Office Hours with David Meltzer

Office Hours #890 | Made From Mistakes | Leadership Under Pressure: Crisis, Culture & the Power of Human-Centered Innovation

Sujay Saha is the Founder and President of Cortico-X, a consulting firm that helps organizations grow through human-centered innovation and experience-driven strategy. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, he has worked with senior executives across industries to improve customer and employee experiences as a way to drive loyalty, profitability, and long-term success. Previously a leader in PwC’s Digital and Customer Strategy practice, Sujay is also the co-creator of the “Return on Experience” concept, which focuses on measuring the business value of meaningful human experiences. He describes himself as an “experience activist,” encouraging businesses to move beyond transactional relationships and create deeper connections with people. Christopher Stitt is a global security expert and CEO of CrisisLead, LLC, with more than 25 years of experience as a Special Agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. Throughout his career, he advised U.S. Ambassadors, Congress members, and the White House while leading emergency planning efforts for embassies and consulates around the world. Chris is also the author of Scaling Pyramids, a book focused on helping professionals lead effectively from within complex organizations, especially from entry- and mid-level positions. In addition, he co-created the Organization Risk Culture Standard (ORCS), a framework that helps organizations align risk management, policies, and workplace culture. Known for his expertise in crisis management and leadership, Chris is also recognized for his adventurous stories and global experiences. Hooman Ghazanfari is a retired fire captain who served for 25 years with the Sacramento Fire Department before transitioning into executive coaching and consulting. Holding a master’s degree in Executive Coaching and Consulting, Hooman has spent more than a decade helping clients around the world gain clarity, improve self-awareness, and overcome personal and professional challenges. Known for his ability to quickly identify the core issue behind complex problems, he combines big-picture thinking with deep personal insight to help individuals and teams grow. Hooman is passionate about creating meaningful conversations that help people better understand themselves and unlock new opportunities for growth and transformation.

Office Hours #889 | The Hidden Future of Business: AI Search, Workplace Burnout & the Rise of US Lacrosse

Dr. Jamie Shapiro is a CEO coach, organizational psychologist, and bestselling author who helps leaders create healthier, stronger, and higher-performing workplace cultures. As the founder and CEO of Connected EC, she works with executives and teams using a whole-person approach to leadership development that combines psychology, coaching, wellness, and performance. Jamie is the author of Brilliant: Be the Leader Who Shines Brightly Without Burning Out and the upcoming book Connected Culture, which focuses on improving leadership, workplace culture, and employee well-being. Through her research and coaching, she emphasizes that leaders must move beyond simply preventing burnout and instead build long-term vitality, trust, and engagement within organizations. Austin Holmes is a Navy Special Operations veteran turned entrepreneur and business strategist who has built multiple successful ventures through grit, adaptability, and systems thinking. From selling homemade salsa in high school to scaling a seven-figure real estate portfolio, Austin’s journey has centered on helping businesses grow strategically. He is now the founder of Signal Raptor, a DIY PR platform designed to help small businesses and entrepreneurs gain media visibility without the high costs of traditional public relations. Austin focuses on how AI search is changing the way consumers discover brands and teaches founders why earned media, authentic storytelling, and visibility are becoming increasingly important in the AI-driven business landscape. Marc Riccio is the CEO of USA Lacrosse, where he leads a 425,000-member organization focused on growing the sport, improving player experiences, and building championship-level national teams. Under his leadership, USA Lacrosse has achieved record revenue growth, expanded its national team program, and won five World Lacrosse championships in the past four years. Marc is also helping guide lacrosse toward its return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, marking the sport’s first Olympic appearance in more than a century. Before joining USA Lacrosse, Marc spent 17 years with the New York Jets and later worked in strategy and organizational growth for major sports organizations, combining business, legal, and athletic experience to help shape the future of lacrosse in the United States.

Office Hours #888 | How to Thrive in Uncertain Times: Adaptive Leadership, Smarter Money Habits & Business Growth Secrets

Max Martina is the President of Cambridge Leadership Associates and a Partner at The Nofsinger Group, where he helps Fortune 100 companies, family businesses, and public organizations navigate change, innovation, and leadership challenges. With more than 20 years of experience in corporate management and startups, including serving as CEO of a water technology company, Max specializes in adaptive leadership and organizational resilience. Drawing from Harvard’s Adaptive Leadership research, he introduced the concept of “Adaptive Intelligence (AQ),” a framework that helps leaders manage uncertainty, AI-driven transformation, and complex business challenges. His work in water technology also helped conserve more than two trillion gallons of water through commercial and industrial applications. Cam Mulvey is the founder of Weekend, a personal finance platform created for Gen Z that focuses on helping people align their money habits with their personal values rather than using traditional guilt-based budgeting methods. After working at J.P. Morgan, Cam realized many financial tools were not connecting with younger generations, which inspired him to build a more relatable and emotionally aware approach to money management. Before launching Weekend, he spent over six months testing the idea through text-message interactions to better understand the financial stress and behaviors of Gen Z users. He also shares insights on entrepreneurship, startup life, and money anxiety through his growing TikTok platform. Jill is the Founder and CEO of Savvy Strategic Partners, a company that provides executive-level support across operations, finance, and revenue to help businesses grow sustainably and increase long-term value. Her team works closely with founder-led businesses to help execute vision, improve scalability, and create more freedom for business owners. Jill is also the author of the upcoming book Unseen Forces: Master the Levers that Power a Value-Savvy Business, releasing in April 2026, which offers practical strategies for leaders who want to build businesses that scale effectively, compound in value, and create lasting success.

IG Live : From Financial Freedom to UFC History: The Secrets Behind Credit Wealth, the Octagon & Life-Changing Innovation

Dub Washington is an entrepreneur, husband, and father of three who is passionate about helping others achieve financial freedom and turn their goals into reality. During the pandemic, he discovered the power of financial literacy, focusing on personal credit, business credit, and investing. By applying these strategies, Dub created a self-funding system that helped him secure more than $260,000 in 90 days and over $2 million in less than two years. Today, he shares his knowledge to help others better understand money, use credit strategically, and build long-term wealth. Rick Sherak is a healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience in the medical diagnostics industry, specializing in leadership, product development, and business growth. In 2024, he became CEO of Exokinetics, where he now leads efforts to expand awareness and access to innovative mobility solutions. Rick and his team are focused on helping children, adults, and Veterans facing challenges with balance, strength, or endurance through a unique mobility device designed to improve independence and quality of life. His career includes leadership roles at Abbott Laboratories, Ventana Medical Systems, and several oncology and startup diagnostics companies. Greg Patschull, also known as “Kazja,” is recognized as one of the behind-the-scenes pioneers who helped shape the modern UFC and preserve the identity of mixed martial arts through the creation and legalization of the Octagon. Before UFC 1 in 1993, Greg introduced the original Octagon structure through his Cage of Rage events, which later inspired the UFC’s iconic fighting environment. He also helped gain approval for the Octagon with athletic commissions during a time when the UFC faced financial and regulatory challenges. Greg now shares the story of how his creation became part of UFC history and even made its way to the White House conversation in a positive and meaningful way.

Office Hours #887 | Made From Mistakes : From Overwhelm to Impact: How Great Leaders Create Transformational Moments in Business, Sales & Life

Bart Berkey is a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and former Ritz-Carlton executive with over 35 years of experience in hospitality, sales, and leadership. He is the founder of Most People Don’t, LLC and host of the podcast Most People Don’t… But YOU Do!, where he teaches practical leadership frameworks that shift interactions from transactional to transformational. His work blends emotional intelligence, storytelling, and real-world application to help people improve how they lead, communicate, and connect by doing what most people don’t. After surviving a heart attack in his 50s, Bart underwent a deep personal reset that reshaped how he defines success and leadership. He now focuses on helping people slow down, be present, and reconnect with others, especially in moments of pressure or overwhelm. His core message, “Be Where Your Feet Are,” emphasizes the power of presence and the “warm welcome” as the foundation of strong relationships in leadership, sales, parenting, and life. Debra Russell is a business coach and speaker with over 20 years of experience helping entrepreneurs in the arts, entertainment, sports, and creative industries turn their passions into profitable, sustainable businesses. She specializes in helping clients systemize their operations, increase productivity, and build businesses that support their lives rather than overwhelm them. Her approach is practical, energetic, and focused on clarity and execution, with speaking experience across global stages including SXSW. Her perspective on productivity was deeply shaped by personal experience, including a chronic illness that left her bedridden for three years and ultimately led her to leave the film industry and become a coach. She later earned her MBA at age 61 and now teaches simple systems designed to eliminate overwhelm, improve decision-making, and help people end their day with clarity and accomplishment rather than unfinished tasks and stress.