The People-Forward Leadership™ Podcast

Episode 41: The Power of Storytelling: How to Lead with Narrative to Build Trust, Mobilize Change, and Grow a People-Forward Business with Nikki Freeney

Episode 41: The Power of Storytelling: How to Lead with Narrative to Build Trust, Mobilize Change, and Grow a People-Forward Business with Nikki Freeney  "Anyone can lead if people trust them and like them. It has nothing to do with your title." ~Nikki Freeney  Episode Summary  Nikki Freeney is a storyteller, and in this episode she makes the case that storytelling is one of the most underrated leadership tools in business. As Vice President of Customer Success at MV Transportation, the largest privately owned passenger transportation company in North America, she has helped guide the company's growth from a $24 million business to over $1.2 billion in annual revenue, now moving more than 110 million people a year, and she traces that scale back to a discipline she's carried since her early days in journalism: knowing how to tell the story of who you are, why you do what you do, and who you're becoming.  If you've ever thought leadership required a title, or that storytelling was a nice-to-have rather than a strategic, essential skill, this conversation will change how you think about both.  Key Takeaways  * Why storytelling is a strategic, essential human skill that builds the trust that grows a business.  * Why influence built on relationships, trust, and institutional memory outlasts any title.   * How transit workers quietly sustain local economies and quality of life by getting people to work, medical care, and school.  * Why AI and autonomous tools should augment people rather than replace them, and what responsible adoption requires.  * A practical roadmap for aspiring leaders several levels below where they want to be.    About Nikki Freeney  Nikki Freeney serves as Vice President of Customer Success at MV Transportation, the largest privately owned passenger transportation company in North America. Over a tenure that has spanned the creation of MV's marketing and communications function, a role as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, and her current customer success leadership, she has helped guide the company's growth from a $24 million business to more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue. Her career began in journalism before moving through government and crisis communications into transit, where work in paratransit shaped her enduring commitment to accessible mobility as a foundation of community life.  Resources & Links  * Learn more about On the Move Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/our-very-first-episode-of-on-the-move-ugcPost-7467294483597074434--ciX/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAFFxugBNhAp8oJ24KehmRVfh8SyzyrY9SE [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/our-very-first-episode-of-on-the-move-ugcPost-7467294483597074434--ciX/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAFFxugBNhAp8oJ24KehmRVfh8SyzyrY9SE]   * Learn more about MV Transportation: https://mvtransit.com/ [https://mvtransit.com/]   * Learn more about the People-Forward Leadership™ framework: www.thriveaxisgroup.com [http://www.thriveaxisgroup.com/]    Call to Action  Connect with us for behind-the-scenes content and leadership tips:  * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkerwalsh]  * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drcarolparkerwalsh]  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/thriveaxis]  * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@thriveaxisgroup]    Enjoyed this episode? Don't miss the next one. Subscribe to the People-Forward Leadership™ Podcast:  * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0phZdDDTQFHR43QjQ1zjvv?si=d2d8faf3e04f44b8&nd=1&dlsi=65e57d9ad9814cf8]  * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-people-forward-leadership-podcast/id1794218035]     Leave a 5-Star Review: Share your biggest takeaway from today's episode by leaving a review on your podcast platform.  Reach out: To learn how we can support your organization in implementing People-Forward Leadership™, email us at hello@thriveaxisgroup.com [hello@thriveaxisgroup.com].  Thank you for listening! If you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who might benefit. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you tune in for future episodes.

What AI Can't Replace in a Great Leader

Episode 40: What AI Can't Replace in a Great Leader  "AI can think faster, write better, and analyze more than you. So the question isn't how do you keep up with it, it’s how do you level up what you bring to the table that AI simply cannot replicate." ~ Dr. Carol Parker Walsh  Episode Summary  AI isn't coming…it’s here. And while the conversation around AI often focuses on tools, productivity, and keeping up, this episode goes deeper. Dr. Carol Parker Walsh makes the case that the most important leadership work right now isn't learning to use AI, it's honing the distinctly human skills it can never replace: critical thinking, judgment, presence, courage, and emotional intelligence. Because in a world where AI levels the playing field on technical skills, how you show up for people is what will set you apart.  Key Takeaways  * AI is raising the bar on critical thinking, don’t let it think for you  * Judgment, presence, and courage are the leadership skills that can't be outsourced  * Emotional intelligence isn't a personality trait, it’s a skill you build through consistent practice  * The professional pause (3–5 seconds) is one of the most powerful EQ tools you have  * How you show up in the storm sets the tone for how your entire team shows up  * Use AI as a tool to support your growth, never as a replacement for what's uniquely you    Resources & Links  * Learn more about the People-Forward Leadership™ framework: https://www.thriveaxisgroup.com/ [https://www.thriveaxisgroup.com/]   * Recommended reading: The 3 Pillars of People-Forward Leadership™ [https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com/PCL]  * Radical Candor by Kim Scott: https://www.amazon.com/shop/drcarolparkerwalsh/list/NU2PW07SCC6R?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d&ccs_id=e5333e0e-d357-4992-9482-0593c4fbda41 [https://www.amazon.com/shop/drcarolparkerwalsh/list/NU2PW07SCC6R?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d&ccs_id=e5333e0e-d357-4992-9482-0593c4fbda41]   Call to Action  Connect with us for behind-the-scenes content and leadership tips:  * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkerwalsh]  * Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/drcarolparkerwalsh/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ThriveAxis/]  * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ThriveAxisGroup]  Enjoyed this episode? Don’t miss the next one. Subscribe to the People-Forward Leadership™ Podcast:  * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/people-forward-leadership-podcast]  * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catalysts-the-people-forward-leadership-podcast/id1234567890]  Leave a 5-Star Review: Share your biggest takeaway from today’s episode by leaving a review on your podcast platform.  Reach out: To learn how we can support your organization in implementing People-Forward Leadership™, email us at hello@ [hello@carolparkerwalsh.com]thriveaxisgroup.com [https://www.thriveaxisgroup.com/].  Thank you for listening! If you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who might benefit from learning how to rebuild their leadership container for stronger results. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you tune in for future episodes.

The Messy Middle: Why Your Growth Is Hiding in the Hard Parts

Episode 39: The Messy Middle: Why Your Growth Is Hiding in the Hard Parts    "Growth always comes out of the messy middle. Not the planning stage. Not the retreat. Not after you've figured it out. In the mess. Through the mess." ~ Dr. Carol Parker Walsh  Episode Summary  The leaders who are growing the most aren't the ones who have it all figured out, they're the ones willing to stay in the hard parts. In this episode, Dr. Carol Parker Walsh talks about the messy middle and makes the case that the discomfort, tension, and uncertainty you're trying to get out of so fast is actually where your greatest growth lives. Drawing from conversations with three extraordinary leaders this season, Shawn Donaghy, Donishea Martinez, and Traci Rossi, Carol explores what it really looks like to lead through conflict, learning, and trust-building without taking the easy exit.  Key Takeaways  * Conflict isn't a sign something is broken, it’s a sign two people are actually thinking  * Defaulting to your old playbook when the context changes is fear-based leadership, not strength  * Psychological safety isn't announced, it’s built in small, repeated acts of showing up  * The most advanced leadership move you can make is admitting what you don't know yet  * Rushing to resolution robs you of what the mess is trying to teach you     Leaders Featured in This Episode:    * Traci Rossi - Executive Director, Friends of the Children – Portland - Episode 34  * Donishea Martinez -  Executive Commercial Leader, Genentech - Episode 35  * Shawn Donaghy - CEO, North County Transit District - Episode 36    Resources & Links  * Learn more about the People-Forward Leadership™ framework: https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com [https://www.thriveaxisgroup.com/]   * Recommended reading: The 3 Pillars of People-Forward Leadership™ [https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com/PCL]  Call to Action  Connect with us for behind-the-scenes content and leadership tips:  * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkerwalsh]  * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drcarolparkerwalsh]  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ThriveAxis/]  * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ThriveAxisGroup]  Enjoyed this episode? Don’t miss the next one. Subscribe to the People-Forward Leadership™ Podcast:  * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/people-forward-leadership-podcast]  * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catalysts-the-people-forward-leadership-podcast/id1234567890]  Leave a 5-Star Review: Share your biggest takeaway from today’s episode by leaving a review on your podcast platform.  Reach out: To learn how we can support your organization in implementing People-Forward Leadership™, email us at hello@thriveaxisgroup.com [hello@carolparkerwalsh.com].  Thank you for listening! If you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who might benefit from learning how to rebuild their leadership container for stronger results. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you tune in for future episodes.

Why Leadership Development Fails (And What Actually Works)

Episode 38: Why Leadership Development Fails (And What Actually Works)    "Leadership development fails when it's treated as an event. And it works when it becomes part of the system." ~ Dr. Carol Parker Walsh    Organizations spend billions on leadership training every year, and yet the same problems keep surfacing on engagement surveys, in exit interviews, and across leadership teams: breakdowns in trust, accountability gaps, and employees who are present but not truly invested. So what's actually going wrong?  In this episode, Dr. Carol Parker Walsh makes the case that most leadership development fails not because of poor content or lack of investment, but because it's designed as an event rather than a system. Drawing from conversations with three leaders across aviation, philanthropy, and healthcare, Carol unpacks the second pillar of the People-Forward Leadership™ framework (Empowered Ecosystems ), and explores what it looks like when development stops being something that happens in a classroom and starts being something woven into how an organization actually operates.  Carla Jeter of Delta Air Lines reveals how a founding principle shapes a continuous loop of listening, acting, and going back to ask if they got it right. Kate Azizi of the OHSU Foundation shows what it looks like to delegate decisions, not just tasks. And Dr. Kecia Kelly of Legacy Health demonstrates what system design actually produces. These leaders are getting extraordinary results not because they’re investing in better programs, but because they’re building better environments, and that distinction changes everything.  Key Takeaways:  * Designing with your people instead of for them is the difference between compliance and genuine ownership.  * The listening loop only works when it closes, silence after feedback is more damaging than never asking at all.  * Delegating a task and delegating a decision are not the same thing, and only one of them actually builds a team.  * The leader who always provides the answer becomes the ceiling, the coaching question builds the muscle.  * Retention is the new recruitment, and the organizations that invest in development pathways, not just programs, are the ones that keep their best people.    Leaders Featured in This Episode:    * Dr. Kecia Kelly - SVP & Chief Nurse, Legacy Health - Episode 31  * Carla Jeter -  Senior Manager, Brand Experience, Delta Air Lines - Episode 32  * Kate Azizi -  President, OHSU Foundation - Episode 33    Resources & Links  * Learn more about the People-Forward Leadership™ framework: https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com [https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com/]   * Recommended reading: The 3 Pillars of People-Forward Leadership™ [https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com/PCL]  Call to Action  Connect with us for behind-the-scenes content and leadership tips:  * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkerwalsh]  * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drcarolparkerwalsh]  * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ThriveAxis/]  * YouTube  [https://www.youtube.com/@ThriveAxisGroup] Enjoyed this episode? Don’t miss the next one. Subscribe to the People-Forward Leadership™ Podcast:  * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/people-forward-leadership-podcast]  * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catalysts-the-people-forward-leadership-podcast/id1234567890]  Leave a 5-Star Review: Share your biggest takeaway from today’s episode by leaving a review on your podcast platform.  Reach out: To learn how we can support your organization in implementing People-Forward Leadership™, email us at hello@thriveaxisgroup.com [hello@carolparkerwalsh.com].  Thank you for listening! If you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who might benefit from learning how to rebuild their leadership container for stronger results. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you tune in for future episodes.

The Quiet Shift in Leadership: What Today’s Best Leaders Are Doing Differently

Episode 37: The Quiet Shift in Leadership: What Today’s Best Leaders Are Doing Differently    "The quiet shift in leadership isn't louder strategy or bigger authority. It's a deeper, more honest relationship with yourself, so you can build a more honest, more effective relationship with the people you lead." ~ Dr. Carol Parker Walsh    What separates leaders getting extraordinary results from those stuck in average outcomes? It's rarely strategy. It's rarely credentials. Across six conversations with leaders spanning healthcare, transit, transportation, philanthropy, biopharma, and nonprofit work, one pattern kept emerging: the leaders performing at the highest levels had done the inner work first.  In this episode, Dr. Carol Parker Walsh draws from the season's most powerful guest conversations to explore what Leader Awareness (the first pillar of the People-Forward Leadership™ framework), actually looks like in practice. Not as a concept. Not as a competency to check off. But as a lived, daily discipline that changes the way you show up, decide, and lead.  Carol unpacks how six extraordinary leaders developed a deeper, more honest relationship with themselves, and how that shift changed everything about the way they led others.  This episode is for the leader who's tired of reacting and ready to start choosing. Who wants to understand not just what they do, but who they are when they do it. And for those leaders willing to let what they discover actually change how they lead.  Key Takeaways:  * Why most leaders aren't as self-aware as they think and why that's not a character flaw.  * The difference between self-criticism and self-awareness, and why confusing the two keeps leaders stuck.  * What a meaningful self-reflective practice actually looks like inside high-stakes leadership roles.  * How to find your "trust mirror,” the person willing to tell you the truth about your leadership impact.  * Why every strength casts a shadow, and what to do when yours shows up.  * What the quiet shift in leadership looks like across six leaders in six very different industries.     Leaders Featured in This Episode:    * Dr. Kecia Kelly - SVP & Chief Nurse, Legacy Health - Episode 31  * Carla Jeter -  Senior Manager, Brand Experience, Delta Air Lines - Episode 32  * Kate Azizi -  President, OHSU Foundation - Episode 33  * Traci Rossi - Executive Director, Friends of the Children – Portland - Episode 34  * Donishea Martinez -  Executive Commercial Leader, Genentech - Episode 35  * Shawn Donaghy - CEO, North County Transit District - Episode 36    Resources & Links  * Learn more about the People-Forward Leadership™ framework: https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com [https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com/]   * Recommended reading: The 3 Pillars of People-Forward Leadership™ [https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com/PCL]  Call to Action  Connect with us for behind-the-scenes content and leadership tips:  * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkerwalsh]  * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drcarolparkerwalsh]  * Facebook  [https://www.facebook.com/ThriveAxis/] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ThriveAxisGroup]  Enjoyed this episode? Don’t miss the next one. Subscribe to the People-Forward Leadership™ Podcast:  * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/people-forward-leadership-podcast]  * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catalysts-the-people-forward-leadership-podcast/id1234567890]  Leave a 5-Star Review: Share your biggest takeaway from today’s episode by leaving a review on your podcast platform.  Reach out: To learn how we can support your organization in implementing People-Forward Leadership™, email us at hello@thriveaxis [hello@thriveaxis]group.com [https://www.thriveaxisgroup.com/].  Thank you for listening! If you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who might benefit from learning how to rebuild their leadership container for stronger results. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you tune in for future episodes.