Next in Queue

One of the most enduring basslines of all time was the lead into one of the greatest rock collaborations of all time – Queen and David Bowie. 1981’s Under Pressure became a #1 hit in the UK. Under Pressure explored how navigating the labyrinth of normal life could bring people to a breaking point. 9 years later, that same (slightly altered) bassline would spawn another hit, Vanilla Ice’s Ice Ice Baby. Not long after, Vanilla Ice was under pressure, facing a landmark copyright lawsuit that was eventually settled out of court.The feeling of being under pressure constantly can quickly lead to burnout, a topic we’ve tackled on this show in the past. The ideal way to deal with burnout is to remove yourself from the cause – often your job. But more often than not, that’s an unrealistic solution because we all have bills to pay. This week, Steph Lundberg joins Next in Queue to talk about strategies to mitigate burnout for those of us who need to carry on. • The Birth of Support Human and Bad Job Bingo• Understanding Burnout and Its Symptoms• Navigating Job Challenges and Burnout• The Importance of Taking Time Off• The Evolution of Work Ethic• Rethinking Going Above and Beyond• Career Planning During Burnout• The Importance of Networking, Community, and Support• Prioritizing Personal Well-beingConnect with Steph on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/smlundberg/ Support Human – https://supporthuman.cx/ Music courtesy of Big Red Horse – https://www.facebook.com/bigredhorseband/

If I asked you to think of a hit TV show set in Miami during the late 80’s, Miami Vice would likely be the first thing that pops into your head. But lasting longer, bringing in far more awards, and featuring American treasure, Betty White, I would argue the Golden Girls had an even more lasting impact on the world. A sitcom featuring 4 single, older women living together and navigating their “golden years” together was a revelation. Their lived experiences informed how they approached every situation. This scene, featuring Estelle Getty’s character, Sophia, reminds us of a simpler time in technology – when the answering machine was the peak of communication technology in the home.Clearly, communication technology has evolved a LOT since then, both in our homes and in contact centers. That evolution in technology requires new skills of contact center leaders, says Ty Givens. She’s experienced this evolution first-hand and today, she guides CX leaders through the challenges that come with a growing business. • Technology's Impact on Leadership• The Importance of Data Literacy• B2B vs B2C Customer Understanding• Navigating Customer Experience in Hyper-Growth Companies• Identifying Skill Gaps in Leadership• Strategic Thinking in Rapid Growth Mode• Understanding Vendor Relationships and Contracts• The Future of AI and Human InteractionConnect with Ty on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tybryantgivens/ CX Collective – https://www.cxcollective.com/ Music courtesy of Big Red Horse – https://www.facebook.com/bigredhorseband/

Nate Gibson may not be a household name, but his rockabilly novelty, Duck Butt, released in 2017, reminds us that there’s something silly about our favorite feathered waterfowl. Ducks may seem elegant, but when they need to eat, they put their beak in the water, and their tail goes up and that’s when you see those legs churning in the water. Chaos.You’re on stage. There are 100 people in the audience. You’re beginning to sweat. You’re holding the podium in front of you and your presentation is frozen. Sounds like chaos. When Dean Griess sat down to write a book about public speaking, he wanted to make sure that the readers wouldn’t feel silly in front of an audience. He wanted to help them glide smoothly along the stage and not flail furiously like a duck with its butt in the air. His book, Don’t Show Your Duck Butt, contains practical strategies to conquer nervousness, capture attention, and create remarkable experiences. • Understanding Public Speaking Fears• The Vulnerability of Speaking to an Audience• Tips for Overcoming Nervousness• The Importance of Body Language• Navigating Technology in Presentations• Buying Time During Presentations• The Role of Breaks in Long SessionsConnect with Dean on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/deangriess/Get your copy of Don’t Show Your Duck Butt – https://deangriess.com/about-the-book/ Nate Gibson – http://www.nathandgibson.com/index.html Music courtesy of Big Red Horse – https://www.facebook.com/bigredhorseband/

EDM and children’s fairy tales may not seem like they go together, but in 2011, Skrillex channeled the 1991 movie, Hook, a cinematic sequel to the story of Peter Pan. Based on J. M. Barrie’s 1911 novel, Peter and Wendy, Hook imagines adult Peter returning to Neverland to rescue his two young children from Captain Hook. Bangarang is more than a Grammy-winning hit for Skrillex, it’s the battle cry of the Lost Boys, Neverland’s gang of orphans who never grow up and never back down from pirates. Connecting with kids as an adult, especially kids who haven’t grown up in model environments, is an adventure. But when you do, the adventure may take you to unexpected places. That’s what Ethan Adshade learned when he signed up for Teach for America right out of college. His plan to go into finance took a turn to a career in learning and development. Today, he’s the Senior Director of Global Training and Development for Ticketmaster, and he joins Next in Queue to talk about what he’s learned during his adventure.• Lessons from the Classroom• Navigating Challenges During COVID-19• The Power of Preparation• Strategies for Classroom Management• Understanding People in Education and Business• Education’s Impact on Community• The Future of Learning and TechnologyConnect with Ethan on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-adshade/Music courtesy of Big Red Horse – https://www.facebook.com/bigredhorseband/

During the 90’s and early 2000s, Thursday nights were, for roughly 25 million Americans, Must See TV night. NBC’s lineup of hit shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and ER, were a cultural phenomenon that lives on in memes and catch phrases like Ross’s “Pivot!” from season 5. Ross’s detailed plan for success didn’t turn out the way he planned.Software founders often have detailed plans for success only to find that the market is just as challenging as moving a couch up a set of switchback stairs. When the market spurned Natalie Perez’s first software venture, the company pivoted and found success in the QM and WFM space. Her new company, Cisne, is an AI-native WFM platform that is designed to solve the real challenges contact centers have been struggling to solve for decades. It entered public beta this week and she was kind enough to join the show to discuss a variety of topics related to Workforce Management. Topics covered include:• What is WFM?• Challenges with current WFM technologies• The role of AI Agents in Customer Experience• Balancing Efficiency and Customer Experience• Agent Well-Being and Burnout in Contact Centers• Lessons from Past Failures• Introducing the public beta for Cisne.ai – the AI-Native WFM solutionConnect with Natalie on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pereznatalie/ Cisne – https://www.cisne.ai/ Music courtesy of Big Red Horse – https://www.facebook.com/bigredhorseband/