Kristin Oelke is the CMO of Brightrose Ventures. She helps companies get back on track when things get messy.

On our podcast today, we dive into what “messy” is and how to get out of it.
We also talk about
● Curiosity
● Finding Purpose
● And how to be unafraid to try new things and Ask For Help!

She notes that in organizations, you need to be looking at building culture by contributing to it, while also discerning what your leadership values are and whether you’re aligned with those values.

Such a great interview with very human insights. Check it out!

What does a data geek and chief data analytics officer have to teach us about leadership? You’d be surprised!

Marcos Martins brings amazing insight about his path from Brazil to leading wonderful teams in the U.S. He says he has a passion for solving problems and that the data tells the story.

He invites the question of whether we ever have all the information we need - “we never have everything, but maybe you have enough.”

He positions his success on several key factors -
● Problems can be solved (See problems as puzzles)
● For each goal list, be determined to deliver to your stakeholders and to learn something new
● Get in partnership with your team members and become more likable and trustworthy
● Stay flexible, adaptable, persistent, and consistent

Marcos can be found on LinkedIn and welcomes the connection.

Natalie Ruiz didn’t wake up one day and decide to become the CEO of AnswerConnect, an answering service firm dedicated to staying human. Nope.

She was looking for what she describes as an easy, non-burnout, job. She started with the company as a temp and 20 years later is running it. Her journey began by telling the truth to the then-CEO about what she saw as obstacles to excellent service delivery. Well, he asked and she didn’t hold back.

Conversations grew from there and the rest are leadership lessons you’ll find along the way.

Listen here and check out AnswerConnect.com

Leadership lessons come from a wide array of experiences. When a man well versed with service and protecting consumers found that his industry was shifting, he carved his own niche.

Meet Sean Hicks, the CEO and co-owner of New Leaf Service Contracts.
Service contracts can be interesting? They can. But that’s not what we talk about here. It’s the man who sees them through to the companies who present them that’s pretty interesting.

Watch what Sean and I have to say about leadership, culture, and service.

Check out this podcast.
And check out what Sean and his team offer at www.NewLeafSC.net

In this powerful episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell welcomes leadership veteran Rich Bledsoe, whose journey from vocational school tinkerer to senior vice president of a multinational corporation is anything but ordinary. Rich shares how growing up with limited means helped shape his drive for excellence, both professionally and personally. He talks about embracing opportunity, even when it veers from your plan, and how mentorship—both received and given—has been a key factor in his leadership evolution. Through personal stories about guiding his children, repositioning team members to thrive, and confronting his own growth edges, Rich reveals what it really means to lead with purpose and clarity.

The conversation also dives into pivotal coaching moments between Wayne and Rich, including how to navigate difficult relationships at the executive level, lean into your strengths, and develop a leadership philosophy grounded in integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement. Rich reflects on learning piano in retirement, making peace with being a “field general,” and his commitment to lifting others through mentorship. Whether you're an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this episode delivers timeless lessons about growth, humility, and redefining excellence at every stage of life.

What if your stress, your “I’m fine,” and your daily grind were actually symptoms of something deeper—dis-ease, not ease? What if there was a way to live with more joy, more vitality, and yes… more bliss?

Dr. Roberta Garceau joins me to share the heart of her new book, Bliss, Not Burnout, and her powerful message for anyone stuck in survival mode. We talk about thriving—not just getting by—and how you can reconnect with what matters most.

Key points in this episode:
• Elemental Wellness
• Embodied Self-Awareness
• Tools You Can Actually Use (Right Away)

You’ll hear how ancient wisdom from Ayurveda blends beautifully with practical, real-world tools that fit your busy life. We also dive into Roberta’s personal growth journey—from dentistry to author, speaker, and wellness leader—and how coaching helped her think bigger, stretch further, and show up more powerfully in the world.

She didn’t stop at “good enough.” And you don’t have to either.

If you’re feeling like burnout is creeping in, this conversation will open up something new for you. Find Dr. Roberta Garceau at drrobertagarceau.com, on LinkedIn, or follow her weekly yoga-inspired wellness tips on Instagram and Facebook (@MyYogaJoy).

From the c-suite to executive leadership coach and author, Emily Sander was a pleasure to have join me on One Sharp Sword.

Superman is Emily’s favorite Superhero. As with Clark Kent, Emily is adopted. She also uses - and encourages others to use - the superpowers for good and to never give up.

She enjoyed business and leadership and especially loves 1:1 interactions where small points of leverage make a huge difference.

Emily notes that the #1 skill someone can have is communication. And, with that skill comes the adaptability about both listening and conveying information to the person or people in front of you, each of whom likely have a different style from you. Huge leadership tidbit, here!

She notes that many execs (I’d say almost all) hit a point of questioning what it’s all for.

We discussed the existential dilemma which brought us down a great rabbit hole worth exploring!

Skill for self: Be deliberate and avoid distractions.

Emily provides us with food for thought noting that we need to question whether in putting things off for someday or “one day,” is it one day or day one? Again, be deliberate!

Books -

• Hacking Executive Leadership
• An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff
• Private Equity Investments

Find Emily Sander on LinkedIn and be sure to check out her books and her coaching offerings at www.NextLevel.Coach

GREAT conversation with Alain today. From the culture he grew up with to how he guides leaders today, you’ll get a lot out of listening.

His three Cs are key to leadership, whether at home or in your organization:

• Connection
• Communication
• Collaboration

And he spoke of Consistency, which I’d call a 4th C in his model.

Alain’s book Cracking the Leadership Code is worth picking up!

We connect as human beings. Our world demands people who can think and co-create within an organization.

Leaders must find a way to convey that each employee feels valued and cared for. That’s how you get real connection.

Communication is about creating shared, mutual understanding. If you assume that the default is that what is being communicated will be misunderstood, what will you need to do to ensure true understanding?

Collaboration means creating the culture together by asking the question of what gets the BEST out of people.

In the interview, we discussed the graying of the workforce, mentorship, and remote work. Super interesting!

Consistency counts and so does actively seeking feedback (so that you can get better).

Think about this, too. It’s called the Fundamental Attribution Error: We justify our actions based on our intentions. Others judge us based on the outcomes and results.

Find Alain Hunkins on LinkedIn and visit www.AlainHunkins.com for more!

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