Career Club Live with Bob Goodwin

In this compelling episode of Career Club Live, Bob Goodwin sits down with global pharmaceutical executive Ashish Pal to explore the essence of impactful leadership. Drawing from a rich international career across specialty and large-scale pharma organizations, Ashish introduces his personal leadership model—the Leadership Triangle, built on People, Strategy, and Operations. Ashish reflects on the early experiences that shaped his leadership style, including a bold product launch that redefined a category and expanded a stagnant market. His story is a masterclass in thoughtful risk-taking, team empowerment, and cultivating a culture where it's safe to fail—and essential to dream big. Together, Bob and Ashish dive into what makes great teams tick, how to navigate ambiguity with confidence, and why humility, learning agility, and fun are just as important as technical proficiency. Ashish’s insights are deeply human, refreshingly practical, and globally resonant. Key Themes: Building teams like a tapestry—diverse, intentional, and aligned Moving from fear-based decision-making to bold, confident execution The critical difference between strategy and operationalization What leaders can do to foster psychological safety, curiosity, and grit Whether you're a rising professional or a seasoned executive, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you lead—and who you bring with you.  Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

In this high-energy and deeply insightful episode of Career Club Live, Bob Goodwin, President of Career Club, is joined by keynote speaker, improvisational humorist, and author Joel Zeff, to explore the surprising power of fun at work—and why it's anything but frivolous. Joel, author of Make the Right Choice: Lead with Passion, Elevate Your Team, and Unleash the Fun at Work, shares how his journey from newspaper journalist to corporate PR pro to full-time speaker began with a spontaneous invitation to play improv games at a Texas Instruments executive retreat. Since then, Joel has turned his passion for humor and performance into a thriving career helping teams and leaders inject more energy, ownership, and joy into the workplace. This episode is packed with light-hearted moments and powerful takeaways, including:  What improv comedy teaches us about teamwork, communication, and leadership  Why choice and attitude are at the heart of professional success  How celebrating small “ta-da” wins can boost confidence and team morale  The difference between skeptics and cynics—and why you shouldn't waste energy on the latter  Why pursuing what’s fun for you leads to fulfilling work Whether you're navigating change, dealing with stress, or just looking for a more human way to lead, Joel’s message is a timely reminder that fun is not a luxury—it’s fuel. Key Timestamps: 3:42 – Joel’s career origin story: improv meets corporate life 10:01 – Why fun is essential, not optional 16:48 – The power of small “ta-da” moments and everyday wins 23:30 – Leadership, ownership, and creating a passionate team culture 31:05 – Why improv lessons make better leaders 41:22 – Choice vs. perfection: navigating your path with clarity 53:17 – How to stay energized and resilient during challenging times  Listen to the full episode on: Apple Podcasts Spotify  Learn more about Joel Zeff and his book at joelzeff.com

In this episode of Career Club Live, host Bob Goodwin reconnects with two powerhouse leaders from The Band of Sisters, Lori Tauber Marcus and Cie Nicholson, both former PepsiCo executives and co-authors of You Should Smile More. This follow-up conversation explores the real-world impact their book has had since its release and dives deeper into how subtle workplace microaggressions affect women—and what everyone can do to create more inclusive environments. Lori and Cie reflect on: How the idea for the book emerged (hint: it wasn’t planned!) Why "You Should Smile More" hits women in the gut and leaves men puzzled The power of small “micro-corrections” and how they can shift culture Why allyship—especially from men—is essential, not optional What’s surprised them most since launching the book This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a playbook for action. Whether you're a leader, a peer, or early in your career, you'll walk away with practical tips to make your workplace more equitable.  Key Timestamps: 00:01 – Intro & Guest Updates: Travel, anniversaries, and handstands in Portugal 03:30 – How the Book Was Born: From dinner with Indra Nooyi to microaggressions 10:50 – Microaggressions Explained: “Smile more,” “office housework,” and being called a “girl” 18:10 – Audience Reaction: Why the stories resonate across industries 24:25 – Practical Corrections: Note-taking, swag bags, and behavior patterns 30:05 – Meeting Dynamics: "Meeting before the meeting" & the role of informal norms 35:45 – Good Idea, Greg: How to support colleagues whose ideas get ignored 42:10 – What’s Changed Since Publishing: Surprising feedback from every industry 47:20 – Current DEI Landscape: Adjusting language without losing impact 51:40 – What Allyship Looks Like: Conscious action and humble curiosity 1:00:30 – What’s Next: Speaking tours and deep dives on mentorship and feedback  Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/career-club-linkedin-live-with-bob-goodwin/id1609808305 ...or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1cIoFUM1yDsf6Iy1tTCuw5

What does it take to go from working the electronics aisle at Toys R Us to leading HR for 20,000+ employees across North and Latin America? In this powerful episode of Career Club Live, host Bob Goodwin sits down with Chris Mikulski, Chief Human Resources Officer for The Americas at H&M, to talk about career growth, leadership, and the future of HR. Chris shares the lessons he’s learned on his journey—from starting out as a seasonal retail employee to becoming a strategic HR executive at one of the world’s most recognizable fashion brands. This conversation is full of practical wisdom for job seekers, HR professionals, and anyone striving to lead with purpose. Topics include: How curiosity and stretch assignments accelerated Chris’s career Why resilience isn’t just about survival—it's about growth The traits Chris looks for when hiring at H&M Why business acumen is non-negotiable for modern HR leaders The power of self-reflection, vulnerability, and forgiveness in leadership How HR can earn (and keep) a seat at the executive table The future of HR as a data-powered, people-first function  Listen to gain real-world advice on how to build a career that aligns with your passion—and make a real impact while doing it.  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/career-club-linkedin-live-with-bob-goodwin/id1609808305 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1cIoFUM1yDsf6Iy1tTCuw5

In this forward-looking conversation, Bob Goodwin sits down with Dr. Anna Tavis to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of coaching and leadership development. As the author of The Digital Coaching Revolution and a leading voice in human capital transformation, Dr. Tavis offers deep insights into how organizations can leverage AI not to replace human coaches, but to dramatically scale, personalize, and democratize coaching throughout the enterprise. Key Themes Covered: Why traditional executive coaching is not scalable—and how AI changes that The rise of AI-native platforms and their impact on performance management, onboarding, and career development How AI acts as a “practice field” for developing power skills—especially in high-stakes scenarios Why middle managers are the first—and best—place to implement AI-based coaching How tools like ChatGPT and custom-built AI coaches are enhancing, not replacing, human insight The ethical, privacy, and bias considerations organizations must address The role of digital twins and organizational simulations in strategic workforce planning Dr. Tavis also shares real-world examples from companies like Microsoft, Delta Airlines, and Mayo Clinic—demonstrating how AI coaching tools are already transforming both corporate and healthcare settings. Special Invitation: Dr. Tavis will be hosting the Coaching and Technology Summit at NYU in New York City on July 7–8, focused on the convergence of AI and executive coaching. The summit features top innovators, case studies, and cutting-edge tools redefining leadership development. Register here: https://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/academics/divisions-and-departments/division-of-programs-in-business/human-capital-management/coaching-and-technology-summit.html