Today, I’m joined by Garry Ridge—beloved leadership coach, former CEO and Chairman of WD-40 Company, bestselling author, and passionate advocate for people-first workplace cultures.

In this candid and energizing conversation, Garry and I dig into what it truly means to foster a workplace where people feel safe, valued, and connected—a space where anyone, with the right approach, can build an extraordinary culture. Drawing from his 25 years at the helm of a global brand and his latest book, Any Dumbass Can Do It, Garry shares his hard-earned wisdom, favorite behaviors of great coaches, and the core values that made WD-40 a beacon of trust, belonging, and performance.

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This episode is sponsored by LearnIt, which is offering a FREE trial of their TeamPass membership for you and up to 20 team members of your team. Check it out here.

Also iSpring Suite, an eLearning authoring tool that offers thousands of assets, quizes, and role play simulations. They are offering our listeners a free trial here.

Connect with Andy here: Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Garry Ridge here: LinkedIn

In this episode, Garry shares:

• His simple yet powerful philosophy: when people feel safe, valued, and connected, they do their best work—and go home happier.
• The critical distinction between managers and coaches, and why WD-40 replaced “manager” with “coach” in every job title.
• A breakdown of “soul-sucking” leadership behaviors—from ego and micromanagement to fear-based cultures—and the transformation that comes with self-awareness.
• Strategies for equipping new leaders, including the necessity of teaching fundamental coaching skills, not just promoting top performers.
• The power of psychological safety, learning moments, and openly sharing mistakes for creating a culture of innovation and growth.
• WD-40’s unique “Maniac Pledge” and how it eliminates blame, sparks accountability, and puts people in the driver’s seat of their own learning.
• Why feedback, authenticity, and vulnerability are non-negotiable for today’s leaders—and how to ask for help as a superpower, not a weakness.
• Insights on maintaining strong cultures in remote/hybrid work environments, plus the evolving opportunity of AI to free up creativity and connection.
• Practical lessons from Garry’s own “dumbass” moments, and why leaders must intentionally center themselves to avoid “bringing leftovers” to their teams.

Whether you’re...

Today, I’m talking with Brittany Honor—a dynamic leader with more than 12 years of experience spanning the medical device and consumer packaged goods industries.

In this inspiring and practical conversation, Brittany and I dig into the realities of learning and development, change management, and field enablement—particularly in fast-paced and high-performing sales-driven organizations. Through candid stories, tactical strategies, and reflections on her own journey, Brittany equips L&D and talent professionals to navigate change, support teams, and elevate their careers with authenticity and impact.

Subscribe to our weekly updates and monthly talent development newsletter here.

Order Own Your Career Own Your Life on Amazon

Apply to Join us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!

This episode is sponsored by LearnIt, which is offering a FREE trial of their TeamPass membership for you and up to 20 team members of your team. Check it out here.

Also iSpring Suite, an eLearning authoring tool that offers thousands of assets, quizes, and role play simulations. They are offering our listeners a free trial here.

Connect with Andy here: Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Brittany Honor here: LinkedIn

In this episode, Brittany shares:

• How she “fell into” L&D, moving from sales and leadership roles into developing future leaders.
• Why promoting top sales performers into management isn’t always the answer—and the value of focusing on transferable leadership skills.
• The critical mindset shift from “super salesperson” to effective leader.
• Communication pitfalls in change management and why messaging must start with the most impacted groups.
• The importance of listening and needs assessments for successful technology and training rollouts.
• How to handle requests for training—often uncovering root causes like trust, not just surface skills.
• Why authenticity, vulnerability, and ownership are essential for leaders.
• The role of clarifying personal values in driving career satisfaction and growth.
• Practical ways to build your personal brand alongside a corporate L&D career.
• How networking (especially on social media) can open doors and boost your professional impact.

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Today, I am talking with Kelsey Kelly who is Manager of Learning and Employee Experience at Point B, a small professional services firm.

In this conversation Kelsey and I dive into the real-world challenges and opportunities of building impactful learning cultures—especially within professional services firms that demand both continuous client value and employee growth. With experience spanning HR, military service, banking, and consulting, Kelsey shares lessons from her journey and how she’s driving holistic learning, employee experience, and leadership development with a lean team and limited resources.

Subscribe to our weekly updates and monthly talent development newsletter here.

Order Own Your Career Own Your Life on Amazon

Apply to Join us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!

This episode is sponsored by LearnIt, which is offering a FREE trial of their TeamPass membership for you and up to 20 team members of your team. Check it out here.

Also iSpring Suite, an eLearning authoring tool that offers thousands of assets, quizes, and role play simulations. They are offering our listeners a free trial here.

Connect with Andy here: Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Kelsey Kelly here: LinkedIn

In this episode, Kelsey shares:

• Her winding path from accounting to HR to becoming an L&D champion—with key moments that revealed the "fun side of HR" and her passion for helping people grow.
• Why learning in professional services is both rewarding and tricky, with experts who love billable work—and how to position learning as both a personal and business imperative.
• How she scaled L&D at Point B with a drastically reduced team—leveraging partnerships (like Learnit), learning ecosystems, and creative problem-solving to provide meaningful development at scale.
• Strategies for shaping employee experience: building manager communities, creating branded programs (like the Empower Manager Exchange), and amplifying leadership through hubs and local adaptation.
• The pivotal role of onboarding, integrating with talent acquisition, and working cross-functionally to deliver welcoming, effective experiences for every new hire—no matter where they are.
• Practical leadership development tactics: focusing on relevance, adaptability, and community; supporting both current and next-generation leaders; and embracing constant change—even if it means pivoting or retiring programs.
• On measuring impact: Why authentic conversations, continuous feedback, and genuine connection with employees matter as much as hard metrics—and how being “human-centered” means...