Making Waves at C-Level: Business Tips for Executives, Leaders, and Entrepreneurs

Thom Singer, CSP, has been speaking about the importance of connections and relationships for two decades. And the topic is starting to explode. This is becoming one of the leading subjects meeting planners are seeking out in 2026 and 2027. Many famous speakers/thought leaders are starting to talk about the importance of Human Interaction (H.I.) in an AI-Driven world.... and more are joining the discussion. But Singer wrote his first book on this in 2005. In March 2026 he wrote a long blog piece called the Human Interaction Manifesto. This podcast is a review of this piece as created by an AI tool.. Is it irony that an article about human relationship, trust, reputation, etc... is being turned into a podcast episode created by AI voices? NO. Singer is very pro AI and believes in using tech tools. But the message is the key here. It is about how we invest in people. The message of "Choose People" has been part of his keynote since 2009. This episode of "Making Waves at C-Level" is just an experiment .... using the AI tools to review an important piece he wrote and to see if it captures the idea. Singer found it fascinating. But see for yourself. Read the whole manifesto on his blog and then listen to the podcast https://thomsinger.com/blog/human-interaction-h-i-manifesto/ ***** Thom Singer, CSP, is a keynote speaker who has been working with meeting planners for associations, companies, and law firms for over 20 years. His message is about how the people side of business is the secret weapon for developing a sustainable career. "All Opportunities Come From People" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corporate Citizenship, Real Leaders Show Up It’s been a while since I released an episode of Making Waves at C-Level, and I’m working to bring it back consistently. The more time I spend talking with CEOs and senior leaders, the more I’m convinced we have a growing problem in corporate America: the decline of real corporate citizenship. For most of the last century, companies understood that if you operated in a city, you had a responsibility to help make that place stronger. Not just through donations, but through leadership and presence. Serving on boards. Supporting civic institutions. Investing time and talent in the community where your employees live, where your customers come from, and where your company benefits from infrastructure, education, and opportunity. Over the past 25 years, that expectation has faded. We celebrate the “Lone Ranger” entrepreneur and the celebrity CEO, as if success is a solo act. That story is convenient, and it’s also wrong. Nobody builds anything meaningful alone. Every company’s success is built on people, teams, mentors, customers, partners, and a community that helped create the conditions for growth. And yet today, too many leaders approach civic engagement with one question: “What’s in it for me?” If it doesn’t create immediate return, they opt out. That mindset is understandable in a world obsessed with quarterly results, but it’s also how communities weaken over time. This matters more now because the pace of change is speeding up. AI is already reshaping work, and more disruption is coming across industries. When societies face upheaval, the answer is not more isolation and self-protection. The answer is stronger community, built through sustained involvement, real collaboration, and leaders who are willing to show up. In this episode I lay out practical ways for companies and senior leaders to rebuild corporate citizenship: Celebrate civic time, not just civic money. Put the best leaders into service roles in community institutions, boards, and committees. Invest in the talent pipeline, internships, partnerships with schools, and workforce development. Support the “unsexy” stability issues: housing, transportation, education, digital inclusion. Choose collaboration across business and civic organizations instead of turf wars. My closing challenge is simple: if you lead a company, pick two civic commitments you can make in the next 90 days, and encourage your senior team to pick at least one. If you believe you’re a great leader but you’re giving nothing back to the community you operate in, you may not be as great as you think you are. Have ideas for future topics, or want to react to this one? Email me at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation on Making Waves at C Level, I sit down with Eliz Greene, a renowned stress researcher, author, and sailor who learned hard lessons about uncertainty after surviving a rare heart attack while seven months pregnant with twins. Eliz reframes stress as a natural reaction to our environment, not a moral failing, and shows leaders how to bring heart rates down, clear cortisol, and think clearly when the waters get rough. We explore her Border Collie and Iguana recovery styles, a memorable way to help teams honor that people refuel differently. Some need activity and structure. Others need quiet and space. Great leadership makes room for both. Eliz connects those ideas to sailing on Lake Michigan, where preparation and practice turn unpredictability into something the brain can recognize. Life jackets go on before you need them. In business that means systems, communication, checklists, and visible markers of progress so people feel secure during change. One story that will stick with you is our discussion of Capacity Optimism. Many of us believe we have more capacity than we do. Eliz discovered her fuel tank held 30 gallons when the label promised 36, and that twenty percent gap mirrors how leaders and caregivers overestimate time, energy, and staffing. Capacity Optimism shows up when we take on a full workload while raising kids, supporting aging parents, and managing a team. The fix is not superhuman effort. The fix is reducing load where possible, and routinely refueling with sleep, movement, real breaks, and friendships that allow you to say the hard things out loud. We also talk about building your bench. Eliz and I share how our long running mastermind functions like a Bat Signal. When someone calls, we answer. Leaders who model that kind of connection build resilient cultures. Practical tactics include noticing your personal stress indicators, using intentional breathing, scheduling recovery time, and, most importantly, communicating early and often so uncertainty does not hijack performance. If you lead people in a high change environment, or if you are a high performer who quietly carries too much, this episode delivers language, tools, and stories you can use today. Learn more about Eliz Greene at https://elizgreene.com Learn more about Thom Singer at https://thomsinger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Making Waves at C-Level, host Thom Singer interviews sales trainer, coach, and speaker Chris Bussing, founder of the Tech Sales Accelerator. Chris draws from years of experience working in both large corporations and emerging startups, and now helps salespeople and teams elevate their performance and achieve greater results. Chris shares that sales is not only about hitting numbers. It is the driver of growth and the foundation of every company’s success. Leaders who do not understand the challenges their sales teams face are leaving opportunities on the table. For Chris, sales became the perfect fit because it allowed him to combine his love of working with people and his drive to excel. Through his career in both global enterprises and smaller ventures, Chris learned the unique advantages and obstacles of each. Established companies provide instant credibility that makes prospecting easier. Startups demand creativity, resourcefulness, and carefully crafted messaging to get attention. His conclusion is that adaptability is the most important skill a seller can master. Prospecting is hard work. Many hours of calls and emails often result in silence. Chris explains that the best leaders show empathy for this grind and are even willing to get involved themselves. When leaders roll up their sleeves, model behaviors, and share the hustle, they inspire teams to push forward with commitment. Chris is skilled at teaching how to secure meetings with top tier prospects, the whales and dolphins that truly move the revenue needle. He recommends a multi channel approach that combines calls, emails, and LinkedIn messages, all tied together with consistent and value driven personalization. He stresses that targeting is equally important. Salespeople must know their ideal customer and avoid chasing minnows that consume resources but offer little return. Chris shares his personal story of beginning as the lowest performer on his first team and how a pivotal conversation with his manager pushed him to change course. That moment ignited his determination to improve. From this experience, he developed a path to reaching potential: Learn constantly by studying methodologies and strategies and by staying curious. Build strong relationships with mentors, peers, and leaders who can share insight. Prepare thoroughly with clear plans, organized lists, and practiced talk tracks. Play the numbers game with persistence, knowing that consistent activity creates opportunities. Chris now leads the Tech Sales Accelerator, an approach that blends online training with personalized coaching. He works with new sellers beginning their careers, experienced professionals looking to break into higher level accounts, and sales leaders who want to strengthen their teams. His program focuses on practical skills that open doors, build trust, and create lasting customer relationships. Alongside coaching, Chris produces daily content on LinkedIn, shares outbound focused videos on YouTube, and hosts his own podcast. This episode provides valuable takeaways for professionals at every level. Sales leaders will hear reminders about the power of empathy and the importance of modeling behavior. Individual contributors will find strategies to improve prospecting, preparation, and resilience. Executives will gain insight into why sales must be supported as the key driver of business growth. Chris Bussing’s passion for outbound sales and his people first approach make this a conversation filled with actionable ideas to accelerate sales performance and professional growth. Sales as the Core of GrowthInsights from Different EnvironmentsThe Sales Grind and LeadershipLanding Meetings with the Right ProspectsReaching Full Potential in SalesThe Tech Sales AcceleratorWhy This Conversation Matters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Collaboration is no longer optional for leaders... it’s essential. In this solo episode, Thom Singer shares why collaboration is the new leadership and how creating a collaborative culture drives trust, innovation, and long-term success. Drawing from years of experience speaking about human interaction, networking, and trust, Thom explains why collaboration has become the key factor that separates thriving organizations from those that struggle to adapt. Leaders who cultivate a collaborative vibe don’t just build stronger teams... they create workplaces where people want to engage, contribute, and stay. Collaboration fosters human connection, breaks down silos, and empowers individuals at every level of the organization. Thom outlines how collaboration is at the heart of problem-solving, innovation, and resilience, especially in industries facing rapid change. By weaving collaboration into daily leadership practices, executives can multiply their impact and build lasting loyalty within their companies and communities. In this episode, Thom unpacks 8 benefits of a vibe of collaboration that every leader should embrace: Builds trust faster Fuels innovation Improves engagement and morale Breaks down silos Strengthens problem-solving Enhances adaptability Multiplies leadership impact Creates long-term loyalty If you’re a CEO, executive, or rising leader, this episode will inspire you to make collaboration the cornerstone of your leadership style. **************** Thom Singer, CSP, is a professional keynote speaker and the CEO at the Austin Technology Council. He is know for saying "Community, collaboration, and conversations can solve all problems" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices