Wise Up with OpenWater

OpenWater

Wisdom provides more than answers, it delivers context and connects the dots. And when you’re a professional with decades of experience, you have lots of wisdom to share. Wise up and gain insights from OpenWater experts on a range of topics each week.

  1. Sep 1

    Beyond the Answer: AI, Judgment and the Value of a Good Lawyer — with Matti Neustadt

    AI can answer legal questions, draft contracts and even pass part of the bar exam. But as international legal advisor and tech founder Matti Neustadt explains, good legal counsel starts somewhere else: understanding a client’s business, goals and risks well enough to identify the questions they should be asking, not only answering the ones they bring to the table. In this episode, Matti explores how AI can strengthen that relationship, giving lawyers more time to apply the judgment and experience clients actually need. We cover topics including: Why professional judgment matters more in an AI-enabled world, and how an experienced lawyer can uncover risks, priorities and questions a client may not know enough to identify on their own. How AI can become a relationship accelerator, helping lawyers learn their clients’ businesses faster, maintain that knowledge over time, and focus their attention where their expertise creates the greatest value. How greater efficiency could reshape the business of law, reducing time spent gathering information and producing routine work while putting greater value on strategy, judgment and trusted counsel. AI may dramatically change how professional work gets done. But Matti makes the case that its greatest potential may be helping skilled professionals spend less time producing answers and more time understanding which questions really need to be asked. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

  2. Aug 24

    Keep Coming of Age: Choosing Purpose Over Approval – with Jeff Jacobs

    After 36 years in human resources and decades working with senior leaders, Jeff Jacobs has learned that many of the obstacles holding us back come down to something surprisingly basic: our reluctance to have honest conversations with each other—and ourselves. In this episode, Jeff shares lessons from his corporate career, his own professional setbacks, and a decade working with incarcerated men to explore how we can move beyond seeking approval and build lives around what matters most to us now. We cover topics including: Why fear gets in the way of honest feedback—and how curiosity and self-compassion can help us respond more constructively What it means to “keep coming of age” by moving from external validation toward a more internally defined sense of purpose How Jeff’s work in maximum-security prisons reinforced powerful lessons about compassion, humility, privilege, and our capacity for change If you’ve ever found yourself questioning what success means at a new stage of life, this conversation offers a thoughtful framework for pursuing purpose over approval. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

  3. Jul 13

    Beyond Financial Planning: A More Meaningful Definition of Wealth – with Carmen Ortiz

    What if financial planning isn’t really about money? In this episode, I speak with Certified Financial Planner (CFP), educator, and author Carmen Ortiz about why traditional approaches to wealth often leave people feeling unfulfilled—even when they have more than enough. Drawing on nearly four decades of experience and her own journey beyond conventional financial planning, Carmen introduces her Transcendent Financial Planning System, a framework that connects financial decisions to self-knowledge, purpose, and contribution. We cover topics including: Why our sense of self-worth often becomes entangled with our net worth—and how to break that connection The evolution from traditional financial planning to life-centered planning, and ultimately to a more transcendent approach rooted in purpose and service Why true wealth extends beyond financial capital to include our relationships, knowledge, experience, and ability to contribute to something larger than ourselves If you've ever wondered whether financial success alone is enough, this conversation offers a compelling new perspective on what it means to live a truly wealthy life. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

  4. Jun 16

    Leading the Loop: How to Use AI Without Losing Your Edge – With Carl Loeb

    Artificial intelligence can make us faster, more productive, and more efficient. But what happens when we start outsourcing not just our work—but our judgment? In this episode, I speak with strategist and creative leader Carl Loeb about the growing risk of "cognitive surrender" and how professionals can use AI without losing the uniquely human capabilities that create real value. Drawing on research, practical examples, and his own experience integrating AI into creative work, Carl offers a framework for staying in control while taking advantage of these powerful new tools. We cover topics including: Why deadline pressure, confirmation bias, and AI "sycophancy" can lead people to trust bad answers The difference between being "in the loop" and "leading the loop" when working with AI Why originality, judgment, taste, emotional intelligence, and point of view remain uniquely human advantages If you're trying to figure out how to use AI without becoming dependent on it, this conversation provides a thoughtful and practical roadmap. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

  5. Jun 10

    The Strength Behind Success – with Denis Champagne

    What if the biggest threat to your business performance isn't market conditions, competition, or technology—but the gradual decline of your own capacity? In this episode, I speak with entrepreneur, coach, and former competitive athlete Denis Champagne about the connection between physical strength, mental resilience, personal alignment, and long-term success. Drawing on more than 35 years in business and a lifetime of athletic competition, Denis shares why leaders must treat themselves as their most important asset—and why discipline ultimately matters more than motivation. We cover topics including: Why "refusing decline" begins with making—and sticking to—difficult decisions How physical strength creates the capacity to recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and sustain performance over time Why structure and discipline outperform motivation when it comes to achieving lasting personal and professional growth If you've ever felt overwhelmed, fragmented, or simply less effective than you once were, this conversation offers a practical framework for rebuilding capacity from the inside out. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

  6. May 27

    Always Be Connecting – with Sharon Schanzer

    What if the real secret to business development isn’t selling at all, but building genuine, friction-free relationships over time? In this episode, I speak with entrepreneur, implementation expert, and self-described “superconnector” Sharon Schanzer about the hidden mechanics of networking, execution, and sustainable business growth. Drawing on decades of experience spanning design, technology, consulting, and community-building, Sharon shares why connection is a long game, why most people underestimate the work of business development, and how generalists are becoming increasingly valuable in a specialized world. We cover topics including: Why “always be connecting” matters more than “always be closing” How friction-free communication and follow-through create trust, referrals, and opportunity Why execution—not just ideas—is the real differentiator for entrepreneurs and organizations If you’ve ever struggled with networking, pipeline-building, or turning ideas into action, this conversation offers a refreshingly practical perspective on what actually moves business forward. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

  7. Apr 28

    Rethinking Cost as a Growth Strategy – with Jeff Peduto

    What if the fastest path to growth isn’t chasing new revenue, but improving the profitability already inside your business? In this episode, I speak with operations executive and cost optimization advisor Jeff Peduto about why cost optimization should be treated as a strategic growth lever—not just a reactive cost-cutting exercise. Drawing on decades of experience leading operational transformation and business optimization, Jeff explains how organizations can uncover hidden inefficiencies, improve supplier spend, protect margins, and create lasting operational discipline. We cover topics including: Why cost optimization is a growth strategy—and how smarter supplier management and operational efficiency can unlock meaningful working capital and EBITDA improvement Why improvement programs often fail over time, and how accountability, operating discipline, and ownership make results stick How a pay-for-performance consulting model aligns incentives around outcomes, not activity—reducing risk while increasing trust and execution If your business is working hard but margins still feel tighter than they should, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for creating stronger financial performance. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

  8. Feb 24

    Tying Profit to People – with Jared Koesten

    What if your organization’s margin challenges, client churn, or execution gaps aren’t operational problems at all, but leadership ones? In this episode, I speak with executive coach and fractional leader Jared Koesten about how aligning people, process, and strategy unlocks measurable business performance. Drawing on decades as a global CHRO and advisor to CEOs, Jared shares a practical framework for eliminating friction, achieving greater team engagement and strengthening leadership EQ. We cover topics including: Why clarity, alignment, processes and systems (“CAPS”) are the foundation of sustainable growth How operating rhythm can exposes (and help resolve) hidden financial and organizational friction The difference between strategic ambiguity in branding—and the danger of ambiguity in leadership If you’ve ever been told to “just fix it,” this conversation offers a smarter, more durable way forward for leaders to inspire engagement and achieve sustainable improvements to their businesses. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

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About

Wisdom provides more than answers, it delivers context and connects the dots. And when you’re a professional with decades of experience, you have lots of wisdom to share. Wise up and gain insights from OpenWater experts on a range of topics each week.

Information

  • Creator
    OpenWater
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Wise Up with OpenWater