Tential's Transformation Nation

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On this episode of Tential's Transformation Nation, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews Dr. Hagen Wenzek, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer for CorporateHealth International, and CEO of GI Digital. Anna welcomes Hagen to the show to discuss his transformation process, the user experiences that must be considered when testing a solution, and lessons learned regarding innovation, global tech development, and collaboration.

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On this episode of Tential’s Transformation Nation, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews DeLibra Wesley, CEO at National Recruiting Consultants. DeLibra shares how she works with clients to tackle their growth initiatives, her take on supporting the talent you have now, and why belonging and retention go hand in hand.

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Podcast: The Great Awakening

with DeLibra Wesley – CEO at National Recruiting Consultants

On this episode of Tential’s Transformation Nation, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews DeLibra Wesley, CEO at National Recruiting Consultants. Anna brings DeLibra on the show to answer a question she believes most organizations are asking themselves as they start off a new year with grand ambitions: Are we bringing the momentum we need to our businesses and workplaces in 2022?

And who better to answer that question than DeLibra herself? Being the brilliant and bold entrepreneur she is, DeLibra built her own DEI consulting business and staffing agency after a highly successful career with The Delta Companies, where she rose to the C-suite as COO. Her transformation from senior corporate executive to entrepreneur of a fast-growing agency informs her approach in all areas. From helping businesses and individuals achieve their own ambitions, to recommending essential changes to increase inclusion, DeLibra is the ultimate growth guide.

Regarding the momentum businesses are looking to harness in 2022, DeLibra shares the impact COVID has had on talent, specifically female and minority talent, and why their departure from the workforce is a massive blocker for organizations stepping into 2022 with big goals. Her suggestion? Find a way to break the mold and get flexible! What can you do as an employer to meet your talent where they are now? To help retain them through the chaos?

As the pair continue their conversation, they discuss how to find candidates in this strange job market, advice for those looking to make a risky professional move, and how we can better support our overworked and understaffed teams. We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Podcast: Leaning In: The Ever-Evolving Game

with DeLibra Wesley – CEO at National Recruiting Consultants

On this episode of Tential’s Transformation Nation, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews Jacqueline Slope, VP of Technology at Anaheim Ducks, Honda Center, The Rinks, San Diego Gulls, and H&S Ventures. Jackie sits at the crossroads of digital transformation, media, entertainment and sports. Before residing in sunny California, Jackie spent just over a decade in New York at Madison Square Garden. There she acted as their VP of business systems and project management, and was responsible for technology, leadership, and direction for the world-class sports, media, and entertainment committee.

As the pair dive into the transformations that consumers can expect in sports and entertainment and the technologies transforming the fan experience, Jackie notes that many of us will have little awareness of the changes – if they’re done right. Her team aims to make the arena-going experience seamless, from the moment you arrive at the venue to purchasing food and finding your seat.

Jackie also shares that after taking a short break from the sports space, she couldn’t wait to get back in the “lively weeds”, sharing that it’s a fun industry that gets her out of bed in the morning. In the spirit of giving, Jackie shares her advice for women curious about joining the field: “because sports is a growing industry with ample opportunity, being confident, showing up, and leaning in is all you must do to be tremendously successful in the space.”

As the old friends continue their conversation, they discuss the natural power of informal mentorship, the user experience best practices Jackie’s team leverages that apply in any industry, and how actively playing a role in your career and company’s development helps you gain confidence! We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Podcast: The Reconnection Roadmap

with DeLibra Wesley – CEO at National Recruiting Consultants

On this episode of Tential’s Transformation Nation, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews Shaun Tomson, athlete, author, and keynote speaker, known for his legendary surfing skills. While Anna usually focuses on tech transformations during the podcast, Shaun notes that he works with internal tech and the software that drives us, encouraging our listeners to embrace disconnection as a way to connect fully despite the last two years of distance and havoc.

When Shaun wrote “The Code: The Power of ‘I Will,’” he set out to empower youth to be true to themselves, laying a simple framework for them to use to make positive decisions. Shaun mentions that in his experience, “if one has a strong code, one has a strong purpose and can ultimately create a positive attitude to make positive decisions.” Of course, that goes for individuals and businesses as well.

Through Shaun’s work as a keynote speaker, he’s empowered the human spirit through what he calls a “spirit language,” which consists of single lines of “code” or personal statements, beginning with “I will.” With time, Shaun has come to the beautiful realization that all of us are motivated by two common yet simple commitments:

I will be better.
I will help others be better.

These messages come from a human place of wanting to improve while helping others improve with us. We are all naturally social creatures who want to be part of a community and thrive together. Still, to do so, we must be intentional about connecting with nature, prayer, and the people we love.

As the pair continue their conversation, they discuss how the pandemic has driven a newfound realization of what’s truly important, how being a member of our global community falls somewhere between being selfless and selfish, and more! We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Anna Frazzetto interviews Shaun Tomson, a remarkable athlete, author, and keynote speaker. Shaun shares his #1 tactic for feeling and staying connected, two simple commitments that motivate us all and more.

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Anna Frazzetto interviews Marcy Stoudt, CEO of inspiration platform Revel Coach. Marcy shares her perspective on small transformations, and the steps we need to make them happen, and how all of this ties back to embracing opportunity.

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Podcast: Winning Your Way

with DeLibra Wesley – CEO at National Recruiting Consultants

On this episode of Tential’s Transformation Nation, Chief Digital Technology Officer, and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews Marcy Stoudt, CEO at inspiration platform Revel Coach. The organization is dedicated to mentoring women as they take their next big step in their careers or passions, ultimately changing how women navigate their career path, network, and embrace opportunity.

Usually, when Anna sits down with a guest to talk tech it’s about big, far-reaching businesses, tech or digital transformations. However, with Marcy, Anna focuses on the small transformations in our lives and work, and how we emerge as professionals and people from the pandemic. Marcy notes that it will have a great impact on our success and happiness.

Being an expert in personal and professional growth, Marcy shares that whether you are gearing up for big or small transformation, it always comes down to two key components:

1. An internal decision to change, typically based on something you want for your organization.
1. A clear vision of where you’re going, forming a desire so powerful that it compels you to make everyday decisions that keep you on your path forward.

As the pair continue their conversation, they discuss how businesses should redefine what winning looks like, why building a successful mentorship program starts with mentees, and how going back to your core fundamentals tends to lower stress levels. We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Podcast: Solutions Made Simple

with DeLibra Wesley – CEO at National Recruiting Consultants

On this episode of Tential’s Transformation Nation, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews Alfonso Perez, Head of Technology for Mizner Bioscience and e5 Pharma. Previously long-time colleagues, Anna and Alfonso discuss their shared passion for innovation, the strategic use of remote tech teams, and how to leverage automation for motivation.

Alfonso shares that he started his career as a developer, and explains why it makes a great foundation for being a CIO. According to Alfonso, the CIO is “the most fascinating role in a company,” and he and Anna discuss how current circumstances are redefining the role, what’s asked of that person, and what type of knowledge one needs to be successful in it.

Alfonso also expands on his passion for innovation and how he is constantly seeking the ideas of his colleagues at all company levels. He believes that innovation is how a company stays ahead of the curve and asks the question, “How do you leverage innovation as a competitive advantage?”

With years of experience in both technical and business roles, Alfonso and Anna talk about the effectiveness of remote tech teams — and that this approach has worked efficiently and effectively for much longer than we give it credit. Alfonso and Anna wrap things up with a conversation about what companies can learn from the fast growth of startups, and why it pays to be more strategic when it comes to outsourcing and anticipating challenges. We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Anna Frazzetto interviews Alfonso Perez, Head of Technology for Mizner Bioscience and e5 Pharma. Previously long-time colleagues, Anna and Alfonso discuss their shared passion for innovation, the strategic use of remote tech teams, and how to leverage automation for motivation.

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Anna Frazzetto, interviews Jill Porubovic, Founder and Owner at Jill Porubovic Consulting. Anna and Jill discuss their shared love for the power of connection, why SaaS providers need to truly know their customers, and why companies should never settle when it comes to employee growth and well-being.

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Podcast: Change, Community & Connectedness

with DeLibra Wesley – CEO at National Recruiting Consultants

On this episode, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews Jill Porubovic, Founder and Owner at Management Consulting firm Jill Porubovic Consulting. With Jill leading the organization as an architect of business transformation strategies, the firm works to prepare you and your team to take on any change that comes your way. Her firm puts your cross-functional teams at the epicenter of positive change.

Before launching her own consultancy, Jill led the enterprise services and technical workforce divisions for media giant Discovery, Inc., where she managed over 300 people across 32 countries. Take another step back in time, and you’d find Jill at Verizon, leading IT services, software, and operational functions, which was only the start of her two decades in IT management. With countless implementations, integrations, migrations, upgrades, and mergers under her belt, Jill cites her ability to unite and manage diverse cross-functional teams as key to her success as a tech leader and business founder.

When speaking to the hurdles that come with moving from on-premise technology services to SaaS products, Jill mentions that while many think SaaS will be cheaper, that’s only on paper. In reality, you need a new-age team that understands and controls usage of that SaaS product, as well as strong business and product owners, and finally, configuration engineers.

As the conversation continues, Anna and Jill discuss why companies should never settle when it comes to employee growth and well-being, how being named an ‘unselfish leader’ comes from her community and connectedness, and why it’s crucial that you know your SaaS customers inside and out. We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Podcast: The Joy of Impact

with DeLibra Wesley – CEO at National Recruiting Consultants

On this episode, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews Bane Hunter, CEO and Founder at delivery management software firm GetSwift. Bane is a GEMS expert known for leading growth, execution, monetization and strategy in business building.

Throughout his career, Bane has guided several tech businesses from the startup phase to successful IPOs, led the development and launch of numerous digital innovations in the marketplace, and has three provisional product patents with more in the pipeline.

All of that experience, combined with his history of leading business through callous times, better prepared him for the last year and a half of constant change and challenges. When asked about resilience and what it takes to “get to the other side,” Bane notes that there is a fine line between resilience, stubbornness, strength, flexibility, and opportunity, and that we should practice combining them all into one.

As they move from resilience to the topic of grit and the importance of keeping a fresh mind in the technology space, Bane shares a secret: creativity can often be the tonic for stress. It can also act as an outlet that allows us to dream, keep our sanity and look to the future.

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Anna Frazzetto interviews Bane Hunter, CEO and Founder at GetSwift. Anna and Bane discuss his advocacy of what he calls small-town businesses, how creativity can be the tonic for stress, and their shared excitement around what revolutionary changes are still to come to the tech industry.

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Podcast: Leveling The Field

with Leslie Vickrey – CEO and Founder at ClearEdge Marketing

On this episode, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews Leslie Vickrey, CEO and Founder at full-service marketing agency ClearEdge Marketing. Leslie is an entrepreneur and longtime advocate for workforce equity, known for her “take action” mindset. She’s a thought leader, a mentor, and a change catalyst in the talent and tech industry who is ahead of her time regarding workforce flexibility and remote work. In fact, the ClearEdge team has been fully remote since its inception. She also co-founded ARA, a 6,000 member-strong professional organization dedicated to attracting, retaining, and advancing women in tech.

Through her work with ARA, Leslie has gained an insider view of how the pandemic has affected professional women and their careers. Noting that while the disruption impacted women overall (with 1 in 4 women considering leaving the workforce or downshifting their careers versus 1 in 5 men), there are three influential groups that were hit the hardest: working mothers, women in senior management positions, and black women. To prevent further losses, Leslie encourages leaders in the talent and tech space to ask themselves, “What do our employees need? And are we asking them individually and as a group to better understand how we can help them?”

As they move through discussions of advancing women in the industry, Leslie explains how while nearly half of our workforce is female at the entry level, the ratio dramatically decreases when you get to the C-suite with a makeup of 21% and just 4% women of color. A few of the potential solutions? Thoughtfully build succession plans and create new seats at the table for women.

As the conversation continues, Anna and Leslie discuss why we need to pull up an executive seat for DEI, Leslie’s advice for entrepreneurs, and how we should better utilize our positions of power to help raise others up. We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Anna Frazzetto interviews Leslie Vickrey, CEO and Founder at ClearEdge Marketing. Anna and Leslie discuss why your value is worth more than your fear, how we can better use our positions of power to rise others up, and why we need to pull up an executive seat for DEI.

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Anna Frazzetto interviews JoAnne Kennedy, VP of Technology at retail leader Nordstrom. Anna and JoAnne discuss how her Asian-American childhood shaped her for success, why believing that you can learn anything is a game-changer for your career, and the tech innovations that inspire her!

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Podcast: Stand up and Lean in

with Leslie Vickrey – CEO and Founder at ClearEdge Marketing

On this episode, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews JoAnne Kennedy, VP of Technology at Nordstrom. JoAnne’s career began in telecom and led her to Microsoft. From there, she was snatched into the realm of digital media and product development by MSNBC, and in 2016, joined Nordstrom and worked her way up to her current role with the fashion retailer.

Before she could step into her success, JoAnne was just another boys’ club party crasher in a business world that then held a thankfully now-outdated expectation that women needed to act like men to be successful. Of course, this was when women in tech were scarce. JoAnne notes how far we’ve come since then, and how now we encourage bringing your whole authentic self to work because we understand that to innovate and create, we need diverse life experiences and voices. Talk about progress!

JoAnne also reflects on her personal progress, growing up in America with Asian parents. Back then, she believed her family’s ideals were rooted in old school culture, but the value of their dedicated work ethic and strength became apparent with maturity. She shares that their story instilled a will to get knocked down, brush herself off and stand right back up to lean in. It gave her the confidence that she could be successful in whatever she chose to do.

JoAnne continues to be an active member of and advocate for the Asian community. Over the past 10 years, she has been involved as a board member with the Seattle-based organization called Asian Counseling and Referral Services (or ACRS), which provides everything from culturally appropriate healthcare to employment and training services. She’s also deeply involved and acts as the executive sponsor for Nordstorm’s AAPI employee resource group.

With the recent alarming rise of hate crimes against the AAPI community, JoAnne has had a lot of people ask her how they can show up and demonstrate support. She suggests simply asking, “How are you doing?” and then listening carefully to the replies. This small act can go a long way. We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Anna Frazzetto interviews Fumbi Chima, Executive VP and Chief Information Officer at the BECU. Anna and Fumbi discuss the pandemic's gift of greater connection, why identifying what makes you different isn't always productive, and the essential steps companies and leaders need to take to be truly inclusive.

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Podcast: Success and Challenging the Status Quo

with Fumbi Chima – Executive VP & Chief Information Officer at the BECU

On this episode, Chief Digital Technology Officer and your host, Anna Frazzetto, interviews Fumbi Chima, Executive VP and Chief Information Officer at the BECU, the largest not-for-profit credit union in Washington state and one of the top five financial cooperatives in the nation. Fumbi is wonderfully global and is known for her digital transformation leadership and ingenuity. She has been a technology change leader for big names like Walmart, Adidas, Fox Network Group, Burberry, and American Express (to name a few!).

Having lived in places and worked for companies that people dream about, Anna talks with Fumbi about how such diverse experiences shaped her philosophy as a technologist and business leader. And as a woman who grew in Europe with an African family, Fumbi shares that prioritizing diversity became ingrained in her and her core beliefs from the start. She also reflects on how her consulting experience forced her to look at a problem from two or three angles, which also aided her as she built up her global perspective muscle.

As a black woman in technology, Fumbi knew she had to be better than the rest. She did this by working 300% harder than her peers, who could get away with what she couldn’t because of existing bias. Fumbi shares that she’s choosing to look on a more positive side these days, acknowledging the fact that these very real biases were (as far as she’s aware) unconscious. And while that’s no excuse, Fumbi shares that when you focus on your strengths and deliver something spectacular, that your community will have no choice but to include you.

As the conversation continues, Anna and Fumbi discuss the pandemic’s blessing in disguise, how other cultures and regions address essential issues like DEI and women’s empowerment, and why identifying what makes you different isn’t always productive. We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Anna Frazzetto interviews Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer and SVP of Marketing & Physician Engagement at the American Medical Association. Anna and Todd discuss how his fearless approach to disruption has propelled his efforts forward at AMA, how business leaders can strategically drive leads, and advice on how to keep people engaged as digital burnout rises. Anna Frazzetto, interviews Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer and SVP of Marketing & Physician Engagement at the American Medical Association. Anna and Todd discuss how his fearless approach to disruption has propelled his efforts forward at AMA, how business leaders can strategically drive leads, and advice on how to keep people engaged as digital burnout rises.

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Anna Frazzetto interviews Jennifer Taylor, President and CEO of Northern Virginia Technology Council. Anna and Jennifer discuss some of NVTC’s key initiatives for 2021, the unique challenges and opportunities in DC, Maryland and Virginia, and their shared passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Tential's Transformation Nation: Recent Episodes

Anna Frazzetto of Tential