Move Fast. Break Shit. Burn Out‪.‬ Catalyst Constellations

In this episode, Shannon Lucas, co-CEO of Catalyst Constellations, speaks with corporate punk rocker, Greg Larkin, known as the "Anthony Bourdain of Business" and founder and CEO of Punks and Pinstripes. Like Anthony Bourdain, Greg keeps it real as he authentically shares his story about moving up the career ladder while worrying about losing his true punk rock self.

Greg talks about his belief in the importance of "business punks" in driving change, especially during crucial moments of disruption or organizational crisis. He shares how his amazing track record of success was based partly on the ability to pitch outcomes rather than ideas or visions. He explores strategies for navigating and overcoming the corporate immune response system, based on some hard learned lessons.

Greg outlines exit strategies for those who find themselves as catalysts in environments resistant to change, including walled gardens, bear hugs, spin-offs, leaving, and transforming from within. He critiques "state-sanctioned" innovation efforts as often being mere lip service and stresses the importance of genuine empowerment and support for Catalysts.

You won't want to miss this real, raw conversation.


Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we hear from Ritu Kapur, Head of Digital Biomarkers at Verily. The theme throughout our conversation is about the need, skills, and support required to bring people along on the journey to manifest our vision. She shares, It's not about the technology or innovation, creating change is all about people.

Her advice to up and coming Catalyst? "It's not all about you!" Early on in our careers, especially for women in more technical industries, Catalysts have the feeling that we have to prove our worth and impact all the time. But at some point in your career, you realize that you can't create change all alone. You have to bring people along on the journey. So being able to identify shared value and help others shine is a great way to realize your vision. While, at the same time, as we grow our leadership capabilities, it's about letting those around you that you've been cultivating, to stand in their own power, giving them the chance to succeed or learn new lessons. It's about not overfunctioning for those around us, while letting them flourish.

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, Amy Kaufman (Senior Advisor, Talent Strategies, CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County - CLAOC) talks about the profound impact of embracing one's role as a Catalyst in leadership and transformation efforts.

Amy discusses how she applied her understanding of the core elements of fire – that she was exposed to from her husband Mike, a retired firefighter – to her understanding of being a Catalyst.

She explains how Catalyst can embody the elements needed to sustain a fire - fuel, heat, or oxygen - during the transformative process. Each Catalyst can embody one element or even all three at any given time. Amy shares how this realization helped her drive more effective and accelerated change.

Amusingly, Amy also calls out the need for sand in the fire management process – as a way to temper the burn or slow down the burnout.

Join us to explore how Amy's journey and insights into Catalyst leadership can inspire others to “ignite” change and navigate the challenges of transformation with confidence and self-awareness.



Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we connected with Minette Norman, former Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk, and author of The Psychological Safety Playbook and The Boldly Inclusive Leader, shares how two key skills really helped transform her leadership capabilities along her journey.

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we had the great honor of connecting with James Andrews, an 'Innovation Artist' and founder at Creator Mode Studios, whose career and journey have been so mindblowing it's hard to convey. Celebrated for elevating artists like Nas, Destiny's Child and The Fugees at Columbia Records in the early 90's, he now drives innovation at Creator Mode Studios and as an angel investor at Authenticated Ventures. But that doesn't begin to capture the myriad ways James is driving change.

He explains how the art of diplomacy has helped him achieve his vision of change; creating a shared value in the diagram for the artists, the execs and the listeners. He talks about how he learned the skill of being able to flow "from Harvard to Harlem" or "from jersey to suit" to bring people along on the journey. Sprinkled in, he brings a healthy dose of curiosity and deep listening skills to supercharge his diplomacy skills.

And while he really has "done it all", he also shares incredibly vulnerably and authentically about the areas of self-discovery he's still exploring along with the support structures he's cultivated around him to support him on his journey (like a black men's group or a daily gratitude practice).

Check out this movie.

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, ultra Catalyst Sean Kitzmiller, Design Strategy Lead at TIAA, talks about the powerful gift to yourself, as well as others, when you combine radical inclusion with the power of being open to different approaches. Sean's story is full of anecdotes about things he's learned from interns that he's mentored.

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.