Top Voice Podcast with Michael J. López

Michael J. López
  • 5.0 (4)
  • CAREERS

Each week, I sit down with leading voices in business, leadership, and transformation to unpack the issues that matter most. Together, we explore fresh insights, bold ideas, and real-world stories from the people shaping how we think about change, culture, and what's possible. As a LinkedIn Top Voice myself and an expert in change and transformation, I bring a unique lens to every conversation—connecting each episode to powerful, science-backed strategies that help individuals, teams, and organizations navigate change with confidence. Whether you're leading a company, driving culture shifts, or simply looking to level up in your career or life, these episodes are designed to challenge your thinking and expand your perspective. Subscribe now to join the conversation and never miss an episode.

  1. 4D AGO

    The New Blueprint for Going Global with Your Personal Brand with Sandra Long

    Michael interviews LinkedIn expert Sandra Long about building a global personal brand. Long shares how she moved from B2B sales to helping individuals and organizations leverage LinkedIn, and explains why global reach is easier post-2020 but requires intentional positioning through your profile, network, and content. They discuss defining “local” vs. “global,” the difference between audience and revenue over long time horizons, and the importance of values like Long’s “Be the Friend First,” including an example of a client from Serbia. Long recommends auditing connection geography with Sales Navigator, using warm connection paths (schools, former employers, groups), prioritizing commenting over frequent posting, engaging with posts in other languages via translation, and using AI to check cross-cultural risks and improve discoverability, while not obsessing over the algorithm. Timestamps: 00:24  Welcome 01:46  Meet Sandra Long 03:24  Why Think Global 05:04  Local vs Global Defined 07:08  Audience vs Revenue 09:40  Be the Friend First 12:50  Culture and AI Checks 14:09. AI and Being Found 15:58  Build a Global Network 18:42  Groups and Search Tactics 20:05  Multi Platform Presence 23:42  Global Commenting Strategy 26:22  Time and Consistency 30:36  Avoid Algorithm Chasing 32:58  Key Takeaways and Wrap Up 35:04  Closing Question and Where to Follow 38:02  Final Thanks Connect with Sandra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/longsandra/ https://www.thesandralong.com https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Long/author/B01LZRIURP?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=ef06a9f0-d106-453d-a74b-b0c52dce608c Michael's National Workforce Study on Change Management: https://www.michaeljlopez.coach/research

    38 min

  2. APR 28

    Overcoming the PMO and Project Manager Stereotype with Fola Alabi

    Michael welcomes project and strategy leader Fola Alabi to discuss stereotypes about project managers and PMOs and why many are seen as process-heavy status reporters rather than value creators. Fola shares her 20+ year career across government, finance, energy, and other sectors, emphasizing the persistent gap between strategy and execution and the need for project leaders to build business acumen, domain knowledge, and executive-level language to drive measurable value. They explore why PMOs are often built and cut, how PMOs can reposition as strategic partners in prioritization and value realization, and how AI can automate basic reporting while increasing the need for specialized, context-driven leadership. Fola closes with practical guidance: lead with business impact, align to strategy, offer options—not just problems—and execute for benefits realized. Timestamps: 00:24  Welcome 01:29  Meet Fola Alabi 03:35  From Strategy to Execution 05:07  PM Stereotypes Explained 07:13  Evolving the PM Skillset 09:44  Domain Knowledge Matters 13:46  Specialize or Stay Broad 16:15  Value Language of Business 18:19  PMO Pendulum and Purpose 21:19  PMO Visibility Crisis 22:45  Strategic Project Intelligence 24:33  From Cost Center to Investment 25:37  When You Need a PMO 25:58  Numbers Tell the Story 28:00  Strategy Execution Value 30:13  AI and the PM Future 33:48  Level Up Your Impact 36:19  Ritualized Avoidance Systems 39:06  Where to Follow Fola 40:09  Final Wrap Connect with Fola: https://folaalabi.com https://strategicprojectleader.com https://www.thepmoleader.com/fola-alabi https://www.instagram.com/folaFalabi/ https://x.com/folaFAlabi https://www.youtube.com/c/FolaAlabi https://www.facebook.com/FolaFAlabi/ https://www.clubhouse.com/@folafalabi Michael's National Workforce Study on Change Management: https://www.michaeljlopez.coach/research

    41 min

  3. APR 21

    Why Bias is a Luxury the Economy Can’t Afford with Katica Roy

    Michael welcomes economist, data scientist, and Pipeline CEO Katica Roy to discuss why bias and inequity “sub-optimize” the economy, citing women earning nearly 60% of degrees while being promoted 21% slower and the large GDP and fiscal impacts of pay and opportunity gaps. Roy shares her family’s refugee story and connects equity to economic returns, national debt service, Social Security solvency, and taxpayers subsidizing pay gaps. They examine how policy currently puts the burden on individuals to prove inequity, contrast it with the EU’s upcoming pay transparency rules, and describe Pipeline’s behavioral-economics approach to improving equitable talent decisions. The conversation covers corporate responses to DEI pressure, Target vs. Costco, generational shifts in work expectations, AI-driven layoffs and human-agent collaboration, and closes with Roy’s key takeaways that equity is economic, not zero-sum, and rooted in measurable math. Timestamps: 00:24  Welcome 01:08  Meet Katica Roy 01:47  Katica Name Moment 02:30  Refugee Roots and Purpose 05:16 Bias Costs the Economy 07:53  Debt and Pay Gap Math 11:57  Policy Fixes and Proof 14:50  Pipeline Behavioral Design 16:59  DEI Backlash and Shareholders 22:10  Breadwinner Moms and Generations 24:23  Gen Z Rethinks College 27:01 Gen X Readiness Gap 28:34  AI Layoffs And Equity 34:39  Gen X Fatigue And Power 36:45  Hope As A Strategy 38:48  Key Equity Takeaways 41:36  Closing Connect with Katica: https://www.katicaroy.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/katicaroy https://www.instagram.com/katicaroy/ https://www.facebook.com/officialkaticaroy https://x.com/katicaroy

    44 min

  4. APR 14

    The Judgment Gap: Why Lawyers Won't Be Replaced But Must Evolve with Colin Levy

    Michael speaks with Colin Levy, General Counsel at Malbek and adjunct professor at Albany Law School, about how AI is disrupting the legal profession and what Levy calls the “judgment gap.” They discuss AI’s growing role in performing tasks formerly done by lawyers, the need to verify AI outputs that can be plausible but inaccurate, and how legal advice is shifting toward more complex, solution-oriented recommendations. Levy explains how AI may change what junior lawyers are asked to do, why client counseling and emotional intelligence remain essential, and why legal education should better prepare students to use AI. He shares tools he uses daily—including Malbek AI, Perplexity, Claude (including Claude for Work), and Gamma—and emphasizes experimenting with clear goals. Timestamps: 00:24  Welcome 01:38  Meet Colin Levy 04:09  AI Disrupts Law 06:26  Trust and Verification 09:20  Training Junior Lawyers 13:48  Clients and Transparency 16:19  Existential Threat Debate 19:45  Emotional Intelligence Edge 24:17  Learning Judgment and AI 27:17  Daily AI Tool Stack 29:02  Key Takeaways 30:48  Career Influence Story 32:24  Where to Follow Colin 33:20  Closing Connect with Colin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinslevy/ https://x.com/Clevy_Law https://www.colinslevy.com https://a.co/d/06HSUhbs Michael's National Workforce Study on Change Management: https://www.michaeljlopez.coach/research

    34 min

  5. APR 7

    Why So Many Experts Sound the Same and How to Actually Stand Out with Christie Bilbrey

    Michael welcomes strategic communications advisor Christie Bilbrey, founder of Stella Nova Media, to discuss why many professionals sound the same and how to stand out through clearer positioning and storytelling. Christie explains that credentials alone don't differentiate; what people hire is perspective and relatability rooted in understanding an audience's pain points and desired outcomes. She outlines a strategic approach to storytelling: define the goal, work backward to select a relevant moment, zoom in on key turning points, and share thoughts and emotions from the journey while protecting sensitive details when necessary. The conversation also broadens "audience" beyond clients to include gatekeepers, media, organizers, and communities, and addresses avoiding "AI slop" by letting human direction and experience lead. Michael also mentions his newly launched national workforce study, Rethinking Change Management. Timestamps: 00:24  Welcome  01:44  Meet Christie Bilbrey 04:12  Why Everyone Sounds Same 04:46  Perspective Over Credentials 07:12  Audience First Storytelling 10:12  Finding Your Real Audience 13:24  Vulnerability That Connects 15:49  Story Structure That Lands 21:32  Senior Leaders and Safe Sharing 28:33  Avoiding AI Content Slop 31:29  Key Takeaways to Stand Out 33:34  Proud Moment and Growth 36:19  Where to Find Christie 37:10  Closing Connect with Christie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiebilbrey/ https://www.stellanovamedia.com https://www.instagram.com/stellanovamedia/ https://www.youtube.com/@christiebilbreymedia

    38 min

  6. MAR 30

    Risk vs. Moat: How to Make Yourself Harder to Replace with Freda Thomas

    Michael speaks with executive coach and LinkedIn Top Voice Frida Thomas about becoming irreplaceable by understanding “risk vs. moat” in today’s AI-driven workplace. Frida shares her background coaching senior leaders and explains how quickly career strategy is changing, urging professionals to replace fear with curiosity and keep a constant pulse on trends. She describes how to identify a personal moat by noticing moments when your insights make others pause and by asking trusted senior leaders for feedback. They discuss how executives are using AI to offload generic work and augment strategy, and Frida advises laid-off professionals to stop job searching like it’s 2019 and instead use disciplined networking and intel-gathering. They also explore trusting intuition when considering consulting or entrepreneurship and close with Frida’s advice to put yourself in rooms with leaders you respect. Timepstamps: 00:24 Welcome and Setup 01:30 Meet Frida Thomas 04:37 Moat Versus Risk 08:51 Finding Your Moat 14:12 Leaders Facing AI 18:21 Job Search Reset 24:07 Entrepreneurial Pivot 29:25 Myths and Mindset 30:19 Key Takeaways 32:38 Bonus Question 33:55 Where to Follow Frida 35:04 Closing Thanks Connect with Freda: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freda-l-thomas-mba-careercoach/ https://consultflt.com https://www.linkedin.com/learning/creating-a-compelling-job-description/

    35 min

  7. MAR 24

    So What? Why? Who Cares? The Questions Most Marketing Gets Wrong with Doug Kimball

    Michael welcomes Doug Kimball to discuss Doug’s new book, “So What, Why, Who Cares?”, a three-question framework Doug has used for 14+ years to improve messaging, positioning, storytelling, and strategic thinking. Doug shares how the framework originated from a tough critique by a former boss, how it helps teams move beyond clever but ineffective marketing, and why simple questions can be hard to answer without critical thinking, iteration, and real-world field testing with sales teams and customers. They discuss avoiding echo chambers, simplifying language, using the framework flexibly (including for presentations and audience targeting), and incorporating generative AI as a tool through better prompting—without replacing human judgment. Doug explains the book’s practical examples, templates, and QR-linked resources, and shares where to find it online. Timestamps: 00:24  Welcome and Introductions 01:18  Doug Kimball Background 02:22. Origin of the Framework 04:08  Why Marketing Gets Complex 06:12 Answering the Questions Well 07:38  Book Structure and Examples 10:20  AI and Critical Thinking 13:07  Iteration and Field Testing 16:13  Escaping the Echo Chamber 19:43  Beyond Marketing Use Cases 21:15  Algorithms and Audience Targeting 25:28 Advice for Stuck Teams 27:25  Key Takeaways and Presentations 29:38  Bonus Question on Change 31:13 Where to Find the Book 31:56  Closing and Thanks Connect with Doug: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougkimball/ https://sowhatwhywhocares.com

    33 min

  8. MAR 17

    Who Gets to Transform Now? AI and the Democratization of Disruption with John Harrison

    Michael speaks with John Harrison, co-founder of Luminar Global, an AI firm focused on “enabling trust with AI,” about how AI is shifting transformation from big-company, big-budget initiatives to individual and small-team impact. Harrison shares his background across IBM, telecom, edtech, and communications consulting, and explains why AI can create rapid new wealth but also faster displacement. He describes how he and three recent collaborators formed Luminar through chance networking, and how they help clients avoid “shiny new toy syndrome” by focusing on fundamentals—people, process, and data—while keeping pace with rapid AI change. They discuss faster, higher-value consulting enabled by AI, practical advice for intrapreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, and key takeaways: be curious, start now, and take responsibility. Timestamps: 00:24 Welcome and Setup 01:35 Meet John Harrison 03:03 AI Wealth and Power 04:41 Individuals Drive Change 07:20 Launching Luminar Global 09:50 Finding Co-Founders 11:38 Avoiding Shiny Objects 13:43 Keeping Up With AI 15:47 Democratized Consulting 19:38 Redefining Value Today 20:34 Career Lessons and Curiosity 23:50 Starting With an Idea 27:08 If You Lost Your Job 29:45 Key Takeaways to Act 31:43 Analogy and Where to Connect 33:37 Closing Thanks and Wrap Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jharris2/

    34 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Each week, I sit down with leading voices in business, leadership, and transformation to unpack the issues that matter most. Together, we explore fresh insights, bold ideas, and real-world stories from the people shaping how we think about change, culture, and what's possible. As a LinkedIn Top Voice myself and an expert in change and transformation, I bring a unique lens to every conversation—connecting each episode to powerful, science-backed strategies that help individuals, teams, and organizations navigate change with confidence. Whether you're leading a company, driving culture shifts, or simply looking to level up in your career or life, these episodes are designed to challenge your thinking and expand your perspective. Subscribe now to join the conversation and never miss an episode.

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