Leading with Purpose in Business and Beyond - ep. #020

Stop Chasing Engagement and Start Building Participation - ep. #024

Are you ready to move beyond surface-level and discover what actually drives participation in a global, distributed workforce? In this episode of the Return to People podcast, host Kaleem Clarkson welcomes Barbara Nicholas, the CEO of Polly. Barbara’s career path is as unique as her leadership style, having transitioned from an operator in cybersecurity to the CEO role at a SaaS platform essential for modern team collaboration. Leading a fully distributed company that has embraced remote work for over a decade, she brings a wealth of experience in scaling systems and building infrastructure that moves the needle for high-growth organizations. The conversation dives deep into the evolution of the remote employee experience, moving past simple engagement to a more robust framework of participation. Barbara shares her insights on building deep trust and clear responsibility across global teams spanning from APAC to the US. Interestingly, she draws a powerful parallel between her professional leadership and her work leading search and rescue operations in the Colorado wilderness, where trust and clarity are quite literally matters of life and death. Trust and clarity don't just build great teams, they save lives. Throughout the episode, we explore the challenges of managing a lean global team, the ethical implementation of AI in people-centered organizations, and the lessons learned from being a customer before becoming the CEO. Whether you are navigating the complexities of a 100% remote model or looking to refine your team’s engagement strategy, Barbara’s perspective offers a masterclass in high-stakes, high-impact leadership. Learn more about Barbara: * Barbara´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-nicholas-polly * Polly´s Website: https://www.polly.ai/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The People-First Blueprint: Turning Human Connection into a Business Model - ep. #023

Are we merely managing remote logistics, or are we intentionally designing a culture where trust is the standard? In this episode of the Return to People podcast, host Kaleem Clarkson sits down with Peter Georgariou, the Founder and CEO of Karmadharma, to answer that very question. Drawing from nearly three decades of experience leading major media rollouts and helping hundreds of mission-driven organizations scale, Peter shares how he turned purpose into a successful business model. The conversation dives into the real-world challenges of remote onboarding, specifically helping younger employees who entered the workforce during the pandemic adjust to professional norms and build confidence. Peter explains how Karmadharma combats this through structured, intentional engagement, such as weekly gratitude and reflection calls, that fosters deep trust and psychological safety. By avoiding micromanagement and treating employees like adults, the agency proves that when you trust your team and involve them in strategic planning, they naturally take ownership of their performance. “When you put people first, the results take care of themselves.” If you are building, leading, or scaling a team, this conversation offers an inspiring, practical blueprint for combining creative growth with a values-driven culture that truly prioritizes its people. Learn more about Peter: * Peter´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petergeorgariou/ * Karmadharma´s web: https://karmadharma.ca/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Building Resilient High-Growth Startups Through Intentional Hiring - ep. #022

How can high-growth tech startups turn the challenge of remote work into a strategic advantage while maintaining a culture of joy? In this episode of the Return to People podcast, Kaleem Clarkson sits down with Kapil Pershad, the Co-Founder and Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) of Payzli, to explore how intentional hiring and thoughtful communication can turn remote work into a scalable and effective model within the fintech space. With a career spanning over 25 years, Kapil shares his journey from engineering roles at major corporations like Bank of America to building a resilient, people-first company amidst the complexities of a global pandemic. The discussion dives into the evolution of the modern workplace and the specific strategies that Payzli leverages to grow and succeed. Kapil explains how structured onboarding and cultural alignment act as the pillars of a successful high-growth startup, allowing teams to tap into a global talent pool without losing their sense of connection. “…Joy in the workplace isn’t just possible, it’s foundational.” If you are building, leading, or scaling a team, this episode offers a practical and inspiring look at fostering a positive employee experience through "workations" and better internal systems. Tune in to discover how Kapil and the Payzli team are redefining the payment industry while creating a thriving culture that prioritizes well-being. Learn more about Kapil: * Kapil´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kapilpershad/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kapilpershad/] * Payzli´s webpage: https://payzli.com/ [https://payzli.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Data Science Edge Behind High-Performing Sales Teams - ep. #021

Are you relying on gut feeling when your data is trying to tell you something smarter? In this episode of the Return to People podcast, Kaleem Clarkson sits down with Francis Brero, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of MadKudu, to explore how data science is transforming the way modern B2B sales teams operate. From his journey as an immigrant in France to building a company in Silicon Valley, Francis shares how curiosity, resilience, and a passion for analytics shaped his path. The core takeaway? Companies don’t have a data problem; they have a translation problem. Francis explains how businesses can turn scattered buyer signals into clear, actionable insights without needing a full team of data scientists, unlocking more predictable and scalable sales pipelines. Along the way, he challenges the habit of relying on instinct alone and makes a strong case for democratizing data across teams, especially in remote and hybrid environments. “The companies that win aren’t the ones with the most data but the ones who actually use it to make decisions.” If you’re building, leading, or scaling a team, this episode offers a practical and inspiring look at how to combine data, creativity, and a people-first mindset to drive real results. Learn more about Francis: * Francis´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francisbrero/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/francisbrero/] * MadKudu´s webpage: https://www.madkudu.com/ [https://www.madkudu.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Leading with Purpose in Business and Beyond - ep. #020

How do you build a company rooted in service, purpose, and impact? In this episode of the Return to People Podcast, host Kaleem Clarkson sits down with Michael V. Sanders, Founder and CEO of Interactive Government Holdings (IGH). From his beginnings as a U.S. Marine Rifleman to leading one of the fastest-growing veteran-owned businesses in the country, Michael shares a powerful journey shaped by faith, integrity, and a deep commitment to serving others. What started as a $2,500 contract has grown into a nationwide organization supporting federal agencies, veterans, and military families through staffing, training, and program management. Michael reflects on the pivotal moments that inspired him to build IGH, including the opportunity to expand support for service-disabled veterans, and how that mission continues to guide the company today. Throughout the conversation, Michael offers insights on purpose-driven leadership, building organizations that prioritize people, and creating lasting impact through service. His story is a compelling reminder that success is not just about growth, but about who you serve and how you lead. 🎧 Tune in to hear how values, vision, and service can shape both a business and a legacy. Learn more about Michael: * Michael´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelvaldezsanders/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelvaldezsanders/] * Interactive Government Holdings: https://interactivegov.com/ [https://interactivegov.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]