Are you the strongest leader you can possibly be? And if not, ever wonder what other elite leaders know and do that you aren’t, which may be stopping you from bringing your A+ game?
The Lead at the Top of Your Game Podcast celebrates the ingenuity, resilience and execution excellence of firebrand leaders who are doing big things in their profession or industry by boldly dancing on the edge and playing by their own rules.
Organizational psychologist & leadership tactics strategist, Karan Ferrell-Rhodes, interviews the persons at the forefront of leading the transformative ideas, tactical maneuvers and gut-wrenching pivots behind the People, Business & Leadership strategies which are helping individuals do their best work and organizations to become future-ready, today.
Listen in, as she cracks open their playbooks and compares them with her research on the top seven leadership tactics of the world’s most successful leaders. Join us to take advantage of gaining an insider’s look into the ups, downs and lessons learned from these thriving A+ leaders, so that you too can become a stronger leader who masters any “game of expertise” in which you choose to play.
The Lead at the Top of Your Game podcast is brought to you by Shockingly Different Leadership, the leader in on-demand People, Talent Development & Organizational Effectiveness professional services, all designed to up-level leader capability and optimize workforces to do their best work.
Learn more at http://LeadYourGamePodcast.com or https://shockinglydifferent.com/podcast. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the show on your favorite podcast app and leave a 5-star review.
Publisher
Karan Ferrell-Rhodes and Shockingly Different Leadership
Mastering the Power of the Pause with Tinna Jackson
IN THIS EPISODE...
Tinna Jackson shares her journey from Capitol Hill to executive coaching, focusing on building leadership skills through self-awareness, resilience, and the power of taking intentional pauses. She offers advice on recognizing team needs, managing burnout, and aligning personal values with professional achievement.
Her company, the Jackson Consulting Group, provides executive coaching and leadership consulting services to professionals and organizations seeking to enhance management effectiveness and cultivate a positive workplace culture. The firm specializes in helping leaders close the gap between technical performance and true leadership impact.
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Full show notes, guest bio, links to resources mentioned, and other compelling episodes can be found at http://LeadYourGamePodcast.com. (http://leadyourgamepodcast.com./) (Click the magnifying icon at the top right and type “Tinna”)
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Learn more about us! https://shockinglydifferent.com/ (https://shockinglydifferent.com/contact)
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WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:
Tinna’s unique path from Capitol Hill to executive coach and author
The “power of the pause” and ways leaders can avoid burnout
Strategies Tinna recommends for leaders to better support their teams during difficult times
Personal story about resilience and handling professional responsibilities after loss
Suggestions for leaders on aligning personal values with professional roles
Practical tips on reading nonverbal cues and fostering open team communication
The role of executive presence in effective leadership, according to Tinna
Impact of the Jackson Consulting Group on bridging the gap between top performers and effective leaders
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FEATURED TIMESTAMPS:
[00:36] Introduction of Tinna and highlights of her leadership background
[02:40] Personal life and sports interests shared by Tinna
[03:58] Professional journey from creative pursuits to Capitol Hill and founding Jackson Consulting Group
[06:49] Challenges transitioning from structured employment to entrepreneurship
[09:11] Emotional intelligence and the genesis of "The Power Play Journal"
[13:57] The "power of the pause" and lessons on managing burnout
[16:18] Importance of leaders noticing nonverbal cues and team well-being
[19:58] Signature Segment: Tinna’s entry into the LATTOYG Playbook: Leaders must notice nonverbal cues and seek feedback to be truly self-aware.
[22:59] Balancing ambition with personal alignment for high performers
[26:09] Advice for individuals planning a career pivot or transition
[31:26] Signature Segment: Tinna’s LATTOYG Tactic of Choice: Leading with Executive Presence
[33:43] Connect with Tinna
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR YOU:
Overview: Our Signature Leadership Development Experience: http://bit.ly/DevelopYourGame
7 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Re-envisioning Community-Driven Financial Institutions with Bahari Harris
IN THIS EPISODE...
Bahari Harris, Senior Vice President and Director of Financial Inclusion Initiatives at Truist Financial Corporation, discusses his journey from founding Urban Hope to leading financial inclusion programs at Truist. Bahari discusses the importance of financial literacy and the Start, Save, Win initiative, which incentivized new savers to save $25 each month, leading to over 25,000 new accounts and millions saved. He emphasizes the need to address the fear of the unknown and improve accessibility in banking. Harris also shares his personal finance hashtag #YourFinanceChamp to demystify financial services and encourages strategic decision-making in leadership.
Truist is a leading bank holding company focused on financial inclusion and community impact. Through programs like workplace banking, student banking, and financial education initiatives, Truist aims to make banking more accessible and help individuals and communities achieve financial well-being.
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Full show notes, guest bio, links to resources mentioned, and other compelling episodes can be found at http://LeadYourGamePodcast.com. (http://leadyourgamepodcast.com./) (Click the magnifying icon at the top right and type “Bahari”)
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Learn more about us! https://shockinglydifferent.com/ (https://shockinglydifferent.com/contact)
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WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:
1. Bahari’s journey from nonprofit leadership to his current role at Truist.
2. How Truist is making banking more accessible and inclusive for underserved communities.
3. The impact of financial literacy and why it matters for generational wealth.
4. Examples of innovative programs like “Start, Save, Win” and workplace banking.
5. Barriers to financial inclusion—what are the biggest challenges people face?
6. Bahari’s leadership philosophy: meeting people where they are and motivating them forward.
7. How can financial institutions build trust and loyalty in their communities?
8. What practical steps can listeners take to improve their own financial well-being?
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FEATURED TIMESTAMPS:
[00:36] Introduction and Bahari's role at Truist
[02:14] Personal background and interests outside of work.
[03:31] Bahari's career journey from nonprofit work to banking
[07:06] Discussion on the importance of financial literacy and the challenges faced by
underserved communities.
[10:53] Overview of Truist’s value-driven mission and the “Start, Save, Win” savings
initiative.
[13:49] The importance of building savings habits and how behavior impacts financial
security.
[15:32] Barriers to financial inclusion: fear of the unknown and accessibility.
[19:29] The unique, mission-driven approach of Truist and the value of purpose-driven
leadership.
[21:07] Bahari’s “Your Finance Champ” social media initiative to demystify financial
services.
[23:19] Signature Segment: Bahari’s entry into the LATTOYG Playbook: Leading side-by-side
[23:45] Bahari’s leadership philosophy: meeting people where they are and motivating
them forward.
[27:10] Signature Segment: Bahari’s LATTOYG Tactic of Choice: Leading with Strategic decision-making
[32:18] The broader impact of Bahari’s work and the importance of opening doors for others.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR YOU:
Overview: Our Signature Leadership Development Experience: http://bit.ly/DevelopYourGame
16 Sept 2025
How AI is Reshaping Learning and Development with Josh Bersin
IN THIS EPISODE...
Josh Bersin, founder and CEO of the Josh Bersin Company, discusses the transformative impact of AI on leadership and organizational development. He highlights the current experimentation phase in AI adoption, emphasizing the need for strategic focus and internal development. Bersin shares insights on leveraging AI to enhance productivity, drive revenue growth, and streamline processes. He also notes the importance of integrating AI with existing systems and the potential for significant business re-engineering over the next decade, stressing the need for a culture of change and strategic decision-making to maximize AI's benefits.
The Josh Bersin Company is a global leader in HR research and advisory, known for its service-first culture and innovative AI platform, Galileo. The company empowers organizations and individuals with up-to-date research, benchmarking, and practical guidance to help them navigate HR challenges and drive transformation.
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Full show notes, guest bio, links to resources mentioned, and other compelling episodes can be found at http://LeadYourGamePodcast.com. (http://leadyourgamepodcast.com./) (Click the magnifying icon at the top right and type “Josh”)
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Learn more about us! https://shockinglydifferent.com/ (https://shockinglydifferent.com/contact)
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WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:
· How AI is transforming HR, leadership development, and business processes
· The importance of experimentation and strategic focus when adopting AI tools
· Challenges HR leaders face in upskilling teams and managing change
· The difference between incremental and revolutionary uses of AI in L&D
· What risks should boards consider when overseeing AI investments?
· How to identify high-value AI projects that align with business goals
· The evolving landscape of HR technology vendors—will there be a shakeout?
· What role does strategic decision-making play in successful business transformation?
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FEATURED TIMESTAMPS:
[00:36] Introduction of Josh and focus on AI in leadership development
[04:23] AI as a transformational technology
[08:13] Roadmap for upskilling teams in AI
[12:02]Signature Segment: Josh's entry into the LATTOYG Playbook: Evaluating true AI value beyond vendor hype
[12:20] Navigating the crowded AI vendor landscape and distinguishing between incremental and revolutionary tools
[15:09] The evolving role of L&D professionals as AI changes content creation and learning processes
[19:27] Advising companies to align AI projects with business strategy
[22:27] The challenge of change management and the risk of companies paying lip service to AI transformation
[26:12] Overview of the Josh Bersin company’s services and the Galileo AI platform
[30:26] Signature Segment: Josh's LATTOYG Tactic of Choice: Leading with Strategic Decision Making
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR YOU:
Overview: Our Signature Leadership Development Experience: http://bit.ly/DevelopYourGame
Inside a recent episode
Re-envisioning Community-Driven Financial Institutions with Bahari Harris
Published 7 Oct 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And so, and what the statistics show is that even in times, for instance, during COVID, right? People who had a savings behavior, started a savings behavior before COVID actually continued during COVID, although many of us were living in our savings accounts, right, with all the economic disruptions. Many folks who started that savings behavior did not disrupt it during COVID. And so that showed all of us that yes, people do have the ability to save. And so many times they just need that in sense of or that nudge to make that behavior change. Again, it's not about the dollar amount. It's about the behavior. […]
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