Catalysts: The Leaders Shaping the Future of Learning and Growth

Culture Is a Practice: Chris Dyer on Leading with Clarity, Speed, and Trust

What if company culture wasn’t just a set of values on the wall—but a daily operating system? In this episode of Catalysts, Jacob Ratliff sits down with Chris Dyer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdyer7/]—globally recognized leadership speaker, best-selling author, and remote work pioneer—to break down what high-performance culture actually looks like in practice. Chris has been named a Top 50 Global Thought Leader, a #1 Leadership Speaker by Inc. Magazine, and the CEO of one of America’s fastest-growing companies. His message is clear: Culture isn’t a vibe. It’s a system. And leaders have to own it. In this conversation, we explore: * Why most culture efforts fail—and what to do instead * Chris’s 7 Pillars of Culture and how to put them into action * What happens when leaders don’t model clarity and accountability * The secret to balancing speed, trust, and flexibility—especially in remote teams * Why transparency isn’t just ethical—it’s strategic * What new managers and senior execs need to unlearn to lead effectively * How to create cultures of intentional communication, not chaos * Why “culture eats strategy for breakfast”—but only if it’s designed, not assumed If you want your people to move faster, collaborate better, and stick around longer, this episode gives you the blueprint. 🎧 Listen now on Catalysts: The Leaders Shaping the Future of Learning and Growth 🔗 Connect with Chris on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdyer7/] 🌐 chrisdyer.com [https://chrisdyer.com] Connect & Learn More * Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff/] * Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/] * Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here! [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/catalysts-guest-interest/]

Speak the Language of Power: Ash Seddeek on Executive Presence and Strategic Influence

In this episode of Catalysts, Jacob Ratliff sits down with Ash Seddeek [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashseddeek/], founder of Executive Greatness Institute [https://executivegreatness.com], to talk about what it really takes to elevate your executive presence, master influence, and earn trust in the rooms where decisions get made. Ash has coached senior leaders at Amazon, Salesforce, Cisco, and Capital One—and his message is clear: If you can’t communicate with clarity and power, you won’t move the business forward. In this conversation, we dig into: * Why trust is the real currency of leadership—and how to earn it * The difference between executive visibility and self-promotion * What it means to speak the “language of power” without posturing * How to tailor your message to different stakeholders—including the C-suite * The 3 big communication mistakes even smart leaders make * Why being strategic isn’t about talking more—it’s about listening differently * How to break the “curse of knowledge” and communicate for impact, not information * What L&D leaders can do to coach executives through growth moments Ash doesn’t just teach influence—he helps leaders embody it. Whether you’re coaching senior leaders or stepping into bigger visibility yourself, this episode is a masterclass in strategic communication that moves people—and businesses—forward. 🎧 Listen to the full episode on Catalysts: The Leaders Shaping the Future of Learning and Growth 🔗 Connect with Ash: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashseddeek/] | executivegreatness.com [https://executivegreatness.com] Connect & Learn More * Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff/] * Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/] * Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here! [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/catalysts-guest-interest/]

From Cost Center to Business Driver: Andrew Scivally on Rebranding L&D for Impact

If your learning team is still seen as a cost center, this episode will change how you show up. Jacob sits down with Andrew Scivally [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scivally/], CEO of ELB Learning, to explore why L&D’s credibility is suffering—and what it takes to reposition the function as a performance-driven strategic partner. Andrew has worked with Fortune 100s, led L&D at JPMorgan Chase and Zion’s Bank, and now helps learning teams stop building “fluff” and start driving results. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why traditional L&D metrics like completion rates and smile sheets are killing your team’s influence * The language shift needed to earn a seat at the table with executives * How to position L&D as a revenue generator, not just a training team * What it looks like to build onboarding experiences that match your external brand promise * How marketing principles can help you sell the value of learning internally * Why learning professionals need to become business professionals with an expertise in human capital transformation * The connection between needs assessment, strategic planning, and C-suite credibility that ELB is building next to support the future of AI-powered, performance-focused learning 💡 “If you want to be seen as strategic, stop calling yourself a learning team. Call yourself a performance team. That’s what the business actually cares about.” This is a bold, practical, and energizing conversation for any L&D leader ready to step up and be seen as essential to business growth. 🎧 Listen now and get ready to transform how you lead learning: 👉 Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scivally/] 👉 Explore ELB Learning [https://www.elblearning.com] Connect & Learn More * Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff/] * Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/] * Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here! [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/catalysts-guest-interest/]

Leading Through Disruption: Rahul Karan Sharma on Human-Centered Transformation

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Rahul Karan Sharma—organizational development consultant, fractional CLO, and Forbes Coaches Council member—to explore what it really takes to lead through change that matters. Rahul has spent 20+ years helping companies navigate post-merger integration, cultural alignment, and leadership acceleration. But his secret isn’t in a strategy deck—it’s in centering the people behind the process. Together, we unpack: * Why most change efforts fail—not because of planning, but because of people * How poor communication during transitions drives attrition and burnout * The difference between executing a training and building real leadership capability * How fractional CLOs can fill a crucial gap for small and mid-size organizations * What leaders get wrong at the “achiever” stage—and how to move beyond it * Rahul’s proprietary CLIMB Framework, a roadmap for evolving from invisible contributor to legacy-building influencer * Why internal trust is the most undervalued currency in transformation * How “visibility is the new currency”—and why content matters for leaders Transformation is personal. It requires consistency, empathy, and the courage to lead from the inside out. 🔗 Connect with Rahul on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulkaransharma/] or at rahulkaransharma.com [https://www.rahulkaransharma.com] Connect & Learn More * Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff/] * Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/] * Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here! [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/catalysts-guest-interest/]

Designing with Intention: Ron Price on the Power of Experiential E-Learning

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Ron Price, Chief Learning Officer at Yukon Learning—Articulate’s official training partner for over 17 years. Ron brings a rare blend of deep instructional design expertise and hands-on development experience, helping organizations turn good ideas into great learning experiences. Together, we explore: * Why scenarios and storytelling are essential for meaningful e-learning * The “3 Cs” model—Challenge, Choice, and Consequence—and how it transforms passive content into immersive learning * Why bad design speaks louder than good content * The hidden value of aligning tools, strategy, and design with learner intent * How Yukon balances training teams to use Articulate with building courses for them * What most e-learning creators get wrong—and how to fix it Ron shares how his team helps organizations move beyond rote click-through courses to design learning that earns its place—and drives real behavior change. Whether you’re an L&D leader, an instructional designer, or just curious about elevating the digital learning experience, this episode is packed with practical insights and expert perspective. 🎧 Listen in and learn why Ron believes the future of e-learning isn’t about covering content—it’s about helping learners uncover it. 🔗 Learn more about Ron and Yukon Learning: https://www.yukonlearning.com [https://www.yukonlearning.com] 📺 Watch their free Articulate tutorials on YouTube: Yukon Learning on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@YukonLearning] 🔗 Connect with Ron: Ron Price on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yukonronprice/] Connect & Learn More * Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff/] * Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/] * Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here! [https://executivebrandbuilder.com/catalysts-guest-interest/]