Logan Yonavjak (founderready.io [https://founderready.io/]), Co-Founder and CEO of Founder Readiness Institute, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://www.contempusleadership.com/]) to discuss how AI-powered assessment is giving investors, enterprises, and leaders a new window into leadership capacity. Logan explains the concept of vertical development and why it is the theoretical underpinning of Founder Readiness Institute’s work (00:08:35), addresses concerns about AI bias and shares how it can counter traditional human biases, and discusses what she learned from taking her own assessment (00:29:17). Logan makes the case for coachability as the most essential leadership construct (00:27:08) and explains why human leaders in an AI-augmented world will need to hold increasingly more complexity (00:32:42). Recommended Reading: "$100M Leads [https://bookshop.org/p/books/100m-leads-how-to-get-strangers-to-want-to-buy-your-stuff-alex-hormozi/1f16f42d4b73a7d8]" by Alex Hormozi. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com/].

Logan Yonavjak on Making Smarter People Decisions, Assessing Leader Readiness With AI, and Why Coachability Beats Pedigree Every Time

Eirik Gislason (archwaypartnersinc.com [https://archwaypartnersinc.com/]), founder of Archway Partners Coaching, leader of the Excelsior Team at Brown Harris Stevens, and host of the Shear Line: Negotiation Mastery podcast, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://www.contempusleadership.com/]) to discuss how to get more of what you want without bullying, hard bargaining, or leaving value on the table. Eirik explains why hiring the meanest broker backfires and what strength in negotiation actually looks like (00:42), how collaborative negotiators grow the pie in a real estate deal rather than splitting it (06:05), and the upside and hidden downside of “Minnesota nice” (12:03). He walks through how to prepare for a negotiation with a Trump-style hard bargainer, including anchoring, BATNAs, and process before substance (15:47). Eirik also shares takeaways from the Harvard Law School negotiation program (41:20), unpacks the five most common negotiation mistakes (47:42), and breaks down the four decision-maker types (53:23). Recommended reading: “Getting to Yes [https://a.co/d/0aVjkrYu]” by Roger Fisher and William Ury, “Getting to Yes with Yourself [https://a.co/d/0c9OChZp]” by William Ury, “Think Again [https://a.co/d/0fOPaIOC]” by Adam Grant, “Never Split the Difference [https://a.co/d/03mkXwo5]” by Chris Voss, and “Negotiating the Impossible [https://a.co/d/0ifm0cFZ]” by Deepak Malhotra. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com].

Eirik Gislason on Hard-Won Negotiation Lessons from NYC Real Estate, Outmaneuvering Hard Bargainers, and Getting Paid What You Deserve

Jermaine Ee, founder of Heirlight (heirlight.com [https://heirlight.com/en]), an AI-powered estate planning app, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://contempusleadership.com]) to discuss what it takes to make one of life's most avoided conversations easier. Jermaine shares how a dinner with his parents about retirement planted the seed for Heirlight (02:37) and how the app uses guided AI conversation rather than a laundry list of assets to build an estate plan around the user (04:53). He also describes his deliberate choice to stay bootstrapped and away from the venture treadmill (15:35), the mentality required to run a product-driven startup (21:38), and how losing his mother gave his mission a clarity he didn't ask for but can't ignore (22:56). Recommended reading: “Essentialism [https://a.co/d/001O2HPa]” by Greg McKeown, “Die with Zero [https://a.co/d/02hNK2NS]” by Bill Perkins, and “Predictably Irrational [https://a.co/d/0dMxZII4]” by Dan Ariely. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com].

Jermaine Ee on Scaling an AI-Powered Startup, Designing for the 70%, and Not Getting to Choose Your Founder Story

Ang Richard (angrichard.com [https://www.angrichard.com/], linkedin.com/in/angela-richard/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-richard/]), a Gen Z career coach, TEDx speaker, LinkedIn Top Voice, and PhD candidate in higher education, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://contempusleadership.com]) to examine how Gen Z is navigating a rapidly changing world of work. Angela reflects on shares guidance for early career professionals on handling criticism and staying grounded in impact rather than online noise (03:35). She explores how generational differences in communication styles and values, especially around feedback, work-life balance, and career development, are often misinterpreted as deficiencies rather than differences (06:56). Angela also discusses the current labor market and its disproportionate impact on early career professionals, emphasizing the importance of realistic, data-informed coaching that acknowledges structural barriers alongside individual agency (13:22). The conversation also covers Angela’s approach to LinkedIn as a space for authentic thought leadership, where sharing failures and uncertainty builds trust and community rather than personal branding polish (21:44). Angela shares insights from her doctoral research on the school-to-work transition, sense of belonging, and intersectionality, as well as her work examining how federal workforce policy connects unevenly to community colleges across states (32:07). Recommended reading: “The Privileged Poor [https://a.co/d/6ldETcz]” and “Class Dismissed [https://a.co/d/by1Z17w]” by Anthony Abraham Jack, “The Unspoken Rules [https://a.co/d/5vm40M7]” by Gorick Ng, “Careers by the People [https://a.co/d/jficRqx]” by Mike Wysocki. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com].

Ang Richard on Coaching Gen Z, Becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice, and Reimagining the Campus-to-Career Playbook

Roger Kastner (linkedin.com/in/roger-kastner/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-kastner/], whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com [https://whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com/]), a coach and org development practitioner who has led initiatives from Fortune 100 companies to small non-profits, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://www.contempusleadership.com/]). Roger shares insights on aligning culture and strategy with daily work experience (04:04), his evolution from expert to facilitator who co-creates solutions with clients (15:32), and his coaching philosophy informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), which focuses on understanding and appreciating the different parts of oneself to overcome personal and professional challenges (19:00). Roger also discusses his podcast "What Do You Know To Be True" (whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com [https://whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com/]), which explores superpowers and their connection to purpose and potential (29:01), and emphasizes meditation as a tool for enhancing presence and decision-making in leadership (50:31). Recommended reading: "Hidden Potential" by Adam Grant, "No Bad Parts" by Richard Schwartz. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com].

Roger Kastner on Next-Level OD, IFS-Informed Coaching, and Uncovering Your Superpower

Paul Smith (linkedin.com/in/pdsmithmba/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pdsmithmba/]), Chief Information Officer at Amnesty International, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://contempusleadership.com]) to discuss tech leadership with people and ethics front and center. Drawing from a career that spans industry (defense, automotive, and more) and humanitarian organizations, Paul shares hard-won insights on AI adoption (00:30), four essential digital skills for non-technical professionals (09:32), and emotional intelligence, strategic communication, and talent development for technical leaders (15:53). Paul relays his own journey from a working class background to the global C-suite (22:00) and emphasizes the power of mentorship, permission-giving, and inclusive hiring to help other non-traditional talent make a similar journey (37:54). Recommended reading: “Bulletproof Your Career [https://a.co/d/3Q4wc7x]” by Patricia Romboletti. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com].

Amnesty CIO Paul Smith on AI Adoption Beyond the Hype and Developing Talent Others Overlook

Peter Gray (linkedin.com/in/graypeter/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/graypeter/], petergraysearch.com [https://www.petergraysearch.com/]), a social impact executive recruiter and founder of Peter Gray Executive Search, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://contempusleadership.com]). Peter shares lessons from placing more than 40 CEOs and over 200 strategic hires, offering practical guidance on leadership succession, building diverse candidate slates, and avoiding the “unicorn” myth in executive hiring. He breaks down what effective recruitment actually looks like today, from standout job postings to the real way LinkedIn is used by recruiters. The conversation also explores hiring biases, including what Peter calls the “round peg bias,” and makes the case for more flexible, opportunistic hiring. Peter also weighs in on trends affecting the social impact job market, including uncertainty around federal funding, and offers candid advice for both jobseekers and employers. Recommended reading: “Liar’s Poker” and “The Big Short” by Michael Lewis and “When Genius Failed” by Roger Lowenstein. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com].

Peter Gray on Why Jobseekers Hate Recruiters, Hidden Hiring Biases, and How to Get Noticed

Rokhaya Mané (linkedin.com/in/rokhayamane/ [https://linkedin.com/in/rokhayamane/]), a global talent acquisition advisor and leader with over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition and strategic HR, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://contempusleadership.com]). Rokhaya shares what recruiters actually want to see in candidates today, from storytelling that clearly articulates value to evidence of agility, alignment, and future readiness. She explains how recruiters use LinkedIn and applicant tracking systems (ATS), and offers sharp advice on networking and outreach. For leaders, Rokhaya makes the case for lifelong learning as the top skill for navigating the future of work. She also unpacks the cost of values in leadership, as discussed on an episode of her podcast Rok On! [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rok-on/id1810719082]. Recommended reading: “The Squiggly Caree [https://a.co/d/fxFKN2m]r [https://a.co/d/fxFKN2m]” by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis, “How to Find the Person Who Can Help You Get Ahead at Wor [https://www.ted.com/talks/carla_harris_how_to_find_the_person_who_can_help_you_get_ahead_at_work]k [https://www.ted.com/talks/carla_harris_how_to_find_the_person_who_can_help_you_get_ahead_at_work]” Ted Talk by Carla Harris, and “The Power of Vulnerabil [https://www.ted.com/talks/carla_harris_how_to_find_the_person_who_can_help_you_get_ahead_at_work]it [https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability]y [https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability]” Ted Talk by Brené Brown. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com].

Rokhaya Mané on What Recruiters Really Look For and the Leadership Skill That Future-Proofs Careers

Chaz Cirame (linkedin.com/in/chazcirame [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazcirame/], recruitbigfish.com [https://www.recruitbigfish.com/]), founder of Big Fish Recruiting, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://www.contempusleadership.com/]) for a candid and practical conversation on job search strategy and networking. Chaz shares what he looks for in top candidates, especially humility and change-maker potential, and breaks down his top rules of networking, including authentic interest, co-elevation, long-term thinking, and follow-up. He explains how to approach executive search firms and trends in the DC social sector. Chaz discusses the return to office and spotlights trade associations and professional organizations as hidden career paths worth exploring. The episode covers actionable tips on resumes, cover letters, and how to handle applicant tracking systems without “beat the ATS” hype. Chaz also introduces his 5,000+ member community, Rules of Networking. Recommended Reading: “Designing Your Life [https://a.co/d/aDQ5ZTq]” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com].

Chaz Cirame on the Rules of Networking, Good Enough Resumes, and Becoming a Big Fish

Jack Jarrett (linkedin.com/in/jack-jarrett-97a384a9 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-jarrett-97a384a9/]), an international talent acquisition and HR leader, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com [https://contempusleadership.com]) to give listeners an inside view on talent acquisition at top organizations. Jack shares how AI is reshaping the talent acquisition lifecycle and human resources overall, including both its efficiencies and its ethical risks. Jack and Dan also explore LinkedIn optimization, networking strategies, trends in the social sector, how to highlight impact in your resume. Finally, Jack offers practical resources for organizations and professionals to stay adaptable and future-ready. Recommended reading: “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett and Dan Evans, “The Squiggly Career” by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis, and “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com [https://forwardlookingleadership.com].

Jack Jarrett on How Talent Acquisition Really Works, Ethical AI for HR, and Why Giving First Pays Off

This is a podcast for visionary leaders building future-ready organizations. You’ll come away from each episode with fresh, in-depth insights on all things leadership and career development.

Dan Freehling

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