This episode is brought to you by the Change Makers Certification Program!  Sinikka Waugh and Mike Rice discuss God’s Plan is Always Better than My Plan (Jeremiah 29:11). As a dedicated IT Staffing executive and leader, Mike's commitment lies in orchestrating teams to deliver exceptional outcomes for their valued clients. With a relentless focus on nurturing talent and fostering innovation, he lead the organization in identifying, recruiting, and deploying top-tier IT professionals who not only meet but exceed the specific needs and aspirations of their clients. By leveraging cutting-edge strategies and a deep understanding of the tech landscape, Mike empowers their teams to curate solutions that drive success for their clients, fostering enduring partnerships built on trust, reliability, and excellence. It's his passion to align their expertise with the dynamic demands of the industry, ensuring that they consistently deliver unparalleled services and cultivate environments where businesses thrive through exceptional talent acquisition and management. For 25 years, Mike dedicated himself to the IT Consulting field, navigating diverse roles from recruiting and account management to branch management, regional directorship, and executive leadership. His fundamental philosophy centers around fostering businesses incrementally through individual relationships while steadfastly adhering to faith-driven principles in every action. Beyond his professional pursuits, Mike finds joy in golfing, actively participating in Life Change Church, and cherishing moments with his wife and four adult children. Life Verse: Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and he will give you everything you need.”

This episode is brought to you by the Change Makers Certification Program!  Sinikka Waugh - Connect with me on either LinkedIn or send me an email! Founder, Owner, Trainer, and Coach Sinikka Waugh, PMP, President and CEO of Your Clear Next Step, spends her days helping people have better workdays. Trainer, coach, business leader, and difference maker, Sinikka is known for consistently helping people solve problems and get things done at work. With a 20+ year background in languages, literature, and project management, Sinikka has helped over 50,000 people have better workdays since 2008. Her clients value how her professionalism blends seamlessly with her down-to-earth, “try this now” approach and her passion for helping others. Sinikka holds a BA from Central College, an MA from the University of Iowa, and is a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Sinikka Waugh and Chad Brown discuss The Two Types of Trust. Join in and explore the two types of trust: blind trust, where we overlook potential risks, and mature trust, which acknowledges the possibility of betrayal while fostering deeper connections. Sinikka and Chad discuss how blind trust can lead to confusion and chaos, while mature trust provides meaningful feedback and minimizes the impact of breakdowns. They will share practical tips for cultivating mature trust in your relationships, including the importance of detailed conversations, attentive follow-ups, and tuning into your instincts.   Chad Brown is a leadership engagement expert. He coaches founders and executives in the art and science of leadership for themselves, their teams, and clients to create new, unprecedented results and experience fulfillment in their work. Chad founded a media production studio called Shade Tree Films in 2008 that has serviced global companies such as Volkswagen, Target, and Pixar Animation Studios. This is where his love and passion for leadership and causing results through others was ignited. He sold that company in 2021. He thrives in extreme environments and difficult conversations. Over the last 7 years, Chad has trained and developed leaders at globally recognized brands like Lulu Lemon, and Ironclad Document Services along with many burgeoning start ups. When he is not engaging in meaningful conversations with leaders, you will find (or won't be able to find) Chad on a wild adventure in the mountains with his family. He resides at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Orem Utah with his wife Katie and three children Addison, Kenya, and Milo.

  Sinikka Waugh and Dorice Horenstein discuss Choosing: The 6 Step Playbook to Making the Right Choice for YOU. Brought to you by the Change Makers Certification Program! Learn more here!   In this new episode, Sinikka and Dorice explore teh 6 Steps of C.H.O.OS.E. Dorice’s second book, Choosing, covers these 6 steps, so their conversation walks through each of these steps. When you think of choices, what comes to your mind? What food to eat? Clothes to wear? A vacation spot for the next family gathering? Or are you considering selecting a choice of values such as empathy, curiosity, hope or other ways of getting along with your team whether at work or at home? How and can you choose your thoughts? Is your choice a spiritual or an interpersonal choice? Is the choice internal or eternal? Most importantly do you use a playbook in making the right choice for you?   Dorice Horenstein, Oy to Joy Resilience Speaker, is a Positive Intelligence expert and a best-selling author of Moments of the Heart: Four Relationships Everyone Should Have to Live Wholeheartedly. After years of leadership in the education field, Dorice transitioned and made the world her platform. Dorice inspires others to improve their mental fitness, sharpen resilience, navigate challenges, discover opportunities for growth, and thus find their champion within.   Interested in becoming a Choosing Ambassador? Follow this link or contact us today at [email protected] and we will connect you with Dorice!

Sinikka Waugh and Myles Finn discuss Teaching Young People To Be More Empathetic Through Vulnerability And Authenticity.   Brought to you by the Change Makers Certification Program! Learn more here!   Myles is in his seventh year as choral director at Indianola High School, in Indianola, Iowa. He is the director of The Indianola Singers, The Apollo Chorus, and Cantare. He also directs Indianola’s Varsity Show Choir, Side One. He and his wife are the directors of musicals at Indianola High School where they have directed Disney’s Newsies, The 25h Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Sound of Music, The Addams Family, and The Wizard of Oz. He is most known for his TikTok videos going Viral at the start of the 2022 school year. Amassing over 120 million and 1.2 million followers, his videos have seemed to spark a love for choral music, musical theatre, and goofy choir teachers. Myles received his Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University, and his Bachelor's of Music Education from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He directly relates his success within his classroom with his work at Michigan State, his work with Dr. Lee Nelson at Wartburg College, and his passionate high school choir director, Duane Philgreen. Myles is a loving father and husband. He and his wife, choreographer and school counselor Haley (Rudd) Finn live in Indianola and they are proud parents to two beautiful children, Rory and Lyra. When Myles is not in the choral classroom, he can be found on the golf course, reading, playing video games, and spending time with his loving family.   Join our email list here!

Laura is highly experienced in the field of HR Talent Management and Leadership Development, driven by her passion for empowering individuals to unlock their full potential. She is a Certified Coach, Consultant, Instructional Designer, and Facilitator, with a proven track record of building, managing, and delivering award-winning programs that yield tangible results. Drawing on her expertise in Career Readiness and Transitions, Leadership, and Wellbeing, Laura uses a comprehensive and professional approach to support individuals and teams in reaching their peak performance and achieving remarkable success. But that's not all! In 2021, Laura established a thriving community dedicated to providing invaluable support for Women in Career Transitions. Building on this success, she has recently launched the Women's Career Mastery program, designed to empower women in the workplace to take charge of their careers and make significant strides towards their professional goals. She writes for various platforms, is a coach for the SkillCycle organization, and a Consultant at IBM working to empower technical professionals to grow and succeed.   Download Laura's FREE Career Empowerment Toolkit for Women here!   This episode is brought to you by the Change Makers Certification Program! 

This episode is brought to you by the Change Makers Certification Program!  Sinikka Waugh - Connect with me on either LinkedIn or send me an email! Founder, Owner, Trainer, and Coach Sinikka Waugh, PMP, President and CEO of Your Clear Next Step, spends her days helping people have better workdays. Trainer, coach, business leader, and difference maker, Sinikka is known for consistently helping people solve problems and get things done at work. With a 20+ year background in languages, literature, and project management, Sinikka has helped over 50,000 people have better workdays since 2008. Her clients value how her professionalism blends seamlessly with her down-to-earth, “try this now” approach and her passion for helping others. Sinikka holds a BA from Central College, an MA from the University of Iowa, and is a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute (PMI).

This episode is brought to you by the Change Maker Certification Program! A solo episode where Sinikka discusses the idea that Not Everyone is Meant To Be In Your Tribe. Sinikka Waugh Founder, Owner, Trainer, and Coach Sinikka Waugh, PMP, President and CEO of Your Clear Next Step, spends her days helping people have better workdays. Trainer, coach, business leader, and difference maker, Sinikka is known for consistently helping people solve problems and get things done at work. With a 20+ year background in languages, literature, and project management, Sinikka has helped over 50,000 people have better workdays since 2008. Her clients value how her professionalism blends seamlessly with her down-to-earth, “try this now” approach and her passion for helping others. Sinikka holds a BA from Central College, an MA from the University of Iowa, and is a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute (PMI).

This episode is brought to you by the August Cohort of the Change Maker Certification Program!   Sinikka Waugh and Kristen Boldt discuss Becoming Who We Are Meant To Be.   "You are a system thinker".  This observation from a mentor was the first time I had a name for how I am wired. My instinct always looks for the bigger picture, the story behind the story, and how all the different elements work together because I know it is in the nuances that our harmony is created. ​ Systems are important because we exist in dynamic relationship to each other. We are autonomous individuals and interconnected through our relationships and community.  When we bring these dynamics into harmony everyone has what they need as individuals and the integrity of the larger system, whether a family, a business, or a community, is strengthened. ​ There is a great story about a guy walking through the woods who hears a baby crying in the stream. He pulls the baby out and starts to care for it and soon hears another. He rescues that one and calls for more help. Soon there are many people pulling the babies from the stream, setting up feeding stations, housing etc. Finally, one person asks, maybe we should go upstream and find out how they are getting in. ​ That's me. ​ I work with systems because my instincts always take me “upstream”. What excites me about this work is the shift I see in individuals when a system is redesigned and rounded out to be spherical. It is like a weight has been lifted or a barrier removed. When our systems are healthy (well-rounded) it is easy for people to live into their highest selves and to use their gifts to be the contributions they are called to be. ​ I have always been drawn to the arts because that is how we tell our deepest stories. It is said that what is most personal is also most universal. Our stories are what bring us together, the shimmery thread woven through our human tapestry. Our stories connect us and these days we desperately need more connection.

This episode is brought to you by: the Change Makers Certification Program. Become a Certified Change Maker, and Co-Create Greatness!   Sinikka Waugh and Sue Wilson discuss 5 Components of C3 De-Escalation.   Sue has a Master’s Degree in Human Performance and Exercise Physiology from Minnesota State University, Mankato where she studied the Human body under stress and reactions. She served as the Head Athletic Trainer for Indianola High School from 2005-2012 and left the field to start a family and spend time with her 2 daughters, Joviee and Phia. She has experience as the Executive Director of The Helping Hand of Warren County, Indianola School Board Member, Board Member of CTE-HOPE, former member of Governor’s Advisory Council for Brain Injuries, United Way of Central Iowa Agency Director’s Council and represents Warren County on several Task Forces throughout Central Iowa improving engagement in social challenges facing our communities. Sue started as the Executive Director of WeLIFT Job Search Center in the fall of 2022 with the energy and passion to continue to bring new services and partnerships to WeLIFT to better serve our community. She is a Certified Instructor in C3 Descalation and has had the honor of training amazing organizations such as Anawim, UnitedWay, Families First, Waukee Area Christian Services and many different schools. She enjoys watching her husband and daughters play and coach the great game of soccer, loves the outdoors as well as the quiet night by a fire with a book. She is blessed every day with a community of friends and family that truly are the foundation of her heart.

Sinikka Waugh and Heidi Levine discuss Helping People Have Better Workdays to Have Healthier, Happier Lives.   This episode of Even Better is brought to you by The Change Makers Certification Program!   Heidi Levine has had a 40-year higher education career as a student affairs professional. Heidi earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Temple University, M.S. in counselor education from the Pennsylvania State University and B.A. in psychology from Northern Illinois University. Following a brief time in residence life, Heidi spent 23 years working in college and university counseling services, directed an integrated health and counseling center, and for the last 16 years has been in administrative leadership roles. Heidi has served as Vice President for Student Development and Planning at Simpson College, in Indianola, IA since 2015, and is about to start the next chapter in her life when she retires in July. Heidi has written and presented on topics including student mental health and resilience, curbing high-risk alcohol use, impacts of campus suicide, and staff development and leadership.

Sinikka Waugh and Kay Arvidson discuss A Personal Parkinson's Journey. Kay’s career has focused on leading change. Her background includes project management and business analysis for eCommerce applications, training and website development for state and local governments, and coaching individuals through career changes. Kay earned a BA degree in psychology from the University of Iowa, and received a MBA from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Kay was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017.

Sinikka Waugh and Dan Tocchini discuss 6 Steps to Prepare for Conflict.   Dan Tocchini Sr. Partner Take New Ground, Founder   Dan Tocchini III is a business and social entrepreneur, a published author, a master trainer, executive coach, leadership whisperer and culture development specialist. He is the Founder and Senior Partner at Take New Ground of Take New Ground a subsidiary of Human Performance Unlimited, Inc, where he champions founders & executives to scale their organizations. After 30 years of transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations from their current state to a desired future state of fulfilling their vision, Dan’s passion for leaders makes no question too dangerous and no conversation too difficult in delivering meaningful long-term results. Clients include Disney, ESPN, Microsoft, Interstate Batteries, Nike, Virgin Hyperloop-One, Seigel & Gale, The Oprah Winfrey Network, Gavin de Becker, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Smarty Pants Vitamins, World Vision, Homeboy Industries, Defy Ventures and many others. After 40 years of marriage Dan and his wife Aileen live in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho near their two children and 5 grandkids.  

100 episodes of Even Better! 100+ ways shared with our audience with tips, tricks, ideas, ways to be even better! What better way to celebrate our 100th episode than a solo episode where Sinikka discusses the 10 Things That I Have Learned in the Years That I Have Been Running This Business?!    Sinikka Waugh Founder, Owner, Trainer, and Coach Sinikka Waugh, PMP, President and CEO of Your Clear Next Step, spends her days helping people have better workdays. Trainer, coach, business leader, and difference maker, Sinikka is known for consistently helping people solve problems and get things done at work. With a 20+ year background in languages, literature, and project management, Sinikka has helped over 50,000 people have better workdays since 2008. Her clients value how her professionalism blends seamlessly with her down-to-earth, “try this now” approach and her passion for helping others. Sinikka holds a BA from Central College, an MA from the University of Iowa, and is a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Sinikka Waugh and Hannah Moeller discuss 4 Things to Know About Neurodiversity at Work.   Hannah (she/her/they) is a business coach, speaker, and DEI educator. After 12 years with a Fortune 100 financial services company, Hannah now runs her own practice, Hannah Moeller Coaching, LLC.  Their focus is to lead with authenticity, foster joyful belonging, and deepen connections. Hannah is a compassionate listener, with creative, actionable ideas for her clients, leaders, and business owners. In addition to individual and group coaching, Hannah speaks to organizations about LGBTQ+ inclusion and Neurodiversity in the workplace. When not working, Hannah enjoys reading, writing, hiking, supporting the arts, and spending time with her family: husband of 10 years, three boys, and two cats.   Hannah's website linked here!

Sinikka Waugh and Benen Witkop discuss 5 Things We Can Try to Avoid Burnout.   Benen Witkop is an aspiring author and screenwriter with a number of projects currently underway. A recent graduate of the University of Iowa with a BA in Creative Writing and Screenwriting, Benen has a lot of experience with writing works for both the screen and page, as well as technical products and proposals for businesses. Benen is always looking to improve his craft and develop his skills, and to find ways to overcome his shortcomings to make sure that his work is as good as it can be.   Make sure you check out the blog that Benen wrote, "Get Out of Burnout." This is a great read that goes along so well with what Benen informs us in this audio!

A solo episode where Sinikka discusses the 7 Things To Do When Crisis is at Your Doorstep.   Sinikka Waugh, President of Your Clear Next Step, is a recognized leader in understanding people and adapting tools, techniques, and processes to meet the demands of the situation at hand. Since 2008, Sinikka has helped over 50,000 people have better workdays so they can co-create better communities.

Sinikka Waugh and Melissa Worrel Johnson discuss 4 Reasons Emotional Intelligence is Critical to Our Teams, Organization and Self.   Reflection Tool Download: Click Here!    Over her 20-year career, Melissa has focused her efforts in leadership, talent development and business strategy. Her diverse background includes entrepreneurial startups as well as significant leadership roles in large corporations.   Worrel-Johnson’s experience in developing leaders, growing teams and implementing initiatives within organizations are key competencies and experience she brings to Your Leadership Group. Her professional career has included multiple management and leadership roles involving broad collaboration and partnering with all levels of leadership.   Areas of focus have included executive & leadership coaching and development, career advancement, succession planning, individual and organization development, team culture, franchising, work-life integration, customer experience implementation, and employee engagement.   Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Broad Field Science from University of Wisconsin – River Falls, an MBA from Capella University and her Professional Certified Coach credentialing (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation. She and her husband Alan and their two dogs live outside Des Moines, Iowa.

Sinikka Waugh and Jim Hall discuss 4 Steps to Thinking about Strategic Planning Through Interpolation Instead of Extrapolation. Jim Hall is an innovative, high-achieving Senior IT Leader with over twenty years experience in IT Leadership. Jim believes in developing the next generation of IT Leadership, to help IT organizations better respond to the changing technology landscape. After serving more than eight years as Chief Information Officer in government and higher education, Jim founded Hallmentum® where he's helped for four years to empower IT Leaders to drive meaningful change through hands-on training, workshops, and coaching

A solo episode where Sinikka discusses the 4 Things I've Learned About Dealing with Crisis. Sinikka Waugh, President of Your Clear Next Step, is a recognized leader in understanding people and adapting tools, techniques, and processes to meet the demands of the situation at hand. Since 2008, Sinikka has helped over 50,000 people have better workdays so they can co-create better communities.

Sinikka Waugh and Missy Paxson discuss the 4 Characteristics of the Best Leaders. Missy is a passionate life coach that believes her spiritual calling is to help people live their best life. She has dealt with her own personal struggles throughout life & has experienced firsthand how to transform those difficulties into positive learnings within her own life story. Missy is a certified Master Life & Master Mindset Coach, and she has been a Business Analyst for nearly two decades across multiple companies, facilitating and coordinating all manners of meetings, projects, and navigating precarious situations time and time again. She is an expert in Agile, and was elected as a lead analyst multiple times throughout her career. Missy and her husband Mike live in Indianola, Iowa with their children and grandchildren.

Sinikka Waugh and Mel Worrel-Johnson discuss 4 Factors of a Coaching Mindset and Why It Matters. Over her 20-year career, Melissa has focused her efforts in leadership, talent development and business strategy. Her diverse background includes entrepreneurial startups as well as significant leadership roles in large corporations. Worrel-Johnson’s experience in developing leaders, growing teams and implementing initiatives within organizations are key competencies and experience she brings to Your Leadership Group. Her professional career has included multiple management and leadership roles involving broad collaboration and partnering with all levels of leadership. Areas of focus have included executive & leadership coaching and development, career advancement, succession planning, individual and organization development, team culture, franchising, work-life integration, customer experience implementation, and employee engagement. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Broad Field Science from University of Wisconsin – River Falls, an MBA from Capella University and her Professional Certified Coach credentialing (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation. She and her husband Alan and their two dogs live outside Des Moines, Iowa.

Sinikka's first ever solo episode where she discusses the 4 Ways to Hit Refresh in 2024. Sinikka Waugh, President of Your Clear Next Step, is a recognized leader in understanding people and adapting tools, techniques, and processes to meet the demands of the situation at hand. Since 2008, Sinikka has helped over 50,000 people have better workdays so they can co-create better communities.

Sinikka Waugh and Lisa Even discuss 4 Ways to Create More JOY (at work and at home). Lisa is a corporate-culture junkie, turned author and entrepreneur, who is cheering loud for all those who want to Have Good Ripple Effect and more JOY. She delivers high-energy keynotes, 1x1 coaching, and workshops that challenge leaders and teams to think beyond their backyards, and realize that they happen to the world, and not the other way around. Lisa has a unique background in operational leadership and attributes her credibility to R&R Café, the tiny café in Eastern Iowa where she waitressed in high school, and the first group of direct reports that she had in corporate America, those 65 people did more than they will ever know! Through speaking, workshops, and coaching Lisa partners with leaders and teams to create more JOY in the workplace and to create a bigger and better Ripple Effect.

Sinikka Waugh and Dawn Ealy discuss 3 Wins from Change Makers.   Dawn Ealy is the founder of Peak Cadence, LLC, and a strategic partner of Your Clear Next Step. Dawn helps growing organizations transform chaos into confidence in the way they manage systems, projects, processes, and people. As a trainer and facilitator for Your Clear Next Step, she delivers a variety of courses that provide memorable learning experiences and practical tools participants can put into practice immediately. A genuine people person, Dawn is a super-connector who loves to meet new people and introduce them to others in her network. Dawn brings a multidimensional approach to project and process management with experience in leadership and management roles, as well as HR and operations, and she helps teams effectively navigate change.

Sinikka Waugh and Dick Hannasch discuss 3 Ways You May Be Hard to Work With and What to Do About It. Dick Hannasch is a working relationships coach who helps people become what he calls "You, better", whether you aim to improve working relationships, be a better leader or teammate, reach career goals, or something else. People who know him describe his brand as a truth teller, a judge who wants people to get what is fair and right, and a comedian who takes you seriously. With over 35 years of experience growing talent, Dick has coached people from all continents except Antarctica, in the fields of financial services, IT, health care, agribusiness, entertainment, and more. One of his goals is to outrun his younger daughter in a 5K race. (He’s been close twice, finishing just three seconds and one second behind her.)

Sinikka Waugh and Saby Waraich discuss 5 Ways to Stand Out as a Purple Cow Leader. Saby Waraich is a highly sought-after internationally recognized Keynote speaker and an award-winning Technology Leader. Ed Scoop recently awarded him the Higher Education IT Executive of the Year. HMG Strategy gave him the Global Leadership Institute award for leveraging technology to deliver business value and future growth as well as the Global Technology Executives Who Matter award for delivering unparalleled value to his organization in business transformation and talent development. The City of Portland created and awarded him the Purple Cow Leadership award for his excellence in leadership and complex program delivery. Thinkers 360 considers him among the Top 10 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers in the Project Management community. Energetic ... engaging ... lively ... enthusiastic ... inspiring ... words that are often used to describe Saby. A speaker with the uncanny ability to look at the normal and see something quite different, Saby shares his life stories and has a fun way to look at life as well as living life. You are guaranteed to learn a thing or two on your journey from his unique perspective. He is an Angel Investor, Mentor, Leadership Coach, Project & Program Management Expert, and Change and Volunteer Leader with a diverse experience of over 20 years in both the public and private sectors.

Sinikka Waugh and Faye Howard discuss 4 Things to Remember When Receiving Feedback. Faye has a master's degree in training and development and has held multiple roles in training, curriculum design, customer service and marketing throughout her 25+ year career. As a trainer and facilitator for Your Clear Next Step, you'll see her energy come through as she teaches people the skills to be a better version of themselves, motivating them to leave a positive, lasting impact on others. Faye has made her home in Pella, IA with her husband, Seth, and their 3 boys since 2005. Faye is an encourager and intentional about influencing those around her. Therefore, in her free time, you’ll find her in the stands cheering on her boys in various activities, enjoying a walk or cup of coffee with a friend or immersed in a good book pulling out nuggets of wisdom.

Sinikka Waugh and Tyler Kamerman discuss ‌5 Ways to Find Your Passion. Tyler Kamerman is a Chief Development Officer, Speaker, and Podcaster The name of his podcast is “Purse Your Passion,” and that’s exactly the journey he is on and the one he wants to help you navigate as well. Whether it’s through his speaking & training, his podcasts or his coaching, Tyler helps fun, successful people to “Be more intentional about Pursuing their Passion,” and map out a path to do more of what they were put on the planet to do. Tyler is consistently spinning more plates than he should be in Des Moines, IA with his wife and their two children. The Kamerman’s have a passion-filled household and are very active in their church and community

Sinikka Waugh and Scott Tillema discuss 4 Hostage Negotiation Tactics that Will Reshape Your Leadership. Scott Tillema (TILL’-uh-ma) is a professional keynote speaker and partner at The Negotiations Collective, a negotiations and conflict resolution training firm. He has over 20 years of municipal law enforcement experience in the Chicago area and is an FBI trained hostage negotiator who spent many years negotiating with one of the largest SWAT teams in the United States. Educationally, Scott holds a master’s degree in psychology and has received negotiation training at Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation. Scott is a recognized leader in the field of negotiation and influence. His visibility as a keynote speaker and educator through TEDx and other venues has reached global status.

Sinikka Waugh and Ann Stough discuss 5 Tips for Making New Connections. Ann Stough is a CBAP-credentialed Advisor-level Business Analyst with 17 years of experience in business analysis; 14 in healthcare information technology, and 3 in facility infrastructure technology. Ann grew up in West Des Moines. She lived a few years in the Cedar Rapids area and 20 years in Panora before returning to West Des Moines where she now lives. Within that timeframe, Ann and her husband full-timed in their Winnebago Class A motorhome for 8 years and snowbird every winter to southwest Arizona.

Sinikka Waugh and Dawn Ealy discuss 4 Ways for Project Managers to Develop Dazzling Communication Skills. Dawn Ealy is the founder of Peak Cadence LLC and a strategic partner of Your Clear Next Step. Through her consulting practice, Dawn helps growing organizations transform chaos into confidence in the way they manage systems, projects, processes, and people. As a trainer and facilitator for Your Clear Next Step, she is adept at sharing her 25+ years of experience with an energy and enthusiasm that bring her sessions to life. Dawn delivers project management, meeting facilitation, change management, process improvement, and collaboration courses that provide memorable learning experiences and practical tools participants can put into practice immediately. A genuine people person, Dawn is a super-connector who loves to meet new people and introduce them to others in her network.

Sinikka Waugh and Laura Casale discuss 3 Top Areas Where Women Need Support for Their Careers. Laura is highly experienced in the field of HR Talent Management and Leadership Development, driven by her passion for empowering individuals to unlock their full potential. She is a Certified Coach, Consultant, Instructional Designer, and Facilitator, with a proven track record of building, managing, and delivering award-winning programs that yield tangible results.   Drawing on her expertise in Career Readiness and Transitions, Leadership, and Wellbeing, Laura uses a comprehensive and professional approach to support individuals and teams in reaching their peak performance and achieving remarkable success.   But that's not all! In 2021, Laura established a thriving community dedicated to providing invaluable support for Women in Career Transitions. Building on this success, she has recently launched the Women's Career Mastery program, designed to empower women in the workplace to take charge of their careers and make significant strides toward their professional goals. She writes for various platforms, is a coach for the SkillCycle organization, and is a Consultant at IBM working to empower technical professionals to grow and succeed.

Sinikka Waugh and Dorice Horenstein discuss the 3 Ties Between her book Moments of the Heart and Positive Intelligence After serving as an officer in the Israeli army followed by years of leadership in the education field, Dorice, Oy to Joy speaker, uses her energy and charisma as she transitioned to make the world her platform. Her expertise in Mental Fitness & Positive Intelligence coupled with her award-winning bestselling book Moments of the Heart: Four Relationships Everyone Should Have to Live Wholeheartedly provide Dorice with the opportunity and knowledge to speak on international stages. Dorice inspires others to improve their mental fitness, navigate challenges, discover opportunities for growth and thus find their champion within Presenting and training is Dorice’s superpower. She defines T.E.A.M. as Together Everyone’s Attributes (are) Magnified. Dorice motivates others to identify their strengths and improve effectiveness and become the leaders they are meant to be. She promotes healthy and positive relationships that reduce stress and helps clients achieve higher retention as well as a positive atmosphere in the workplace (and at home!). When giving keynotes, Dorice invigorates audiences using impactful stories of challenges sprinkled with tips of positivity. When coaching, leaders are moved to take actions that bring their potential into reality. When delivering training and workshops, Dorice enhances leaders' and teams’ effectiveness and promotes healthy and positive relationships by using AMEN to CORE, her 4-step approach. Dorice passionately believes that positivity is an "inside out” practice that instills a calm, laser-focused approach, and produces success and growth. Dorice gained her BA in English Literature from Portland State University, and coaching certifications through the International Coaching Federation and Positive Intelligence organization. Dorice is a member of the National Speaker Association, serves on the NSA Oregon board, is a fellow member of IOC, at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, and is Past President of Toastmasters for Speaking Professionals.

Sinikka Waugh and Ann Wright discuss the 5 C's of Coaching. Ann Wright MBL, ACC Leadership and Team Coach Throughout Ann's 25-plus years of experience in leadership and talent development, she discovered and believes that people are an organization's most valuable asset. She partners with organizations and leaders to achieve their personal and professional goals by focusing on people, culture, and everyone's unique talents. Ann believes businesses grow by investing in their team members and embracing the talent each brings. 2She is an ICF Credentialed Coach focusing on Leadership and Team Coaching, speaker, author, and facilitator. Through her workshops and coaching, she assists people in developing their interpersonal skills in areas such as Attitude, Communicating with Confidence, Life/Work Balance, Productive Conflict Resolution, Meeting Management, Presentation Skills, and Teambuilding, so they can achieve their goals in life, as well as, help their organizations reach their outcomes. Ann earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Business and Psychology and Masters in Business Leadership degree through Upper Iowa University. Ann is a licensed facilitator in Coach U's - The Coach Clinic where participants learn how to use the Coaching Conversation Model and develop strategic coaching skills which benefit them in creating a culture where performance is amplified and team effectiveness increased.

Sinikka Waugh and Christine Samuel discuss 3 Key Reasons Why Relational Intelligence Matters in the Workplace.   Drawing on her extensive 20-year background in UX Design for Fortune 500 companies, Christine Samuel emerges as a visionary leadership coach, facilitator, speaker, and author. Her qualifications include certifications in Solution-Focused Brief Coaching and valuable experience as a mindfulness practice leader within a global technology organization. Christine's specialization lies in nurturing relational intelligence and working with leaders, teams, and change-makers to elevate their collaboration, communication, adaptability, and resilience. Through her transformative work, she empowers individuals to thrive in complexity.   Christine resides in Toronto with her husband and two children, and she is eagerly anticipating the release of her forthcoming book, “The Heart Space: The Path to Thrive in Uncertain Times" scheduled for early 2024. You can learn more about Christine and her work through the following links: Website: https://innerworkmatters.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinesamuelhere/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-samuel/ Blog post on relational intelligence: https://tinyurl.com/323e8eu3

Sinikka Waugh and Kevin Sutherland discuss 5 Principles Teams Can Adopt to Increase Agility without Doing Agile. Kevin is an independent consultant focused on helping teams, leaders, and organizations deliver value to users, customers, and citizens. Kevin began his career in IT working for Accenture, completing large transformational system integration projects for State government customers. Through Kevin’s independent practice, he has discovered a passion for creating collaborative environments, facilitating continual improvement, delivering value...and constantly learning/growing throughout the process.

Sinikka Waugh and Judy Alter discuss 3 Skills that Make BAs Standout. Judy Alter, CBAP®, FLMI, ACS, PCS & HIA Judy Alter is a public speaker and coach: mentor, trainer, and Senior Business Systems Analyst with almost 20 years of experience in Business Analysis. The last eight years were spent working with various Agile Frameworks. Judy rebranded herself as “The Optimistic BA” and is known as charismatic, optimistic, humorous, and a successful leader. Her specialty is with handling people, but she also has command of business analysis hardcore skills. CEO/Owner of Judy Alter Speaker & Business Analysis Services LLC Present IIBA Leader since 2012, where she has served in many roles IIBA Global Chapter Council Chair September 2017 to December 2022

Sinikka Waugh and Sheri Zevenbergren discuss 5 Fundamental Reasons to Develop Self-Awareness. Sheri is a coach & trainer who helps people develop & apply self-awareness to embrace their differences, unlock their potential & engineer the lives they truly want. She works with high-school & college students, more "seasoned" individuals (like herself), organizational leaders & teams, & couples who simply want to better understand themselves & one another.

Sinikka Waugh and Mel Worrel-Johnson discuss 4 Questions to Discover the Power of Appreciation. Melissa A. Worrel-Johnson, MBA, PCC - Executive & Leadership Coach, Facilitator, and Speaker Over her 20-year career, Melissa Worrel-Johnson has focused her efforts on leadership, talent development, and business strategy. Her diverse background includes entrepreneurial business start-ups as well as significant leadership roles in large corporations to now being a partner in Your Leadership Group – a people development organization focused on coaching, training, and facilitation to inspire, elevate and help leaders and organizations. Melissa believes we grow our businesses through People, Processes and Trust. How we lead our teams, develop our people and roll up our sleeves with trust leadership.

Sinikka Waugh and Jana Mitzoda discuss 5 Ways Dreams May Be Guiding You. Jana is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and a certified facilitator through the Oxford Institute for Organizational Science and Mindfulness. She is trained and accredited by author and guru W. Timothy Gallwey on The Inner Game method. She has extensive experience with positive leadership and conscious presence, creating and facilitating hundreds of workshops with participants from more than 90 countries. Jana has accompanied people from all over the world on the path to finding meaning in life and in discovering their natural talents. She supports her clients in increasing their awareness and in assuming full responsibility for their state of mind, body, and energy while guiding them to realize their life mission. She believes that consciously steering our ship on our personal sea of dreams is essential for our fulfillment. Relying on the depth of her experience and well-honed intuition, Jana helps individuals activate their inner wisdom, and to remember who they really are, what unique gifts they bring, and how to best apply them. Her business and leadership world coalesced with the gift of lucid dreaming, something Jana developed as a child and which she has continued to hone, also by completing a 3-year Active Dreaming program with Robert Moss. Her lifelong hobby of dreaming was the foundation upon which she fulfilled her desire to become a Dream coach. Jana leads public events, residential retreats, guided group meditations, and dream circles. She also accompanies vision quests and communicates with dolphins and whales. She is the author of Through the Eye of the Whale, available as an e-book and audiobook, in both Czech and English. You can find more about her work on her Surf life Facebook page or at lamurai.com

Sinikka Waugh and Hannah Moeller discuss 4 Steps to Build Confidence and Live an Expansive Life. As a coach and consultant with 12 years of experience in the finance industry, Hannah empowers diverse clients to build inclusive workplaces and expansive lives. She knows that teams and individuals thrive when each person has a deep sense of belonging. Her goal is to help people align with their dreams by doing more of what brings their soul joy. Hannah is a “former gifted kid” from Indianola, Iowa, and acknowledges that this land belongs to the Sauk and Fox tribes of the Meskwaki Nation. Married to her high school sweetheart for 10 years, Hannah is a mama to three boys, two cats, and many abandoned bright ideas. She identifies as a neurodiverse, multipotentialite bookworm striving to be a life-long learner, a better ally, and a diversity champion.

Sinikka Waugh and Tim Ferry discuss 5 Bullet Points on How Board Game Design Strategies can be Applied to Solve Your Problem. Tim has made a career out of pursuing creativity and is passionate about helping others to pursue that path as well. His freelance career in composing video game music for indie game developers led to helping others learn music by teaching children how to play piano. He taught private lessons as well as group piano classes for an after-school club. During this time, Tim also explored a new branch of creativity by designing and publishing a board game. He was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to convert his board game design journey into an experience for kids. Combining his past experiences, this turned into an 8-week board game design program for late elementary and early middle school kids that would encourage them to take a step toward being a lifelong creator, designer, and maker. Since launching the program, Tim has also had the opportunity to work with companies that are interested in using board games to build their brand or explore how gamification can be used to move their company forward.

Sinikka Waugh and Laura Casale discuss 4 Things You Can Do to Advance in Your Career. Laura Casale is a Coach and Consultant in Learning and Leadership Development in the tech and financial services industries. She has held management and executive positions at IBM and New York Life Insurance Company. Laura has multiple coaching certifications including Career coaching, Integrative well-being, and Life Purpose — that serve to enable a whole-life approach with her clients. She is passionate about career development and advancement and believes everyone has the ability to achieve their potential. Laura has written articles for ThriveGlobal, is a coach with the GoCoach Organization, a Leadership Development Consultant for IBM, and volunteers as a Career Transition Coach through MeetUp.com, the Women in Transitions Group, and a Women’s Mentoring Network Organization.

Sinikka Waugh and Keisha Thompson discuss the 5 Simplified Joys.   I grew up on my family’s century farm in rural Iowa. I’m an advocate for agriculture education, teaching about where food comes from and how to best care for land and livestock. I’m active in many volunteer agriculture and conservation groups and focused on sustainability. I want to make sure I leave this land better than when it became mine, ensuring it’s around for future generations. I have been blissfully married to my husband for 10 years and we have a little boy who brings the most joy to our lives! We enjoy traveling to a new state each year for our anniversary, with the goal of 50 states in 50 years. In 2017, I started 1 OAK as a creative outlet. It stands for 1 Of A Kind. I love unique finds that have character and helping people discover things that will be conversation starters in their homes. What began as a small occasional retail shop in my barn has now become an online retail store with local pop-up shops, workshops, and potting bar events. I’ve always had a love of nature. I incorporate natural elements into my home with vintage, florals, or plants. From farm to boho, vintage, and plants, you’ll be sure to find or create a statement piece for your home or the perfect 1 Of A Kind gift.

Sinikka Waugh, Jodi Rhone, and Andy Haning-Brown discuss 4 Reasons Values are Fundamental to Your Success. Jodi Rhone; Founding Partner Jodi co-founded Canary Consulting group with more than twenty years of experience in strategic planning, operations process improvement, and building a healthy workplace culture. She uses this experience to help nonprofit leaders expand their impact and operate more efficiently. Jodi enjoys coaching nonprofit leaders and boards, helping them define and communicate priorities to their teams, maintain focus, and work effectively together. Jodi is a natural problem solver and encourager who loves making a difference in her community. Originally from Greenfield, Iowa, Jodi earned her bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Simpson College. She currently lives with her husband and teenage son in Waukee, Iowa. Andy Haning-Brown; Founding Partner Andy is the co-founder of Canary Consulting Group; he is an experienced leader with background in human resources, strategic planning, communication, and optimizing operations. Andy enjoys working with nonprofit leaders to help them effectively engage and communicate with their workforce, optimize their culture, and develop effective leaders. He loves helping organizations find the right-sized solutions to everyday problems, freeing up leaders to focus on building strong and scalable organizations that meet the needs of the communities they serve. Andy grew up in Knoxville, Iowa, and has a degree in computer programming. Andy and his husband own multiple small businesses and live in Des Moines, Iowa.

Sinikka Waugh and Christine Samuel discuss 5 Ways to Bring Your Best Self to Work. Christine Samuel is a coach, trainer, and facilitator specializing in transformational change and inner work. She helps leaders, change-makers, and their teams cultivate their inner capacities so that they can bring their best selves in dealing with the increasingly complex and challenging environment. She assists clients by utilizing mindfulness, NLP, Solution-Focused Brief Coaching, Soma-awareness, neuroscience, and ancient wisdom traditions. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children. Currently, she is working on a book titled Taming the Anxious Mind: Moving from Head to Heart Space, which is scheduled to be released in late 2023.

Sinikka Waugh and Scott Helmers discuss 5 Things I Learned in Musical Theater that Apply at Work. Scott Helmers is a business process consultant, app designer, and trainer with the Harvard Computing Group. He is a co-inventor of TaskMap, a Visio add-in that allows anyone to create data-rich, easy-to-read maps of any business process. For more than a decade Scott has been the best-selling author of books about Visio, and he shares his Visio, data visualization, and business process knowledge at conferences around the world. When he’s not at his keyboard, you’re likely to find him on his bicycle or dabbling in community theater north of Boston.