The Leadership Communication Show with Michael Piperno
By Michael Piperno
The Leadership Communication Show with Michael PipernoNov 13, 2023
Leadership Styles with Robert Jordan
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with Robert Jordan, co-founder and head of the leadership team at InterimExecs — a leadership executive matching firm that matches organizations with the right leaders to step in during times of trouble or stagnation.
Robert and I were introduced earlier this year and when we first met, we talked a lot about different leadership styles — and why some leaders just seem to have that magic sauce that makes them stand out above the rest. I’ve learned that Robert’s research and writings can help understand why that is seemingly the case.
In fact, he’s even written a book about it called, Right Leader, Right Time: Discover Your Leadership Style for a Winning Career.
We talk about good leadership, terrible leadership, leadership styles (and how to assess yours), and essentially what Robert’s research has determined makes an exceptional leader. We also discussed my personal results from the FABS Leadership Assessment.
It was a great conversation and I hope you find it helpful.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Robert:
• Right Leader, Right Time Book
And learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.WeAreComvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Harnessing the Power of Networking with Michelle Harris
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with Michelle Harris, founder of Bosstrack — a company she started to give women new to leadership roles the development, support and mentorship she found lacking along her career journey.
Michelle and I have talked quite a bit about the importance of your network, and networking — which a lot of my listeners know is something I have a love-hate relationship with. So, I invited her to the show to talk more about it — and to help my listeners harness its power.
We discussed making true connections, mentorship, sponsorship, siloed networks, getting comfortable at networking events, and more.
It was a great conversation, and I hope you find it helpful.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Michelle:
And learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Thought Leadership with Graham Brown
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with Graham Brown, founder of the Award Winning Podcast Agency, Pikkal & Co.
Graham is a published author on the subject of The Digital Transformation of Communication. His work has been featured in the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal and he has helped shape the communications strategies of some of the world’s leading organizations.
He’s a passionate storyteller who specializes in helping global corporations and government agencies find their voice with podcasts. And as you likely know, podcasting is one of the best ways to demonstrate thought leadership, which is something Graham knows inside and out.
We discussed podcasting, thought leadership, purpose, vulnerability, imposter syndrome, facing rejection, finding your why, the value of attention, and more.
It was a great conversation, and I hope you find it helpful.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Graham:
And learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Cascading Communications (and Getting Everyone on the Same Page!) with Liz Kislik
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with Liz Kislik, a management consultant, executive coach, TEDx speaker, and contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes.
Her specialty is developing high performing leaders and workforces for organizations, from the Fortune 500 and national non-profits to family-run businesses. Liz has coached and mentored employees from the C-suite to the contact center — vice presidents, human resource professionals, and department supervisors — motivating them with her wit, wisdom, and humanity.
Liz and I have talked in the past about how leaders can help keep everyone in their organizations on the same page. It’s not an easy task, but she always has good advice for making it happen. So, I invited her to the show to share some of that wisdom with you.
We discussed cascading communication, making sure messages from the top are communicated well throughout an organization, the importance of repetition and versioning, communicating in the right style and at the right time in order to meet people where they are, and much, much more.
It’s a fun conversation, and I hope you find it helpful.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about, and follow, Liz:
And learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Lift Your Leadership Impact with Richard Newman
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with a fellow communication and leadership coach and trainer, Richard Newman. He is the Founder of a company called UK Body Talk and over the past 23 years he and his team have trained over 120,000 business leaders around the world to improve their communication and leadership impact.
He is also an author of the book, You Were Born to Speak and his research on communication has been published in the Journal of Psychology.
When we last spoke, he shared the topic of his new book, Lift Your Impact. I was intrigued to learn more, and I thought the best way to do so was to invite him to the show.
We discuss the importance of body language, showing up as a leader, audience analysis, adjusting your communications to maximize impact, mindset, fostering deeper connections with the people you lead, learning and growing as a leader, expectations, purpose, burnout — and even Tibetan tea. Whew!
It’s a terrific conversation, and I hope you find it helpful.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Richard:
And learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Self-Leadership and Executive Loneliness with Nick Jonsson
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with Nick Jonsson, co-founder and managing director of EGN Singapore, one of Asia’s premier networking organizations. He’s built a caring community that provides hundreds of executives a safe haven to share their challenges, and receive support and learn from each other.
He’s also an international best selling author and award-winning speaker, and an executive mental health advocate — something he and I have talked quite a bit about and share a passion for. I invited him to the show because he always makes me think about topics that are sometimes hard to tackle.
We discussed the effects of isolation and loneliness when you’re at the top, peer support networks, failing fast, and the need to destigmatize the act of asking for help.
It was a great discussion, and I am grateful to Nick for sharing his story so openly with me and my listeners. I hope you find it helpful.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Nick:
• Website
And learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Employee Engagement with Pam Weston
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with Pam Weston, CEO & Owner of Progress Partners. As a trusted advisor to C-Suite executives, Pam has worked with a variety of leaders to help with employee engagement, strategy alignment, and communications management. Her expertise has guided leaders in industries ranging from financial services to information technology to healthcare and consumer information solutions.
Pam is passionate about building productive relationships in the workplace and always offers constructive and easy to implement strategies gained from her experience leading high-level engagement programs. She’s also the author of the book, Executive Briefing: P.E.O.P.L.E. Goals.
During our conversation, we discuss preparing to be a people leader, how to engage and retain employees, and how to make teams feel valued and respected.
It was a great discussion and I hope you find it helpful.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Pam:
• Website
And learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Making Meaningful Connections with Lisa L. Baker
Today’s conversation is with Lisa L. Baker, Founder of Ascentim, a coaching practice that guides clients to live more meaningful and abundant lives.
Lisa has over two decades of success in a series of leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies that include Synchrony, Microsoft, Citigroup and Bank One. At Synchrony, a company with over 16,000 employees, she he was Senior Vice President and General Manager in charge of growing the $2.5B eBay credit portfolio.
One of the pillars of Lisa’s coaching practice is connections — and of course, building meaningful relationships with them. That’s why I invited her to the show today.
We talk about the difference between networking and connecting, how relationships are essential for growing your career, and the value of personal advisory boards, sponsors, mentors, champions, colleagues, coaches, and heroes.
It was a great conversation about how connections can help in almost every aspect of your career journey. I hope you find it helpful.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Lisa:
• Website
And follower her on Twitter.
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Inclusive Leadership with Heather Hansen
Today’s conversation is with Heather Hansen, Global Communication Consultant, TEDx Speaker, Trainer and Author.
Heather helps top global leaders show up, speak up, and inspire action in a changing world. She focuses on fostering unmuted communication cultures where every voice is heard, resulting in greater inclusion, innovation and efficiency across remote and global teams.
Along with private leadership communication coaching, Heather facilitates group training courses and consults on a number of topics related to global communication.
Heather is also an External Industry Expert for NUS Business School’s Executive Education programs where she runs modules on communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.
I invited Heather to the show because we’ve had some great conversations about inclusive leadership and I thought my listeners would enjoy hearing her perspective.
We talk about communication’s role in leadership (hint, it’s everything), language, accents, bias, racism, sexism, stereotypes, belonging, and trust — and how language is at the heart of it all. It was a fascinating conversation. I hope you find it helpful.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Heather:
• Website
• Global Speech Academy Website
• Get Heather’s Book — Unmuted: How to Show Up, Speak Up and Inspire Action
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Career Journeys with Errol Olton
Today’s conversation is with Errol Olton, Founder of Career Studios. His company supports growing professionals with strengths-based career tools and coaching support to guide them through each stage of their career journey.
He's also a TEDx Speaker, organizational strategist who has worked across various sectors (including nonprofit, education, career development and private industry) and is guided by a simple but mighty purpose — helping others.
Errol and I speak about blended career paths (which we both share), entrepreneurship, career shifts and pivots, and the art of telling your career and leadership story.
I always leave my conversations with Errol feeling energized and motivated. I think you will, too.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Errol:
• Career Studios Website
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Sleep Well to Lead Well with Dr. Phil Gehrman
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with Dr. Phil Gehrman, clinical psychologist at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Phil is an expert in sleep disorders and is on a mission to advance the understanding of the links between sleep and mental health. He directs the Sleep, Neurobiology and Psychopathology lab at Penn and has an active research program exploring the mechanisms and treatment of insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and other sleep disorders.
We met a few years back and recently reconnected because Phil has been lending his expertise to the business community through speaking and consulting programs that help business leaders understand the connection between good sleep, and good leadership.
So, I invited him to the show to talk about the connection between sleep and leadership performance. It’s a fascinating conversation where Phil shares a lot of great advice for understanding how we sleep, and what you can do to improve your sleep quality. I hope you enjoy it.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Phil:
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Communicating and Leading Across Cultures with Gilda D’Incerti
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with Gilda D’Incerti, CEO & Founder of PQE Group who joined me in my virtual studio all the way from Florence, Italy!
Gilda is recognized as an international expert in the field of IT system validation in life sciences. And her company is known for helping pharmaceutical and life sciences companies of all sizes achieve, maintain, and even exceed compliance with the latest regulations — contributing to a safer pharmaceutical environment.
Her company has more than 1500 employees located all over the world, with local subsidiaries in regions ranging from the US to Australia. Gilda founded PQE group in 1998, and now has a truly diverse workforce that represents more than 40 nationalities.
She’s also a writer who has published articles about leadership, inclusion, diversity, and global business practices for major publications including Forbes.
Can you see why she’s a great guest for a conversation about communicating across cultures?
We talk about language, meaning, valuing otherness, and examples of cultural differences that can cause communication breakdowns even with the best intent of all parties. Gilda also shares specific experiences (both achievements and missteps) she has had as a leader when opening offices in new parts of the world.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Gilda:
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Leading Creative Teams with Dan Nestle
On the next episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with Dan Nestle about leading creative teams. Dan’s a communicator, storyteller, marketer, team leader, and former teacher — which is something we share in our career paths. And he’s a creator. He writes, he podcasts and he’s a seasoned marketer and leader who currently leads communications for LIXIL Americas — a company that makes water and housing products you likely have in your home or office right now.
I invited Dan to be on the show because his passion for communications and creativity are very much aligned with mine. We’ve had some great conversations over the past year or so, and I thought a conversation with him about nurturing creativity in teams would be fun.
We talk about collaboration, creating safe spaces to share ideas, game-changing ideas, authentic relationships, and the importance of communication when balancing creativity and business goals. My conversations with Dan are always fun and insightful — I hope you enjoy listening to this one.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Dan:
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Kecia Carroll
On this episode of The Leadership Communication Show, I speak with my colleague and friend Kecia Carroll. Kecia is a communication strategist who partners with organizations doing meaningful work — and her company, KC Roberg, helps small and mid-size businesses and nonprofits elevate their brands and achieve their business goals.
I invited Kecia to the show today because she has helped many organizations explore the right way to create and incorporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. I know a lot of companies and organizations struggle to do it right, so I think a conversation with Kecia will help.
We talk about culture, purpose, listening, bias, inclusive language, and the critical role of leadership in successful initiatives. Kecia also shares a lot of tips and advice for organizations who are looking to get started on, or improve, their DE&I programs. It was a great conversation and I hope you enjoy it.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Kecia:
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Creating a Culture of Curiosity with Gil Brady
Today my guest is Gil Brady, a leadership expert who has had a varied and fascinating journey. After serving in the military, he had a successful career in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology — and then changed careers and worked as a Junior High School Math Teacher and elementary school principal. While completing his doctorate in Executive Leadership, Gil founded Relationship Impact, a leadership development firm focused on Executive Team Development. In July of 2018, Gil began serving as the President of Nativity Prep Academy of San Diego, the county’s only all-scholarship school focused on serving students from low-income situations who will be among the first generation in their family to graduate from college. Gil is also part of the leadership team at Core Strengths, a company that develops tools that help organizations build high-trust teams that deliver results through relationships.
I invited Gil to the show because he knows a lot about helping leaders create a culture of curiosity — something so important in our current business world but also something that many leaders struggle to get right.
We talk about the power of positive regard, leadership communication mistakes that affect culture and kill curiosity and innovation, tension, conflict, and how to make people feel seen, heard, and valued. We also explore how we have both used the Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI 2.0) assessment in our work. It was a great conversation where Gil shared a wealth of great advice. I hope you enjoy it.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Gill:
Learn more about me, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
And please reach out if you want to learn more about the Strength Deployment Inventory assessment, relationship intelligence, or how to cultivate a culture of curiosity in your team.
Burnout with Jason Cochran
Today’s conversation is with entrepreneur and psychologist Jason Cochran, co-founder of Dulead and iAspire Education, two companies that are transforming the way organizations engage with and develop their employees.
I invited Jason to the show today because he knows a lot about helping leaders attract, engage, and more importantly, retain top talent. Every time we talk, I learn more about how psychology and technology can be leveraged to help everyone in an organization grow into the best versions of themselves, while positively impacting the company in just about every important way — from employee satisfaction to positive brand sentiment to the organization’s bottom line.
We talk about being able to bring our whole selves to work, mental health, psychological safety, healthy team cultures, and battling the burnout that seems to be getting more and more prevalent as the months and years march on.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Jason at his websites:
And follow him on LinkedIn here. While you’re there, subscribe to Reimagining Work, a newsletter concerning the role and purpose of work in our lives.
And finally, Jason is also a podcaster — you can hear him by subscribing to The Geeks, Geezers, and Googlization podcast on your favorite platform.
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/ — and reach out if you’re someone experiencing burnout. I can help.
Storytelling with Heather Hardwick
I have worked with my colleague and friend Heather Hardwick on a variety of communication initiatives over the years — and I’ve always been impressed with how she can see the story that needs to be told before anyone else has even created an outline or written a single line of copy. That’s why I invited her to come on the show to share some of her brilliance with you.
Heather is a brand communications leader who designs programs and solutions that advance business strategy, reinforce brand narrative, enhance customer experience and strengthen culture. She has worked in both corporate and agency environments to achieve the marketing communications goals of industry-leading organizations in education, financial services, healthcare, technology, energy, arts and entertainment, real estate and other sectors.
We talk about everything from connecting with your audience on an emotional level, framing your story, positioning, personal branding, trust, and building strong brand and business relationships through the power of strategic and authentic storytelling.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Heather here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermhardwick/
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/ and here https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/
Improving Communication through Technology with John Reeve
John Reeve is co-founder and senior developer/designer of one of my favorite digital tools — cloud-based time tracking and project management software called Intervals.
I have used John’s software for over a decade and I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a fanboy. It helped me grow a brand communication agency and keep my team on the same page — and John and his co-founder Michael always made me feel important, even though they had much larger clients in their portfolio. I invited John to come on the show to talk about how his software improves communication for teams, and about how technology has played a role in his leadership journey.
We talk about everything from team huddles to morning standups to load balancing on servers (!) — it was a great conversation about how we can use technology to help make communication not only more effective — but happen in the first place.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about John and Intervals at their website: https://www.myintervals.com
And follow him on Twitter here.
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Productive Conflict with Dr. Robyn
Navigating conflict is something I discuss quite often with my clients. While most of us dislike conflict, the fact is that we can’t completely avoid it.
My friend and colleague Dr. Robyn Odegaard, a former competitive beach volleyball player turned high performance psychologist, is an expert in conflict management. She even wrote a book about it called The Ultimate Guide to Handling Every Disagreement Every Time. It’s full of great tips and reminders that you can use to have productive conflict in your work and personal life.
I asked Dr. Robyn to come on the show to talk about how we deal with conflict, how to make it as productive as possible, and also how to help each other avoid it when we can.
It was a great conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Dr. Robyn at her website: https://drrobynodegaard.com
Get your copy of her book, The Ultimate Guide to Handling Every Disagreement Every Time here.
And follow her on LinkedIn here.
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Purpose and Mattering with Zach Mercurio
Many of my regular listeners already know that purpose is a topic I like to talk about — because it’s important, yet sometimes feels elusive to leaders and teams. That’s one of the reasons I invited Zach Mercurio to join me on The Leadership Communication Show. He’s a researcher, author, and consultant specializing in purposeful leadership, meaningful work, mattering, and positive organizational development. Good stuff, right?
On this episode, Zach and I cover a lot of topics from his personal journey to find purpose and meaning in his work to the importance of feeling that you matter to the impact of social media on our sense of belonging.
Zach also generously shares several tips to help you see your purpose, show it, and deliver on it.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Zach at his website: https://www.zachmercurio.com
Get your copy of his book, The Invisible Leader, here.
And follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno, here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Lessons in Leadership (and Life Sciences) with David Esposito
Welcome to season 2 of The Leadership Communication Show! For our first episode of the season, I invited my colleague and friend David Esposito to the show to talk about leadership lessons he has learned during his career.
David is President and CEO of ONL Therapeutics, a company that is developing therapeutics to preserve sight and halt vision loss associated retinal disease. David’s leadership journey is fascinating and includes leading an infantry platoon through several combat operations, climbing the ranks inside big pharma, and building and scaling multiple early-stage life-sciences companies.
Listen to this episode to hear how David uses learnings from his military service and professional experience to lead and grow. We talk about getting unstuck, winning the war on top talent, being vulnerable as a leader, dealing with failure, and the character traits required of today’s influential and inspiring leaders.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about David on the ONL Therapeutics website: https://www.onltherapeutics.com
Get his book, Looking Back: What I Learned When I Left a Great Company at Amazon.
Convey is becoming The Leadership Communication Show
Convey is Becoming The Leadership Communication Show
Hello to my wonderful listeners. Thanks for joining me for season 1 of Convey — Conversation About Communication. I learned a lot from my guests during the season, and I hope you did as well. I also learned a lot about podcasting and about what my audience wants to hear and learn.
So, I’ve decided to rename the show. Later this month Season 2 will debut, and the show will now be called The Leadership Communication Show. The focus of the podcast will be to help people like you be the inspiring and influential leaders their people need.
Why the name change? Well, my personal mission as a leadership communication teacher and coach is to help good leaders be great leaders through the power of communication. The new title feels like a better fit for what the show will focus on in season 2 (and beyond).
I promise that you’ll learn something from each guest this show that will help you along your personal leadership journey.
Stay tuned for episode 1, coming your way soon. And Thanks for listening. I appreciate it.
Sounding Good with Steven Piperno
Episode 10: In the final episode of the first season of Convey, I wanted you all to know that my brother, Steven Piperno, helped me get this thing off the ground. He’s an audio engineer and he mixed the audio for every episode of the show — taking out ugly sounds like fan noises and the occasional leaf blower or lawnmower in the background. His work also made me and my guests sound better than we ever would have without his sonic assistance.
By day, Steven is Head of Global Workforce Analytics at a company called FIS. He’s also a husband, dad, musician, and, as you now know, a talented audio engineer.
On this episode, we talk about our shared passion for music and audio, how to sound your best in virtual meetings, tips for tweaking your podcast audio to make it shine, and other advice for ensuring you don’t neglect the importance of sound when showing up online or in audio and video recordings.
Get this episode on my website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Steven and the music for kids he writes and performs with his wife, Katie, here:https://www.steveandkatie.com
Podcast Gear Discussed:
· Shure MV7 Microphone – https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/mv7
· Blue Yeti Microphone – https://www.bluemic.com/en-us/products/yeti/
· Shure Headphones – https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/headphones/srh440
Contact Michael if you want to be connected to Steve for audio engineering work for your podcast, hit song, or corporate content.
Learn more about your host here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/about-michael-piperno/
Networking, Local Leadership and Looking Out for One Another with Minesh Pathak
Episode 9: Even though I love meeting new people, I hate networking events. On this episode of Convey I talk to Minesh Pathak, Executive Director of my favorite local chamber of commerce — one that has actually changed my opinion of networking events (and local chambers). I wanted to talk to Minesh because I was curious how, under his leadership, the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce has evolved into such a welcoming and supportive group of business professionals. I was also very impressed with how his chamber pivoted and supported its membership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic through listening and thoughtful communication, and wanted him to share his approach with my listeners.
Listen to this episode to hear more about Minesh’s career journey, and the supportive and kind chamber family he leads here in my local area, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Minesh and the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce here: https://lbccc.org
Learn more about your host here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/
It’s All in the Omo with Niki Fielding
Episode 8: I met this episode’s guest, Niki Fielding, more than 15 years ago when she hired me to do a small project for her digital marketing agency Digital Brand Expressions. We stayed in touch over the years, and in the past 5 or so years have become true frolleagues (my word for colleagues who are also good friends).
As I got to know Niki and her company better in recent years, I realized something was very different about the culture she has created, but I could not put my finger on it. In this episode she explains it — it’s affectionately called Omo and it drives the way they communicate. The result is better collaboration and less drama and chaos than you often find in the agency environment.
We also talk about creativity, leadership, listening, empathy, and our shared passion for helping others achieve their full potential.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Niki and her company: https://digitalbrandexpressions.com
Check out this episode’s sponsor, Darianna Bridal and Tuxedo: https://www.dariannabridal.com
Learn more about your host Michael Piperno here: https://www.wearecomvia.com/about/ and here: https://www.michaelpiperno.com/
Financial Literacy, Kids, and Confessions About Cash with Cara Macksoud
Episode 7: Cara Macksoud is on a mission to educate people — especially today’s youth — about their relationships with money. On this episode of Convey, we talk about conversations (and confessions) about saving, investing, debt, and the lifelong learning that is required to have a healthy relationship with money. We also discuss the taboo and shame that is often associated with money, and why we often fail when it comes to effectively and comfortably communicating about it.
Listen to this episode to hear more about how Cara helps people of all ages, but especially children, teens, and young adults, have better relationships with their finances.
Get this episode on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm or anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Learn more about Cara here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caramacksoud/
Check out this episode’s sponsor, Darianna Bridal and Tuxedo: https://www.dariannabridal.com
Packaging Design, Pushing Boundaries, Soup, Toys, and Friendship with Amanda Miles
Episode 6: My friend Amanda is one of those people I can call after months have gone by, and it’s like time never passed. We can jump right into the conversation with a 5 second runway and we’re laughing and chatting like we were back in high school.
I asked Amanda to be a guest on Convey because she is a master visual communicator. The work she does as a packaging designer for some of the world’s biggest brands sells products without uttering a word. Now, that’s what I call visual stopping power.
Listen to this episode to hear how Amanda approaches her work — it’s a story about listening well, truly understanding your audiences, pushing boundaries, and standing out through good, thoughtful design.
Learn more about Amanda here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ammiles/
Check out this episode’s sponsor, Darianna Bridal and Tuxedo: https://www.dariannabridal.com
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno: https://www.michaelpiperno.com
Purpose, Learning, and the Art of the Pivot with Pete Sandford
Episode 5: I originally invited my friend Pete Sandford of NXLevel Solutions to join me on Convey to talk about how he masterfully communicates as a sales and business development guy.
But when he and I were talking a few weeks ago, we got on the topic of our respective career paths and on the topic of purpose — which many of you know is one of my favorite topics.
Pete’s story is very different than mine, but we share a very similar perspective on the common theme or thread in our stories. That thread is something most people have — they just haven’t spent much time noticing it.
Listen to this episode to hear Pete’s story — it’s about purpose, pivoting, adapting, and growing as a lifelong learner. And yes, we also touch on his unique and authentic style of selling.
Visit Pete’s Websites: http://www.nxlevelsolutions.com and https://www.intelalearning.com
Check out this episode’s sponsor, Darianna Bridal and Tuxedo: https://www.dariannabridal.com
Learn more about your host, Michael Piperno: https://www.michaelpiperno.com
Talking About Money with Brett Michener
Episode 4: In this episode, my friend Brett Michener and I talk about the importance of communication when it comes to talking about money — specifically, your money. Brett is a Financial Representative at The DeYoung Financial Group and I always like talking to him because he’s not only a “money guy,” he’s also a coach. Our conversations always make me think about my goals and how I can be better at making sure I’m thinking about saving and spending in a way that fits me and my family.
Brett’s perspective will open your eyes to new and better ways to look at your life- and savings-goals. He also shares his personal career journey — it’s a great story about being open to opportunity and to change. And as we all know, change is inevitable in life.
Visit Brett’s Website: http://deyoungfinancial.com
Check Out This Episode’s Sponsor, Lacona Supply: https://laconasupply.com
Learn More About Me: https://www.michaelpiperno.com
Business, Marketing, Authenticity, and Relationships with Franco and Wendy Salerno
Episode 3: In this episode, my guests are Franco and Wendy Salerno, a husband-and-wife team who built and run a successful business, Darianna Bridal and Tuxedo, here in my home county of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. I wanted you to hear about their business because they’ve done an exceptional job marketing it. In fact, they’ve done a better job communicating with their prospects and customers than just about any other local business I’ve seen. Equally impressive is the level of service they provide to their customers.
What’s their secret? They generously share a lot of their strategy in this episode.
In our conversation we also talk about how even in a tough year, both personally and professionally, they let their creativity, integrity, honesty, and authenticity guide the way — building strong relationships and adding to their network of raving fans as a result.
Visit the Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo Website: https://www.dariannabridal.com
Check out this episode’s sponsor, Lacona Supply: https://laconasupply.com
Learn more about me: https://www.michaelpiperno.com
Food, Events, Connection, and Love with Sharon DeFelices
Episode 2: Today my guest is corporate event strategist and food, nutrition, and wellness expert Sharon DeFelices. In this episode, Sharon and I talk about how clear communication is critical in her line of work, which includes creating events that incorporate health and wellness into the experience. You’ll be amazed by what goes on behind the scenes to ensure people enjoy the food and beverages they are served at an event — as well as the role food and nutrition can play in a productive and successful meeting. We also touch on a lot of other topics including the connections we create through the food we make at home.
Sharon also shares the fascinating story of how she went from nutritionist to chef to owning a company dedicated to healthier meetings with happier and more productive attendees. It’s an inspirational story about finding your purpose, and pursuing it fiercely.
Visit Sharon’s website: https://www.mosaicmeetingsandevents.com
Check Out This Episode’s Sponsor, The Comvia Group: https://www.wearecomvia.com
Learn More About Your Host, Michael Piperno: https://www.michaelpiperno.com
Communicating During a Crisis with Rod Hughes
Episode 1: In this episode, my guest is Rod Hughes, Vice President and Partner, Kimball Hughes Public Relations. Rod and I talk about the communication challenges we’ve all faced during the COVID-19 crisis, the importance of a crisis communication plan for every organization, and how good, honest, and transparent communication can help empower a strong recovery as we emerge from the crisis.
Rod began his career as a local newspaper reporter and moved on to editorial roles with several insurance and legal trade publications before entering public relations. He has led thousands of communications campaigns in the insurance, law, technology, hospitality, real estate, healthcare, professional association management and other industries, while also becoming a leading voice in crisis communications and reputation management.
Visit Rod’s website: https://www.kimballpr.com
Check Out This Episode’s Sponsor, The Comvia Group: https://www.wearecomvia.com
Learn More About Me: https://www.michaelpiperno.com