What's Up At Work?

About What's Up At Work?

Welcome to What's Up At Work?, the podcast that's all about real talk with the company leaders shaping Northeast Ohio's top workplaces. We're diving into the stories, strategies, and sometimes hilarious moments that come with creating the thriving teams that drive the region's most successful businesses forward. Whether it's a CEO sharing their leadership philosophy or an HR exec spilling their best people-first strategies, we're here to give you insights you can actually use to build a better workplace. Hit play, and let's talk about what's really up at work.

Publisher

Sam Clyde Schroeder

Category

business · business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Jan 2025

Latest episode

31 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Pat Ghilani (CEO, MRI Software): Repping the Logo, Building Culture & Chick-Fil-A

   Meet Pat Ghilani, a culture-driven leader who believes the strongest organizations are built by creating a sense of belonging, reinforcing a shared identity, and giving people something bigger than themselves to represent. As CEO of MRI Software, Pat leads a company that began in Cleveland and has grown into a global organization with nearly 5,000 employees serving customers in approximately 135 countries. Throughout MRI’s growth, he has focused on building a culture people genuinely want to be part of—proving that strong organizational identity and shared experiences can help companies thrive through changing technologies, economic conditions, and global expansion. Pat’s leadership journey is defined by his candid, people-focused approach to business. From his belief that work and life are deeply connected to his philosophy of getting employees excited to “wear the jersey,” Pat shares practical lessons on building cultures that feel authentic rather than manufactured in a boardroom. Leading a global organization requires more than establishing corporate values and expecting employees to follow them. Pat explains why culture must be reflected in everyday behavior, how rituals and traditions help reinforce a shared identity, and why consistently celebrating an organization’s mission and values helps people feel connected to the larger team. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Pat joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to discuss building an authentic workplace culture, leading with transparency, creating employee buy-in, and maintaining a strong organizational identity through growth and change. He also shares insights on navigating uncertainty, scaling a company across different countries and cultures, embracing AI as a tool for greater productivity, identifying true culture fit, and why employees who choose to leave and later return can be one of the strongest indicators of a healthy workplace. Tune in to hear Pat’s perspective on leadership, workplace culture, transparency, employee belonging, global growth, AI, organizational identity, and why the strongest cultures give people a reason to proudly wear the jersey. Episode Highlights & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Why Business Is Always Personal 03:00 – Building Culture Through Behavior, Not Corporate Rules 05:00 – “Wear the Jersey”: Creating Stability & Employee Buy-In 07:00 – Transparency, Uncertainty & Leading Without All the Answers 10:00 – Why You Can’t Create Culture in a Boardroom 12:00 – MRI’s Rituals, Traditions & Building a Team Experience 16:00 – Scaling a Global Company Without Becoming Generic 20:00 – AI as “The Great Multiplier” 26:00 – Culture Fit, Employee Ambassadors & Celebrating Boomerangs 30:00 – HR Hot Seat & Rapid Fire Questions

2. 

   3 Aug 2026

   Tom Williams (Former Chairman & CEO, Parker Hannifin): Win Strategy, Retirement Speeches & a Better Tomorrow

   Meet Tom Williams, a purpose-driven leader who believes the strongest organizations are built through clear strategy, engaged people, and leadership that puts people first.

3. 

   7 Jul 2026

   Dalithia Smith (CHRO, Oatey Co.): Confidence, Critical Thinking, & Developing Future-Ready Talent

   Meet Dalithia Smith, a people-first leader who believes confidence, continuous learning, and strategic thinking are the keys to helping organizations thrive through change. As Chief Human Resources Officer at Oatey, Dalithia leads people strategy for an organization focused on growth, innovation, and long-term success. Her work centers on helping employees develop the confidence, judgment, and capabilities needed to navigate an increasingly complex workplace shaped by emerging technologies, evolving business models, and constant change. Dalithia’s leadership journey extends beyond the corporate world. In addition to leading HR at Oatey, she recently earned her PhD from Case Western Reserve University and serves as an instructor, combining real-world executive experience with evidence-based research. Her unique perspective allows her to bridge the gap between academic insights and practical business leadership. Leading people strategy in today's environment requires far more than managing policies and procedures. Dalithia shares how understanding business strategy, building trust across all levels of an organization, and creating psychologically safe workplaces help organizations develop resilient teams that can adapt and perform through uncertainty. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Dalithia joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to discuss responsible AI adoption, the importance of critical thinking and human judgment, and why organizations must invest in employee development as technology continues to evolve. She also shares insights on the evolving role of HR as a strategic business partner, including the importance of strong CEO-CHRO relationships, evidence-based decision making, employee engagement, and building cultures where transparency and trust drive long-term success. Tune in to hear Dalithia’s perspective on leadership, lifelong learning, organizational culture, AI, mentorship, and why developing people remains one of the most important investments any organization can make. Episode Highlights & Timestamps 00:30 – Introduction & Why Confidence Matters in Today's Workplace 03:45 – Building Confidence Through Business-Aligned HR Strategy 06:00 – AI, Critical Thinking & Human Judgment 09:00 – Oatey's AI Council 12:30 – The CEO-CHRO Relationship 16:00 – Trust & Organizational Culture 20:00 – The Warning Sign of a Failing Culture 22:15 – Lifelong Learning, Earning a PhD 27:00 – Mentorship and Creating Opportunities for Others 31:00 – Why Northeast Ohio Leaders Stand Out 32:45 – HR Hot Seat & Rapid Fire Questions

Who has been a guest on What's Up At Work?

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Lauren Reed
• Cindy Torres Essell
• Austin Merk
• Kevin Clayton
• Dr Lisa Damour

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

29

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact What's Up At Work?

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about What's Up At Work?