The Science of Excellence

Vince Jeong
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Journey into The Science of Excellence with Sparkwise CEO Vince Jeong as he explores the forces behind extraordinary work and achievement. Through insightful conversations with pioneering minds — psychologists, learning scientists, AI innovators, and organizational change experts — discover breakthrough strategies and technologies that unlock human and organizational potential. Whether you're a leader, builder, or lifelong learner, explore the core principles of excellence and transformation.

  1. 1D AGO

    Turning L&D Into a Revenue-Generating Function with Jenn Nicks

    In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Jenn Nicks, who leads L&D for CBRE's property management division. She's done something most L&D leaders only dream about—turned her team into a revenue-generating function by creating customer experience training that they sell to clients.We talked about how she built credibility through internal work first, why the market opportunity was sitting right in front of her, and how serving paying customers raises the quality bar across all her team's work. Jenn shared practical lessons on building trust, knowing when to say no, and balancing innovation with strategy.These 5 insights stood out from our conversation:-Build Internal Credibility Before Going External-Look for Existing Demand-Set Standards of Excellence and Defend Them-Balance Capacity with Growth-Let Paying Customers Raise Your Internal L&D Standards Too Tune into the full episode to learn more!

    30 min

  2. OCT 7

    Collaborative Leadership in the Age of AI with Caro Paduch

    In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Caro Paduch, Global People Programs Lead at GlobalLogic, where she specializes in career growth and talent strategy. Caro brings a global perspective to her work helping leaders navigate complexity across cultures and functions.Our conversation explored why collaborative leadership has become essential in today's rapidly changing world. We discussed how leaders must shift from being controllers to connectors, the role of AI in amplifying—not replacing—human collaboration, and the practical challenges of building trust across different leadership styles and cultures.These 4 insights stood out from our conversation:-Be a Connector, Not a Controller-Lead with Curiosity and Self-Awareness-Collaborate to Unlock AI’s Potential-Create Communities Around Shared ExperiencesTune into the full episode to learn more!

    29 min

  3. SEP 10

    Stargazer Secrets: How to Shine Bright as a Team with Katie P. Desiderio and Michael Frino

    In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Michael Frino and Katie P. Desiderio, co-authors of "The Stargazer," a leadership fable that introduces their COMPASS framework for team development.Michael and Katie bring a scholar-practitioner perspective, combining academic rigor with storytelling. Their work focuses on the "tri-level of leadership"—individual, team, and organizational—with "The Stargazer" specifically addressing how leaders can build stronger teams by unleashing the potential of others.These 5 insights stood out from our conversation:-Master the COMPASS Framework for Team Navigation-Focus on Constellation Beyond Individual Shine-Build a Star System for Diverse Perspectives-"Always Be Proximal" to Team Growth-Apply the Platinum Rule Over the Golden RuleTune into the full episode to learn more!

    34 min

  4. AUG 26

    Science First, AI Second: Building Learning Experiences with the Right Foundation with Dominik Rus

    In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Dominik Rus, Global Head of L&D Innovation and Technology at TTEC, who presented "Science First, AI Second: Building Learning Experiences with the Right Foundation." His core argument: before augmenting learning with AI, we need to understand the fundamentals of how people actually learn.Dom is not too keen on L&D professionals who know little about learning theory but rush to implement AI solutions. Our conversation explored evidence-based learning principles and how Dom's team uses AI to amplify what actually works.These 5 insights stood out from our conversation:-Master Learning Science Before Technology-Apply the Mindset-Skillset-Toolset Framework-Use Self-Quizzing and Spaced Repetition-Choose Tools That Make Learning Stick-Build AI Systems Grounded in ResearchTune into the full episode to learn more!

    37 min

  5. AUG 14

    Leading and Changing Distributed Teams at Scale: Lessons from Healthcare with Hillary Miller

    In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Hillary Miller, who leads learning initiatives at HCA Healthcare.Hillary shared hard-won lessons about communication, change management, and building empathy across enterprise-level organizations. Her approach focuses on reducing noise, building champion networks, and creating federated models that balance central governance with local flexibility.These 4 insights stood out from our conversation:-Reduce Communication Noise-Build Champion Networks for Sustainable Change-Use Federated Models to Balance Central and Local Needs-Hire for Distributed Team SuccessTune into the full episode to learn more!

    33 min

  6. JUL 31

    Building Personal Development Culture at Scale: The Inner and Outer Transformation with Femi Adebayo

    In this episode, I spoke with Femi Adebayo, who leads talent development at DHL where they support personal growth for 600,000 employees globally. His approach centers on what he calls the "inner journey" and "outer journey" of development, balancing individual reflection with external challenges and feedback.Femi shared how DHL has built a culture where personal development isn't just encouraged but embedded in daily operations. From CEOs asking about individual development plans to new AI-powered tools that help employees discover opportunities across 600,000+ global positions, their approach offers lessons for scaling development at enterprise level.These 5 insights stood out from our conversation:-Balance Inner Reflection with Outer Challenges-Make Development Part of Leadership DNA-Help Align Personal Goals with Company Values-Create Visible Growth Opportunities-Use Technology to Scale Development AccessTune into the full episode to learn more!

    36 min

  7. JUL 1

    Scaling Human-to-Human Learning to 800K+ Learners with Allison Brotman

    In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Allison Brotman, who leads learning at UKG where they train over 800,000 learners per year with ~95% satisfaction. Allison shared how UKG supports learning at a massive scale through a blend of formal training, social learning, and performance support. What also stood out in our conversation was her perspective on the role that human-to-human learning plays in an AI-powered world.These 5 insights stood out from our conversation: -To Build Wisdom Beyond Just Intelligence, Human-to-Human Learning Is Key-Delivering Social Learning Is About Influence, Not Control-Influence Behavior By Designing Recognition Systems-Prioritize Human-to-Human Learning for High-Stakes Topics-Ground New Technology in Learning Fundamentals

    28 min

  8. JUN 17

    Beyond Order Takers: The L&D Operating Model Revolution with Rashi Kakkar

    In this episode of the Science of Excellence, I sat down with Rashi Kakkar, who's leading a transformation at McKinsey's L&D function by applying product operating principles to learning and development. he's tackling one of the most common frustrations in L&D: how to move from being order takers to strategic advisors.The conversation revealed a powerful insight: the order taker problem is built into how most L&D teams are structured. By changing the operating model, teams can solve the root cause rather than just the symptoms.These 5 insights stood out from our conversation:-Recognize Order Taking as Structural-Embrace Product Operating Models for Strategic Impact-Structure Teams Around Learner Journeys-Decentralize Decision Making Authority-Start Small, Scale StrategicallyTune into the full episode to learn more!

    38 min
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About

Journey into The Science of Excellence with Sparkwise CEO Vince Jeong as he explores the forces behind extraordinary work and achievement. Through insightful conversations with pioneering minds — psychologists, learning scientists, AI innovators, and organizational change experts — discover breakthrough strategies and technologies that unlock human and organizational potential. Whether you're a leader, builder, or lifelong learner, explore the core principles of excellence and transformation.

Information

  • Creator
    Vince Jeong
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Vince Jeong
  • Show Website
    The Science of Excellence