Explore every episode of the podcast Corporate Strategy
Dive into the complete episode list for Corporate Strategy. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
167. How to Have Uncomfortable Workplace Conversations
09 Jun 2025
00:34:35
Bruce and Clark explore the delicate challenge of addressing personal issues like hygiene and verbal habits in professional settings while maintaining respect and professional boundaries.
• A Reddit post about a manager telling an intern they smell bad while simultaneously offering them a permanent position • How managers can deliver difficult personal feedback constructively and with appropriate timing • The importance of directness when addressing personal issues that affect workplace dynamics • Balancing personal expression and professionalism when it comes to speech patterns and workplace behavior • Managing the "gray area" of workplace etiquette that falls outside of HR violations • Handling third-party complaints about behavior you haven't personally witnessed • The difference between warranted feedback vs. personal preferences or biases
Join our Discord community through the link in the show notes to discuss jobs, networking, and professional development. Share the podcast with friends and colleagues, and check out our store for Corporate Strategy merchandise.
Bruce and Clark explore career development and the physical toll of work while dealing with their own injuries—Bruce recovering from toenail surgery and Clark nursing a broken toe.
• Career advice for a 22-year-old uncertain about pursuing entrepreneurship or college • Testing business ideas through small, time-boxed experiments instead of all-or-nothing approaches • Whether career passion is achievable for everyone or just a luxury for the privileged • Finding satisfaction in work that might not be your passion but provides life stability • The feasibility of finding strictly eight-hour jobs with good boundaries • How different industries structure work hours and expectations • Wellness tips including turmeric for inflammation, proper sleep during illness, and unexpected health benefits • The importance of taking action rather than getting stuck in analysis paralysis
Join our Discord community to continue the conversation! Find the link in our show notes or on our website.
Succession planning creates a complex challenge when you discover a talented team member lacks the critical skills needed to advance despite their strong desire to move up.
• Valuable team members may excel in many areas but struggle with core competencies needed for advancement • Breaking problems into smaller components can help develop skills, but some abilities like creative thinking are difficult to train • Lateral moves can sometimes provide faster advancement opportunities than struggling in the wrong role • Effective managers must invest significant time creating growth opportunities tailored to individual team members • Honest conversations about career paths, though difficult, demonstrate care for employees' long-term success • Building teams that can function without you is a sign of leadership success • Corporate clawbacks, like demanding repayment of $1,500 in vacation pay due to HR error, demonstrate misplaced priorities
If you enjoy our podcast, please consider supporting us through our link tree in the show notes. Your contributions help keep the show running and might even help us purchase Pepsi Man for our first livestream!
Halleluja, We are in purgatory this week and are discussing everyone's favorite subject. Religion in the workplace! Is it okay? Does it elevate your work? Will it send you straight to HR hell? We answer all these questions in this week's divine episode.
Another week, another topic about how AI will ruin our lives. Not really. We think aggressively about how ChatGPT is changing the workplace and what you should do to make your work life so much easier. Spoiler Alert: you should use it!
Somehow the Corporate Strategy podcast returned! I love democracy... and Clark loves bringing the tea about wacky managers at unexpected companies. Today we dig into dealing with people who set out to make others' lives miserable and sabotage themselves for the sake of self-promotion. They may think they are the senate, but they are just bad eggs and require careful handling. Our first response isn't "quit your job" this time, either. Where can you learn this power of dealing with the dark side of management? Not from a corporation. Have you ever heard the tale of Clark Cheddermovements the wise? I swear I'm done.
65. How to Train Your Negativity: The Light at the End of the Tunnel
06 Feb 2023
00:39:07
We tackle another listener-submitted topic around negativity, but this time it's managing the thoughts inside our minds. Find out exactly how Bruce and Clark have dealt with their negativity in the past, and QUIT YOUR JOBS! JK JK, have a transition plan, then quit your jobs.
Alex Restrepo rejoins us to teach us a valuable lesson about our economy and what has become of it. Spoiler Alert: it ain't great, BUT it can be fixed! Thanks again to our guest, and we hope you enjoy the special educational episode.
New year, new 'strats! We are starting strong with a re-evaluation of CACC (Culture Autonomy (or is it Accountability?) Challenge and Compensation), the way we will evaluate and measure companies and the values of the employees that work therein.
Yearly Retrospective (Listen to us talk about ourselves!)
30 Dec 2022
00:27:47
Clark and I have begun performing yearly retrospectives, which is a great practice for all things. Spend twenty minutes with us talking about ourselves and how we can be better, and send us your thoughts and feedback, PLEASE!
Promoting YOU! How To Move Into Your Next Big Role
09 Dec 2022
00:30:57
Alex is back, and he brought a great topic with him. Today we help you understand precisely how to make your next big move, and the Roman army is here to help! Whether you want to go from individual contributor to management or change roles entirely, this episode has the tips and tricks to jump.
LinkedIn has transformed from a professional networking platform into something resembling a bizarre hybrid of Facebook and Twitter where oversharing personal details has become disturbingly common. The platform now functions as a digital first impression for hiring managers who often check candidates' profiles before even reading their resumes.
• LinkedIn posts range from wholesome professional updates to cringeworthy personal overshares • Successful professionals typically focus on promoting team achievements rather than personal struggles • Everything posted on LinkedIn follows you indefinitely - "the internet is written in ink" • Your LinkedIn profile effectively serves as your modern cover letter • Having a LinkedIn profile is non-negotiable in today's job market, even if you rarely engage with the platform • The most effective resumes are limited to one page - longer documents won't get read • Connect with everyone you work with - you never know when these connections might help your career • Before posting, consider how your content might be viewed by competitors or potential employers
Join our Discord community for LinkedIn profile feedback, resume advice, and more career development support. We're here to help you succeed without crossing into cringe territory.
Taking the time to express gratitude is important. Bruce and Clark walk down memory lane and expunge thanks upon all who deserve it in remembrance of this weird fowl-based holiday.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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Keeping up with the recent news, we discuss the latest around Twitter and its brand new, slightly questionable owner Elon Musk. Musk recently asked employees to work 84 hours a week, and we think that's pretty crummy. We talk all about how we deal with this outrageous ask this week.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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It is the middle ground between an open laptop and a closed laptop, between meetings and impromptu calls, and it lies between the pit of the first coffee and the summit of Bruce's lunch. Today we are taking you on a journey, through blocked calendars, time management, and notification silencing.
This is the dimension of productivity. It is an area which we call the Flow Zone.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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This episode was a journey! What started as an aimless discussion around how you start an email turns into a critique of executive leadership and how they dehumanize us. Better just to listen and discover for yourself.
This week's call2action: Tell us about meeting briefs Be good to each other
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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"Your Idea Sucks" Dealing with Rejection in the Workplace
07 Oct 2022
00:35:49
Time to work through everyone's favorite topic: rejection. While we aren't touching on how to deal with a failed job interview (yet), we dig into the feeling of having an idea, piece of work, or anything you put some effort into rejected by someone who "knows better." Rejection sucks; let Corporate Strategy help make it better!
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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Special guest Nathan will help us navigate the path of starting and maintaining extra-professional relationships. We discuss how to befriend your co-worker, why you should, and what advantages it can bring you.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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It's all the rage, but what is it exactly? We break down and share our thoughts on "just doing what is expected of you" and give some tips to quit quietly and live your best life.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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Retire Early or Live Comfortably? Let's Talk Finances
26 Aug 2022
00:39:59
We finally did it! We managed to schedule not one but two guests around Clark's buck-wild calendar. Today we managed to sit down and talk through some stories of what has worked for us regarding investing and personal finance. Thanks to Alex and Tony for joining us and sharing their experience with investing, stocks, real estate, 401k, and so much more.
Disclaimer: Nothing this episode states constitutes professional or financial advice. We are just sharing stories of what worked for us. Any follow-up steps taken are done so at your own risk.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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Social coach Sarah joins us to discuss the art of effective workplace communication and building confidence in professional interactions. We explore how making others feel valued is more important than what you actually say, and why being yourself beats trying to emulate "LinkedIn bros."
• The true secret to successful conversations is focusing on how others feel, not on having perfect responses • Charisma is different from social skills – you don't need the former to excel at the latter • Speaking out loud to yourself helps build comfort and confidence with your own voice • The "weekend question" is the ultimate small talk tool that works Monday through Friday • Setting boundaries professionally while still being personable requires transparency without judgment • Finding people who match your energy level is better than trying to change flaky friends • Social skills are like any other skill – they require practice and will feel awkward at first
If you want to improve your social skills or need help with workplace interactions, visit https://www.socialwsarah.com/ to schedule a one-on-one coaching session.
It's been a minute, and we are sorry! We are bringing you 40 minutes of lived leadership experience and advice to make up for it. While leading is never easy, we may have cracked the code for learning how to lead and build yourself into the agent of change we want you to be. Thanks as always to our topic submitters, keep em coming!
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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"Jack of all trades" will be said a lot during this episode. We break down our own experiences as both jack of all trades and experts and discuss who should specialize or generalize and why.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats
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I can't believe it has been a year of podcasts! In this episode, Bruce and Clark open up about what has been good, bad, and otherwise in producing this podcast for you all.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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This week we are responding to another listener-submitted topic. Thank you, and keep the suggestions coming! Dealing with toxic people is never easy. Sometimes they can be aggressive and uncorrectable, which drags the entire workplace down. This episode discusses the best approach to handling those who hate being handled.
As a bonus, we also touch on those snooty privileged types that like to flaunt their degree or experiences that add to the toxicity.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats
on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/corporatestrategy-biz/
The Woes of the "Dead-End" Contributor and Cross-Geo Communication Tips
01 Jul 2022
00:40:18
Wow, this might be our longest episode yet!
This one is jam packed with listener submitted topics. We dive deep into addressing the challenges of being stuck in a dead-end individual contributor role when management positions are available and deserved. Bruce and Clark share their experiences of breaking out of their decade-long work engagements and offer tips to our dear listeners on what they should do next.
Our episode's second half translates the challenges of cross-geo team communications. We dole out some best practices when dealing with folks who might not be from your side of the pond or share your super cool culture.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Visit our website: https://www.corporatestrategy.biz/
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Fulfilling a listener request, we discussed professionalism in the workplace this week. Listen to the end to hear a special surprise.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Today we talk about dealing with life events that interrupt the precious corporate work we all do that is very important to everyone /s.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Content Warning: This episode does briefly mention incidents of suicide at timestamp 24:45-26:00
Today, we get a little heavy and talk about the corporate layoff. We get into the good, bad, and ugly along with providing some tips on how to handle and even avoid the situation outright.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Clark finally convinced me to talk about what I actually do, and it turns out there's a heck of a lot to say. Today's ep covers corporate marketing from top to bottom, digging into campaigns, creative, demand gen, and how to make t-shirts with your name on them.
#bigCACCEnergy
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Tales from the Cube: The Curious Case of the Vanished Product Manager
04 May 2022
00:43:47
Things are about to get scary. Clark tells a horrifying tale that makes Bruce get angry, and you won't like him when he's angry...
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Severance delves into the blurred lines between work and personal identity, engaging with the idea of separating these worlds. Through lively discussions, we explore the implications of current political climates at work, navigating conversations with openness and curiosity. • Dissecting the premise of Severance and its critique of corporate culture • Personal reflections on the potential decision to sever from work • Sharing recent personal updates about organizational successes • Engaging in Discord community discussions on controversial topics • Navigating political discourse in professional environments • Encouraging civil conversations without conflicts • The importance of remaining curious and open-minded in discussions
We have another special guest joining us on the podcast today: Jack. He brings tales from the land of customer support and helps lay the path for others starting to use the opportunity to build a better future for themselves.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We want to know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Today we recant two recent events in our lives regarding resignation. Understand the sad true tales of leaving and the all the reasons why.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We wanna know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Sometimes you need to step away from the desk and drink some cool clear water. Listen to our nightmares, job satisfaction, and fitness routines on this chilled down episode of Corporate Strategy.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We wanna know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Engineering in the 21st Century: It’s Tough To Be a Dev
08 Apr 2022
00:40:46
Following our product management episode we now dig into the other side of the product coin: the engineer. We recall our own history and remember the good/bad old days as developers. We continue the theme of talking C.A.C.C Culture, Autonomy, Compensation and Challenge and decide whether or not anyone should ever be an engineer.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We wanna know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Product Managers: Heroes or Villains of the Business?
01 Apr 2022
00:31:15
Today we start a new series dissecting the team composition of various roles inside of your local corporate entity.
Didn't mean for it to become a series but we spend 20 minutes talking about product managers so you know this is gonna go long. Bruce is feeling especially spicy as his parents were killed by a product manager when he was very young. Fortunately Clark is there to defend the good/bad name of those who work the role.
Love us, hate us, wanna berate us? We wanna know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Inspired by the move Alaska Airlines just made: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/23/alaska-airlines-flight-attendants-get-double-pay-to-pick-up-shifts.html What are you willing to give up for a little more ched?
Agree? Disagree? we wanna know. Reach out here: Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Special Guest Barry: Finding Success No Matter What
17 Mar 2022
00:50:01
So excited to have our first guest on the show: Barry! He walks us through his college career and denies the path education laid out for him. Learn how he found success doing what he loves and overcoming an incredible hardship when diagnosed with depression.
Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Today we return to the career guidance sub to take on the challenges of awkward corporate situations, all imposed by managers. Confronting these kinds of challenges is never easy, but we think we might have hit the nail on the head for all three situations.
Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
We return to the questions posed by our listeners. Today we discuss the challenges of maintaining innovation in a world that seeks to kill it before it ever gets started. We share personal stories and learnings in handling rejection, failure, and what to do next.
Reach out to us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Exit Interviews, New Job So-So Salary, and Go-Getters
24 Feb 2022
00:31:39
We dip back into the well that is the Career Guidance subreddit and answer questions that resonate. This episode we delve into the importance of honest feedback in the exit interview (do it for your work buddies), should you settle for less + bonus, and what's the secret of the "Go Getter"?
Life’s chaos can often spark creativity and reflection, as evidenced by humorous anecdotes about workplace dynamics and personal experiences. This episode traverses topics like the genius behind grocery store marketing, the push for efficiency in team settings, and the whimsical narrative of the sad Pepsi Man.
• Exploring personal chaos in everyday life • Humorous reflections on a foot injury and workplace absurdities • The art of grocery store Super Bowl displays • Balancing chaotic leadership with structured organization • The philosophy of urgency versus capacity in productivity • The creation of the shared narrative of the sad Pepsi Man • Recognizing the humor in corporate life and community connections
Share your thoughts and laughs with us! Join our Discord and let’s keep the conversation going!
Reach out to us on Twiter https://twitter.com/CorporateStrats on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebangers or email questions@corporatestrategy.biz
Dunning-Kruger Effect and the Importance of Feedback
09 Feb 2022
00:39:12
Today we discussed the all too common challenge of working with someone who doesn't know what they don't know, but don't realize they don't know it. We also learn the importance of good feedback. Let us know what you think!
Learn more about Dunning Kruger here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect Support WIKIPEDIA!
Burnout vs Exhaustion, Big Career Changes, and the New Job Blues
03 Feb 2022
00:35:40
This week we are digging back into questions asked on the career guidance subreddit. Specifically dealing with the differences(and identifying) burnout and exhaustion, how to make big career leaps into different organizations and different fields and digging into that feeling you get when you start a new job... and feel just awful about it.