AI is changing how work gets done, but it's also raising the bar for leadership.

In this special live episode, hosted by Jason Cochran of People Forward Network, Heather Haas and BJ McKay explore what it means to lead when AI is reshaping the workplace.

While much of the work people are paid to do can now be automated, leadership is not one of those things. Together, they unpack what they're seeing across organizations today, from the growing gap between high-performing leaders and everyone else, to the lack of clarity many teams face around how AI should be used.

The conversation centers on a simple idea: Leadership isn't being replaced. It's being revealed. And the leaders who bring human connection, empathy, creativity, and critical thinking to their work will shape what comes next.

Additional Resources:

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Key Takeaways:

• Leadership remains deeply human despite AI advancement
• AI raises expectations, not reduces leadership responsibility
• Human connection drives meaning, trust, and performance
• Slowing down improves long-term strategic decision making
• Self-awareness separates thriving leaders from struggling ones

A water bottle might look like swag, but it could actually be shaping your company culture.

Live from CultureCon in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with branded merchandise expert Crissy Manwaring, who has spent more than 25 years helping organizations turn everyday items into powerful cultural symbols. From new hire kits that create belonging before day one to simple artifacts that inspire behavior change across massive organizations, Crissy reveals why physical objects carry emotional weight far beyond their price tag. ✨

Together they unpack the psychology behind why humans attach meaning to objects, how great companies design merchandise people actually value, and why the right piece of swag can turn employees into proud brand ambassadors. If you care about culture, connection, and creating moments that stick, this conversation will change the way you think about company merch.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Crissy on LinkedIn

Learn more about Robertson Marketing

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Key Takeaways:

• Humans anchor meaningful memories to physical objects
• Branded merchandise can reinforce identity and belonging
• New hire kits reduce uncertainty before day one
• Quality swag strengthens culture; cheap swag damages trust
• Choice and personalization increase employee connection to brand

In a world starving for real connection, what if the answer is as simple and as radical as pulling up more chairs? 🍽️

Nick and Zach sit down with Tim Jones, Founder and Executive Director of Longer Tables, to explore how shared meals can break down barriers, spark belonging, and remind us what it means to truly see one another.

Tim shares the heart behind Longer Tables and why the table has become such a powerful symbol in his work. From creating spaces where job titles are left behind to helping leaders model vulnerability first, this conversation is a masterclass in building cultures where people feel safe, valued, and fully human. Along the way, Nick, Zach, and Tim reflect on memorable meals, meaningful leadership, and the moments that stay with us long after the table is cleared.

If you care about connection, belonging, and leading people in a more human way, this episode will leave you challenged, encouraged, and ready to set a longer table.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn

Learn more about Longer Tables

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Key Takeaways:

• Belonging begins when leaders model vulnerability first.
• Shared meals create space for deeper human connection.
• Job titles often block authentic relationships at work.
• Presence and storytelling help people feel truly seen.
• Great leaders set tables, not just agendas.

What happens when storytelling stops being scripted and starts being deeply human 🎥

Nick and Zach sit down with Curtis Gilbert, Co-Founder and Executive Producer of p3 mediaworks and a creative force behind some of the most authentic culture storytelling happening today. From launching a video agency with one camera and zero investors to shaping how organizations emotionally connect with talent and customers, Curtis shares the journey that turned purpose into powerful visual impact.

Together they explore why culture is every company's true superpower, how short form video is changing employer branding, and what leaders often misunderstand about storytelling. Curtis also offers a refreshingly grounded perspective on AI, reminding us that while tools evolve, meaningful stories will always start with human vision, passion, and connection.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Curtis on LinkedIn

Learn more about p3 mediaworks

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Key Takeaways:

• Human stories drive emotional connection more than polished messaging
• Culture storytelling builds trust with talent and customers
• AI enhances creativity but never replaces human vision
• Short form video maximizes storytelling investment and reach
• Validation from mentors can launch lifelong purpose

BJ McKay hosts a roundtable of ADVISA Leadership Consultants, who discuss the biggest problems they're hearing in the workplace today, and actions companies can take to help solve them.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Mandy on LinkedIn

Connect with Kye on LinkedIn

Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn

Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn

Get Your Culture Check!

Connect with Heather on LinkedIn

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Key Takeaways:

• Culture equals repeated behaviors and shared language
• Activation from above drives sustainable transformation
• Data cuts through assumption and subjective storytelling
• Leadership is a job requiring defined skills
• Training alone rarely produces lasting behavior change

What if culture wasn't something you fixed after it broke, but something you strengthened before it ever cracked?

Live from CultureCon West in Las Vegas, Nikki sits down with DraftKings Chief People Officer Linda Bukata Aiello for an honest, energizing conversation about culture transformation done right. From eliminating performance ratings to rolling out radical candor, Linda shares how DraftKings chose to get ahead of potential culture drift instead of reacting to crisis. The result? Stronger executive alignment, empowered remote employees, and surprising data that revealed culturally aligned women were among the company's top performers.

This isn't about fluffy values on a wall. It's about human connection, courageous transparency, and building a high-accountability culture rooted in trust. If you're a people-first leader wondering how to create meaningful change at scale, this episode will challenge and inspire you to lead with both clarity and heart.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Linda on LinkedIn

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Learn more about CultureCon

Subscribe to CultureCon's YouTube channel!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership evolves from hierarchy to humanity
• Transparency builds trust during uncertainty
• Culture should be proactive, not reactive
• Remote employees can be deeply culturally aligned
• Radical candor strengthens performance and connection

Culture is happening whether you design it or not. The real question is, is it accelerating your strategy or quietly sabotaging it?

Live from CultureCon 2024, Jasmine Bellamy sits down with Jeff Lindemann of WD-40 Company to unpack what it truly means to create the culture you want. Jeff shares why culture is not an HR initiative but a CEO responsibility, how belonging became the foundation of their global organization, and why they run the business from the strategy down instead of the spreadsheet up. 🌎

From a 9x return on value creation to a market cap growth from 350 million to 3.5 billion, Jeff makes a compelling case that employee engagement is not a soft metric. It is a competitive advantage. If you are a people-first leader who wants culture to fuel long term value, this conversation will challenge and inspire you to lead with intention.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn

Connect with Jasmine on LinkedIn

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Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Intentional culture accelerates business strategy execution
• Belonging drives engagement and long term value
• Culture is a CEO responsibility, not HR task
• Strategy down beats spreadsheet up leadership
• Engagement directly correlates with financial performance

From NFL locker rooms to global change room, Rachel Breitbach has mastered the art of leading through chaos with heart.

Rachel joins Nick and Zach to unpack what fearless leadership really looks like, not as bravado, but as a willingness to step into the unknown and bring others with you. From her early career in sports broadcasting to guiding massive organizational transformations, Rachel shares powerful lessons on staying grounded, earning trust, and creating the kind of culture where people actually want to grow.

She introduces her TIE model (Transparency, Inclusion, and Empathy) a simple but game-changing framework for leaders navigating uncertainty. You'll hear how curiosity can trump control, why community accelerates learning, and why in a tech-saturated world, human connection is the real differentiator.

If you're leading change (or change is leading you), this conversation is your anchor.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn

Learn more about FarWell

Connect with Zach on LinkedIn

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn

Learn more about CultureCon

Subscribe to CultureCon's YouTube channel!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Fearlessness means action, not absence of fear
• Calm leadership creates clarity during uncertainty
• Change thrives with transparency, inclusion, empathy
• Community builds trust, then shared accountability
• Technology rises, human connection must rise higher