YNBO stands for “You’ll Never Be O,” a phrase once meant to discourage but now reclaimed as a message of empowerment. Hosted by Melody Harkness, YNBO is where real conversations meet purpose. Each episode explores leadership, equity, and transformation through the voices of change-makers, entrepreneurs, and everyday leaders from around the world. Inspired by resilience and authenticity, YNBO invites listeners to reflect, grow, and redefine what it means to rise above limitations, because you’ll never be ordinary when you choose to lead with purpose.
Living Intentionally: The Journey Behind the Vision
In this special episode, the host sits down with her husband for an honest and intentional conversation about vision, change management, and what it really takes to build the life you’ve been called to live. Together, they reflect on the host’s professional journey, from navigating career transitions to leading with purpose, and unpack how strategic goal setting, accountability, and alignment with self can accelerate progress. If you’re ready to stop drifting and start designing your life on purpose, this episode will give you practical insight on how to manage change, stay focused, and execute your vision with clarity.
2 Dec 2025
From Awareness to Reinforcement: Managing the People Side of Change with ADKAR
In this episode of the YNBO Podcast, Barbara and Alexis break down what it really takes to move people through change — not just processes and timelines, but thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Using the ADKAR model (Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement), they walk step-by-step through how leaders can guide teams through transitions with more clarity, compassion, and intention.
Tune in as they share real-world scenarios, practical tips, and common pitfalls to avoid when rolling out new policies, technologies, or cultural shifts. Whether you’re leading a department, managing a small team, or navigating change in your own career, this conversation will help you turn resistance into readiness and uncertainty into forward momentum.
13 Oct 2025
Forecasting the Future: Navigating Business Change
In this episode, Barbara and Melody sit down to talk about what it really means to lead through change when the future feels uncertain. They explore how organizations can better anticipate shifts in people, policy, and priorities while staying grounded in purpose and clarity.
Together, they discuss how to balance planning with flexibility, how to bring people along in moments of transition, and what forecasting the future looks like when you are in the middle of it, not watching from the sidelines.
This episode offers an honest look at leadership, foresight, and the importance of staying intentional when everything around you is shifting.
31 Jul 2025
Redefining Data: It's Not Just Numbers
In this insightful episode, a summer associate interviews the CEO of a prominent management consulting firm to explore the evolving role of data in today’s business landscape. While data is often associated with numbers and analytics, the conversation reveals how it extends far beyond just figures on a spreadsheet. Tune in as the CEO discusses how data shapes decision-making, drives innovation, and informs strategic initiatives across industries. Listen in for a deep dive into how data is redefined and leveraged to create value and impact.
21 Jul 2023
Evaluation of the Affirmative Action Supreme Court Decision
Alexis and Melody review and discuss the recent Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action in higher education admissions process.
26 May 2023
Accepting Artificial Intelligence and Dismantling of DEI
Join Alexis and Melody along with guest speaker Raisi K. as they discuss the benefits of diversity, equity, and inclusion education and the use of artificial intelligence in human resources and business.
18 Apr 2023
Career Progression, HR Mistakes, and Culture Responsibility
In this episode Amber Swanson, a deal enabler, drops gems about career progression in government and the corporate sector. Alexis and Melody discuss mistakes in Human Resources and stay tuned to find out who is responsible for the workplace culture, management or staff?
7 Mar 2023
Servant Leadership, The State of DEI, and Red Flags
In this episode, Alexis and Melody learn more about servant leadership as they interview Nadeem (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadeemelborno/) of New Perspective Sales Consulting (https://www.newpsc.com/). Is the President setting the tone for DEI in 2023? Is a workforce comprised of a single demographic a red flag? Let's find out!
1 Apr 2022
The Evolution of HR - International Conflict, Cryptocurrency, and the Return to Office
In this episode, Alexis and Melody discuss the impact of the Russia Ukraine conflict on the American job economy, how the expansion of cryptocurrency is dominating the job market, and how we can increase social interaction in our return to office post-covid.
3 Mar 2022
Affirmative Action, Purpose, and Empathy
Alexis and Melody discuss the challenge against Affirmative Action in educational institutions, the rise of the Chief Purpose Officer role in c-suite, and the importance of empathy as a leadership skill.
24 Feb 2022
The People or Profits?
In this episode, Melody and Alexis discuss company priorities when it comes to the triple bottom line, self-expectations and wellness, the importance of living in your purpose in reflection of the passing of Cheslie Kryst, pay equity, and words of advice for new job seekers.
17 Jan 2022
Performative or Progressive?
We are two brown girls at different stages in our career offering our perspectives on the evolving changes and issues that come up when navigating inequities in the workplace and society as a whole. Here, we empower professionals through discussion of human resources management, work-life balance, and systemic inequities.
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