Forward Quest: Powering Introvert's Success

Ep 16: Four Decades of Quiet Leadership. A Conversation With Fred Chisholm, Career Transition Coach and Manufacturing Leader

This is my favorite interview so far and one of the most layered conversations I have had on this podcast. Fred Chisholm spent 38 years in manufacturing leadership, holding roles including director of operations and plant manager. He managed plant shutdowns, led organizations through economic downturns, and developed people across complex operations. He also served as a hospital chaplain, supporting people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Today, he works as a career transition coach, helping professionals clarify their strengths and build a plan to move forward with confidence. Fred is an introvert. He is also one of the most grounded leaders I have met. In this conversation, we cover what it means to lead quietly in high-pressure environments. Fred describes a quality he inherited from his grandfather: "I just don't rattle." We talk about how introverts can learn to speak truth into the room without taking anyone else's space, and why that skill is practiced rather than innate. Fred shares how he adapted his communication style to match what his leaders needed rather than assuming everyone wanted information delivered the same way. We also discuss energy management, the myth that introverts dislike people, and how his martial arts training shaped his approach to presence and control as a leader. This conversation is for anyone who leads or wants to lead from a place of calm, clarity, and intention rather than volume.

Ep 15: The "Let Them" Trap: Why Staying Silent Costs You More Than Speaking Up

Mel Robbins says, "Let Them." I say that advice can backfire for introverts. In this solo episode, I challenge the popular "Let Them Theory" and offer a third option between staying silent and starting a conflict. You will hear why bottling things up leads to chronic stress and uncontrolled explosions, what it looks like when you speak up with facts and zero expectations, and how I used this approach to turn a difficult boss relationship into a trusted partnership. If you have been telling yourself to just let it go, this episode will change the way you think about that.

Ep 14: How to Build Visibility on LinkedIn Without Feeling Like You Are Bragging With Bruce Segall, Part 2 of the LinkedIn Series

This is Part 2 of a two-part series on using LinkedIn with intention. In Part 1, Adam Packard shared how introverts can use LinkedIn to prospect, sell, and grow their businesses. In Part 2, I sit down with Bruce Segall, president of Marketing Sense for Business, to talk about the other side: building visibility and deepening relationships on LinkedIn as a low-key professional. Bruce has worked with over 250 clients and 75 professional organizations to help them improve their profiles, build their visibility, and establish meaningful connections on LinkedIn. He spent 25 years at MasterCard and Citibank before launching his consulting practice, and he specializes in helping thoughtful professionals who prefer a quieter approach to marketing and networking. In this conversation we cover how LinkedIn's 360 Brew algorithm now evaluates the consistency between your posts, your profile, and your overall activity on the platform. Bruce explains why posting at the intersection of business and professional works better than personal content alone, and why the old tricks of clever paragraph breaks and emojis are no longer effective. We also discuss how to balance two professional identities on a single LinkedIn profile, a challenge I am navigating as I return to Food Safety and Quality Assurance leadership while maintaining my coaching and thought-leadership presence. If you have been on LinkedIn but never posted, or if you post but feel like something is not connecting, this episode gives you a practical framework for building visibility in a way that feels authentic rather than performative. Check out Bruce's content on his LinkedIn Featured page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucesegall/details/featured/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucesegall/details/featured/] Key topics: LinkedIn profile optimization, the 360 Brew algorithm, thought leadership themes, visibility for introverted professionals, balancing dual professional identities, and the mindset shift from bragging to sharing value.

Ep 13: You Can Speak to Thousands, Sell Without Pressure, and Still Leave the Party Early. A Conversation With Adam Packard, Founder of Ninja Prospecting

What does it look like when an introvert thrives in sales, speaks in front of thousands, and builds a business helping others connect more meaningfully on LinkedIn? It looks a lot like Adam Packard. In this episode of Forward Quest Powering Introvert's Success, I sit down with Adam, founder of Ninja Prospecting and a self-described outgoing introvert with over 20 years in sales. Adam shares how he recognized and accepted his introvert personality traits as his competitive advantage: his analytical mind, his preference for depth over volume, and his need to recharge in his silo. Adam built a career on genuine connection rather than high pressure. We talk about what it means to find your own sales style, how Adam manages energy before and after speaking to large audiences, why COVID felt like a gift, and what he would tell any introvert who worries they are too quiet to make an impact. We also play a brand new segment: How Introverted Are You? Adam's results might surprise you. If you have ever wondered whether your introverted nature fits in a world that rewards the loudest voice in the room, Adam's story is your answer. Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampackard/ Check out Adam's company at https://ninjaprospecting.com/

Ep 12: Introverts Do Not Network. They Build Relationships

Many introverts believe they are bad at networking. I disagree. In this solo episode, I share a different perspective based on my own experience. Introverts may not enjoy traditional networking, but we are wired to build something more powerful. Real relationships are built on trust, consistency, and genuine connection. I share two personal stories from my career that shaped how I think about relationship building. In one, a relationship I built early in my career led to a pivotal recommendation that helped me return to a company when I needed it most. In another, a simple response to a LinkedIn message led to helping someone land a role. Years later, that connection is still active, still appreciative, and still growing. These are not networking tactics. This is the long game. I also connect these experiences to ideas from Adam Grant’s Give and Take and the concept of being an Otherish giver. Someone who gives generously while still being intentional about growth and opportunity. In this episode, you will learn: • Why introverts do not need to follow traditional networking rules • How to build relationships that create real opportunities over time • The difference between collecting contacts and cultivating trust • Why giving first, and sometimes paying it forward, creates long-term impact • How introverted strengths can become your advantage in networking If you have ever felt uncomfortable networking, this episode will help you reframe it. You do not need to become someone else to succeed. You need to build relationships in a way that is true to who you are.