Manage Smarter Podcast

Nick Montalbine, founder of InnerVoice Analytics and former HR leader at Nike, explains why continuous employee listening—not just yearly surveys—is essential for employee engagement, retention, and business growth. He shares actionable strategies for collecting feedback, using analytics, and navigating AI in the workplace to help leaders create a high-performing culture and prevent turnover.

In this milestone 300th episode, hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith turn the mic on themselves to discuss why “businesspeople are people too.” They share vulnerable lessons from two decades of sales and leadership, the human behaviors that drive real results, and how showing up authentically builds stronger teams, trust, and sustainable growth.

Learn how to spot and survive fear‑based bosses. In this episode, Kate Lowry explains red‑flag behaviors, emotional self‑defense, setting non‑negotiable boundaries, and using “crap umbrella” strategies so you can protect your mental health, keep performing, and plan your next career move.

Stuck in success? In this Manage Smarter episode, psychologist and leadership consultant Dr. Rosenna Bakari explains how “Seven Exits,” micro‑exits, and the question “How am I getting in my own way?” help leaders release patterns that no longer serve them, regain clarity, and show up with more authentic executive presence.

Kevin Hubschmann, comedian, entrepreneur, and founder of Laugh.Events, reveals how improv and comedy skills like active listening, vulnerability, and adaptability can boost sales, leadership, and workplace culture. Get practical tips for creating psychological safety, human connection, and team engagement. Kevin’s insights into humor at work are perfect for modern managers, leaders, and sales professionals.

Dan Tocchini, author of "The Change Imperative," shares proven strategies for conflict resolution, courageous leadership, and managing difficult conversations in business. Learn how Dan’s no-nonsense approach to leadership, team accountability, and executive coaching can help transform your workplace and drive business results.

Brian Tracy has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and is the top selling author of more than 80 books on business and personal success. As a popular keynote speaker and seminar leader, he has addressed more than five million people in 5,000 talks and seminars throughout the U.S., Canada and 82 other countries worldwide. In episode 05, we discuss: the most important quality that a manager should have, the three most common mistakes leaders make, how to set better goals and the importance of the work culture.

Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of The New York Times best seller The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude — which has just been published a new edition with many new tips to help you find, build and keep a winning attitude. In episode 13, we discuss: why attitude is critical to management and leadership; countering negative attitudes and how to change your attitude by changing what you think about.

Jeffrey Hayzlett is a primetime television host of C‑Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett and Executive Perspectives on C‑Suite TV, and business podcast host of All Business with Jeffrey Hayzlett on C‑Suite Radio. Hayzlett is the author of three best-selling business books: Think Big, Act Bigger: The Rewards of Being Relentless, Running the Gauntlet and The Mirror Test. In episode 15, we discuss how the C‑Suite thinks, how to talk to them and how to become one of them.

Jennifer Gluckow is an author and founder of Sales in a New York Minute as well as host of a YouTube Channel of the same name. In episode 16, Jennifer discusses how age plays a role in the workplace and uses her professional experience to share her advice for young managers and first-time managers.

Tom Peters is a best-selling author and world renowned expert on business management practices. Peters is co-author of In Search of Excellence—the book that changed the way the world does business, and often tagged as the best business book ever. In episode 19, we discuss: Tom's new book — The Excellence Dividend, how to avoid being replaced by technology, the characteristics of a successful team and the critical need for soft skills mastery by managers at all levels.

Dr. Christine Porath is an Associate Professor and Researcher at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and an expert in workplace incivility, its costs and remedies. She is author of Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace and co-author of The Cost of Bad Behavior. In episode 28, we discuss her research on the decline of civility, how it affects productivity and what managers can do about it.

Cy Wakeman is a drama researcher, global thought-leader, and New York Times best-selling author who is recognized for cultivating a counter-intuitive, reality-based approach to leadership. In episode 32, we discuss: Cy's definition of drama, and the effects on the workplace, acceptable ways to react to drama that has been created and how to hire low drama employees.

Michael Houlihan is the co-founder of Barefoot Wine, now, the world’s largest wine brand. He, along with Bonnie Harvey, are consultants, international keynote speakers and New York Times Bestselling authors. In episode 50, we discuss: the definition of The Money Map and why every manager should show this to their employees; how to get employees to understand where their salaries come from; how to identify and hire a “hustle” mentality; and the unique concept of a Two-Division Company (Sales and Sales Support).

Neil Sahota is an IBM Master Inventor, United Nations (UN) artificial intelligence (AI) Advisor, author of the book Own the A.I. Revolution, and Professor at UC Irvine. In this episode, we discuss: what artificial intelligence actually is, and what it isn\'t; ways you can use AI and your resources for social good; why promoting incompetent people is a common leadership mistake; how to tell when a product is legitimately AI or just an inflated marketing claim; and organizations that facilitate you getting involved in using AI for social good.