In today’s conversation, Elena sits down with Stephen Seidel—entrepreneur, creative connector, and founder of the Seidel Agency and Gents Journey—to explore the power of transformation in our personal and professional lives.From his early days navigating family dynamics as a people pleaser, to engineering at Penn State, to a bold career shift into acting and pioneering YouTube content creation, Stephen’s journey is packed with pivotal moments and unexpected turns. Stephen opens up about what led him to start his own agency, his experiences being laid off, and how embracing creativity became an essential part of his career.The conversation dives deep into self-awareness, personal branding, and the challenges of showing up authentically in today’s world of content creation. Stephen also shares the intimate story behind Gents Journey, a men’s mental health collective born out of personal grief, change, and the quest for meaningful connection. With tools like the Journey Deck, he’s helping men—and leaders from all walks of life—spark deeper conversations and build genuine relationships.If you’ve ever struggled with vulnerability, wondered how to stay true to your mission, or simply want to hear inspiring stories about resilience, creativity, and human connection, this episode is for you. Tune in as Elena and Stephen discuss practical advice, powerful anecdotes, and the importance of embracing the shifts that shape who we are.Time stamps:00:00 Pursuing Empowerment Beyond Acting05:25 Citizen Journalism's Evolution06:54 Cultivating Authentic Leadership Presence11:08 Surviving Alone: A Zoom Story13:35 Breaking Stereotypes: Deep Conversations18:49 Engaging Audiences Through Micro Posts23:00 Male Loneliness and Connection Solutions26:36 Empathy and Purpose-Driven Marketing29:52 Vision Board Creation Guide30:49 "Embracing Self-Awareness Journey"36:41 Passion-Driven Success and Growth37:55 "Two Decades to Success"Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenseidel/Company website: https://theseidelagency.com/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy

Today, Elena sits down with Dr. John A. King, founder of the Give Them a Voice Foundation and a passionate advocate for trauma recovery and anti-trafficking work. In this candid and deeply moving conversation, John opens up about his own journey—from surviving years of childhood abuse and discovering his true heritage, to nurturing relentless resilience and finding purpose in advocacy.John shares how a single, quiet moment among blooming daffodils unlocked a flood of childhood memories and ultimately led him to reshape his life from the inside out. Together, Elena and John explore what it truly means to heal, the importance of self-advocacy and supportive community, and why authentic conversations around trauma—especially male trauma—matter now more than ever.Plus, John offers practical advice for those starting their recovery journey, discusses the challenges of working in the fight against human trafficking, and reveals why the grace of a second chance is one of the most beautiful gifts we can give—to others and ourselves.Whether you're a survivor, an ally, or someone looking to better understand trauma's impact, this conversation will move, inform, and inspire you.Time stamps:00:00 Discovery of Aboriginal Heritage04:59 "Define or Refine: Your Choice"09:48 Childhood Trauma and Silence13:28 "Lust for Talent, Not Person"16:52 "Daily Routine for Mental Health"18:51 Blue Light Disrupts Sleep Habits23:51 "Documentary Journey to Book Lessons"24:36 "Phoenix Collective's Mind Fire Challenge"30:48 Offering Hope Through Personal Struggles34:29 Living a Beautiful, Impactful Life35:25 Grateful for Podcast OpportunityConnect with Dr. John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnaking/Personal website: https://drjohnaking.com/Foundation website: https://drjohnaking.com/gtavf/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy

In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Jonathan Shroyer, CEO and founder of Quimby, to explore the future of customer experience powered by AI and large language models. Jonathan shares his unique journey from growing up in rural Texas with a passion for technology, through pivotal roles at major companies like Microsoft and Postmates, to founding innovative startups focused on transforming customer service.The conversation dives into how customer expectations have shifted over the decades, why customer service often feels broken, and how smart, human-centered AI tools—like Quimby—are reshaping industries, starting with gaming. Jonathan unpacks the evolving role of LLMs, not as replacements for humans, but as powerful partners that enable customer service agents to be more productive and satisfied in their work. Plus, you’ll hear about the broader impact of AI in industries like e-commerce and hospitality, strategies for keeping customers engaged, and the challenges and opportunities of building and scaling technology-driven businesses.If you’re interested in the intersection of technology, customer experience, and business innovation, you won’t want to miss Jonathan’s insights, practical examples, and thoughtful advice for leaders, HR professionals, and builders everywhere. Stay tuned for a compelling dive into how AI is shaping the customer experience of tomorrow!Time stamps:00:00 Unique Career Journeys05:02 Customer Service Evolution: 1998-202007:04 "Customer Focus vs. Shareholder Value"13:51 "Quimby: Personalized Player Engagement"15:12 AI-Powered Gaming Personalization Tool19:30 AI-Powered Game Notification Strategy22:50 "Prioritizing Signal Over Noise"27:31 Discovering Personal Career Strengths30:18 Discovering Personal Career Motivation33:26 AI's Wild West: Promise and Caution36:48 "Quimby's Future and Accessibility"Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefcxofficer/Company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quimbi/services/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy