Explore every episode of the podcast Leadership & Learning w/Dr. JBT

Today's conversation is part 2 with Sharon Ayala, a leader who doesn't shy away from the real work of leading change. Sharon has stepped into complex environments where expectations are high, priorities are competing, and the pace is relentless. And she's honest about what that actually feels like.

In this conversation, Sharon shares openly about the challenges leaders face when everything feels urgent, and everyone needs something. She talks about how she thinks through priorities, how she makes tough decisions without losing sight of the people doing the work, and how she stays grounded when change is constant.

What stood out most to me is this: no matter how intense the pressure, Sharon refuses to sacrifice psychological safety. She believes trust isn't a "nice to have" during change; it's the foundation that makes change possible.

If you're leading in a season change, this conversation offers grounded insight into how to move forward without losing your people.

Leading Change Through Listening: Building Trust, Buy-In, and Collaboration
Special Guest: Sharon Ayala, Vice President for Marketing, Abilene Christian University

Change rarely fails because of strategy.
It fails because of misalignment, lack of trust, and leaders moving too fast without truly listening.

In this episode of Leadership & Learning, Dr. JBT sits down with Sharon Ayala, Vice President for Marketing at Abilene Christian University, to explore what it really takes to lead meaningful change, especially when that change extends beyond your own department.

Sharon brings deep experience leading teams through disruption and transformation, reimagining marketing not simply as a service function, but as a driver of institutional momentum, influence, and growth. Throughout the conversation, she shares how clarity of vision, intentional listening, and cross-functional collaboration become essential leadership tools when the path forward is still emerging.

Together, they unpack what it looks like to:

• Gain buy-in from stakeholders outside your direct authority by building shared understanding rather than pushing agendas

• Create a collaborative mindset across departments with competing priorities

• Build trust with your own team by listening deeply both to what is said and what remains unspoken

• Identify the root problem before jumping to solutions, especially in moments of tension or resistance

• Lead change with confidence, even when outcomes are not yet fully defined

This episode is a powerful reminder that listening is not passive; it is one of the most strategic acts of leadership. When leaders slow down to listen well, they create clarity, alignment, and the conditions for others to move forward with confidence.

Whether you are leading a department, stepping into a new role, or navigating institutional change that requires influence across boundaries, this conversation offers practical insight and grounded wisdom for leading change that lasts.

🎧 Listen in and reflect:
How often do you pause to truly listen before you lead?

In this episode of Leadership & Learning with Dr. JBT, I explore key insights from What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith—a powerful reminder that the behaviors that helped us rise as leaders can quietly limit our impact at the next level.

Rather than focusing on competence or credentials, this conversation centers on behavioral awareness, relational impact, and the discipline of leadership growth.

Below highlights a few of the 20 behaviors that frequently surface at senior levels:

• Winning too much – when collaboration turns into competition

• Adding too much value – unintentionally shutting down others by always jumping in first

• Failing to listen – listening to respond instead of listening to understand

• Withholding recognition – assuming appreciation is implied rather than expressed

• Refusing to apologize – protecting ego at the expense of trust

These behaviors are rarely intentional—and often invisible to the leader—but they have a cumulative effect on culture, engagement, and trust.

Awareness alone is not enough. In this episode, I introduce a practical framework leaders can use to move from insight to action:

1. Notice the pattern – identify when and where the behavior shows up

2. Understand the cost – shift from intent to impact

3. Choose one behavior to work on – focus creates momentum

4. Replace, don't just remove – intentionally practice a new behavior

Leadership growth at this level is not about adding more skills; it's about letting go of habits that no longer serve.

What is one behavior that once helped you succeed but may now be limiting your leadership impact?

As leaders, we often measure growth by outcomes - titles, achievements, and wins we can point to. But real leadership growth rarely feels linear. More often, it happens in the uncomfortable space between who we were and who we are becoming.

In this reflective year-end episode, Dr. JBT introduces the practice of reflecting forward—looking back with honesty, not to dwell, but to learn and lead with greater intention. Drawing from a year shaped by personal loss, professional headwinds, and meaningful leadership lessons, she explores how vulnerability, trust, and discomfort can become catalysts for growth rather than signs of failure.

This episode invites you to pause, reflect, and consider how the experiences of the past year are shaping the leader you are becoming next.

Use these questions to guide your own year-end reflection or to prompt conversation with your team:

• Who was I as a leader at the beginning of this year?

• What strengths did I rely on the most?

• What moments stretched me the most—and what did they reveal about my leadership?

• Where did discomfort signal growth rather than failure?

• What leadership habits or instincts no longer serve me?

• Who am I becoming as a leader—and what behaviors must align with that future?

Whether you're closing out a challenging year or preparing for a season of change ahead, this episode will help you reflect with purpose and move forward with clarity.

Who are you becoming as a leader and are your daily choices aligned with that future?

In this episode of Leadership & Learning with Dr. JBT, we unpack one of the four "I's" of transformational leadership: Intellectual Stimulation. This practice isn't about proving you're the smartest person in the room; it's about creating the environment where the best thinking can emerge.

When leaders dominate conversations or rush to provide answers, teams quickly retreat. Ideas fade. Innovation slows. And people stop taking ownership because they assume the leader already has the "right" solution. But when leaders shift from "I must know" to "We will figure this out together," everything changes: engagement rises, confidence grows, and teams begin to think more boldly.

In this episode, we explore what it looks like to cultivate curiosity, welcome experimentation, and normalize learning through trial and error. You'll hear real stories of team members developing their own solutions, discovering better processes, and gaining clarity not because they were told what to do but because they were empowered to think.

• Ask better questions that unlock deeper thinking

• Invite ideas early, rather than after decisions are made

• Celebrate effort and experimentation, not just perfect outcomes

• Model curiosity by admitting you don't have all the answers

• Respond to new ideas in ways that encourage more of them

These small shifts create psychological safety and help build a culture where people are willing to try, refine, and grow. Intellectual Stimulation isn't about expertise — it's about empowerment. It's about strengthening the thinkers on your team, not just the doers.

When was the last time you said, "That's a great idea — let's try it"?
If it's been a while, this episode will help you reignite curiosity and multiply the intelligence around you.

If today's message resonated, share the episode with a colleague or someone you mentor. Let's keep building leaders who create environments where curiosity thrives and excellence follows.

Leadership & Learning with Dr. JBT 

In this episode of Leadership & Learning with Dr. JBT, we explore one of the most powerful frameworks for elevating leadership beyond task management — The Four I's of Transformational Leadership:

Idealized Influence, Inspirational Motivation, Intellectual Stimulation, and Individualized Consideration.

If you've ever wondered how to inspire deeper commitment, strengthen culture, or fuel real change, these Four I's offer a practical roadmap for doing just that.

• How Idealized Influence helps leaders model the behaviors they want to see

• Why Inspirational Motivation connects everyday work to purpose, hope, and shared vision

• How Intellectual Stimulation builds a culture of curiosity, innovation, and safe experimentation

• Why Individualized Consideration is essential for coaching, developing, and caring for people as individuals

Transformational leadership isn't about doing more; it's about leading with intention. When leaders model their values, share the "why," encourage new ideas, and invest in people, they create meaningful culture shifts that last.

Choose one of the Four I's to intentionally practice:
Model → Inspire → Stretch → Care

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a colleague or someone you mentor. Let's keep growing leaders who lead with purpose and create impact that endures.

Subscribe, review, and stay connected — Leadership & Learning with Dr. JBT.

In this episode of Leadership & Learning with Dr. JBT, we explore a question every leader should ask:

What legacy am I building...today?

Inspired by the retirement celebration of John, a colleague and friend whose leadership has exemplified humility, consistency, and deeply lived values, this episode examines how the small choices we make each day shape the way people experience us, and ultimately, how they will remember us.  

Legacy isn't formed at the end of a career.
Legacy is created in real time.
And whether we recognize it or not, we're writing our legacy in every meeting, every decision, every conversation, every moment of pressure, and every act of grace.

• How retirement celebrations reveal the true legacy a leader leaves behind

• Why daily decisions matter more than major accomplishments

• The difference between claiming values and living values

• A powerful reflection question:
  If your retirement party were today, what would you want people to say about you?

You don't build a legacy at the end.
You build it every day.
In the quiet choices no one sees, and in the consistent behaviors everyone feels.

Take five minutes today to reflect on the legacy you want to leave, and one step you can take right now to move toward the leader you want to become.

In this episode, Dr. JBT explores one of the most overlooked and most powerful dimensions of leadership: lateral influence.

New leaders often focus on leading their direct reports. But as you rise through the organization, your success depends less on positional authority and more on your ability to collaborate, align, and build trust with your peers.

Dr. JBT unpacks why leading across is just as important as leading down, and how strong peer relationships shape decision-making, culture, and overall organizational health. Through personal stories, practical insights, and a real example from her own leadership team, she illustrates how lateral leadership transforms competition into collaboration and silos into synergy.

• Why your first team isn't the one you lead; it's the peers you lead alongside.

• How rising in leadership increases your reliance on cross-departmental relationships.

• What happens when peers align around shared priorities instead of competing ones.

• Why lateral influence is essential when you have no authority, only trust and credibility.

• The subtle but powerful ways silos create friction, and how relationships dissolve them.

• Be Curious, Not Competitive
  Learn your peers' goals, challenges, and pressures before pushing your own priorities.

• Assume Positive Intent
  Most peers aren't resisting you; they're advocating for their teams. Start from trust.

• Share Credit Generously
  Celebrate collaboration. Name contributions. Build partnership over rivalry.

• Create Space to Connect
  Leadership happens in hallway conversations, coffee chats, and real friendships.

Your peers are not obstacles to navigate; they are partners in achieving the mission. When you strengthen those relationships, you strengthen your influence, your leadership, and your entire organization.

In this Thanksgiving-week episode of Leadership & Learning, Dr. Jamie Brownlee-Turgeon explores what she calls the Gratitude Gap—the distance between what leaders feel and what they actually express. As the holiday season fills our schedules and drains our emotional bandwidth, even the most appreciative leaders can unintentionally slip into "gratitude silence," assuming people know they're valued while racing from meeting to meeting and goal to goal.

Jamie unpacks why this happens, how silence from a leader can be misinterpreted as indifference, and the real cost of unexpressed gratitude—lower engagement, increased burnout, and the slow erosion of trust. She also shares honest reflections from her own leadership journey and highlights what changes when leaders intentionally acknowledge the work and heart of their teams: belonging grows, motivation rises, and trust deepens.

The episode closes with simple, sustainable practices to close the Gratitude Gap, from micro-moments of appreciation to weekly habits that take less than ten minutes. Jamie challenges listeners to choose just one gratitude action this month, reminding us that "gratitude unspoken is gratitude wasted," and that the people we lead deserve to know they matter.

When Words Cross a Line

In this episode of Leadership & Learning with Dr. JBT, Jamie shares two powerful leadership stories — one she wishes she could redo and one she's proud of — both centered around how to handle moments when someone says something inappropriate, rude, or disrespectful in the workplace.

These moments can catch any leader off guard. Do you address it immediately? Do you let it go? What's the right balance between confidence and composure?

Through her honest storytelling, Jamie invites listeners to reflect on their own leadership reactions and discover how humility, curiosity, and calmness can turn tense interactions into opportunities for growth and understanding.

• You're not alone. Every leader faces difficult or disrespectful moments, even experienced ones.

• Pause before reacting. You don't have to "win" the moment. Sometimes, ending a meeting or taking a break is the most powerful move you can make.

• Be comfortable with awkward. Growth and respect often start in uncomfortable conversations.

• Stay calm and curious. When emotions run high, choose to listen first. Curiosity disarms defensiveness.

• It's not always about you. People's frustration often stems from something deeper — loss, change, or misalignment — not necessarily your leadership.

• Ask, "Could it be me?" Humility opens the door to understanding.

1. When was the last time someone said something disrespectful or hurtful to you at work? How did you respond?

2. How comfortable are you with awkward silence or resistance in meetings?

3. What might change if, instead of reacting, you paused to ask, "What's really going on here?"

"You can't control what someone else says or does, but you can control your composure. Sometimes, what sounds like defiance is really disappointment, and what feels like conflict might just be a cry for clarity."
— Dr. Jamie J. Brownlee-Turgeon

If you've ever been caught off guard by a team member's words, this episode will remind you that leadership isn't about being perfect, it's about being prepared to learn.

Podcast: Leadership & Learning with Dr. JBT

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Dr. Jamie J. Brownlee-Turgeon explores what real advocacy looks like in the workplace, and why saying there's a need isn't enough. Too often, "advocacy" stops at awareness or conversation, when true advocacy requires evidence, effort, and follow-through.

Dr. JBT shares why she has a love-hate relationship with the word advocate, how leaders can move from talking about challenges to acting on them, and why the best advocates, at every level, combine conviction with data and persistence. Using real leadership examples, she unpacks how advocacy reveals what people value most and how great leaders listen beyond the complaint to solve for those values.

Key Takeaways:

• Advocacy isn't about noise; it's about movement.

• The best advocates support their case with data, clarity, and alignment to institutional goals.

• True advocacy is intentional: it's communication and action.

• Leaders must create cultures where advocacy is welcomed, not dismissed as a complaint.

• "People complain about that which they value" — listen for what matters most, not just what's said loudest.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where in your organization are you waiting for someone else to advocate for you — instead of taking action yourself?

2. How can you strengthen your advocacy through evidence, collaboration, and follow-through?

3. As a leader, how can you create an environment where people feel empowered to move from talking about the need to meeting the need?

Memorable Quote:

"Advocacy without action is noise. Advocacy with action creates progress." — Dr. JBT

Listen, Reflect, Lead.
🔗 Tune in to learn how to transform your advocacy into action and your action into impact.

In this episode, Dr. JBT shares a deeply personal leadership story about a season in her career when she felt completely underwater. The story begins with a moment in her office — a team member sighs, "I need a snorkel." That simple statement sparks a memory from over a decade ago, when Jamie herself was newly promoted into a role that felt like moving from a step stool to a 20-foot ladder. Everything was new. Everything was hard. And every day, she felt like she needed a snorkel just to breathe.

Through this story, Jamie unpacks two powerful leadership metaphors — the snorkel and the goggles — and how they shaped her growth and perspective as a leader.

• The Snorkel: Why feeling underwater isn't failure — it's where resilience, grit, and growth are built.

• The Goggles: How narrowing your focus helps you see clearly amid distractions and competing priorities.

• The Reality of Growth: Leadership isn't about always being in control. It's about learning to breathe and see clearly even when the water feels rough.

"Great leaders aren't the ones who never struggle; they're the ones who learn how to breathe and see clearly while they do."

Growth rarely happens in calm, shallow waters. It happens when you're stretched, uncertain, and learning to stay afloat. So if you're in deep water right now — breathe, focus, and keep going. You're becoming the kind of leader who thrives in the deep end.

Have you ever worked hard, looked around, and thought, "Wait… this doesn't feel fair"? That reaction is more than frustration; it's a human response rooted in Equity Theory.

In this episode of Leadership & Learning with Dr. JBT, we dig into why fairness matters so deeply and what leaders can do about it. I unpack the ways employees respond when work feels inequitable — from pulling back effort to negotiating for better outcomes, reframing their mindset, finding new comparisons, or even quitting altogether.

You'll learn:

• What equity theory is and why it matters for engagement and retention.

• Five common ways people respond when they feel work isn't fair.

• How leaders can communicate decisions clearly and head off frustration.

• Practical tips for showing appreciation and inviting honest dialogue about fairness.

Whether you're leading a team or reflecting on your own work, this episode will help you spot inequity early and restore balance before great talent walks away.

🎧 Listen now and join me in building a culture of trust, transparency, and motivation.

In this second conversation with Dr. Ian Slater, we go deeper into what it means to lead with care and why doing the foundational work early matters so much. Dr. Slater shares how intentionally investing in relationships and trust on the front end equips leaders to navigate the harder, more honest conversations that inevitably come.

We explore:

• Building Trust Before It's Tested — why investing in authentic relationships creates space for healthy dialogue when challenges arise.

• Inviting Truth Into Our Leadership — how asking trusted colleagues to speak honestly into your leadership helps you see blind spots and grow.

• Courageous Vulnerability — why leaders must be willing to truly hear hard feedback and embrace the discomfort that leads to real transformation.

This episode is a reminder that caring leadership isn't soft; it's intentional, relational, and courageous. When we prepare the ground with trust and openness, we create space for meaningful growth and stronger teams.

💡 Reflection Prompt:

• Who do you trust to speak truth into your leadership?

• How can you strengthen relationships now so that hard conversations later feel safe and productive?

In this episode of Leadership & Learning, Dr. Ian Slater shares his perspective on caring leadership—a style of leading that is deeply relational, self-aware, and committed to the growth of others. He reminds us that leadership is not static; it is dynamic, evolving, and episodic, shaped by seasons of life and the contexts in which we serve.

Dr. Slater emphasizes the importance of inner leadership, knowing both our strengths and our challenge areas—so that we can lead authentically and bring others to the table. As he puts it, "our leadership should cast more light than shadows," a reminder that while all leaders influence in both directions, the goal is to shine light that helps others thrive.

At its core, leadership is about inviting others into the journey: recognizing their giftedness, creating space for their contributions, and helping them learn and grow. Titles may provide authority, but true leadership is earned through care, humility, and the ability to help others flourish.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why leadership is dynamic, evolving, and shaped by context

• The role of inner leadership in knowing your strengths and growth areas

• How to cast more light than shadows through authentic influence

• Why caring leadership is about bringing others along, not leading from title alone

About Dr. Ian Slater
Dr. Ian Slater is a thoughtful leader, educator, and mentor with deep experience in guiding individuals and organizations through growth and transformation. His insights challenge us to lead with care, authenticity, and a commitment to helping others thrive.

Episode Summary
In this second part of my conversation with Dr. Ava Jones, we dive deep into the heart of leading change. Dr. Jones reminds us that effective change leadership isn't about systems, strategies, or checklists first; it's about people. At the foundation of it all is trust: leaders must genuinely care for their people if they expect them to step into change with confidence and commitment.

Dr. Jones challenges us to consider three critical practices that make change not only possible but sustainable:

1. Highlighting What is Not Changing – Amid uncertainty, teams need anchors. Dr. Jones calls this focusing on "what endures." By naming the values, mission, or cultural commitments that remain steady, leaders create security and stability during transitions.

2. Inviting Co-Creation – Change is most successful when it is not dictated to people but developed with them. Dr. Jones shares how leaders can invite their teams to become co-creators of the change process, sparking ownership, innovation, and shared accountability.

3. Building Trust through Care – Trust isn't built in a single conversation; it's earned through consistent actions that show people they are valued. Dr. Jones emphasizes that when leaders demonstrate care, they create the conditions where teams will follow them, even through uncertainty.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why clarity about "what endures" provides stability during times of change

• Practical ways to communicate both continuity and transformation

• How to move from top-down mandates to shared co-creation with your team

• Why trust and genuine care are non-negotiable for lasting change

About Dr. Ava Jones
Dr. Ava Jones is a respected leader and voice in organizational transformation. With years of experience guiding institutions through growth and transition, she offers practical wisdom for leaders navigating complexity while keeping people at the core.

Welcome back to Leadership and Learning with Dr. JBT.

In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Ava Jones, a Senior Workforce Transformation Consultant whose career spans over 25 years of leading large-scale change across healthcare, higher education, banking, non-profits, and federal systems—including the Department of Defense, Navy Medicine, and the Veterans Health Administration.

Dr. Jones holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, along with deep expertise in culture, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. She is widely recognized for her ability to translate workforce data into decisions that drive performance and long-term transformation. She designs and facilitates executive workshops, authors thought leadership, and delivers keynote presentations that define best practices in leadership and employee experience.

In this first part of our conversation, Dr. Jones shares powerful insights on authentic leadership, with a focus on:

• Moral Courage — making decisions based on values, not convenience.

• People First Leadership — why caring for people is the cornerstone of authentic leadership.

• Authenticity in Action — how leaders can align values, behavior, and culture to create trust and transformation.

Her perspective is both practical and inspiring, reminding us that leadership is less about position and more about character and consistency.

🔗 Tune in now to hear Part 1 of this conversation with Dr. Jones, and discover what it means to lead with courage, authenticity, and a people-first mindset.

💭 Question for you: How do you ensure your leadership decisions are driven by values rather than convenience?

In this episode of Leadership and Learning with Dr. JBT, we dig into one of the trickiest skills for leaders to master: delegation.

Handing off tasks isn't enough. True delegation is about empowering people with clarity, structure, and trust. But as I learned the hard way, how we provide feedback after delegating can make or break the process.

I share a personal story about what one of my team members called my "seagull effect," swooping in on a project mid-flight, leaving untimely feedback, and flying away. It was a wake-up call that shifted how I approach delegation.

We'll unpack three key practices to avoid the seagull effect and delegate with impact:

1. Give Clear Direction Upfront – Define the "why," clarify expectations, and outline decision-making authority.

2. Agree on Checkpoints – Build intentional touchpoints that provide support without micromanaging.

3. Provide Confidence-Building Feedback – Refine work with encouragement that strengthens trust and ownership.

Key Takeaway: Great leaders don't swoop in to critique; they delegate with clarity, support, and feedback that empowers their teams to soar.

🎧 Listen in to learn how you can turn delegation into a tool for growth, not frustration.

In this episode of Leadership and Learning with Dr. JBT, we explore one of the most overlooked but critical parts of leadership: how to manage participation in meetings.

Too often, leaders walk away from meetings wondering:

• Why did only a few people speak?

• Were others disengaged?

• Did the louder voices dominate while others stayed silent?

Here's the truth: people want to participate. But not everyone knows how, and it's the leader's role to create the conditions where every voice can be heard.

In this episode, Dr. JBT breaks down four common reasons people don't participate in meetings:

1. The same person always talks first.

2. Some people need processing time before they're ready to share.

3. Others hesitate because they're not sure their ideas are "good enough."

4. Someone dominates the discussion and takes up all the oxygen in the room.

You'll hear practical strategies to address each of these barriers, from setting expectations and allowing silence, to modeling vulnerability, and even interrupting respectfully when necessary. Dr. JBT also speaks directly to the "offenders" in the room with simple reminders that can transform the way meetings run.

"What's one change I can make to draw out more voices in the room?"

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, I explore a challenge every leader faces: balancing the urgent demands of working in the business with the strategic responsibility of working on the business.

Too often, leaders get caught in "firefighter mode", constantly putting out emergencies, solving day-to-day problems, and reacting to what's right in front of them. While necessary at times, this approach can leave little space for vision, prevention, and long-term growth.

That's where the mindset of the fire marshal comes in. Instead of reacting to every blaze, the fire marshal anticipates risks, puts systems in place, and creates the conditions that reduce the number of fires in the first place.

In this conversation, I unpack how leaders can:

• Recognize when they're stuck in firefighting

• Create space to think strategically and proactively

• Build systems that prevent issues before they arise

• Lead their teams with a balance of responsiveness and foresight

Whether you're leading a team, a division, or an entire organization, learning when to be the firefighter and when to be the fire marshal can transform how you lead and how your organization thrives.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Alby Salsa, Founder & CEO of Raven Eye Consulting, we dive deeper into what it means to lead boldly in today's world of higher education and beyond.

Alby challenges us to embrace unconstrained thinking by breaking free from self-imposed limits and imagining what's truly possible when we remove the barriers we place on ourselves and our teams. He also unpacks the dangers of leading from the shadows, reminding us that effective leadership requires courage, visibility, and intentional presence.

We also discuss the importance of personal branding. Why putting yourself out there isn't just about self-promotion, but about owning your story, amplifying your values, and modeling authenticity for others.

Whether you're an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this episode will push you to think bigger, step into the light, and lead with confidence.

Failing Fast, Putting People First, and Unlocking Hidden Strengths with Alby Salsa

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, I sit down with Alby Salsa, Founder and CEO of Raven Eye, and a thought leader in higher education enrollment and student success.

Alby brings more than 20 years of experience guiding institutions in building enrollment teams, designing large-scale student coaching programs, and strengthening retention. His leadership journey has included roles as Regional Vice President at InsideTrack, Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Operations at Brandman University, and Senior Director of Enrollment and Retention at Blackboard. Today, through Raven Eye and his podcast Going the Distance, he continues to shape best practices that impact learners nationwide.

Our conversation explores:

• Failing Fast: Why speed and learning matter more than perfection.

• People First Leadership: Start with your people.

• Overcoming Self-Doubt: How to unlock what's already within you.

• The Row Team Analogy: What rowing teaches us about team placement, alignment, and the difference between winning and losing.

Whether you're leading a team, navigating higher education, or simply seeking ways to bring out the best in people, Alby's insights will challenge and inspire you.

🔗 Listen now and join the conversation on how we can lead with care, confidence, and strategy.

In this episode of Leadership and Learning with Dr. JBT, I sit down with Tyler Maskiewicz, a leader who thrives in a matrix structure where influence, collaboration, and vision are essential. Unlike traditional vertical leadership, Tyler leads horizontally, working across teams and functions to align people toward shared goals.

Tyler shares how he:

• Builds rapport and trust to gain momentum when he doesn't hold direct authority.

• Uses stakeholder mapping and a deep understanding of his audience to move projects forward.

• Casts a compelling vision of what's possible to inspire others to invest time and energy.

• Approaches conversations with intentionality, knowing that when he shows up, he's often asking people to take on more work.

This conversation is a masterclass in the power of influence over authority. Tyler reminds us that in complex organizations, leadership isn't about titles; it's about relationships, strategy, and the ability to move people toward a shared future.

Tune in to learn practical ways to strengthen your influence, especially if you lead across functions, roles, and priorities.

Episode 16: Spokesperson, Disseminator, Liaison

Communication is one of the most vital skills for any leader, yet one of the most challenging. In this episode, Dr. JBT explores three essential dimensions of leadership communication: downward, upward, and across.

• Disseminator (Downward): As a leader, your team depends on you to share information that helps them succeed. Think of yourself as a lighthouse keeper - shining light on what's ahead so your team can navigate with clarity and confidence. Without that light, confusion and frustration set in.

• Spokesperson (Upward): Your team needs you to be their microphone - amplifying their accomplishments, advocating for resources, and voicing their challenges so decision-makers hear them. If you don't speak up for your team, who will?

• Liaison (Across): No team operates in isolation. Organizations are interconnected systems, much like the digestive system of the body. Each part must work together or the whole suffers. Leaders must communicate across functions, share insights, and align strategies to prevent breakdowns and inefficiencies.

Through powerful analogies and real-life examples, Dr. JBT shows why these three roles are non-negotiable for effective leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Be a lighthouse: Shine clarity and build trust through consistent dissemination.

• Be a microphone: Amplify your team's voice to secure recognition and resources.

• Be a system-thinker: Act as a liaison to strengthen interdependence across teams.

Leadership is about more than managing tasks; it's about stewarding communication to empower people and strengthen the whole organization.

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, Dr. JBT gets personal and shares her own massive fear of heights, and what it taught her about leadership.

Leadership isn't about avoiding discomfort; it's about moving forward even when fear is present. Whether it's making tough decisions, stepping into new responsibilities, or leading change, we all face moments that feel daunting.

Dr. JBT explores how leaning on colleagues, mentors, and other experienced leaders can provide the support and confidence we need to keep climbing (sometimes literally!). Facing fear doesn't make it disappear, but it does strengthen resilience, courage, and confidence in our leadership.

• Leadership often means doing the uncomfortable thing anyway.

• Fear is a normal part of growth—what matters is how we respond.

• Relying on peers and mentors can transform fear into confidence.

• Facing fears builds stronger, more resilient leaders.

Tune in and reflect: What fears are holding you back, and how might stepping into them grow your leadership?

In this second conversation with leadership scholar and practitioner Dr. Scott, we dive into the power of Stay Interviews, and why embracing the reality that your team members may not always be with you is not only okay, but healthy. Dr. Scott shares how great leaders see their role as helping people prepare for their next step, even if that journey takes them beyond your organization.

We explore what it means to be a 21st century leader, one who invests in others, actively seeks out mentors, and understands that leadership is about multiplying impact through people. Whether you're leading a small team or an entire organization, this episode will inspire you to approach leadership with an open hand, a growth mindset, and a commitment to the long-term success of those you serve.

Key Takeaways:

• How Stay Interviews can strengthen trust and retention

• Why it's okay (and even rewarding) when people grow beyond your organization

• What defines a successful 21st century leader

• The importance of both mentoring others and finding mentors for yourself

Episode 13: Building a Leadership Philosophy & Earning Trust – with Dr. Scott

In this episode of Leadership and Learning with Dr. JBT, I'm joined by Dr. Scott, a respected leadership practitioner and scholar, for an inspiring conversation about what it really takes to lead with authenticity and integrity.

We explore:

• Why every leader needs a personal leadership philosophy, and how to build one that aligns with your values and vision.

• Practical ways to earn trust in the workplace and sustain it over time.

• How trust and clarity in leadership philosophy create healthier, more engaged teams.

Whether you're an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this episode will help you clarify your own leadership approach and strengthen the trust that fuels your team's success.

As leaders, we're constantly making decisions, but are we making them the right way? In this episode, Dr. JBT introduces a practical framework for making smarter, more inclusive decisions using the Vroom-Jago-Yetten decision-making model.

You'll learn how to assess when to decide on your own, when to consult a few trusted voices, and when to fully engage or even delegate to your team. From quick top-down calls to full team ownership, this continuum-based approach can help you lead with intention while balancing time, expertise, and buy-in.

In this episode, we explore:

• The 5 approaches for decision-making and when to use each

• 3 key questions to guide your decision-making process:

  1. Who holds the information or expertise?

  2. Is buy-in essential for implementation?

  3. Is this decision time-sensitive?

• How to manage conflicting priorities (time vs. buy-in, expertise vs. authority)

Whether you're a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this episode will help you pause, assess, and choose the best decision-making approach for your context.

#Leadership #DecisionMaking #InclusiveLeadership #TeamEngagement #LeadershipAndLearning #DrJBT

In this episode, Dr. JBT explores a leadership essential: transparency. While transparency builds trust and respect, sharing information without the right context can create confusion, frustration, and even resistance.

Through two real-life examples, one that caused misalignment and another that led to team buy-in, Dr. JBT breaks down the importance of timing, communication method, and stakeholder involvement when sharing decisions.

Key takeaways:

• Why when and how you share information matters as much as what you share

• How to prevent misinterpretation by involving your team early

• The power of 1x1s, strategic timing, and feedback loops in the decision-making process

• Practical questions to ask before sharing updates with your team

If you've ever struggled with how much to say, when to say it, or how to say it, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, I talk about the value of stepping away from daily routines to invest in your team. Whether it's a two-day retreat or a two-hour off-site, intentional time together can strengthen relationships, spark growth, and create space for strategy.

I share how I structure our annual leadership retreat around three goals: education, team building, and strategic planning. From using books to prompt reflection, to incorporating fun activities and honest dialogue, these moments help transform individuals into a stronger team. Even small efforts can go a long way if they're done with purpose.

If you're planning your own team retreat—or even just brainstorming how to build connection and strategy into your meetings—I'd love to hear what you're trying or help you think through it. Feel free to reach out at drjbt.leadership@gmail.com.

I've included a list of past books we've used at our retreats—great options if you're looking to inspire your team.

Retreat Reading List:

• Inclusify by Stephanie K. Johnson, Ph.D.

• Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

• The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling

• Think Again by Adam Grant

• The Prepared Leader by Erika H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten

• The Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, I'm talking about something I'm deeply passionate about—inspiring your team.

Inspiration is one of those leadership buzzwords that's often talked about but rarely broken down into something practical. So I take a step back and ask: When was the last time you were inspired by a leader? What did they do? What did they say? I walk you through how reflecting on your own experiences—good and bad—can help you build your own approach to inspiring others.

I share the story of a past leader who shaped the way I lead today, and how her storytelling still motivates me decades later. I also get personal about my own efforts to become a more effective storyteller—how I've studied, practiced, and refined the craft to better connect with my team.

Then, I bring you into a real-life example of how we brought inspiration to life in my department: through a fall road trip theme. It included vision-setting, shared goals, a wall of wins, ice cream (yes, really), and—most importantly—ownership and creativity from team leaders who made the vision meaningful for their own people.

The truth is, numeric goals alone don't inspire—but vision, storytelling, celebration, and personal connection do.

So here's my challenge for you: reflect on what inspires you—and then go try it with your team. Start today. Don't wait for the perfect moment or the perfect words. Put in the time. Be intentional. And yes, have some fun along the way.

Want to share what's worked for you? Reach out anytime at drjbt.leadership@gmail.com

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, I unpack one of the most critical dynamics leaders face during times of change: understanding how your team feels about what you're asking them to do.

I introduce a simple but powerful framework, a mindset continuum: Committed, Compliant, and Resistant. Each group requires a different approach, and as a leader, your job is to identify where your team members fall and respond accordingly. I share how I literally map this out for myself, and then offer practical strategies I've used to shift people from resistant to compliant, and from compliant to committed.

You'll hear real stories of how listening to concerns, involving influential team members, and celebrating early wins helped me lead smoother change, and even improved the process along the way. I also talk about the reality that not everyone will come along for the ride, and why that's okay.

If you're leading change, or about to, this episode will give you tactical steps to better understand your team's mindset and lead with greater clarity and intention.

In this special episode, I share a tribute to my father, who passed away suddenly last month. I had always hoped to have him as a guest on this podcast, and while that moment never came, I wanted to honor him by sharing the three core lessons he lived by—lessons that shaped who I am as a leader and a person.

My dad wasn't a leader by title, but he led through quiet influence. He believed deeply in three things:

1. Know everyone's name – because people feel seen.

2. Practice active listening – because people need to feel heard.

3. Joy is a choice – and we have the power to choose it every day.

In this episode, I reflect on the stories, values, and impact my father had—not just on me and my sisters, but on everyone who knew him. This one is personal. It's for anyone who has been shaped by the quiet strength of someone who led with love.

Happy Father's Day, Dad. This one's for you.

In this episode, I explore the concept of the invisible door—when a leader's body language, tone, or reactions unintentionally shut down communication, even if their physical door is open. An open-door policy only works if people truly feel safe walking through it.

Through personal stories from the workplace, the classroom, and even my own home, I share how small moments and everyday responses can either build or break psychological safety. When we dismiss feedback, react harshly, or avoid tough conversations, we miss out on valuable insights and trust.

Creating space for feedback, questions, and disagreement—without judgment or penalty—is essential to a thriving team.

As leaders, it's our responsibility to open the invisible door—and keep it open.

In this episode, I dive into the concept of emotional contagion—specifically, how emotions can spread in the workplace, often without us even realizing it. I explore how the emotions of just one person, especially a leader, can deeply influence the emotional state of others, for better or worse.
That's why self-awareness isn't just a nice-to-have for leaders anymore—it's essential. Today, being an effective leader requires both a strong sense of self and the ability to regulate your emotions. I talk about how our moods, body language, and overall presence can quietly shift the atmosphere in a room or across an entire team.
I also share a few real-world examples of how both positive and negative emotions can ripple through a group—even when those emotions aren't directly communicated. Whether it's a silent tension or a quiet confidence, people pick up on it. As leaders, it's our responsibility to recognize our emotional patterns, understand our "tells," and intentionally work to minimize the spread of negativity. Emotional contagion is real, and our teams feel it—so we need to lead with intentionality and emotional discipline.

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, I dive into a topic that I believe every leader needs to take seriously: career counseling. As leaders, it's no longer optional—we must take the time to invest in our employees' career aspirations. When we stop to truly listen to what our team members want in their careers, and we make intentional efforts to support that growth, we create more than just a workplace—we create an environment where people feel valued and motivated.
I talk about the joy that comes from watching others grow and thrive. Whether it's offering stretch assignments, mentoring conversations, or just asking thoughtful questions about their future goals, we have the power to shape a culture of professional development. And here's the key—when people feel like their leaders care about their long-term success, they're more likely to stay, contribute, and push themselves to grow.
Tune in as I share practical ways to start these conversations and why this kind of investment pays off—for both your team and your organization.

In this episode, I explore the different forces that impact motivation—from organizational policies to personal life challenges and leadership behaviors. We'll talk openly about how things like pay, flexibility, and remote work shape the way people show up—and why leaders need to feel comfortable addressing these topics, even if they don't control them. I also dive into the personal side: child care, life events, and the unseen struggles that affect focus and drive. And finally, I reflect on the leader's role in fostering motivation through kindness, appreciation, and trust. Sometimes, a single encouraging moment can be the reason someone stays. Tune in for practical reminders and real talk on what really fuels your team's motivation.

In this episode, I dive into one of the most misunderstood concepts in leadership: motivation. We often label employees as "unmotivated," but the truth is—everyone is motivated by something. The real question is: in what direction is that motivation going? As leaders, it's our responsibility to understand what drives our team members, whether it's career goals, personal challenges, or something entirely different. I talk about how we can shift our mindset to focus on alignment instead of judgment, and why recognizing the direction of someone's motivation can be the difference between disengagement and high performance.

In this brief introduction, discover what this podcast is all about. Join me as we explore the journeys of inspiring leaders, uncover valuable insights, and share stories that motivate and educate.

Whether you're an aspiring leader or a seasoned professional, this podcast offers something for everyone.