People Business w/ O'Brien McMahon

O'Brien McMahon
  • 5.0 (59)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Every business is in some way a “people business” with success or failure often coming down to how leaders manage the people dynamics of their organization. People Business is a weekly podcast focused on what it takes to build and lead a successful, profitable business by navigating the human element.

  1. 4d ago

    Debriefing to Improve Performance w/ Jeff "Bones" Bonner

    Jeff "Bones" Bonner is a former Marine and Air National Guard combat fighter pilot, current airline captain, and Harvard-trained performance strategist who speaks and writes on leadership and continuous improvement. Mentioned on the Show Start the Daily Debrief process today with a free download from Jeff “Bones” Bonner’s website: https://debriefadvantage.com/habitConnect with Jeff “Bones” Bonner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbonesbonnerGet Jeff’s book, The Debrief Advantage, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/08oHqm5zTimestamps (00:00:00) - Jeff “Bones” Bonner joins O’Brien McMahon on the People Business podcast to talk about continuous improvement and the Daily Debrief model (00:02:54) - What is the path to becoming a fighter pilot? (00:07:54) - What other lasting lessons from military life has Jeff carried into his post-military career? (00:09:43) - When did the idea of debriefing first click? (00:13:35) - What mindset helps someone mentally shift into debrief mode after a demanding performance? (00:16:55) - The Daily Debrief model: what are the steps? (00:18:06) - Why is gratitude a part of a debrief process? (00:24:58) - What are the best practices for setting up a debrief session? (00:38:03) - How does someone actually start using the model? (00:40:01) - Aim for 1% better: incremental change; continual improvement. (00:45:21) - Should a leader debrief and communicate it, or open it up for everyone to contribute?  (00:56:15) - How to start using the Daily Debrief model today and closing thoughts

  2. Aug 25

    When Every Student Must Launch a Business to Graduate w/ Jeff Meade

    Jeff Meade is the Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College, where he is leading a bold initiative: Every Quinnite is an Entrepreneur. The program ensures every student launches a venture before graduation, making entrepreneurship a core life skill rather than an extracurricular option. With over 20 years of experience growing companies and advising businesses, Jeff has scaled agencies to multimillion-dollar revenues and built client-side marketing programs that gained national recognition. Mentioned on the Show Follow Jeff Meade on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmeade Learn more about Jeff on his website: https://jeff-meade.com/ Every Quinnite is an Entrepreneur – program details here: https://paulquinn.edu/entrepreneurship/ Timestamps (00:00:00) O'Brien McMahon welcomes Jeff Meade of the Paul Quinn College Entrepreneurship program (00:02:07) How did Jeff Meade, an entrepreneur, get involved with a college? (00:06:40) Mentorship's role in entrepreneurship. (00:08:11) What qualifies as "starting a business" in the Paul Quinn program? (00:12:29) What's the biggest entrepreneurship lesson Jeff Meade wishes he'd learn earlier? (00:13:28) What core entrepreneurship principles does Jeff want his students to walk away with? (00:18:49) What is the ultimate goal of the Paul Quinn College entrepreneurship program?  (00:24:15) What are some examples of student projects? (00:27:20) What is Jeff's day-to-day role and how hands-on is he with students? (00:30:56) Are these businesses group projects or solo ventures? (00:33:06) What does the accountability process look like? (00:39:20) What are the biggest transformations you see in students over the course of the program? (00:41:23) Does the curriculum include psychology or mental toughness training? (00:48:16) Final thoughts from Jeff Meade.

  3. Aug 11

    Job Seeking in an AI World w/ Garrett Rice

    Garrett Rice is the CEO and co-founder of Callings.ai, an AI-powered workforce transition platform that helps organizations support employees through career change while improving outcomes for both departing talent and the employers they leave behind. Under Garrett’s leadership, Callings.ai has developed an AI- native platform that combines job discovery, career coaching, networking, personal branding, interview preparation, and job search management into a single experience.  Mentioned on the Show Special offer for the People Business audience! Try Callings.ai complimentary: https://www.callings.ai/obrienLearn more about Callings.ai: https://www.callings.ai/aboutConnect with Garrett Rice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettrice Timestamps (00:00:00) – O’Brien McMahon of the People Business Podcast welcomes Garrett Rice of Callings.ai (00:03:17) - What’s the origin story of Callings.ai and how did Garrett Rice get into the business? (00:08:13) - What does traditional outplacement include? What is valuable about that model? (00:20:40) - What advice does Garrett has for job-seekers for positioning and marketing themselves? (00:28:14) - How can jobseekers use AI tools and remain authentic? (00:33:19) - What are the best practices are for breaking through to hiring managers, given how desensitized people are to outreach? (00:34:47) - Depersonalizing the results: how can a job-seeker keep going without getting demoralized? (00:44:05) – Special offer for the People Business audience and final thoughts about outplacement and job-seeking

  4. Jul 28

    Managing Pharmacy Spend w/ Matt Jarvis, PharmD

    Matt Jarvis is the SVP of Strategy in Lockton's national pharmacy practice. He has a PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) and has worked in both retail and consulting pharmacy roles. Matt is a subject matter expert in understanding current pharmacy market pricing, supply chain, and medication delivery to the consumer. He leads the development and implementation of innovative clinical solutions that drive optimal management in specialty drugs for Lockton clients.  Mentioned on the Show Connect with Matt Jarvis, PharmD on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjarvispharmdWould you like O’Brien or Matt to discuss your company’s pharmacy benefit plan? Reach out here: Contact O’BrienMatt and O’Brien discussed alternatives like Amazon Pharmacy and Mark Cuban’s venture, Cost Plus Drugs. Timestamps (00:00:00) – Matt Jarvis, PharmD joins his colleague O’Brien McMahon on the People Business Podcast (00:03:48) – What is the structure of a pharmacy plan and how does it differ from the medical plan? What are the common misconceptions? (00:05:43) – What a PBM is and why does it exist? Why isn't pharmacy handled through the regular health plan? (00:08:12) – Why don't drug manufacturers sell directly to health plans and what the steps are from drug creation to pharmacy purchase? (00:09:44) – What is a formulary? (00:13:09) – Why is there is a disconnect between doctors prescribing medications and what's actually covered by a plan? (00:14:37) – What is the role of drug reps in the overall pharmacy system? (00:18:43) – Is AI influencing how doctors prescribe medications? (00:19:54) – What role does the pharmacist plays in the current system?   (00:21:18) – Do pharmacists have any ability to intervene or help patients navigate the formulary, or do they just dispense whatever is prescribe? (00:23:30) – What is prior authorization, and is it driven by clinical or financial outcomes? (00:27:36) – What are the different drug tiers and what qualifies a drug for each tier? (00:28:48) – What qualifies as a specialty drug? (00:30:20) – What is the difference is between prior authorization and step therapy? (00:31:40) – What role do generics in the current pharm landscape? (00:40:16) – Step therapy and biosimilars: how they each work (00:42:38) – Where does mail order fit into the pharmacy system? (00:48:00) – Rebates: the complicated and confusing system of paying for drugs (00:56:21) – Emerging PBMs and when it makes sense for clients to switch (00:59:33) – How can employers vet new-model PBMs when traditional rebate-heavy models look better on a spreadsheet? (01:02:59) – Closing thoughts from Matt Jarvis

  5. Jul 21

    Why We Resist Change (Even When It's Positive) w/ Travis Hahler

    Travis Hahler has spent 15+ years leading transformation at scale. Simultaneously, he built the scientific framework that explains why transformation fails at the neurological level. His new book, Rethinking Resistance: Embracing Neuroscience to Lead Transformational Change is out now.  Mentioned on the Show Your one-stop for all of Travis Hahler’s links is here: https://linktr.ee/theneurologicalnomadTravis’ book, Rethink Resistance is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/02iE70p7Connect with Travis on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisdhahlerListen to the People Business episode with Achyuta Adhvaryu: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/achyutaadhvaryu/O’Brien and Travis bond over mutual admiration of the book The Rabbit Listened. Available on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/09zgnSuVCheck out Shots of Awe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ShotsOfAweTimestamps (00:00:00) – Travis Hahler, the Neurological Nomad sits down with O’Brien McMahon on People Business Podcast (00:02:01) — Travis Hahler origin story: why did he write a book on change? (00:04:45) — What physical/physiological things happen in people's brains when asked to change a routine? (00:06:23) — What is the physical work of the brain when encountering change (including calorie consumption)? (00:11:01) — Inclusion: what good inclusion looks like during the change planning process. (00:12:59) — What if everyone can't be included? (00:21:29) — Process of learning: step-by-step, how does learning happen? (00:22:36) — Taking breaks: what really works. (00:27:38) — Timing: when change happens too quickly or too slow (00:33:13) — Avoiding overwhelm: how to pace change properly (00:39:04) — How can ambiguity be avoided? (00:42:23) — How to communicate change effectively (00:44:33) — Clarity, consistency, and safety  (00:48:39) — What do grief and loss have to do with change?

  6. Jul 7

    Developing Emotional Intelligence w/ Robin Hills

    Dr. Robin Hills is a business psychologist and the director of Ei4Change, a company specializing in emotional intelligence training, coaching, and personal development. The company was awarded “International Impact Company of the Year” by Dotcom Magazine in 2025. With the most comprehensive and detailed courses around the topic of emotional intelligence, Robin has taught and empowered more than 500,000 people across 200+ countries. Mentioned on the Show Connect with Robin on LinkedIn here: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/robinhillsTake Robin’s Emotional Intelligence quiz and learn more about Ei4Change: https://ei4change.com/Read the classic EQ text by Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ: https://a.co/d/0eLKJfuWTimestamps (00:00:00) – O’Brien McMahon, host of People Business Podcast welcomes Robin Hills, founder of Ei4Change. (00:02:31) – Origins: How did Robin Hills get interested in emotional intelligence and build a business around EQ? (00:04:28) – What is emotional intelligence? (00:05:25) – Framework: How do we build better emotional intelligence? (00:07:45) – How can we better understand and gain distance from our own emotions? How do we improve self-control? (00:07:57) – What does the practice of building emotional self-awareness actually look like? (00:15:06) – Passion vs. Balance: How do we show engagement without losing credibility? (00:19:48) – What are the core human emotions? (00:20:10) – Inside Out: why the Pixar movies get so much right about our emotions (00:23:37) – Does improved emotional intelligence equal business results? (00:25:53) – How can individuals use emotional intelligence to make themselves more valuable at work? (00:27:43) – What's the value of leadership skills in non-leadership positions? (00:33:24) – Empathy vs. Performance: how can emotional intelligence ensure empathy doesn't overtake performance? (00:43:34) – What leading indicators signal business trouble on the horizon?

  7. Jun 16

    Creating Hits w/ Mark Shekter

    Mark Shekter is a master at creating hits. With a rich background as a Hollywood writer-producer-composer, having worked with Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, Elton John, and many others, Mark has pioneered an entirely new system of creative thinking – Think8. This same easy-to-learn system empowers business leaders to reshape their corporate cultures for unlimited innovation and growth. Mentioned on the Show Learn more about Mark Shekter and his Think8 Global Initiative on his website: https://www.think8globalinstitute.com/Get Mark’s book, Think8: 8 Steps to Ignite Your Creative Genius in Business, Career, & Life on Amazon: https://a.co/d/09pvYnh8Tone experiment: Listen to Hurt, as performed by Nine Inch Nails (1994) vs. Hurt performed by Johnny Cash. Listen to Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears vs. Lorde. Timestamps (00:00:00) – Mark Shekter sits down with O’Brien McMahon on People Business, the podcast for HR professionals. (00:02:44) – What is Mark's definition of "creativity"?   (00:05:34) – What's the value of creativity in the workplace (for skeptics)? (00:08:26) – How did the Think8 method come together and start falling into place? (00:12:28) – Walk us through the eight steps of the Think8 process at a high level (00:17:10) – Purpose: How to make this broad topic more accessible. (00:24:09) – How does Mark's own purpose tie together his varied career? (00:33:53) – Ego check: how do we balance wanting acknowledgement with capacity? (00:40:31) – How can purpose be turned into a message to share with the world? (00:47:14) – Tone: how to find the right tone when building a business or personal brand? (00:56:23) – Character: what role does character play when building a business or personal brand?

  8. Jun 2

    How Work Gets Done (and Evolving it for AI) w/ David Dean

    David Dean is an author, speaker, and business AI realist who explores how artificial intelligence reshapes work, judgment, and accountability in organizations. Rather than focusing on AI capabilities, he examines the human elements that remain essential: how people navigate uncertainty, where accountability lies when AI assists decisions, and what holds organizations together when technology accelerates faster than clarity. His philosophy is grounded in a simple truth: AI doesn't understand confidence, risk, or consequence—people do, and that's why they still matter. Mentioned on the Show Learn more about David Dean on his website: https://www.davidchristopherdean.com/Get David’s book, An Inbox Between Us on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0ins9UC9Learn some easy AI strategies for work from Jeff Su on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeffSu or on his website: https://www.jeffsu.org/ai/Timestamps (00:00:00) – Introducing David Dean. (00:02:35) — What is David's background and how did he get interested in the systems we find at work? (00:04:36) — What are the “hidden systems” operating in our workplaces? (00:09:42) — How does email influence our systems at work? (00:14:05) — What are some real-life examples of discovering how we work? (00:24:12) — What is system/process drift? (00:36:21) — What makes the biggest difference in driving adoption of new processes and ways of working? (00:43:04) — What is the premise of the book, The Inbox Between Us?  (00:45:43) — Final thoughts about AI coming into our workplaces.

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Every business is in some way a “people business” with success or failure often coming down to how leaders manage the people dynamics of their organization. People Business is a weekly podcast focused on what it takes to build and lead a successful, profitable business by navigating the human element.

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