome-focused, customer-centric models. Jen and Julie unpack the tension between specialization and generalization, how generalists are uniquely positioned to lead through systems thinking and orchestration, and why both firms and individuals need to rethink their roles in a rapidly evolving work landscape. They also share practical ideas for building adaptive consulting firms, developing generalist talent, and measuring real impact in a world no longer satisfied with PowerPoint deliverables. Whether you're a consultant, leader, or curious generalist, this episode offers insights into the future of work—and what it takes to thrive. Key Highlights:
About Jen Rice: Jen Rice is the founder and CEO of Groundbreaking, building a startup to measure the full business impact of consulting-led AI transformation. Her background is 30 years of experience in customer-centric strategy and transformation, including as CX Principal and B2B Sector Lead at Forrester. Jen's an integrating generalist who loves unpacking complexity; she's also a global nomad currently based in London. Find Jen Here
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| E51: The Four Types of Generalists and Why They’re Rising to the Top with Dr. Mansoor Soomro. | 08 janv. 2026 | 00:43:38 | |
Why Listen: You’ve worked across roles, industries, or functions, and you’re wondering how to turn that range into a leadership advantage. Episode Description: Do you need to be a generalist to rise the ranks of the organization? That’s the question Dr. Mansoor Soomro looked to answer in his research. In this conversation, the author of The Generalist Advantage shares insights from studying over 2,500 executives and outlines a framework of four distinct generalist types. Drawing from his career at Siemens and current research at Teesside University, Mansoor explores how generalists navigate leadership, cross-functional impact, and career progression—especially in an era shaped by AI. We unpack common misconceptions, the importance of organizational mindset, and how generalists can confidently communicate their value without relying on traditional credentials. Whether you’re pivoting roles, managing multidimensional strengths, or questioning how to fit into a world that loves specialists, this episode is a clear-eyed guide to thriving as a generalist. Key Highlights:
About Dr Mansoor Soomro: Dr Mansoor Soomro is the author of The Generalist Advantage: Proven Framework to Explore the Potential of 4 Types of Generalists at Work (Published by Wiley). HIs leadership acumen was shaped by a seven-year journey at Siemens, culminating in a coveted seat on the Siemens Managing Board. Currently, he leads the Future of Work research at the Teesside University International Business School in the UK. Dr Mansoor holds a PhD in Management and has designed-and-facilitated various leadership development programs for Fortune 500 companies, and is best known for his powerful leadership keynote sessions. Find Them Here
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| E50: 50 Episodes In: What Generalists Know That the World’s Just Catching Up To. | 02 déc. 2025 | 00:15:40 | |
Why Listen: You want to celebrate as a proud generalist. Episode Description: In this special 50th episode of The Generalist Advantage, host Julie Lavergne reflects on the journey so far—how the podcast began, the surprising impact it’s had, and what she’s learned from 49 rich conversations with generalists across industries. She unpacks six powerful patterns shaping the future of generalist work: from shifting definitions of success, to the rise of skills-based hiring, to the growing recognition that breadth, not narrow specialization, is the competitive edge for the future of work. This solo reflection blends personal insight with emerging trends and offers a hopeful vision for generalists navigating a complex, fast-changing world. Key Highlights:
About Them: The Generalist Advantage is hosted by Julie Lavergne, founder of 8Ball Clarity, a boutique consulting firm that helps organizations shape strategic plans and bring more critical thinking to complex challenges. With a career spanning sectors, roles, and industries, Julie brings a systems lens to her work and a deep belief in the power of range. She launched this podcast to elevate the voices of generalists—those who think across domains, defy traditional career paths, and thrive in ambiguity. Julie is also a TEDx speaker, with a talk titled "Beyond Expertise: Why We Need Generalists Now", where she explores why the future belongs to those who connect the dots. Find Us
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| E49: No Boxes, No Boundaries: Living and Leading as a Polymath with Dr. Barbara Kleeb. | 13 nov. 2025 | 00:35:58 | |
Why Listen: You’re juggling many interests and wonder how to turn that into a sustainable, joyful way of working and living. Description: In this episode, we explore what it means to live and work as a polymath with Barbara Kleeb—a doctor, musician, and coach who supports multidimensional thinkers in reclaiming their energy. Barbara shares her nonlinear path from medicine to music to entrepreneurship, and how embracing her polymathic nature helped her build a life with more power, ease, and joy. We dig into the distinctions between generalists and polymaths, the myth of "boxes" and categories, and how breaking free from societal expectations can unlock creativity, presence, and self-trust. If you’ve ever felt boxed in by job titles or misunderstood for your wide range of interests, this conversation will resonate. Key Highlights:
About Barbara Kleeb: My path to becoming a coach, mentor, facilitator, and healer has been multidimensional. I began as a photographer, training in multiple studios and studying at Zürich’s art school, before moving into medicine, where I specialized in gynecology and obstetrics. Alongside surgical and clinical work, I led a randomized controlled trial on postpartum depression, demonstrating the power of compassionate education. Throughout my medical career, I pursued holistic approaches—studying acupuncture, homeopathy, herbalism, and Jean-Yves Desjardins’ Approche Sexocorporel, which inspired my assertiveness program Authentic NO. I also trained in Lean Six Sigma, ISO 9001 auditing, and systems thinking, applying them to healthcare processes and coaching. I’ve produced educational and documentary videos, and written and recorded 28 original songs with Cuban musicians—albums WOMAN and Human Psychology (mastered by Stuart Hawkes). My passion for embodiment led me to study dance, strength training, and body-based practices, contributing to my coaching approach. Since 2018, I’ve focused on online coaching, integrating modalities such as Symbolic Modeling, Clean Language, Positive Intelligence, Theta Healing, and Akashic reading. I facilitate Networking Café for Polymaths, a biweekly space I’ve held since 2020, and in 2024 launched From Stuck to Flow, a transformative course for polymaths seeking clarity, healing, and momentum. Whether in group programs or 1:1 sessions, I bring together science, intuition, systems, and soul—tailoring everything I’ve learned to meet people exactly where they are. Find Barbara Here:
Polymath Perception Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/polymath-perception-podcast-by-dr-barbara-kleeb/id1772248609 Polymathic views and assertiveness tips https://youtube.com/@barbarakleeb1987
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| E48: Beyond the Hype: Practical AI Strategy for Small/Mid-Sized Companies with Christopher Dore. | 30 oct. 2025 | 00:52:35 | |
Why Listen: Episode Description: Key Highlights:
About Christopher Dore: Christopher is a business educator, AI entrepreneur, and community leader. He leads the Business Management and Entrepreneurship program at Algonquin College, serves as CEO of Scarlett Nova helping businesses harness the power of AI and is the founder of Lead+Change, a social enterprise focused on authentic leadership and social impact. Find Christopher Here:
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| E47: Idea Gardens and Ruthless Lists: A Toolkit for the Intentional Generalist with Cailin Hillier. | 23 oct. 2025 | 00:41:40 | |
Why Listen: Episode Description: Key Highlights:
About Cailin Hillier: Cailin currently works at Thinkific, focusing on the longer term product vision, including the implications of AI on customers. Having recently returned to work from parental leave, she brings a generalist lens to every facet of her life. Find Cailin Here
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| E46: From $300K to $5M: Scaling a Nonprofit Like a Startup with Allan Reesor-McDowell. | 16 oct. 2025 | 00:38:45 | |
Why Listen: You want to lead like a founder—even if you’re not in tech. Episode Description: What does it really take to lead a small, mission-driven organization through massive growth? In this conversation, we speak with Allan Reesor-McDowell, Executive Director at the John Howard Society of Ottawa, about his earlier experience rapidly scaling Matthew House Ottawa from a tiny charity into a multi-million-dollar, multi-program organization. Allan shares how embracing his generalist mindset, rather than chasing expertise, helped him prioritize, pivot, and make smart decisions that enabled sustainable growth. For anyone navigating leadership in uncertain times, especially within nonprofits or systems under pressure, this episode explores how broad thinking, strategic listening, and confident humility can be powerful levers for change. Key Highlights:
About Allan Reesor-McDowell: Allan grew up in Canada but work, studies and travel led him for many years to the US, Haiti, and England as well as to more than 60 countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. Allan has served in leadership and governance roles in politics and nonprofits, including serving on the boards of the Social Housing Registry of Ottawa, The Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, the Canadian Council for Refugees and currently sits on the board for the Ottawa Community Foundation. Allan currently serves as Executive Director of John Howard Society of Ottawa. He holds an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London and was a recipient of the Forty Under 40 award in 2021. Find Allan Here Find Us
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| E45: The Org Chart Is Dying: What Comes Next with Joseph Logan. | 24 sept. 2025 | 00:46:05 | |
Why Listen: You’re tired of permission-based culture and curious about systems built on trust and autonomy. Description: Is the traditional org chart on its last legs? In this provocative conversation, organizational futurist Joseph Logan challenges the foundations of how we've structured work for the last 150 years. Drawing on his journey from a senior pharma executive to partner at Jumpsuit, Joseph explains why centralized, hierarchical models no longer serve today’s complexity—and how distributed intelligence, autonomous teams, and bossless organizations offer a viable path forward. We explore the historical roots of the org chart, the forces accelerating its decline (think AI, hybrid work, and portfolio careers), and what a post-org chart operating system might look like. This episode offers a powerful lens for generalists and leaders ready to work with, not against, the future. Key Highlights:
About Joseph: Joseph Logan, partner with Jumpsuit, envisions a world without bosses. In his working creating the conditions for vibrant, adaptive organizations with activated communities at Jumpsuit, the team lives what it believes. Joseph coaches leaders who are leaning into the future of adaptive, responsive work in a new, post-mechanistic age. Find Joseph Here
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| E44: Andrew Waitman on the Power of Generalists: Lessons from Scaling a $100M SaaS Company. | 11 sept. 2025 | 01:46:49 | |
Why Listen: Description: Key Highlights:
About Andrew: Andrew Waitman is the Executive Chairman and former CEO of Assent, where he transformed a 25-person startup into a global SaaS leader with more than $100M in annual recurring revenue and unicorn valuation. Recognized as 2024 CEO of the Year and inducted into the Order of Ottawa, Andrew is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most respected technology executives. His leadership at Assent not only drove exponential growth but also positioned the company as a trusted partner for organizations navigating complex supply chain sustainability and compliance challenges. Before Assent, Andrew served as CEO of Pythian, where he drove rapid international expansion and established the company as a leader in data and analytics services. He also held senior leadership roles at Celtic House Venture Partners and Entrust, contributing to IPOs, global growth strategies, and portfolio success stories. In addition, Andrew has served on multiple boards helping to shape Canada’s innovation economy. Across these roles, he has consistently demonstrated foresight, execution, and the ability to scale organizations through disruption while building strong, cohesive teams. Find Andrew Here
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| E43: What Do You Really Want? The Generalist’s Guide to Redesigning Work with Anna Lundberg. | 03 sept. 2025 | 00:41:13 | |
Why Listen: Description: Founder of One Step Outside, Anna now helps others do the same—especially those who’ve outgrown linear paths and want more than a title or a ladder. Together, we explore how generalists are uniquely wired to design portfolio careers, navigate reinvention, and step outside the scripts that no longer fit. If you’re craving space to ask what you really want from work and life, this episode opens the door. Key Highlights:
About Anna: Anna Lundberg is the founder of One Step Outside®, where she helps experienced professionals and business owners reimagine what success really looks like - beyond the conventional 9 to 5. A former Procter & Gamble marketing executive, Anna left corporate life in 2013 and has since built a body of work dedicated to helping others design more fulfilling, flexible, and sustainable careers. She’s the author of Outside of the 9 to 5, host of the Reimagining Success® podcast, and creator of the Business Accelerator for solopreneurs. Her work is grounded in the belief that success isn’t truly success if it comes at the cost of your health, identity, or family life - and that there’s a more human, more intentional way to build a business, lead a team, or navigate a career transition. Find Anna Here
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| E42: Navy SEALs for Business with Casey Woo. | 27 août 2025 | 00:46:48 | |
Why Listen: Description: Drawing on military analogies, deep operational insight, and his upcoming book, Casey offers a language and lens for generalists who’ve long struggled to define their value. Whether you’re a shapeshifter trying to find your place or a leader trying to spot hidden talent, this episode gives powerful clarity to an often-misunderstood role. Key Highlights:
About Casey: Casey Woo is a seasoned public market investor turned high-growth technology COO/CFO, with over two decades of experience guiding companies through the complexities of scaling. Having served as a 6x CFO and 2x COO, Casey has led businesses across various industries and stages, from early-stage startups to pre-IPO powerhouses. His expertise spans software, hardware, marketplaces, eCommerce, and more, with a proven track record in driving strategic growth, optimizing operations, and securing successful exits. As a leader, Casey is deeply committed to building and scaling companies that grow fast and smart. His strategic approach focuses on aligning vision with execution, ensuring that every initiative is prioritized for maximum impact. Beyond his executive roles, Casey is co-founder and CEO of the Operators Guild, a community of 1000+ top operators, where he shares his insights and mentors the next generation of business leaders. Casey’s passion for strategic planning and performance management has made him a sought-after advisor and investor, helping startups navigate the challenges of hyper-growth with precision and confidence. Find Casey Here
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| E41: The Future of Hiring in Canada: Why Skills Matter More Than Credentials with Stepan Arman. | 21 août 2025 | 00:49:03 | |
Why Listen: If you’re navigating AI and automation in recruitment, this conversation helps you cut through the hype and focus on skills-based assessment—so you can hire smarter, faster, and fairer. Description: I sit down with a senior director at Indeed to unpack the promise—and the practicalities—of skills-first hiring in today’s Canadian labour market. We cover what’s broken about degree and tenure “gatekeeping,” how HR and hiring managers can align around measurable competencies, and where AI can actually de-risk evaluation instead of adding noise. Along the way, we talk tenure gains when degree screens are dropped, why learning & development is a top decision driver for applicants, and how generalists can finally be seen for transferable strengths. If you care about better matches, fairer access, and making hiring simpler and smarter, this one’s for you. Key Highlights:
About Stepan: As a Senior Director at Indeed, Stepan Arman is at the forefront of bringing the company's vision and strategy to life. His experience managing teams that work directly with both job seekers and employers gives him a unique and insightful perspective into the world of work. With a decade of leadership in human resources, spanning everything from small businesses to global organizations, Stepan has developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing both sides of the workforce. He has a proven track record of partnering with countless companies to solve their most complex problems, whether it's developing workforce strategies, strengthening culture, or enriching the employee experience Find Stepan Here
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| E40: Owning Your Value Without Credentials: A Generalist’s Guide to Confidence and Connection with Lynn Ladd. | 12 août 2025 | 00:33:08 | |
Why Listen: Episode Description: Key Highlights:
About Lynn: Lynn Ladd is Chief of Staff at OTUS Group, where she leads business growth and operations while helping clients—especially purpose-driven organizations—navigate finance and governance with confidence. A lifelong resident of Ottawa with a degree in Economics from the University of Ottawa, Lynn’s career spans leadership roles in retail, financial management, and the nonprofit sector, including her time at the Ottawa Board of Trade. She’s is an active volunteer, serving on the board of KLEO and Kiwanis Air Cadet Squadron. She has recently been appointed to the Board of Planned Parenthood Ottawa, and the CDH2 Foundation of Canada. When not working or giving back, she enjoys life with her husband, their Lab, two rescue cats, and regular visits with their grown kids in Calgary and Halifax. Find Lynn Here:
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| E39: Breaking Social Norms with Samantha Stilwell. | 31 juil. 2025 | 00:37:50 | |
Why Listen: Episode Description: Samantha Stilwell is a cultural anthropologist, consultant, flight attendant, and community builder—sometimes all at once. In this wide-ranging conversation, she opens up about discovering the concept of a “portfolio career” and how it validated the winding, multi-threaded path she’s chosen. We explore what it means to live intentionally without conforming to social norms, how to choose projects that align with a deeper mission, and why success doesn’t always look like scale. Whether she's decoding workplace dynamics in Kenya, building community with women founders, or flying across northern Quebec, Samantha shares how generalists can find purpose by following their own internal compass. Key Highlights:
About Samantha: Samantha Stilwell is a cultural anthropologist by profession—meaning she’s a story-listener and a story-sharer. But the one story she’s still writing is her own career path. Flight attendant, consultant, keynote speaker, community builder, author—Samantha wears many hats (sometimes all at once), but her throughline is always the same: a deep curiosity about people and the cultures we create. Whether she's 35,000 feet in the air or speaking on a global stage, she brings an anthropologist’s lens to everything she does—helping others understand themselves, each other, and the world a little better. Find Samantha
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| E38: The Age of the Polymath: How to Stay Relevant in the AI Era with Dr. Angela C. Meyers. | 22 juil. 2025 | 00:34:50 | |
Why Listen: You’ve heard the term ‘polymath’—now you’re wondering if it describes you, or if it should. Episode Description: What does it mean to thrive as a polymath in the age of AI—and why does it matter more than ever? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Angela C. Myers, one of the first scholars to formally study modern polymathy. Drawing from her pioneering dissertation, her experience in organizational development, and her vision for the future of work, Angela explains why generalists with deep expertise across domains are not just valuable—they're essential. We explore how polymaths can drive innovation, how organizations can adapt to the new demands of AI-driven change, and why lifelong, self-directed learning is the key to staying relevant and fulfilled in a rapidly evolving world. Episode Highlights:
About Angela: Dr. Angela C. Meyers is a leading voice in the modern polymathy movement. She authored the world’s first doctoral dissertation on polymathy—In Pursuit of Polymaths: Understanding Renaissance Persons of the 21st Century—and has dedicated her career to advancing interdisciplinary learning, leadership, and social innovation. With a background spanning nine years at the U.S. Center for Leadership Development and six years at the Executive Office of the President, Dr. Meyers brings unmatched insight into government, systems thinking, and human potential. Today, she leads a vibrant online community for curious, mission-driven minds through her platform Polymaths Place on Facebook, and teaches The Polymathic Method to organizations and individuals looking to thrive in complexity. Explore more of her work at www.drangelameyers.com, follow her insights on LinkedIn, or dive into her videos at YouTube.com/@AngelaCMeyers. Find Angela
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| E37: Intentional Living, Systemized: How Tech Can Help You Lead Yourself with Sandra Veledar. | 06 juil. 2025 | 00:31:39 | |
Why Listen: Description Blending systems thinking, agile principles, and self-leadership, Sandra introduces a structured approach to intentional living. Key Highlights:
About Sandra: Sandra Veledar is a business transformation and technology leader with over 20 years of experience, who built her career delivering business value with technology-enabled solutions and people-first approaches. Sandra started her career in high-tech and since has worked on large-scale business transformations in the Ottawa PwC Advisory Services, followed by an IT executive role at Farm Boy where she supported the organization through significant growth, leading the technology strategy and team in scaling IT operations and services. Currently, she is the Founder and CEO of I.Liv Performance, bringing to market an individual performance and leadership solution. Inspired by her own journey, Sandra applies her professional expertise to help organizations retain top talent and close the strategy-to-execution gap through I.Liv’s innovative approach to sustainable high-performance. Sandra holds a B.Eng. in Computer Systems Engineering from Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), and an MBA from McGill University (Montreal, Quebec, Canada). Find Sandra:
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| E36: When to Go It Alone and When to Collaborate: Charlie Myszkowski on Delegation. | 26 juin 2025 | 00:41:31 | |
Why Listen: If you’ve ever questioned how to balance independence and collaboration in your work, this episode’s for you.
Description: Charlie Myszkowski joins us to explore the delicate balance between independence and delegation, drawing on his background in cognitive science and his experience navigating diverse roles. As generalists, we often grapple with knowing when to lean into our broad skill set and when to partner with specialists. Charlie shares how understanding your cognitive load—and the limits of going at it alone—can transform not only your work but also how you build collaborative, trusting relationships. Key Takeaways:
About Them: Charlie Myszkowski is an undergraduate student heading into their fourth year studying Cognitive Science at the University of Edinburgh—a degree all about how people think, often using computer models to understand the brain. Alongside his studies, Charlie works as a Strategy and IT Operations Consultant. In short, he helps businesses and busy people improve their lives and achieve their goals. They’re also involved in a few different ventures and are an active part of the university’s entrepreneurship community. Outside of all that, they have a background in musical theatre and still carry a bit of that flair into everything they do.
Find Them Here: Website: https://cmysz.com Book time or work with me: https://cmysz.com/book Connect with me on LinkedIn (dm me that you listened to the podcast and I’ll connect straight away!): https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmyszkowski Find Us
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| E35: The best version of you with Bradley Rausch | 19 juin 2025 | 00:37:56 | |
Why Listen: A practical conversation on balancing vulnerability and action
Description: Bradley Rausch, host of the “Redefining Growth” podcast, shares his personal journey of embracing authenticity and focusing on concrete action. As a multifaceted thinker who values vulnerability and practical impact, Bradley’s perspective speaks to the generalist spirit—balancing broad thinking with the courage to act. This conversation highlights the power of getting real, grounding big ideas in small steps, and supporting others on their growth journey.
Key Highlights:
About Them: Bradley Rausch is a content creator, strategic marketer, and the go-to CMO for founder-led companies scaling with thought leadership. With six years of experience, he’s helped several dozen founders get out of their own way and scale without sacrificing their values. From podcasting to social media ecosystems to referral and testimonial systems, Bradley and his team help founders attract more of their best clients, and generate only the highest quality revenue for their companies. Find Them Here
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| E34: Adapt, Connect, Repeat: The Generalist’s Guide to Better Work Relationships with Simona Radencich. | 05 juin 2025 | 00:45:17 | |
Why Listen: You want to improve your communication across different personalities and work styles. What makes work relationships truly productive—and what gets in the way? In this episode, executive coach Simona Radencich shares how a generalist mindset can strengthen communication, deepen trust, and adapt to complex team dynamics. From recognizing unspoken cues to reframing conflict and customizing leadership approaches, she offers actionable insights grounded in emotional intelligence and years of experience. Key Highlights:
About Simona: Simona Radencich helps leaders build resilience, emotional intelligence, and stronger relationships—starting with themselves—without sacrificing performance, results, or their humanity. She believes leadership is a way of being, and that while people are complex, productive relationships don’t have to be. As a certified executive coach, consultant, and founder of Henlise Consulting, she partners with leaders navigating complex team dynamics, growth, and change. Her work focuses on building clarity, confidence, and relational effectiveness in high-stakes areas like hiring, onboarding, talent development, and performance management. With over 30 years of experience in leadership, human resources, consulting, and entrepreneurship, she supports leaders across start-ups, scale-ups, and established organizations in creating resilient, higher-performing teams and sustainable, people-centered business success. Find Simona Here
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| E33: Are You Really a Critical Thinker? With Ingrid Dueck & Steven Verboom. | 29 mai 2025 | 00:45:17 | |
Why Listen: You want to sharpen your thinking in complex, fast-moving environments. What does critical thinking really look like in action—and why do so many people assume they’re already good at it? In this conversation, I interview Ingrid Dueck and Steven Verboom of Kepner-Tregoe to explore what makes clear thinking so difficult in complex, fast-paced organizations. They unpack how biases, assumptions, and poor question habits derail decision-making—and how a structured, data-driven approach can shift how teams think, work, and solve problems. With examples from factories, boardrooms, and workshops, this episode is a practical look at the invisible mechanics of thinking. It also highlights the often-overlooked advantage generalists may bring to critical thinking. Key Highlights:
Ingrid Dueck is a seasoned expert in critical thinking and organizational development and is the Director of Organizational Talent and Leadership Development at Kepner-Tregoe. For over 25 years, she has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and teams through the facilitation, teaching, and coaching of essential skills like problem-solving, decision-making, and risk management. Her passion lies in helping people think more clearly and act more decisively—whether in the boardroom, on the front lines, or in leadership development programs around the world. Ingrid brings a unique blend of insight, structure, and empathy to her work, making her a trusted guide for those navigating complex challenges. Find Ingrid Here LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ingrid-dueck Website: www.kepner-tregoe.com Steven Verboom is a self-identified Generalist who over the course of the last few years has transitioned from a Chemical Engineer into a Critical Thinking Consultant. On a day-to-day basis he helps individuals, teams & organizations sharpen their critical thinking skills as well as further clarify high-stakes discussions. In short; someone who thrives for asking the difficult questions but listens from genuine curiosity. Find Steven Here LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sjverboom Website: www.kepner-tregoe.com Find Us
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| E32: Customer Journeys Need Generalists: Sales, Systems, and the Role of ‘Good Trouble with JP Hébert. | 22 mai 2025 | 00:38:21 | |
Why Listen: You’ve worked across sales, marketing, or customer roles—and know the real value lies in connecting the dots. What happens when a generalist takes on the customer acquisition journey? In this episode, we sit down with JP Hébert—part technologist, part marketer, part sales strategist—who brings a systems-level view to how organizations attract and convert customers. Drawing from experience across startups and global firms, JP shares how generalists operate across the full lifecycle, when to bring in specialists, and how to navigate the power dynamics between roles. Whether you're in marketing, sales, or leadership, this conversation explores what it means to see the whole system, not just your part of it. We unpack the often-overlooked value of generalists as connectors, integrators, and “good troublemakers” who challenge assumptions—and improve outcomes. Key Highlights:
About Them: JP is a long-time customer-facing technology business executive and enthusiast, the love story started in 1983 with a Commodore-64. Throughout his career, JP has occupied a variety of roles over the years from individual sales contributor to tech startup CEO, and pretty much everything in-between in very small to global organizations. He is also involved with Digital Humani, a nonprofit tech startup focused on reforestation, loves to mentor and is a mean BBQ cook
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| E31: Healthcare, Reimagined: Building Systems That Work Together with Anne-Marie Parent. | 15 mai 2025 | 00:38:21 | |
Why Listen: You’re navigating complex systems and want practical insight into how real change happens—especially when it feels impossible. How do we fix a system as complex and fragmented as healthcare? In this thought-provoking conversation, facilitator and health systems leader Anne-Marie Parent shares what it takes to shift from a command-and-control model to a living, evolving ecosystem. Drawing from her experience in health informatics, change management, and systems coaching, Anne-Marie explores how diverse perspectives, relationship-building, and courageous co-creation are essential for real transformation. For generalists navigating complex systems—within or beyond healthcare—this episode offers a masterclass in creating space for collaboration, letting go of control, and trusting the collective intelligence of the group. Key Highlights:
About Them: Anne-Marie Parent is a leadership coach, educator, and transformation strategist who believes it's time for a new way of leading—especially in health systems. Her work centers on embracing complexity, fostering collaboration, and creating space for clarity, courage, and purpose. With over two decades of cross-sector experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit worlds, Anne-Marie helps individuals and organizations navigate uncertainty, untangle complexity, and co-create more regenerative ways of working—without burning out or losing sight of what matters most. Her approach blends systems thinking, change leadership, and deep human connection. She’s trained in Prosci change management, holds a Black Belt in Lean Healthcare, and is certified in systems coaching (ORSC) and flow-based leadership. Anne-Marie also teaches at the Telfer School of Management and recently took the TEDx stage to share her insights on systemic leadership. Whether she's coaching gifted professionals, designing culture-shifting programs, or facilitating multi-stakeholder collaborations, Anne-Marie is known for meeting people where they are—and helping them lead with integrity, clarity, and flow.
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| E30: Is Your Tech Helping or Harming? How to Assess AI with Intention. | 06 mai 2025 | 00:40:38 | |
Why Listen: Discover a simple framework to choose tech that actually serves you.
Description: What does it mean for AI to truly support human flourishing—and how can generalists help shape that future? Tamara Lechner chairs the AI for Human Flourishing think tank at Harvard. We discuss the framework her team developed to help individuals and organizations assess whether AI tools enhance well-being, connection, and meaning. Tamara shares practical insights on navigating emerging technologies with intention, AI governance to parenting in the digital age,
Key Highlights:
About Them: Tamara Lechner has spent the past 20 years helping people to live happier more productive and meaningful lives. She follows her curiosity which has led her from film & TV to positive psychology, social emotional learning and culture transformation. She is a “people person” in the AI world and today her energy is spent chairing the AI for Human Flourishing think tank within the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard"
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| E29: The Leadership Challenge: Embracing T-Shaped Skills. | 30 avr. 2025 | 00:36:44 | |
Why Listen: Unlock unique strategies for enhancing your leadership skills. Ama Cobbina, a business development leader, explores the challenges of becoming a leader and suggests that the difficulty lies in specialists learning to become T-Shaped, moving from their core skill set of depth and learning how to embrace breadth. This philosophical discussion as well as practice tools for how leaders can embrace a generalist mindset is the focus of this episode. Conversation Highlights
Ama Cobbina is a business development leader who prides themselves on strategic decision making as a generalist connector. They have connected the dots of sales lifecycles, marketing and business health for 15+ years advocating for frameworks that build commonality, interdependence and value creation. A member of the Proposal Industry Expert Advisory Board and Mentor, Ama seeks to help organizations orient themselves towards the necessary mindsets around meeting their business needs holistically. Trained in the ultimate generalist profession of Architecture and bringing those skills into their professional career has served them well in thinking about formulating how generalism is viable or even inevitable path forward. LinkedIn: Ama Cobbina Find Us:
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| E28: The "Deeper Clarity Method" in Design Thinking – with Nilufer Erdebil. | 16 avr. 2025 | 00:41:38 | |
Why Listen: "Behind every failed initiative is usually one thing: the wrong problem being solved." Description: "What if solving problems faster meant slowing down first?" Julie sits down with Nilufer Erdebil, founder of Spring2 Innovation and author of Future-Proofing by Design, to unpack the five core steps of design thinking—and how they evolve when systems thinking, strategic foresight, and alignment are layered in. They discuss the skills generalists naturally bring to the table, the pitfalls of jumping to solutions too fast, and why today’s complexity demands both empathy and structure.
Key Highlights:
About Nilufer: Nilufer Erdebil is a renowned design thinking expert, TEDx and TEC/Vistage speaker, and the author of Future Proofing by Design: Creating Better Services and Teams in the Public Sector. With over 25 years of experience, she has been a catalyst for change across both public and private sectors. As CEO of Spring2 Innovation, Nilufer has led transformative initiatives, helping teams navigate complex challenges and drive strategic growth. Her deep expertise spans telecommunications, application development, program management, and IT, providing her unique insights into complex business challenges. Nilufer continues to inspire organizations to adopt innovation and deliver impactful solutions.
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| E27: Networking Strategies with Michelle Schafer. | 03 avr. 2025 | 00:36:30 | |
Why Listen: Learn actionable tips to make networking less daunting and more impactful for career growth.
Michelle Schafer, an award winning career coach specializing in career transitions, shares her insights on how generalists can advance their careers through effective networking. She shares the importance of being intentional, preparing a networking plan, and leveraging curiosity to build meaningful connections. Key Highlights:
About Michelle Michelle Schafer is an ICF-certified coach, author and facilitator, specializing in career transition and leadership. She is the owner and founder of Michelle Schafer Coaching, empowering people to navigate career transitions with confidence. Michelle is passionate about people and inspired by their progress, working with clients at all levels of an organization and across sectors including federal and municipal government, high tech, not-for-profit and financial services. Michelle offers coaching 1:1 and in groups, is the proud author of the #1 best selling book "Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with Purpose" and most recently was recognized as one of Ottawa's Top Coaches in 2024. Find Michelle Here
Free offer: A free chapter from my book - sign up here: https://mschafercoaching.ca/cultivatingcareergrowth/ Order my book Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with Purpose: https://www.amazon.ca/Cultivating-Career-Growth-Navigate-Transitions/dp/1998393194/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Email Michelle here: michelle@mschafercoaching.ca
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| E26: From Strategy to Execution: The Role of a Chief of Staff with Layla Lyne-Winkler. | 20 mars 2025 | 00:39:07 | |
Why Listen: Understanding the role of the Chief of Staff. Do you address the elephant in the room head-on? Do you sometimes let things burn to prioritize what's truly important? Layla, the Chief of Staff at a high-growth startup, shares what it takes to excel in this dynamic role. In this ideal generalist role, the COS balances analytical and humanistic approaches, translating strategic decisions into actionable insights for the entire organization. Layla, an OG in the Chief of Staff and Generalist circles, offers real-life examples of influencing leadership and strategies to avoid burnout. Key Highlights:
About Layla Lyne-Walker Layla is an experienced operator and expert generalist who helps people find clarity in complexity. With a diverse career across research, operations, strategy, and coaching, she brings a mix of sharp insight, emotional intelligence, and practical wisdom to her work and collaborations. Her gift for seeing the bigger picture, finding gaps, and connecting the dots, helps guide people and teams toward meaningful action. As Chief of Staff at a high-growth startup, Layla has played a pivotal role in building and scaling operations, driving strategic initiatives, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. A skilled and practical problem-solver, she specializes in bridging vision and execution, empowering people to make informed choices that drive progress. Layla’s expertise is grounded in both analytical and intuitive thinking, blending structured strategy with human-centered leadership. She holds degrees in Anthropology and Art from UC Santa Barbara, Visual Culture from California College of the Arts, and has pursued additional studies in coaching, organizational leadership, and business fundamentals. When not helping others, she can be found curled up with a book or joyfully experiencing movies, music, and art.
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| E25: Nurturing Future Generalists with Maya Meyouhas. | 05 mars 2025 | 00:39:07 | |
Why Listen: If you are a parent whose child seems to prematurely quit activities. Maya Meyouhas discusses the importance of recognizing and nurturing generalist tendencies in children, advocating for environments where children can explore various skills without the pressure of specialization. She shares her personal journey of accepting her generalist identity and emphasizes the value of helping future generations embrace diverse learning experiences to thrive in an ever-changing world. Key Highlights:
About Maya Meyouhas Maya is a strategic marketing leader who believes great results don't require big budgets - just smart strategy and solid execution. After 18 years of developing winning campaigns for Canada's biggest media and retail brands, she launched MIM Marketing in 2023 to help startups and non-profits punch above their weight class. As a self-proclaimed "marketing generalist," Maya brings a unique blend of creative problem-solving and data analysis to every project. Passionate about championing and empowering other generalists, she started the Generalist Network Substack, where she helps multi-talented professionals embrace their versatility as a superpower. Find Maya Here
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| E24: What it takes to better detect fraud and scams. | 13 févr. 2025 | 00:39:07 | |
Why Listen: Learn about the latest AI-generated scams. We discuss with Jason Oliver, a senior compliance analyst and data scientist, the importance of fraud detection in the modern age. We aim to identify if and what unique edge that generalists have in identifying and preventing scams, discussing various real-world examples and strategies. Jason emphasizes the significance of critical thinking, the necessity of verification, and the value of sharing anti-fraud knowledge across diverse demographics. Jason’s book, Diamond Min(e)d How Unearthing the Signal in the Noise Takes You From Treasure to Triumph highlights the key elements of critical thinking and decision-making to realize a better you, and better life outcomes Key Highlights:
About Them Jason Oliver is a senior compliance analyst and data scientist for a large organization. He is extremely well-read as reading is his passion: he has read over 100 books in the past decade. He loves to travel to exciting new places and have new experiences, keeping an open mind. He holds an MBA from the Univ. of Ottawa, plus several professional certifications. He currently lives in Ottawa with his wife and two wonderful daughters. He is more of a cat person than a dog person. Find Jason Here
Bookseller platform pages: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/diamond-min-j-a-oliver/1145229775 Find Us
Don’t forget to leave a 5* review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts – The more reviews, the bigger the impact. | |||
| E23: How Can AI Transform Management Consulting? Insights from Jennifer Davis. | 07 févr. 2025 | 00:41:53 | |
Why Listen: Get tips on integrating AI live into large group complex facilitated sessions. Join Jennifer Davis as she describes her “Year of AI” integrating AI into her work as a management consultant, leveraging AI for facilitation, exploring the ethical use and the intersection of sustainability and AI. Discover how she navigated the complexities of AI tools to enhance collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strategic thinking in her projects, and hear her insights on the challenges and opportunities of AI in various contexts. Key Highlights:
About Them Jennifer is a highly experienced management consultant with a passion for deepening collaboration and innovation to drive the equitable transition to a low carbon economy. With over 20 years’ experience, Jennifer advises and supports public sector clients on innovation policy and program design and implementation. She helps structure and implement private sector innovation consortia and sustainability programs and facilitates complex dialogues with Indigenous rightsholders and stakeholders. Jennifer's focus areas include collaborative problem-solving for systems change, with a particular emphasis on climate change, biodiversity and equity. She specializes in strategy, facilitation, research, and clean tech/R&D, with a special focus on climate change projects in the Arctic. Her work reflects her commitment to moving Canada towards its net zero targets in a way that diversifies and strengthens the country's economy and global competitive advantage in clean technology. Jennifer also sits on the Board of Directors for CAIN, Canada’s Accelerator and Incubator Network."
Find Them Here LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdavisssc/
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| E22: Unlocking Your Genius with Brandon Lee | 17 janv. 2025 | 00:42:07 | |
Why Listen: Discover a personality test that identifies what energizes you. Episode Summary: Just because something is your strength it doesn’t mean it brings you joy. Brandon Lee, Founder of Genius of You, has developed a personality test that helps you discover what is a fully body yes, in your career and life. Key Highlights: Personality Test Creation: Brandon Lee developed a unique personality test inspired by "15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership" after conducting 800 user interviews. Success Stories: Hear about individuals who transformed their career paths and personal lives using the test, including changes in business decisions and quitting misaligned jobs. Support for Generalists: Learn how the test validates the diverse interests of generalists and aids in decision-making with the "full body yes" concept. Gender Differences in Genius Scores: Discover surprising insights, such as women excelling in presence and somatic aspects, while men score higher in superhuman and deconstructor categories. Advice for Generalists: Brandon advises taking both the genius and work assessments, reading the results, and seeking personalized feedback for better alignment with strengths. About Brandon: His journey spans from doing leadership development for non-profits, flipping houses, building a soft-skills education company for teens, running operations at a YC startup. Brandon is currently running a personality test company, helping people architect their lives and careers around what they enjoy. Brandon has a deep passion for teaching, coaching, and empowering others to become their fullest selves. His writing and video content have garnered over 20 million views and has been featured on media outlets like Inc.com, TIME, BBC, and HuffingtonPost. On the side he is a personal growth junkie, invests in real estate, and rotates between 11 languages on Duolingo... because... life is too short to just speak Engrish.
Find Brandon Here LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrandonlee/ Website: https://geniusofyou.com/ Substack: https://brandonlee.substack.com/ Find Us Connect with Julie on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lavergne/ Follow the podcast’s LinkedIn page for next Episode release https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-generalist-advantage/?viewAsMember=true Visit our Website https://8ballclarity.com/
Don’t forget to leave a 5* review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts – The more reviews, the bigger the impact. | |||
| E21: Destination Dream Job | 06 janv. 2025 | 00:43:50 | |
Why Listen: Practical job seeking tips from a career coach. Discover how career coach Steph Gillies turned 32 jobs in 15 years into a superpower. Learn practical job-seeking tips, market trends, and personal branding strategies for multi-passionate professionals. Key Highlights:
Guest Information: After being laid off from what she thought was her dream job in 2020, she started resume writing and career coaching. Since then, she has helped over 1000 people discover their purpose and create a career story that truly reflects who they are.
Find Steph Here
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| E20: What Does It Mean to Live the Octopus Life? | 11 déc. 2024 | 00:43:50 | |
Why Listen: Grabbing a hold of your own career narrative. David Kang, a Brand Strategist, shares his journey from a specialist to a generalist, using the metaphor of an octopus to illustrate the benefits of having diverse interests and skills. He discusses his new venture, the criteria for his "tentacles," and the importance of balancing work with personal passions. David also explores the potential advantages of generalists in an AI-driven world and offers practical advice for those looking to embrace a more holistic and fulfilling career path. | |||
| E19: Is being a problem chaser like a moth to a flame? | 13 nov. 2024 | 00:36:54 | |
Why Listen: Grabbing a hold of your own career narrative. Chase Pettet, a product security professional, didn’t identify as a generalist until a recruiter labeled him as such, and not in a flattering way. This prompted a period of deep reflection on how he has navigated his career and the choices he's made intuitively. Concerned about the implications of the term "generalist," he decided to redefine his non-traditional career narrative to the positive light. | |||