Why are so many employees experiencing stress, burnout, and disconnection at work? And what can leaders do to create workplaces where people feel supported, valued, and able to perform at their best?

In this episode of Corporate Elements, Robbie speaks with Kristi Ellingsworth, Director of Hospitality at Dartcor Enterprises, whose journey from acting to nearly 14 years with Nobu Hospitality, followed by her exploration of meditation and breathwork in Nepal, shaped her approach to employee experience and workplace culture. Today, she brings hospitality, mindfulness, and human connection into leadership development, helping teams build trust, resilience, and healthier working environments.

Together, they explore psychological safety, the relationship between employee wellbeing and business performance, and how leaders can create high-performing teams without sacrificing humanity. Kristi also shares a powerful story about how a simple breathing exercise helped a hospitality professional manage anxiety, illustrating why small changes in how we support people can make a meaningful difference.

This conversation offers practical insights for leaders, managers, HR professionals, and anyone seeking to understand what helps people thrive at work.

Guest: Kristi Ellingsworth

Director of Hospitality at Dartcor Enterprises | Energy Architect | Meditation Teacher | Actress | Creative | Speaker | Host of The Alternative Podcast

Connect with Kristi:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-ellingsworth-a6264619/?isSelfProfile=false

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristiellingsworth/

| https://www.instagram.com/the_alternativepodcast/

Website: ⁠https://bio.site/findthealternative?utm

Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-alternative/id1723801189

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Don’t miss this deep dive into the people who shape office politics—listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, or your favorite platform!

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🎙️ Corporate Elements

Decoding corporate life & career growth

📲 Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporateelements/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Substack: https://substack.com/@corporateelements

Twitter: https://x.com/corp_elements

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Whats app channel - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCETLqDzgTJupjRKc2P

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Adam Goldman is a franchise coach, founder of FranchiseCoach.net and FranchiseVisa, and author of The Franchisee Lifestyle. For over nine years, he has helped entrepreneurs and investors identify franchise opportunities, build businesses, and explore U.S. business ownership through the E-2 Visa pathway.

In this episode of Corporate Elements, Robbie and Adam discuss franchise matching, investment requirements, business scalability, emerging opportunities, and how international investors can explore the U.S. market through franchising.

Countries discussed: India, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan.

Connect with Adam Goldman:

🌐 Website: https://www.franchisecoach.net/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/franchisecoach_adam/

Linked IN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgoldmanfranchise/?isSelfProfile=false

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Don’t miss this deep dive into the people who shape office politics—listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, or your favorite platform!

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🎙️ Corporate Elements

Decoding corporate life & career growth

📲 Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporateelements/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Substack: https://substack.com/@corporateelements

Twitter: https://x.com/corp_elements

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Whats app channel - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCETLqDzgTJupjRKc2P

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Our guest today is Rob Broadhead, a Fractional CIO, software architect, entrepreneur, founder of RB Consulting, and host of the Develpreneur Podcast. With more than 30 years of experience helping organizations navigate technology, leadership, and digital transformation, Rob has learned a simple truth:

Most technology projects don’t fail because of the technology. They fail because of unclear ownership, poor communication, broken workflows, and weak execution.

In this episode, we explore why so many organizations struggle with AI adoption despite investing heavily in new tools. Rob explains how AI often exposes existing organizational problems rather than creating new ones, why operational debt silently slows businesses down, and how leaders can determine whether their organizations are truly ready for AI.

We also discuss trust in the age of artificial intelligence, the hidden friction that exists between departments, why more software doesn’t always mean more productivity, and the leadership principles that help organizations scale successfully.

If you’re a leader, founder, manager, entrepreneur, or professional trying to navigate the future of work, this conversation offers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Connect With Rob Broadhead

Website: www.rb-sns.com

Podcast: www.develpreneur.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robbroadhead

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@develpreneur

Email: rob@rb-sns.com

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Don’t miss this deep dive into the people who shape office politics—listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, or your favorite platform!

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🎙️ Corporate Elements

Decoding corporate life & career growth

📲 Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporateelements/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Substack: https://substack.com/@corporateelements

Twitter: https://x.com/corp_elements

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Whats app channel - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCETLqDzgTJupjRKc2P

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Joe Rockey has built 29 businesses, is an international bestselling author, and has appeared in 2,500+ media interviews. Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, he has discovered a surprisingly simple framework that he believes determines whether a business grows, stalls, or eventually fails.

In this episode of Corporate Elements, Joe challenges conventional thinking about leadership, sales, motivation, and workplace performance. He argues that most organizations focus on the wrong metrics and overlook the two relationships that ultimately drive every business outcome.

We explore why customers often hide the truth, why employees disengage long before they resign, and why many incentive programs fail to create lasting motivation. Joe also shares his views on trust, fairness, family involvement in recognition, and why treating everyone the same may be one of the biggest leadership mistakes managers make.

From building businesses to writing a bestselling book on relationship driven sales, Joe offers practical insights that challenge common assumptions and encourage leaders to think differently about people, performance, and growth.

In this episode:

The two relationships that determine every business’s future
Why customers and employees stop telling the truth
The hidden reason many businesses struggle to stand out
Why cash is often a poor motivator
The difference between motivation and incentives
How trust impacts engagement and performance
Why family recognition can change employee behavior
Leadership lessons from building 29 businesses
The biggest mistakes organizations make when managing people

Some conversations give you tactics.

This conversation may change the way you think about leadership itself.

Connect with Joe Rockey

🌐 Website: https://elitebusinesscruises.com/

📖 Book: Casino Sales Master: Proven System to Beat the Odds in Sales and Life

🍎 Podcast: Father and Joe
https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/father-and-joe/id1201053379

🔗 Learn more about Joe’s work: https://elitebusinesscruises.com/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Don’t miss this deep dive into the people who shape office politics—listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, or your favorite platform!

—

🎙️ Corporate Elements

Decoding corporate life & career growth

📲 Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporateelements/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Substack: https://substack.com/@corporateelements

Twitter: https://x.com/corp_elements

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Whats app channel - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCETLqDzgTJupjRKc2P

—

With 18 years of experience in operations and project management, Anna Rikka Aborro, Founder of TAP Virtual Solutions and TAP OBM, helps growing businesses build the systems, processes, and accountability needed to scale without chaos.

In this episode of Corporate Elements, Anna explains why many founders become the bottleneck in their own business, why hiring more people does not always solve operational challenges, and how strong systems create sustainable growth.

We explore delegation, communication, ownership, compliance, team leadership, and the shift from task execution to strategic thinking in an AI driven world.

Whether you are a founder, manager, entrepreneur, or corporate professional, this conversation offers practical insights into building a business that can grow without depending on one person for every decision.

Connect with Anna Rikka Aborro

Linked IN - https://ph.linkedin.com/in/annarikkaaborro?utm

Tap OBM - https://tapobm.com/?utm

TAP Virtual Solutions - https://tapvirtualsolutions.com/?utm

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Don’t miss this deep dive into the people who shape office politics—listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, or your favorite platform!

—

🎙️ Corporate Elements

Decoding corporate life & career growth

📲 Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporateelements/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Substack: https://substack.com/@corporateelements

Twitter: https://x.com/corp_elements

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Whats app channel - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCETLqDzgTJupjRKc2P

—

Innovation is a top priority for most organizations, yet many struggle to turn bold strategies and significant investments into measurable business results.

In this episode of Corporate Elements, we are joined by Noel Sobelman, innovation advisor, portfolio management expert, and author of Innovation Portfolio Management: Linking Strategy to Execution. With more than 25 years of experience working with organizations such as Medtronic, Siemens, Honeywell, Whirlpool, Kimberly-Clark, and BD, Noel helps leadership teams bridge the gap between innovation ambition and execution.

Together, we explore why innovation initiatives often fall short, how leaders can make better investment and prioritization decisions, and why resource allocation is one of the most overlooked drivers of growth. Noel also shares insights on managing AI investments, eliminating zombie projects, balancing short term and long term priorities, and building innovation ecosystems that create sustainable value.

What you’ll learn:
Why innovation strategies often fail to deliver results
How to prioritize projects and allocate resources effectively
The dangers of zombie projects and pet projects
How to evaluate AI investments with discipline
Why ecosystem innovation is becoming a critical competitive advantage
Practical leadership lessons for turning innovation into growth

Connect with Noel Sobelman on LinkedIn to learn more about his work and upcoming book.

Linked IN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelsobelman
Website - https://accelmg.com/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Don’t miss this deep dive into the people who shape office politics—listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, or your favorite platform!

—

🎙️ Corporate Elements

Decoding corporate life & career growth

📲 Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporateelements/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Substack: https://substack.com/@corporateelements

Twitter: https://x.com/corp_elements

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Whats app channel - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCETLqDzgTJupjRKc2P

—

Dr. Irvine Nugent, CSP, is a leadership expert, executive coach, speaker, mediator, and Co-Founder of Conflict EQ™, a framework that helps leaders build the capacity to stay grounded, clear, and constructive when pressure and conflict arise.

Drawing from his experience as a CEO, conflict specialist, researcher, and leadership coach, Irvine shares practical insights on navigating difficult conversations, building trust, managing emotions, and leading effectively when tensions are high.

Why do so many intelligent, well intentioned leaders avoid difficult conversations? Why does emotional intelligence seem to disappear in the exact moments it’s needed most? And why do workplace issues that start small often grow into major problems affecting trust, performance, culture, and retention?

Expect to learn why people don’t actually have a conflict problem but a capacity problem under pressure, how avoiding difficult conversations can quietly damage relationships, why “nice” leaders often create bigger workplace challenges, what happens in your brain when you feel criticized or threatened, how leaders unintentionally escalate tension without realizing it, the biggest mistakes leaders make before a difficult conversation even begins, practical ways to stay grounded, clear, and constructive under pressure, why human connection will become even more valuable in the age of AI, how Conflict EQ helps leaders navigate tension more effectively, and much more.

Connect with Dr. Irvine Nugent:

🌐 Website: https://www.conflicteq.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irvinenugent/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IrvineNugent

🎙️ Resilient Leadership Podcast: https://www.conflicteq.com/podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Don’t miss this deep dive into the people who shape office politics—listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, or your favorite platform!

—

🎙️ Corporate Elements

Decoding corporate life & career growth

📲 Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporateelements/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Substack: https://substack.com/@corporateelements

Twitter: https://x.com/corp_elements

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Whats app channel - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCETLqDzgTJupjRKc2P

—

Kevin Wayne Johnson is the Founder and CEO of The Johnson Leadership Group, where he helps organizations develop stronger leaders through executive coaching, leadership training, keynote speaking, and organizational development.

Following a distinguished 34-year career across federal government and private industry, Kevin has dedicated his life to preparing, developing, and equipping leaders to maximize their impact.

As a Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach, award-winning author, and recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Kevin’s leadership philosophy centers on a simple but powerful belief: great leadership begins with serving people. In this episode, he shares how trust, relationships, communication, and genuine care for others form the foundation of effective leadership in today’s increasingly demanding workplace.

Throughout the conversation, Kevin offers practical wisdom for leaders navigating complex teams, rising expectations, and evolving workplace dynamics. Drawing from decades of leadership experience, he explores what separates respected leaders from merely competent managers, why relationships remain at the heart of organizational success, and how leaders can create environments where people feel valued, heard, and motivated to perform at their best. Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or preparing for greater responsibility, this episode provides timeless insights that can help you lead with greater influence, purpose, and authenticity.

Connect with Kevin Wayne Johnson

Website: https://www.thejohnsonleadershipgroup.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwaynejohnson/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writingforthelord

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Don’t miss this deep dive into the people who shape office politics—listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, or your favorite platform!

—

🎙️ Corporate Elements

Decoding corporate life & career growth

📲 Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corporateelements/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Substack: https://substack.com/@corporateelements

Twitter: https://x.com/corp_elements

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corporate-elements-b55579230/

Whats app channel - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCETLqDzgTJupjRKc2P

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