What if leadership isn’t actually hard—it’s just uncomfortable?

In this episode of the Business Impact Lab Podcast, Angela Jackson and LynnAnn Erickson sit down with former Chief People Officer, executive coach, and bestselling author Tom Emery to explore what it means to lead people well in a rapidly changing world.

Tom shares practical insights on navigating difficult conversations, giving feedback without putting people on the defensive, and creating psychological safety through small, intentional changes in leadership behavior. He also challenges leaders to become more comfortable with discomfort, slow down when emotions are high, and recognize the difference between trying to control people and learning how to influence them.

The conversation also turns to AI and the future of work, where Tom offers a refreshingly human perspective: AI may be a significant disruption, but at its core, it is another form of change—and the fundamentals of good leadership still matter.

It’s a thoughtful and practical conversation about feedback, psychological safety, change, and why some of the most effective leadership practices may also be the simplest.

Tom Emery's Bio:

Tom Emery is a sought-after speaker, consultant, performance and team coach, author, podcast host and Founder of HEX, an award-winning people performance consultancy and the bestselling author of People People: Reach Your Full Potential as a Chief HR Officer.

A leading voice in transformational leadership, Tom specialises in executive impact and effectiveness. He brings his experience as a Chief People Officer to his work helping senior leaders and executives unlock high performance with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. His work centres on supporting businesses to build psychological safety, strengthen leadership capability, and unlock human potential.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-emery-b8809818/

https://www.hex-development.com

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Also, check out an opportunity for Utah locals that is coming up at the Woodbury School of Business' Business Impact Lab Den Event:

Impostor Syndrome: Why You Should Care & What You Can Do About It Wednesday, September 16 | 8:30–9:45 a.m. UVU Keller Building, Entrepreneurial Institute (KB 102)

Our special guest, Dr. Bonnie Andersen, Chair of the Physics Department at Utah Valley University, will explore how impostor syndrome can affect not only our confidence as individuals, but also creativity, progress, and leadership within our organizations. You'll learn about the five types of impostor syndrome, practical strategies for managing it, and ways to create your own action plan for moving forward with greater confidence.

Come develop new skills, engage in meaningful conversation, and network with other professionals in our community. Light breakfast refreshments will be provided.

Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/imposter-syndrome-why-your-should-care-what-you-can-do-about-it-tickets-1998786437039?lid=qicnoiy15ys5&utm_source=braze&utm_medium=ebml&utm_campaign=clab_coex_lcm_dss_mec_mc_mum_0_0_previousorganizer-reactivation&utm_term=US-Provo-1.TwoTowers-Reactivation.PaidTickets-listing.previousorganizer&utm_content=69a699f2-1028-4684-982c-ced9e6f5ec7f__6a8f012d4eb72427c3ba7a12697ffc2b__04a9bfbc-d724-4925-9c4e-ff477bfc3c41__2f69ecc3-4cbb-4b51-b694-2139a92b9a17&aff=ebemnsebconsumeremail

What happens to us when we gain power—and how does that power change what we see, hear, and understand about the people we lead?

In this episode of the Business Impact Lab Podcast, Angela Jackson and LynnAnn Erickson sit down with psychologist, leadership expert, and author Nik Kinley to explore the hidden psychology of leadership and the ideas behind his latest book, The Power Trap.

Nik challenges some familiar assumptions about leadership development, including just how much of ourselves we can actually change. He explains why stress and pressure cause leaders to fall back on deeply ingrained patterns, how power can distance leaders from the people and information they need most, and why even well-intentioned employees may filter what reaches the top.

The conversation also takes an unexpected turn into AI—and why Nik believes AI may amplify some of the very same information problems created by power.

From psychological safety and overconfidence to narcissism, information flow, and the small leadership decisions that quietly accumulate over time, Nik offers a provocative way of thinking about what makes leadership effective—and what leaders can do to avoid falling into the power trap.

Nic Kinley Bio:

Nik has spent more than 35 years working with leaders and organizations. He previously served as Global Head of Leadership Development and Employee Engagement at Barclays and Global Head of Assessment and Coaching at BP, and he has assessed more than 1,200 senior executives for C-suite positions.

His latest book, The Power Trap, examines a fascinating leadership paradox: as leaders gain authority, the information they most need can become harder to access. Employees may filter what they say, bad news can travel more slowly, and at the same time leaders themselves can become more susceptible to overconfidence.

https://nikkinley.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkinley/

What does it take to turn a meaningful idea into a real business?

In this episode of the Business Impact Lab, Angela Jackson and LynnAnn Erickson sit down with Leadelle Parrish, founder of SOS Play and creator of Buzzy Buddy, an innovative comfort bear designed to help children find calm through bilateral stimulation.

Leadelle's entrepreneurial journey began when she saw the calming effect of bilateral stimulation on her grandchildren and went searching for a child-friendly product they could use on their own. When she discovered the product she envisioned didn't exist, she decided to build it.

Leadelle shares the realities of bringing an idea to market—from prototypes, product development, and customer discovery to funding, sales, feedback, and the uncertainty of scaling a young company. She also discusses the unexpected impact Buzzy Buddy is having with families, therapists, and children in foster care.

Along the way, the conversation explores leadership, "feed forward," purpose-driven entrepreneurship, and the courage to move into spaces where you don't yet have all the answers. As Leadelle puts it, sometimes you have to step forward believing that "the ground will rise up to meet you."

It's a conversation about building a business—but even more, about having the courage to begin.

Leadelle Parish's Bio:

Leadelle Parish is the founder of SOS Play, the company behind Buzzy Buddy, an innovative comfort bear designed to help children find calm through bilateral stimulation.

After seeing an opportunity to turn a simple idea into a meaningful business, Leadelle took the leap into entrepreneurship and recently completed her Master of Business Creation at the University of Utah.

She brings a founder’s perspective on building a company from the ground up—navigating product development, sales, funding, setbacks, and the challenge of growing a mission-driven business without losing sight of why it started.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadelle-parish-a1328034a/

https://www.sosplay.com/

https://lassonde.utah.edu/sos-play-bringing-therapeutic-comfort-to-kids-through-innovation/

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Also, check out an opportunity for Utah locals that is coming up at the Woodbury School of Business' Business Impact Lab Den Event:

Impostor Syndrome: Why You Should Care & What You Can Do About It Wednesday, September 16 | 8:30–9:45 a.m. UVU Keller Building, Entrepreneurial Institute (KB 102)

Our special guest, Dr. Bonnie Andersen, Chair of the Physics Department at Utah Valley University, will explore how impostor syndrome can affect not only our confidence as individuals, but also creativity, progress, and leadership within our organizations. You'll learn about the five types of impostor syndrome, practical strategies for managing it, and ways to create your own action plan for moving forward with greater confidence.

Come develop new skills, engage in meaningful conversation, and network with other professionals in our community. Light breakfast refreshments will be provided.

Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/imposter-syndrome-why-your-should-care-what-you-can-do-about-it-tickets-1998786437039?lid=qicnoiy15ys5&utm_source=braze&utm_medium=ebml&utm_campaign=clab_coex_lcm_dss_mec_mc_mum_0_0_previousorganizer-reactivation&utm_term=US-Provo-1.TwoTowers-Reactivation.PaidTickets-listing.previousorganizer&utm_content=69a699f2-1028-4684-982c-ced9e6f5ec7f__6a8f012d4eb72427c3ba7a12697ffc2b__04a9bfbc-d724-4925-9c4e-ff477bfc3c41__2f69ecc3-4cbb-4b51-b694-2139a92b9a17&aff=ebemnsebconsumeremail

Most people don’t get stuck in their careers because they lack talent or opportunity—they get stuck because they’ve never stopped to ask what they actually want.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to move from drifting through your career to designing it with intention—especially in a world that’s changing faster than ever.

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Julian Lighton's Bio:

Julian Lighton is one of Silicon Valley’s leading strategy practitioners and business coaches, helping individuals and organisations navigate what’s next. He has more than 30 years’ experience advising, hiring and developing talent as a senior operating executive, general manager, consultant and coach. Julian was a Chief Strategy Officer at four, billion-dollar revenue, public companies, a board director, and associate partner for McKinsey and a senior global sales and marketing executive at Fortune 100 companies Hitachi and Cisco. He holds a BA and MA in Law from Oxford University, a Masters-level in Negotiation from Harvard University, and is a Chartered Director by the Royal Institute of Directors. Julian is one of only four hundred coaches worldwide to be recognized as a senior professional coach at the individual and team level by both the ICF and EMCC.

https://www.julianlighton.com/

Julian Lighton's book is available 28 April 2026:

Navigating Your Next

https://a.co/d/07Rk0w4a

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For more information about UVU's Business Impact Lab, please see the following links: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/uvu-bil/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.instagram.com/uvubil/

https://www.uvu.edu/woodbury/bil/

We don’t have a confidence problem—we have a timing problem. By the time many women are encouraged to lead, they’ve already internalized years of doubt, hesitation, and second-guessing. So what happens when we flip that—and start building leaders much earlier? That’s exactly what we’re diving into today.

Sarah Jakle's Bio:

Sarah Jakle is the Founder and Executive Director of DemocraShe, a nonpartisan national nonprofit empowering historically underserved high school girls to be our future leaders, voters, civically engaged citizens and elected officials.

Previously, Sarah served as the Get Out The Vote Director for the California National Organization for Women and as the National Outreach Director for Field Team 6, leading efforts for mobilizing women and innovative voter registration. Empowering women to hold political office has been an interest since Sarah first interned at the Women’s Council of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in college.

Sarah’s unique inclusion of brain science in young women’s civic leadership training helps young women overcome the barriers on a woman’s leadership journey and successfully step into leadership in any area that interests them while knowing running for office is their birthright. Ultimately, her training helps any woman looking to grow as a leader, step out of her comfort zone, and learn evidence based practices to nurture courage and ambition. With her vision, DemocraShe fosters the next generation of leaders who will shape a more inclusive and just society and is a critical pipeline nurturing high school girls to engage in our democracy.

Sarah has a Bachelors from Yale (Phi Beta Kappa), a Masters in Social Work from USC and a Masters in Public Policy from UCLA. She is a Movement Builder Fellow with How Women Lead and was a Fellow with Obama’s Organizing For Action and a Board Member for Urban Partners Los Angeles.

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-jakle-535617240?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Democrashe:

https://www.democrashe.org/who-we-are _________________________________________________________________

For more information about UVU's Business Impact Lab, please see the following links: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/uvu-bil/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.instagram.com/uvubil/

https://www.uvu.edu/woodbury/bil/

Today’s conversation is one that really stayed with me. I’m joined by Femi Corazon, Executive Vice President and Executive Creative Director at Rescue Agency, where she leads large-scale behavior change campaigns that impact communities across the country.

www.femicorazon.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/femicorazon/

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Business Impact Lab Virtual Event On April 15th, the Business Impact Lab is hosting a special virtual keynote called Leading on the Edge: How Bold Leaders Create Extraordinary Impact. This event explores how leaders move beyond safe decisions and step into courageous leadership in uncertain environments.

We’ll talk about the hidden fears and narratives that often hold leaders back, and you’ll learn a practical framework for turning clarity into courageous action and meaningful change.

If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership mindset and activate your potential as a leader, I’d love for you to join us.

REGISTER HERE.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leading-on-the-edge-how-bold-leaders-create-extraordinary-impact-tickets-1984920912883?aff=eemailordconf&ref=eemailordconf&utm_campaign=order_payment_confirm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_term=viewevent

What really determines how people get paid?

In this episode of the Business Impact Lab Podcast, we sit down with Brittany Davies, Chief People Officer at Fullcast and a passionate advocate for workplace equity. With nearly 20 years of experience in human resources leadership, Brittany offers a behind-the-scenes look at how organizations think about compensation, talent, and the economics of running a business.

The conversation explores the systems that shape wages in the United States and the persistent challenges surrounding the gender pay gap—particularly in Utah, where the issue remains especially pronounced. Drawing on her work with A Bolder Way Forward and her experience leading people operations, Brittany shares how HR leaders balance business strategy with fairness, opportunity, and organizational culture.

Brittany also offers a thoughtful perspective on how the gender pay gap impacts society more broadly—not just as an economic issue, but as a cultural one that shapes opportunity, family decisions, and long-term financial stability. This episode offers valuable insight for leaders, employees, and anyone interested in understanding how organizations make compensation decisions and what it will take to build a more equitable future of work.

In this episode, we discuss: • How HR leaders think about the economics of organizations • The structural factors contributing to the gender pay gap • Why Utah continues to struggle with pay equity • The societal implications of wage disparities • How leaders and organizations can think more intentionally about compensation and opportunity

Brittany Davies Bio:

Brittany Davies is the Chief People Officer at Fullcast, a leading RevOps platform dedicated to aligning people, processes, and revenue. With nearly 20 years of human resources leadership, Brittany blends strategic foresight with a people-first philosophy. She oversees all aspects of Fullcast’s people operations—including talent & performance, engagement, and culture design—ensuring that organizational growth and culture move in lockstep..

Advocacy & Education Brittany is a passionate advocate for workplace equity, serving as a Spoke Leader and Advisor for A Bolder Way Forward in the areas of the Gender Pay Gap and Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Discrimination. She is also the creator of the At-Will Economy Podcast. This podcast explores the systems that shape how we work as everyday Americans.

She was recognized as one of Poets & Quants’ 2023 Best and Brightest Executive MBA Students while earning her degree from Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Business. She also holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittdaviespeople/

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zE64AwfH8h2UPOY3I8MxA?si=0sWERl5CTjW9u799M-98ZQ

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Business Impact Lab Virtual Event On April 15th, the Business Impact Lab is hosting a special virtual keynote called Leading on the Edge: How Bold Leaders Create Extraordinary Impact. This event explores how leaders move beyond safe decisions and step into courageous leadership in uncertain environments.

We’ll talk about the hidden fears and narratives that often hold leaders back, and you’ll learn a practical framework for turning clarity into courageous action and meaningful change.

If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership mindset and activate your potential as a leader, I’d love for you to join us.

REGISTER HERE.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leading-on-the-edge-how-bold-leaders-create-extraordinary-impact-tickets-1984920912883?aff=eemailordconf&ref=eemailordconf&utm_campaign=order_payment_confirm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_term=viewevent