Vibecast

4.9 (26)
Management
Updated Biweekly

The vibe we feel at work has a significant impact on culture. Vibecast shares real stories from exceptional leaders and host Kristi Skutvik, offering key takeaways to improve engagement and elevate the vibe at work.

10h ago

Leading from the Inside Out | Dianne Armstrong

What happens when the leader who's supposed to set the tone for the whole team is running on fumes, firing off reactive emails, and operating from survival mode instead of strategy? 🎙️ In this episode, Kristi Skutvik sits down with Dianne Armstrong, founder of Armstrong Performance Consulting and a somatic-certified executive coach with a career spanning Big Eight consulting, Pepsi, Neiman Marcus, Flex, and McKesson. Dianne shares her journey from leading massive organizational transformations to discovering that the most powerful lever for change is the leader's own inner state, and why she now dedicates her work to helping executives lead from the inside out. They explore what Dianne calls the "green zone," a state of nervous system regulation where leaders can access creativity, trust, and strategic thinking, versus the reactive fight, flight, freeze, or appease patterns that take over under chronic stress. Dianne breaks down the neuroscience of priming and reframing, explains how emotions get encoded in the body over time, and offers a deceptively simple starting point: five minutes of daily self-observation without judgment. Her turnaround stories show that even small shifts in awareness can transform how leaders show up for their teams, their families, and themselves. Additional Resources: Connect with Dianne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-armstrong-5791472/ Learn more about Armstrong Performance Consulting: https://www.linkedin.com/company/armstrong-performance-consulting/ Simon Sinek on Triggers: https://youtube.com/shorts/RDe1c5hXcdI?si=SCs6iDs7ydXeIKin Book: The Body Keeps the Score: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748 Book: When The Body Says No: https://www.amazon.com/When-Body-Says-Understanding-Stress-Disease/dp/0470923350 Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content: https://youtube.com/@kristiskutvik?si=ZzyIX7yyCRukXgNy Learn more about Skutvik Consulting: https://www.skutvikconsulting.com/ Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/ Key Takeaways: Leaders set the emotional weather for their teams, and no one around them will operate in a better state than the leader themselves. The "green zone" is a state of nervous system regulation where creativity, trust, strategic thinking, and collaboration become accessible, and chronic stress shuts all of it down. Neuroscience-backed techniques like labeling emotions and reframing stressful situations can physically change the neurochemicals in your body and shift how you experience pressure. Somatic awareness, paying attention to where stress shows up in your body, is a powerful first step toward breaking reactive patterns that have been building for years. Five minutes of daily self-observation without judgment is enough to start rewiring how you respond under pressure, and the awareness naturally moves closer and closer to the triggering moment over time. The defensive mechanisms that got you here (fight, flight, freeze, appease) deserve gratitude, not shame. The goal is not to eliminate them but to bring choice back into the equation.

57 min
Jun 17

From Big Pharma to Building a Remote Culture That Runs on Trust | Jasmine Wilson

What does it take to build a company culture people actually feel when every single person works from home? 🎙️ In this episode, Kristi Skutvik sits down with Jasmine Wilson, Founder and CEO of Moxie Clinical, to explore how she built a fully remote clinical research company with a culture rooted in autonomy, authenticity, and genuine human connection. Jasmine shares how her career journey from big pharma to a scrappy startup shaped the way she leads today, from the corporate leader who taught her discipline and structure to the startup founder who reminded her not to take herself too seriously. They dig into what it really looks like to create psychological safety on a remote team, why treating team members like consultants rather than employees changes everything, and how small, intentional moves like Slack channels for fun, virtual events, and monthly in-person hikes keep people connected when there is no office to walk into. This conversation is a practical look at how leaders can design a remote culture where people feel trusted, valued, and genuinely excited to show up. Additional Resources: Follow Jasmine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-wilson-292b22a/ Visit Moxie Clinical's website: https://www.moxieclinical.com/ Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content: https://youtube.com/@kristiskutvik?si=ZzyIX7yyCRukXgNy Learn more about Skutvik Consulting: https://www.skutvikconsulting.com/ Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/ Key Takeaways: Defining the vibe: how Jasmine thinks about the energy and feeling a workplace carries, even when that workplace is fully remote Autonomy as culture: why treating remote team members like trusted consultants rather than monitored employees changes the entire dynamic Two leaders, two lessons: how a buttoned-up corporate mentor and a laid-back startup founder each shaped Jasmine's leadership style Designing connection on purpose: Slack channels, virtual events, and monthly in-person outings that keep a remote team feeling human Psychological safety in practice: creating an environment where people can be themselves without performing a version of professionalism that drains them Fighting remote isolation: why intentional human connection, even once a month, is non-negotiable for a distributed team

50 min
Jun 3

Replay: Bringing Humanity Back to Work with Megan Galloway

Three words on a sticky note might be the simplest leadership tool you try all week. Kristi sits down with Megan Galloway, founder of Everleader, to explore what it really means to bring humanity back to work. Megan shares how one leader's belief in her changed the trajectory of her career, and how another leader's fear-based approach left her questioning her confidence, her work, and even her path. Together, Kristi and Megan unpack the power of authentic leadership, intentional culture, and the small moments that shape whether people feel empowered or diminished. From Megan's hot pink power suit to her "three words" practice before every meeting, this conversation is a reminder that better workplace vibes start with how we choose to show up. 💛 Additional Resources: Connect with Megan on LinkedIn Learn more about Everleader Consulting Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content! Learn more about Skutvik Consulting Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Intentional leaders shape stronger workplace vibes. Belief can change someone's entire career trajectory. Fear-based leadership quietly erodes confidence. Authenticity and professionalism can absolutely coexist. Three words can reset how you lead.

32 min
May 20

What It Really Takes to Build a Multi-Generational Family Business | Shane Foye

What does it take to grow a family business from a bootstrapped startup into a multi-generational operation, and how do you protect the family along the way? ✨ In this episode, Kristi Skutvik sits down with Shane Foye, President of DW-1, to explore his journey growing up inside his family's waste management business and the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership. Shane shares how his father started the company after losing his job, the experience of having employees working out of their family home as a kid, and how he went from peeling potatoes and running summer shifts to building an ERP software and eventually stepping into the role of leading the core business. They discuss the challenges of navigating the G1-to-G2 succession, why Shane spent time learning from hundreds of family offices, and how developing a shared mission, vision, and values brought his family through some of their hardest seasons. Shane also opens up about the role art collecting has played in shaping the company's culture and identity, and why intentionality and a willingness to learn are the keys to building something that lasts. Additional Resources: Follow Shane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-foye-663464bb/ Visit DW-1's website: https://dw1.com/ Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content: https://youtube.com/@kristiskutvik?si=ZzyIX7yyCRukXgNy Learn more about Skutvik Consulting: https://www.skutvikconsulting.com/ Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/ Key Takeaways: Workplace vibe is an energy you can feel, and losing it means losing everything Building a family business requires balancing the needs of the family with the needs of the company The G1-to-G2 transition demands intentional governance, shared values, and multiple anchor points of trust Spending time learning from other family offices and going in without an agenda can reshape how you lead Intentionality and a willingness to learn are the foundation for building something that lasts beyond one generation

1h 3m
May 6

From Roadside Bomb to Mindset Coach | Andy Robinson

In this episode, Andy Robinson, owner and lead consultant at LFG Mindset Consulting, joins Kristi Skutvik to share the story behind his mindset coaching practice. Andy grew up in a military town in New Jersey and knew from the age of 15 that he wanted to be a Marine. After joining the Marine Corps and deploying twice to Iraq, his second deployment in 2006 ended when his truck was hit by a roadside bomb. Three Marines in the vehicle died that day. Andy survived but broke his neck, ribs, and legs and spent seven months in the hospital. At 23, everything he associated with his identity was gone. Rather than building his future around his limitations, Andy chose to focus on what he wanted his life to look like. He surrounded himself with other veterans who had chosen differently, learned to drive, went to college, started a family, and eventually landed a job in capital markets with no finance background, cold calling Fortune 500 CFOs and treasurers at companies like Amazon, Ford, and Coca-Cola. When he realized his fulfillment was no longer in finance, he discovered mindset coaching and recognized he had been living its principles for years without knowing the language. Now he helps people step into the next version of themselves by reprogramming their self-image, rewriting the stories they tell themselves, and building a vision for the life they actually want. Additional Resources: Connect with Andy Robinson on LinkedIn Follow LFG Mindset Consulting on LinkedIn Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content! Learn more about Skutvik Consulting Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Everything in your life is a reflection of the self-image you once held, change the image and the results follow Your subconscious only operates in the present tense, so the language you use about your goals and circumstances directly shapes what you experience The people you surround yourself with influence the choices you make, seek out those who are living the kind of life you want Start reprogramming your mindset with a blank notebook: write about the life you want as if it is already happening, based purely on desire rather than current circumstances Busy is a choice, not a badge of honor, there are people just as successful who are not busy, because they have trained themselves to think differently about time and priorities

55 min
Apr 15

Replay: Sitting in the 'Ick': Creating Workplaces that Thrive with Sam Julka and Meghan Tooman

What really brings people back to work? It is not just better furniture, trendy perks, or a polished office. It is trust, energy, and the human experience behind the data. ✨ In this replay episode, Kristi sits down with Sam Julka and Meghan Tooman, the founder and co-owner duo behind Doris Research, to unpack how workplace "vibes" are actually built. With Sam's qualitative lens and Meghan's quantitative expertise, they explore why leaders miss the mark when they focus only on numbers, why culture cannot be created without people, and how curiosity can reveal the real barriers holding teams back. From return-to-office tension to the power of "sitting in the ick," this conversation is a fresh reminder that people-first leadership starts with listening. If you want to create a workplace where people thrive, this one will challenge how you think about data, design, trust, and connection. Additional Resources: Connect with Sam on LinkedIn Connect with Meghan on LinkedIn Learn more about Doris Research Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content! Learn more about Skutvik Consulting Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Vibes come from values, behaviors, beliefs, and human energy. Data without insight leaves leaders asking why. Trust issues often get mislabeled as space problems. Curiosity unlocks barriers leaders cannot see themselves. Simple changes can create meaningful workplace transformation.

52 min
Apr 1

From Litigator to Chief Vibe Officer | Sana Manjeshwar

What if the most honest signal about your organization's vibe wasn't in any survey, HR report, or AI dashboard, but in the private conversations people were too afraid to have anywhere else? 🎙️ In this episode, Kristi Skutvik sits down with Sana Manjeshwar, founder of OmbudSana and a 15-year organizational ombudsman veteran, to explore one of the most powerful yet underutilized roles in business. Sana shares her unlikely journey from employment litigator to ombuds, what the role actually does (and how it differs from HR, EAP, and therapy), and why she believes every organization needs this kind of confidential, off-the-record safety valve. They dig into how ombuds serve as the ultimate "canary in the coal mine," surfacing real-time cultural trends that no survey or technology can capture, why leaders themselves are among the most frequent visitors to ombuds offices, and how tools like conflict style awareness can transform the way teams navigate hard conversations. Sana's closing advice is simple and urgent: in an increasingly polarized world, leading with intentionality and kindness isn't soft, it's the highest-leverage investment you can make in your people. Additional Resources: Connect with Sana on LinkedIn Visit OmbudSana's website Learn more about the International Ombudsman Association Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content! Learn more about Skutvik Consulting Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: An organizational ombudsman is a confidential, off-the-record, impartial resource that gives employees a safe space to surface concerns before they become systemic problems. Ombuds surface real-time cultural intelligence that surveys, HR data, and AI simply cannot capture, making them the ultimate "canary in the coal mine" for organizational health. Leaders are often the top visitors to an ombuds office because navigating unprecedented pressure requires a safe space to think out loud, too. AI cannot replace the ombuds role; the soul of this work lies in human presence, empathy, and the ability to read what someone isn't saying. Understanding your conflict style and those of your team members is one of the most practical tools for leading with intentionality and reducing unnecessary friction. Grounding yourself before walking into work, and choosing to respond rather than react, is a daily practice that shapes the entire vibe of your organization.

1h 1m
Mar 18

Leadership, Power, and the Signals That Shape Workplace Culture | Kit Krugman

What truly defines the vibe of a workplace, and how do leaders intentionally shape the emotional tone of an organization? ✨ In this episode, Kristi Skutvik sits down with Kit Krugman to explore how leadership, self-awareness, and intentional design influence the culture and energy within teams. Kit shares how her career journey, early exposure to leadership, and experiences working alongside executive teams shaped her perspective on power, responsibility, and the signals leaders send through everyday actions. They discuss why leaders must be deeply aware of the tone they set, how hiring complementary strengths creates stronger teams, and how thoughtful design of hybrid work and collaboration can transform the way organizations function. This conversation offers practical insight into how leaders can build cultures rooted in clarity, trust, and intentional growth while creating environments where people feel empowered to contribute and thrive. Additional Resources: Follow Kit on LinkedIn Visit Foursquare's website Check out Kit's book Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content! Learn more about Skutvik Consulting Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Defining workplace vibe and emotional tone The role of signaling and body language in leadership Self-awareness and emotional intelligence in leadership Strategies for building trust and diversity in teams Designing organizational culture through behaviors and communication

54 min

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Kristi Skutvik

Host

4.9

out of 5

26 Ratings

Always a key takeaway

12/21/2023

ChicaKristin

As a small business owner, I get such value from this podcast. Whether they are dropping tidbits on company culture, employee management, HR issues… There’s always a key takeaway for me to implement immediately within my own situation and I appreciate the easy and fun vibe offered here! Highly recommend 🙌