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Our guest in this episode is Scott Levy, the founder and CEO of ResultMaps. Scott is on a mission to help the world be its “inspired best” by architecting systems that clear away the “friction” of modern work. He combines a deep understanding of neuroscience with a pragmatic approach to technology, helping teams stop “fighting the currents” of their own biology and start surfing them.

We had a fascinating chat about why most of us feel so burnt out (a hint: our work models are stuck in the 1920s) and how to use new tools, especially AI, as a “Lego set” to build better, more human-centric workflows.

Key points discussed include:

* Working with your brain, not against it, by understanding your natural peak performance cycles.

* Using AI as a “Lego set” to build small, focused solutions that solve real friction points.

* How AI forces us to be clearer, accidentally training us to be better human communicators.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://innovabiz.co/691].

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Show Notes from this episode with Scott Levy, ResultMaps

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Scott Levy of ResultMaps to the Innovabuzz podcast. Scott’s mission is a big one: to help the world be its “inspired best.” Now, that’s a goal I can truly get behind. But as we dug into our conversation, it became clear that the biggest thing holding most teams back isn’t a lack of drive or even a lack of tools. It’s the invisible, day-to-day friction in how we work.

Scott has this fantastic way of looking at the modern work environment, and he kicked things off by explaining that most of us are, quite frankly, just “swimming upstream” against our own biology. We’re fighting a battle we can’t win, and it’s leading to massive burnout. It’s a feeling I think we all know well, that sense of being completely overwhelmed and overworked, which, as Scott so perfectly put it, “just plain sucks.”

Now, as for the antidote to things that ‘plain suck’...

That feeling of being overwhelmed... it’s also the exact starting point for the rest of our fascinating conversation, and for the deeper work I’m exploring.

This podcast is the beginning of the conversation, but the personal reflections—the “why” behind what was said—are where the real journey begins.

If you’d like to read the rest of this post, where Scott shares his brilliant “surfer” and “Lego” analogies for navigating our brains and our technology, I’d love to invite you to become a paid subscriber.

A subscription unlocks these full, detailed show notes, but more importantly, it welcomes you into a quieter space. It’s where I share my private, 3x-a-week reflections on these conversations about AI, the “behind-the-lens” stories from my photography, and the personal meditations that connect them all.

It’s a place for the curious, and I’d be honoured to share it with you.

Scott Levy, Building Peak Performance with Neuroscience and AI 'Lego' Bricks - Innova.buzz 691

Our guest in this episode is Joanna Zhang, who helps leaders connect strategy with soul to build businesses on a solid foundation. Joanna’s own journey, marked by three profound personal transformations, led her from being a transactional professional living a “gray color” life to becoming a balanced, spiritual leader. In our wonderful chat, Joanna unpacks her evolution, sharing the powerful lessons learned from her “soul awakening” and how they reshaped her approach to business, teamwork, and even AI. Key points discussed include:

* True leadership evolves from controlling titles to a spiritual balance of compassion and boundaries.

* Changing your core intention from getting to giving unleashes unexpected, magical results in business.

* Embracing all your emotions is the foundation of self-love and authentic, resilient leadership.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://innovabiz.co/611].

Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Show Notes from this episode with Joanna Zhang, The Operations Genius

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Joanna Zhang to the Innovabuzz podcast for a conversation that beautifully embodied her mission: to help leaders build businesses by connecting strategy with soul. I knew we would be talking about thoughtful systems, but I was not expecting such a profound masterclass in personal transformation. Joanna’s journey is a powerful testament to the idea that the most effective business strategies are often the ones that begin from within.

Joanna shared that her journey started when she was a financial planner, feeling stuck in a career that, while she was competent at it, didn’t light her up. A psychic once told her that her life was a “gray color,” a description that resonated deeply. The first major shift came from a simple but powerful coaching exercise that sorted tasks into zones of incompetence, competence, and genius. This led her to a pivotal realization: she needed to start delegating the things that drained her and, more importantly, to question if her current path was her true destiny.

From Transaction to Transformation

That initial step opened the door to a much deeper awakening. As Joanna began building a business to help others with their operational frameworks, she admits that, to be honest, she started as a “dollar person,” seeing every interaction as a potential deal. This transactional mindset created a massive blockage. The real breakthrough came after her “soul awakening,” when she shifted her entire approach. She started looking at every potential client as a soul, genuinely caring about their challenges and wholeheartedly offering solutions with no expectation of return.

And that’s when, as she puts it, “magic happened.” By changing her core intention from getting to giving, from desire and fear to love and care, opportunities began to unfold naturally. It’s a beautiful paradox so many of us forget: the less we chase, the more the right things flow to us. This shift wasn’t just a new sales tactic; it was a complete transformation of her relationship with her work and the people she served.

The Three Faces of Leadership

This inner evolution dramatically reshaped her leadership style. Joanna candidly described her former self as a “controlling freak” and a “title leader” who ruled with expectations and a lot of masculine energy. Over time, she grew into a “serving leader,” focused on supporting her team. However, this created a new problem, as she sometimes allowed her boundaries to be crossed in her desire to help.

Her third and current stage is that of a “spiritual leader.” This, she explains, is the crucial “balancing act” between compassion and firm boundaries. Grounded in a practice of

Joanna Zhang, Connecting Strategy with Soul for a Thriving Business - Innova.buzz 690

Our guest in this episode is Emma Möller, an AI strategist and former diplomat with a fascinating journey from a small village in Sweden to the forefront of global technology strategy. Emma helps leaders navigate the complex systems of AI, drawing on her deep understanding of how the frameworks we build shape our human reality. In our chat, we explore how to embrace AI’s potential with a principled and human-centered approach. Key points discussed include:

* Design AI systems with intention, recognizing they actively shape our reality and lived experience.

* Avoid “intellectual laziness” by using AI as a partner for inquiry, not a replacement for curiosity.

* Cultivate your human curiosity through diverse learning to expand your awareness and unlock AI’s creative potential.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://innovabiz.co/689].

Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Show Notes from this episode with Emma G Moller, Lumiera

It was a true privilege to welcome Emma Möller, an AI strategist and former diplomat, to the InnovaBuzz podcast. Her journey is as fascinating as her insights, taking her from a small village of 60 people in northern Sweden, deeply connected to nature, to the complex, human-made systems of international policy and now, artificial intelligence. Our conversation was a masterclass in how to approach the incredible power of AI not with blind optimism or fear, but with a principled, human-centered curiosity that feels both vital and reassuring in this rapidly changing world.

Emma’s perspective is shaped by a profound understanding that the systems we design, be they legal, economic, or technological, fundamentally create the reality we inhabit. She spoke of feeling a disconnect between the rich, sensory experience of her childhood and the generalized, often biased frameworks of the modern world. This lens is what makes her approach to AI so powerful; she sees it not just as code, but as a new and incredibly influential system we are building, and she urges us to be deeply intentional about what kind of reality we want it to create.

The Seductive Trap of Becoming ‘Intellectually Lazy’

One of the most memorable moments in our chat was when Emma warned against the subtle danger of becoming “intellectually lazy.” It’s a brilliant phrase that perfectly captures the seductive ease of letting generative AI do our thinking for us. We’ve all felt it: the temptation to accept the first answer from ChatGPT without question, or to let it generate prose without infusing it with our own unique perspective and critical thought. Emma reminded us that these tools are often designed to agree with us, which can create an echo chamber if we’re not careful.

The antidote, she suggests, is to consciously maintain our curiosity and use AI as a partner for deeper inquiry, not as a replacement for it. This really resonated with me. I shared the story of how I used an AI, which I named Yuki, to help plan my recent trip to Japan. Yuki handled the logistical heavy lifting: train schedules, travel times, which freed me up to dive deeper into the history and culture. The AI built the foundation, but the curiosity, the questions, and the actual human experience remained firmly in my hands. It was a perfect example of using the technology to enhance, not diminish, our engagement with the world.

The Unscheduled Joy of Getting Lost

This led to another beautiful point: the importance of allowing for the unexpected. Emma spoke about how some of the best adventures and innovations come from mistakes, or from getting a little bit lost. An AI can create a perfectly optimized itinerary, but it can’t sched

Emma Möller, Shaping a Brighter AI Future by Leading with Human-Centered Curiosity - Innova.Buzz 689

Our guest in this episode is Patrick van der Burght, one of the world's leading experts in the science of ethical persuasion. After a challenging start as a sales rep for a product with a terrible reputation, Patrick discovered the powerful work of Dr. Robert Cialdini, using its principles to turn that product into a market leader. He now dedicates his work to teaching business owners a proven framework for building stronger connections and achieving their most important outcomes with complete integrity.

In our fascinating chat, we explored the science of human decision-making and the critical difference between honest influence and dishonest manipulation. Key points discussed include:

* Ethical persuasion builds long-term success; manipulation is a short-term win that ultimately leads to disaster.

* True influence comes from highlighting genuine facts, not inventing falsehoods to create artificial pressure.

* Understanding the seven universal principles of persuasion helps you build genuine trust and guide decisions ethically.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://innovabiz.co/688].

Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Show Notes from this episode with Patrick van der Burght

It was an absolute honour to welcome Patrick van der Burght, one of the world's leading experts in the science of ethical persuasion, to the InnovaBuzz podcast. As business owners, we pour so much of ourselves into our work, yet often feel like we're guessing when it comes to getting the cooperation and compliance we need to succeed. Patrick pulled back the curtain on this exact challenge, revealing that influence isn't an art form reserved for a select few; it's a science that any of us can learn to apply, ethically and effectively.

Our conversation illuminated a powerful truth: you can significantly increase the number of "yeses" you receive without twisting arms or compromising your integrity. It’s about understanding the psychology of human decision-making and learning how to formulate your requests in a way that makes it easier for people to agree. Patrick’s passion for this topic is infectious, born from a deep-seated compassion for hardworking entrepreneurs who are leaving success on the table simply because they don’t yet know this proven framework.

The Dry Suit Epiphany: From Being Laughed At to Market Leader

I was fascinated by Patrick's own origin story in persuasion science. As a young sales rep in the scuba diving industry, he took on a brand of dry suits that had a disastrous reputation; the year before, they had all leaked. When he presented the new, improved product to his retailers, they literally laughed at him. He had a great product, but a total lack of trust in the market. It was a classic business nightmare.

Facing this challenge, he dove into the work of Dr. Robert Cialdini and began applying the universal principles of persuasion. By strategically and ethically bringing the right facts to the surface, he was able to rebuild trust and reframe the conversation. The result? In just 18 months, that once-mocked dry suit became the market leader. That experience converted Patrick for life, proving that this science had the power to turn even the most difficult situations around.

Walking the Ethical Tightrope: Persuasion vs. Manipulation

Patrick was crystal clear on a point that I know concerns many of us: the fine line between ethical persuasion and outright manipulation. He offered a brilliant litmus test. Unethical persuasion, like the shoe salesperson lying about having the "last pair," involves importing falsehoods into a situation to pressure a decision. It might create a short-term win, but it inevitably leads to long-term disaster once the de

Patrick van der Burght, Unlocking the Power of 'Yes' with the Proven Science of Ethical Influence - Innova.Buzz 688

Our guest in this episode is Ali Hafizji, the CEO of Wednesday Solutions, who joins us from Pune, India. He's on a critical mission to steer startup founders away from the chaos and waste that often plagues their journey, offering them a clear, systematic path to success. In our chat, Ali Hafizji breaks down the fundamental mindset shift that separates a struggling project from a thriving business: the transition from being a "builder" to becoming a true "business owner." Ali provides a clear framework for founders to escape the dreaded "build trap" and focus on the activities that genuinely move the needle. Key points discussed include:

* Make the critical shift from passionately building a product to strategically owning the entire business.

* Your new job isn't coding; it's marketing, sales, fundraising, and gathering crucial market insights.

* Leverage AI for incredible speed, but always guide it with uniquely human judgment and strategic focus.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://innovabiz.co/687].

Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Show Notes from this episode with Ali Hafizji

It was a real privilege to welcome Ali Hafizji, the CEO of Wednesday Solutions, to the Innovabuzz podcast, all the way from Pune, India. Ali has a critical and incredibly timely mission: to help founders avoid the pain, waste, and chaos that so often derails promising startups. He provides a wonderfully systematic and clear path for entrepreneurs to move from a compelling Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to that all-important Product-Market Fit, and he does it with a logic that cuts right through the emotional turmoil of the founder's journey.

Our conversation was a deep dive into the fundamental mindset shift required to build not just a product, but a sustainable business. Ali’s insights felt like a much-needed dose of clarity in a startup world that is often filled with noise and distractions. He's on a mission to help founders cross the chasm from being passionate builders to becoming strategic business owners, a distinction that is truly at the heart of success.

The Critical Divide: Are You a Builder or a Business Owner?

The most powerful idea Ali Hafizji shared was the distinction between acting like a "builder" and thinking like a "business owner". So many founders start because they have personally experienced a problem and have the vision to build a digital solution for it. This is a fantastic starting point, but it's also a trap. They get their MVP built, show it to a few people, and then get stuck in a perpetual cycle of building.

As Ali explained, their day-to-day becomes about micromanaging features and tweaking the product, not growing the business. They are acting like builders, not owners. This crucial difference in mindset is often what separates a promising project that fizzles out from a company that achieves real traction and makes a lasting impact.

Escaping the "Build Trap": When Your Day-to-Day Doesn't Move the Needle

This builder mindset leads directly to what Ali calls the "build trap". You get feedback, you add a feature. You talk to a user, you tweak the interface. You're constantly busy, your team is shipping code, but the core business metrics aren't changing. You feel like you're working incredibly hard, but as Ali puts it, you’re just not "moving the needle".

The litmus test he offered was profound in its simplicity: if you realize that no matter what you do, things aren't fundamentally changing, you probably need to change first. It’s a sign that you must stop focusing all your energy on the product itself and transform your own role within the company.

The Founder’s New Job: A Four-Point Mission for Growth

Ali Hafizji, Escaping the Build Trap: From Passionate Builder to Business Owner - Innova.buzz 687

Our guest in this episode is Kevin Perlmutter, author of Brand Desire and a brand strategist who has codified the complex world of human emotion into an actionable framework. Kevin provides a system for businesses to move beyond mere transactions and build genuine, lasting connections with the people they serve. In our fascinating chat, we dive into his powerful system for creating genuine brand desire, exploring why honouring how you want people to feel is the cornerstone of a thriving business, especially in the age of AI.

Key points discussed include:

* Great brands make lives better by honouring their customers' deepest emotional motivations.

* True differentiation comes from what loyal customers already feel, not just from a gap in the market.

* In the age of AI, a leader's crucial role is guarding the line that protects human connection.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://innovabiz.co/686].

Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Show Notes from this episode with Kevin Perlmutter

It was an absolute thrill to welcome Kevin Perlmutter, author of the brilliant book Brand Desire, back to the InnovaBuzz podcast. Our conversation was a powerful reminder of a fundamental truth that so many businesses seem to forget: brands should exist to make people's lives better. Kevin has masterfully codified the complex world of human emotion into a clear and actionable framework that guides businesses away from the shortcuts that degrade human connection and toward creating something people genuinely desire.

So often, we get tangled up in our own processes, our features, and our messaging, without stopping to ask how we’re actually making people feel. As Kevin points out, this disconnect is where brands stumble. They have the best intentions but end up creating frustrating, soul-crushing experiences that do the opposite of building loyalty. Our chat was a masterclass in putting the human heart back at the center of brand strategy.

The Sprinkler System Epiphany: From Dread to Devotion

I loved Kevin’s story about a frustrating experience with a broken lawn sprinkler system that turned into a moment of brand magic. He, like all of us, was bracing for the typical customer service nightmare: a long wait on hold, a difficult conversation, and likely a dead end because the product was out of warranty. That feeling of dread is something we’ve all been conditioned to expect.

Instead, the company called him back within five minutes, a real person quickly identified the problem, and without hesitation, they sent him a brand new, upgraded model for free. In 15 minutes, they transformed a moment of frustration into one of delight. As Kevin rightly said, they didn’t just save a customer; they created a passionate ambassador who will now tell that story for years to come. That is the power of prioritizing a person's feelings over a rigid policy.

Codifying the Connection: The Focus, Connect, Evolve Framework

What’s so powerful about Kevin’s work is that he’s taken this intuitive idea of human connection and built a reliable system around it. He calls it the Focus, Connect, Evolve framework, and it’s a clear roadmap for any brand that wants to build a more meaningful relationship with its audience. It’s a process for turning those fleeting moments of connection into a core, repeatable strategy.

The framework begins with Focus, where you do the deep work of gaining customer insight. Then you move to Connect, where you craft the emotional benefit and an invitation into your brand. Finally, you Evolve by bringing that promise to life in every single experience a customer has with you, en

Kevin Perlmutter, Build Lifelong Brand Loyalty by Honouring Your Customer's Emotional Motivation - Innova.buzz 686

Our guest in this episode is Matt Stanley, the founder of Get Reviews and Leads and a passionate marketing architect with 30 years of experience. What started as a fascination with the early internet evolved into a mission-driven career for Matt, focused on using technology to serve people and build thriving, human-centered businesses. In our chat, Matt shares his powerful frameworks for moving beyond simple deliverables to create marketing that forges deep, emotional connections and lifelong customer loyalty.

Key points discussed include:

* Connect with your dream customer’s "reptile brain" by understanding their deep-seated pains and fears.

* Closing the sale is the starting line; create a legendary onboarding experience to build loyalty.

* Use AI as a strategic toolbox to free up your time for genuine, human-to-human connection.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://innovabiz.co/685].

Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Show Notes from this episode with Matt Stanley

It was an absolute thrill to welcome Matt Stanley of Get Reviews and Leads to the InnovaBuzz podcast. For 30 years, Matt has been in the trenches, architecting sales and marketing systems, and our conversation was a masterclass in stripping away the noise to focus on what truly matters: genuine, human-centered connection. Matt’s passion is infectious; he’s a self-described "nerd" and "geek" who fell in love with the craft of marketing not as a way to make a quick buck, but as a profound way to serve people.

His journey as an "accidental entrepreneur" is one many of us can relate to. What began as a fascination with the early internet, a technology he knew would change the world, became a career-defining mission. The 2008 recession, which cost him his stable job, became the catalyst that pushed him all-in. It was a decision, as he puts it, that was made for him, leading him to discover that his true calling was helping businesses navigate the intimidating world of technology to build something truly meaningful.

The "Forest for the Trees" Marketing Mistake

One of the biggest takeaways for me was Matt’s frustration with how many businesses "can't see the forest for the trees." They get so fixated on the deliverable—the shiny new website, the social media campaign—that they completely lose sight of the bigger picture. A website, he rightly argues, is just a tool. If it’s disconnected from the fundamental "DNA of the brand" and fails to make an emotional connection, it’s not going to deliver a return on investment.

This is where so many marketing efforts fall flat. Companies start with the what—"we need a website"—instead of the who and the why. They fail to ask the critical questions about how this tool will connect to their dream customer and serve the core mission of the company. It’s a powerful reminder to always start with the end in mind: a deeper relationship with the people you aim to serve.

Decoding the "Reptile Brain": The Real Secret to Connecting with Your Dream Customer

So, how do we build that connection? According to Matt, it starts by getting under the hood and understanding the "reptile brain." All purchase decisions, he explained, are made from this primal place that is driven by pain, pleasure, and survival. We then use our logical brain to justify the decision we’ve already made emotionally. This is why a simple demographic profile of your customer just doesn't cut it.

The real secret sauce is digging into the psychographics through tools like an empathy map. What are your dream customer’s hidden fears? What frustrations keep them awake at night? When you can poke that pain, rub salt i

Matt Stanley, The Secret Sauce of Marketing: Empathy, Onboarding, and the Human Touch - Innova.Buzz 685

Our guest in this episode is Ruth Kent, a passionate advisor who began her career as a teacher with a love for public health. Driven by a deep sense of purpose, she now blends these two worlds to help organizations create more human-centered and effective ways to learn and thrive. In our wonderful chat, Ruth shares her pragmatic approach to navigating today's biggest workplace challenges, from fostering genuine psychological safety to harnessing AI as a tool for deeper connection.

Key points discussed include:

* True psychological safety is built on a leader's vulnerability and courage to "circle back" after a mistake.

* Frame AI not as a threat, but as a collaborative thinking partner to enhance our human capabilities and creativity.

* In an age of intelligent machines, our greatest asset is our ability to lean into our shared humanity.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://innovabiz.co/684].

Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Show Notes from this episode with Ruth Kent

It was an absolute privilege to welcome the brilliant Ruth Kent to the InnovaBuzz podcast. Drawing from her fascinating background in both public health and education, Ruth helps organizations build a more human and effective way to learn and thrive. Our conversation was a deep dive into what it truly means to support people in the modern workplace, moving beyond simple programs to create genuine frameworks for connection and wellbeing.

Ruth’s insights are particularly timely. She shared how the entire landscape of workplace wellbeing has evolved, especially in the last five years. We've moved past the era of one-size-fits-all fitness challenges and into a much more nuanced space. The conversation now includes hybrid work, the right to disconnect, and a growing understanding of neurodiversity, all demanding a more thoughtful approach.

The New Workplace Landscape: Beyond the Wellness Program

One of the most powerful ideas Ruth introduced was the concept of applying a "public health lens" to an organization. Instead of just reacting with isolated wellness initiatives, this approach encourages leaders to step back and look at the entire system. It’s about getting curious about the specific demographics, needs, and cultural nuances of the team you actually have, rather than just importing a program that worked for another company.

This means asking deeper questions and truly listening to what people need to feel supported. It's a strategic shift from simply offering perks to proactively designing a healthier, more connected work environment from the ground up. This method allows for the creation of supports that are not only more effective but also feel far more authentic to the people they are meant to serve.

The Foundation of Growth: Cultivating Real Psychological Safety

Of course, none of this is possible without a foundation of psychological safety. We explored the immense challenge leaders face in getting truly honest feedback, and Ruth shared a wonderfully human insight to guide them. She drew a powerful analogy between effective leadership and modern parenting, highlighting the importance of vulnerability and the courage to "circle back" after making a mistake.

Imagine a leader who, after a tense moment or a poorly-worded email, has the self-awareness to return to their team member and say, "That wasn't my best self, and I apologize." That simple, authentic act doesn't just fix a single interaction; it builds a bridge of trust. It signals that it's okay to be human, to be imperfect, and to be committed to working through challenges together.

The Leader's Inner Compass: The Power of Self-Awareness

Diving deeper, Ruth explained that t

Ruth Kent, From Psychological Safety to AI as a Collaborative Partner - Innova.buzz 684

Our guest in this episode is Jennifer K. Hill, an exited founder and tech CEO who is now cracking the code of human connection through her company, OptiMatch. Her mission was born from what she calls "survival," a personal journey to understand herself after realising she was the "common denominator" in her own relational breakdowns.

In our wonderful chat, Jennifer shares her master blueprint for building high-trust relationships, the "Golden Triangle of Connection," and provides an arsenal of practical tools for emotional resilience. Key points discussed include:

* True connection begins with yourself; you're the common denominator in all of your relationships.

* Understand others' core motivations to speak a language they can hear, preventing communication breakdowns.

* Use practical tools to regulate your nervous system, allowing your adult self to lead, not your inner child.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://innovabiz.co/683].

Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Show Notes from this episode with Jennifer K. Hill

It was an absolute privilege to welcome Jennifer K. Hill to the InnovaBuzz podcast, an exited founder and tech CEO who is now on a mission to crack the code of human connection. Her journey is a fascinating one, not born from a lofty academic theory, but forged in the fires of personal experience. As Jennifer so candidly shared, her deep dive into the mechanics of trust and relationships began as an act of pure "survival."

What unfolded was a powerful conversation about her master blueprint for connection, a framework she calls the Golden Triangle. It’s a roadmap that starts in the one place many of us are afraid to look: ourselves. Jennifer’s story is a profound reminder that before we can build bridges to others or to a greater purpose, we must first learn to navigate our own inner landscape with courage and compassion.

The Common Denominator: Your First and Most Important Relationship

One of the most powerful moments in our chat was when Jennifer described her ultimate "light bulb" moment. After years of broken relationships and communication breakdowns in every area of her life, she finally asked the hard question and came to a stunningly simple conclusion: "The common denominator? Me." That single realisation sparked a two-decade journey inward and became the bedrock of her work.

This is the first corner of her Golden Triangle: a deep, unwavering connection to self. Jennifer argues that without this foundation, we will always feel a void, leaving us to seek validation and energy from others. True intimacy with our partners, our teams, and our purpose can only be built once we’ve done the deep work of understanding our own motivations, triggers, and blind spots.

Are You a Leche or an Apple? Speaking a Language Others Can Hear

Once we begin to understand ourselves, we can start to truly understand others. Jennifer has translated her intuitive gift for reading people into a remarkable technology called OptiMatch, which identifies our primary motivators using memorable fruit archetypes. Are you a "Leche," driven by achievement and needing information in three quick bullet points? Or are you an "Apple," who thrives on data and needs to see all fifty points of research?

These differences aren't a matter of someone being difficult or "misbehaving;" it's simply about learning to "speak each other's language." Jennifer shared a brilliant example of two co-founders who were struggling until they realised this. By learning to speak into the other person's listening, they transformed their dynamic from one of friction to one of flow, a lesson that applies to every boardroom and every family

Jennifer K. Hill, From Tech CEO to Cracking the Code of Human Connection - Innova.Buzz 683

Our guest in this episode is Jem Fuller, a leadership and culture coach and author from the beautiful Bells Beach, Victoria. For over a decade, Jem has been guiding people on profound journeys, both literally to the Himalayas and metaphorically inward, to help them build frameworks for genuine connection and purpose.

In our wonderful chat, Jem shares his evolved mission to combat the modern malady of disconnection. We explore his powerful concept of finding your "4% genius zone" and his unique, optimistic view on using AI as a tool to give us back the time for what truly matters: our human relationships. Key points discussed include:

* Find your 4% genius zone by courageously focusing on what you love and do best.

* True fulfillment comes from stripping away the noise and reconnecting with yourself, others, and a greater purpose.

* In the age of AI, our human imperfection and shared felt experiences become our most valuable assets.

Listen to the podcast to find out more [https://innovabiz.co/611].

Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Show Notes from this episode with Jem Fuller

It was an absolute delight to welcome Jem Fuller, leadership coach and philosopher-guide, back to the Innovabuzz podcast for his third visit. It’s been nine years since our first chat, and in that time, Jem’s mission has deepened in the most remarkable ways. He continues to explore the frameworks that allow us to truly connect with ourselves and others, but now he’s applying that wisdom to some of the biggest questions of our time, from finding our true purpose to navigating the age of AI with our humanity intact.

Our conversation was a powerful reminder that the journey inward is the most important one we can take. Jem shared his own evolution, driven by a global community of peers who challenged him to crystallize his work down to its most potent essence. It’s a journey that has led him to create profound, life-altering experiences for others while building a philanthropic legacy aimed at creating waves of positive change in the world.

Finding Your 4%: The Courage to Live in Your Genius Zone

One of the most profound ideas Jem shared was the concept of finding your "4%." He explained the well-known 80/20 rule, but then challenged us to take it a step further: apply the rule to that potent 20% to discover the 4% of your work that is truly your genius. This is the space where you deliver the most value, the work you truly love, and where time seems to disappear because you’re in a state of flow.

But this isn't just a productivity hack; it's an act of courage. It requires us to consciously cut out the noise and the tasks that drain us, even if they feel important, to build a life where we spend most of our time in that genius zone. For Jem, this meant redesigning his entire approach to his work, leading to a model that creates immense impact not just for his clients, but for communities in need.

The Himalayan Journey: Stripping Away the Layers to Find Meaning

Nowhere is this focus more evident than in Jem’s redesigned Himalayan program. He shared the powerful narrative of this journey, which consciously guides clients from a world of opulence and all the stuff money can buy, to the raw, humbling simplicity of the remote mountains. Guests start in the finest hotels and end up drinking chai in a slum, invited as guests, not tourists. This process is a careful, deliberate stripping away of the external layers we all carry.

By peeling back the noise, the distractions, and the societal definitions of success, the program creates a space for people to ask the biggest questions: Who am I beneath all these roles? And why am I here? It’s a journey that culminates not in a simple

Jem Fuller, Stripping Away the Noise to Find Purpose and Genuine Human Connection - Innova.buzz 682

The InnovaBuzz Podcast explores the minds of innovators, entrepreneurs and creatives. You’ll learn about values, strategies, tactics and mindset from some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs.  Join internationally recognised transformational marketing strategist, speaker and podcaster, Dr Jürgen Strauss, as he chats with awesome guests who are committed to innovation, service and modern marketing.  Each episode is a conversation with inspiring people who make wonderful contributions to our knowledge in these areas and spark curiosity and ideas to pursue. Gain insight into what makes them ‘tick’, what ‘lights them up’, why they do what they do and what inspiration and value they add to their world.  The InnovaBuzz Podcast is designed for smart businesses that want to stay on top of innovation in order to compete in today's market place!  Subscribe now so you never miss an episode!  Past guests have included Michael E Gerber, Kevin Kelly, Marcus Sheridan, Ian Altman, Gill Hicks, Gino Wickman, Paul Colligan, Andrew Davis, Jeffrey Madoff, Mark Schaeffer, Steve Blank, Nir Bashan, David Goldsmith, Tim Storey.

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