Leadership Elevation: Mastering the Human Element – Details, episodes & analysis

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Sarah Smart and Sofia Whelan about how AI and automation are reshaping the way companies think about talent. Sarah Smart has over 20 years of leadership experience in Talent Acquisition at companies like Hilton Worldwide, Accenture, and JPMorgan Chase. During her career, Sarah has led global teams in the adoption of Generative AI-enabled technologies, new HCMS, and new processes that transform and align organizations to the new expectations in HR. In her most recent role, Sarah led the Product Organization for Talent Acquisition at JPMorgan Chase as well as leading the Chase Recruiting Organization. Sarah is also a founding member of the Human Centric AI Council, launched in 2025, shaping what human-centric AI looks like in HR. Sofia Whelan brings over 16 years of global HR transformation experience. She has a strong passion and deep focus on translating HR trends into programs that drive business value. During her time at Deloitte as a Human Capital consultant, she excelled at providing advice and implementation services related to HR Technology Strategy, Operating Models/ Org Design and Vendor Selections, as well as Transformation Execution and Change Management for a wide range of companies, including Google, Disney, Ab- Inbev, Pfizer and more. Prior to starting HorizonHuman Sofia led the design and delivery of a Product Operating Model and Skills Strategy at JPMorgan Chase.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Jim Frawley about how executives and HR leaders can adapt to change. Jim Frawley is an expert in change management and organizational development, and the founder of the Bellwether Method. Jim is a renowned keynote speaker, the host of Jim's Take the podcast, a big-time reader, small-time triathlete, and full-time father and husband. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Denise Brown about her book, THE FAIRY GOD DOCTOR’S GUIDE TO A GOOD LIFE: A Prescription For The Working Woman. Denise Brown, MD, has over three decades of experience as a physician, CEO, and Chief Strategy Officer. She is a transformation leader who helps women in business learn how to prioritize and avoid stress and burnout. A thought leader in self-care for working women, Brown is a graduate of The University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine, with training at Stanford and Vanderbilt. She resides in Austin, TX with her husband and children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with David Wentworth about the disconnect between employers and their frontline workforce. David Wentworth (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmwentworth) is vice president of learning and talent development platform evangelist at Schoox. Wentworth brings more than a decade of knowledge to the company, including a deep understanding of the workplace technology industry, with an emphasis on learning and development (L&D). Prior to Schoox, Wentworth served as principal learning and development analyst for Brandon Hall Group and was a senior research analyst with Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Divya Ghatak about the viability of hybrid work models and leadership approaches to sustain operational efficiency and team morale. Divya Ghatak (https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-ghatak-45b55a1/)is the Chief People Officer of SentinelOne, leading the organization’s People, Talent, Foundation, and Workplace functions. She has enabled the company’s hypergrowth and expansion plans while strengthening an amazing company culture through purposeful hiring that prioritizes talent, experience, diversity, and culture fit for all candidates. Prior to SentinelOne, Divya was Global VP of People at Nevro and CPO at GoodData. She has also held global HR leadership roles at a variety of tech companies, including Cisco and Tavant. Divya received her Master’s in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration from Tata Institute of Social Science and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics with honors from Delhi University.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Daniel Oppong about the greatest challenges and obstacles to creating lasting DEI change in the workplace. Daniel Oppong (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-oppong/) is the Founder of The Courage Collective, a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultancy that takes a strategic, holistic and human centered approach to DEI work. He is also the Founder of Boundless, a platform designed to create access for Black & Brown folks pursuing career opportunities in Marketing, Consulting and Tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Amy Gilliland about how companies can be the solution to the loneliness epidemic. Amy Gilliland (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-gilliland-gdit/) is president of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), a business unit of General Dynamics Corporation. GDIT is a $8.5B global technology enterprise with operations in 30 countries worldwide and 30,000 technologists and services professionals delivering critical mission capabilities across defense, civilian and intelligence agencies. Gilliland has more than 25 years of public sector experience including service in the U.S. Navy and nearly two decades in leadership positions at General Dynamics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Jose Berlanga about wins, losses, and the raw truth about business growth. At only four years old, Jose Berlanga found himself at death’s door following a devastating accident that left his body covered in third-degree burns. Determined not to let tragedies solely define his life story, Jose set out to make a name for himself. Jose has achieved multimillionaire status four distinct times, in four separate industries: an import/export company for machinery for the Petrochemical industry, investments including a chain of Italian coffee bars, a residential construction company, and lastly, land development & construction. Each success was a feat of starting from ground zero and meticulously building his wealth anew. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Mosongo Moukwa about the importance of small moments that build confidence. Over his thirty-year career in senior leadership positions in R & D and operations with global companies, Mosongo Moukwa (linkedin.com/in/mosongomoukwa), PhD, MBA, has helped solve the world’s most important innovation challenges. His transformational leadership style has left a legacy of increased profitability and growth at some of the world’s top brands—including as vice president of global technology at SC Johnson, vice president of global technology at Reichhold, and vice president of technology at Asian Paints. He is currently President at Hathaway Advanced Materials. He is the author of the bestseller “Be a Leader of Significance”. mosongomoukwa.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Rich Russakoff about why CEOs burn out and self sabotage. Rich Russakoff (https://www.linkedin.com/in/richrussakoff/) is an internationally acclaimed business coach, speaker, author, and serial entrepreneur. As President and CEO of ‘Coach to The Best’, Rich guides CEOs and entrepreneurs throughout the world. Rich is always in demand as a speaker, and has spoken at INC Magazine Conferences, the Fortune Growth Summit, The International Franchise Association, and at over 100 other entrepreneurial conferences and workshops throughout the world. He has also been a member of the faculty on the Entrepreneurial Masters Program at MIT for the past 20 years. He writes a daily email called Food For Thought, which is the basis of his books, People, Time & Money: Volume One, published last June, and People, Time & Money: Volume Two which was published in July. He is also the author of How to Make Banks Compete to Lend You Money and the chapter on bank financing in Verne Harnish’s NYT’s bestselling book Rockefeller Habits. Rich’s articles have appeared in CBS Moneywatch, CNN’s Ask the Expert, and the Austin Business Journal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices