On the Brink with Andi Simon Podcast Por Andi Simon arte de portada

On the Brink with Andi Simon

On the Brink with Andi Simon

De: Andi Simon
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On The Brink is a podcast where the goal is to help you better "see, feel and think" about your business, your job, your personal life and your purpose. There will be great interviews and conversations with people who are deeply involved in change—consultants, change agents, managers transforming their teams, entrepreneurs just starting out and CEOs running well-established companies. Economía Gestión Gestión y Liderazgo Liderazgo
Episodios
  • Finding Joy, Choice, and Control: A Conversation with Nicki Keohohou

    Finding Joy, Choice, and Control: A Conversation with Nicki Keohohou
    Nov 17 2025
    "People aren't broken," she told me. "Our job is not to fix them. It's to hold them whole and complete." On this episode of On the Brink, I had the privilege of speaking with a remarkable woman whose life journey embodies resilience, reinvention, and the profound power of choosing joy. Nicki Keohohou—bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, global speaker, and founder of Coach School—joined me from her home in Hawaii to reflect on the experiences that shaped her, the wisdom she teaches, and the mindset shifts we all need in today's uncertain world. Nicki's path wasn't linear. She began as a teacher helping children build self-esteem and confidence. She later moved into her family's business, then into the world of direct selling, where she discovered her love for helping people grow. That passion evolved into founding the Direct Selling Women's Alliance and ultimately creating Coach School—programs that train leaders, educators, executives, and couples to coach through empathy, inquiry, and empowerment rather than advice-giving. What unifies Nicki's story is a belief that has guided her since childhood: life is abundant, people are capable, and every moment contains a choice. Watch our Podcast here on YouTube: The Power of Coaching: Asking Instead of Telling Nicki admits she wasn't a natural coach at first. Like many leaders, she began by telling people what to do. But she soon realized that the most powerful breakthroughs happen when people discover their own answers. She teaches coaching not just to executives, but to educators, medical professionals, sales teams—and even couples—because the skill of asking empowering questions transforms how people think, communicate, and relate. Her philosophy is simple: When people find their own solutions, they own them. And when they own them, they act. Why We're All Struggling Right Now Nicki works around the world, and she sees what many of us feel: people are more anxious, overwhelmed, and uncertain than ever. The economy, politics, global tensions, and constant disruption amplify our sense of helplessness. Her response? A model she teaches called "the bagel." The outer ring—the disempowerment zone—contains everything we cannot control (other people's opinions, world events, the economy, traffic, the past). The center—the empowerment zone—holds what we can control (our thoughts, our choices, our words, our actions, the meaning we assign to events). Most people live on the outer ring. Nicki helps them move to the center. How to Shift Your Mindset (Even in Hard Times) Many of Nicki's insights come from deeply personal experiences—including a devastating fall in Dubai that led to multiple surgeries, months of rehabilitation, and time spent in a nursing home. Instead of asking "Why me?" she asked: "What can I do with this situation?" She coached the staff. She uplifted patients. She even unknowingly taught a woman through the wall who listened to every class and filled an entire notebook with lessons. Her message is clear: You may not choose what happens to you, but you always choose how you respond. Key Takeaways from Nicki Keohohou 1. Happiness is a choice—and a practice. You can always look for what's wrong or what's right. Your mind will believe whichever story you tell it. 2. What you feed your mind at night shapes your next day. Avoid violent TV, tense news, or negative scrolling before bed. Instead ask: What is the best thing that happened today? What am I grateful for? 3. Self-coaching questions can instantly shift your emotional state. Try: How would I prefer to feel right now? What's the opposite of this thought? What do I actually have control over in this moment? 4. Joy compounds when shared. A smile, a kind comment, or a small gesture changes not just someone else's day—it elevates your own. 5. Simplicity reduces stress. Choose calm over drama. Choose presence over pressure. Choose perspective over frustration. Actionable Advice You Can Use Today 1. Start your morning with intention. Ask: What am I excited about today? Whose life can I make better today? 2. Create an accomplishment list—not a to-do list. Shift from obligation to opportunity. 3. Practice the "bagel model." Whenever stress rises, pause and ask: Is this in the empowerment zone? Or the disempowerment zone? If you can't control it—redirect your energy. 4. Adopt the "rain mindset." Instead of "Ugh, it's raining," try: "The rain is feeding my flowers." Reframe, and your brain will follow. 5. Give gratitude away freely. Say thank you. Compliment someone. Share something small. Science tells us that gratitude boosts the giver's happiness even more than the receiver's. Final Thoughts Nicki's story is a radiant reminder that your reality is shaped by the narrative you choose. You can choose joy. You can choose possibility. You can choose to smile at strangers and uplift the people around you. And you can choose to rewrite your story—every ...
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    33 m
  • Rethinking Leadership: How to Pivot, Disrupt, and Transform with Marcia Daszko

    Rethinking Leadership: How to Pivot, Disrupt, and Transform with Marcia Daszko
    Nov 11 2025
    The first step to transformation is to stop doing what no longer works." – Marcia Daszko On this episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I sat down with Marcia Daszko, a visionary leadership consultant and author of Pivot, Disrupt, Transform: How Leaders Beat the Odds and Survive. Marcia's journey—from being "excruciatingly shy" to mentoring leaders at Apple, Boeing, and the U.S. Navy—reveals a rare combination of courage, curiosity, and clarity. Her lessons, rooted in the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming, challenge leaders to abandon outdated management practices and embrace a deeper, systems-based way of thinking. From Management Fads to Meaningful Leadership Marcia began her career in marketing before being mentored by Dr. Perry Gluckman, a close associate of Dr. Deming, who revolutionized management thinking through systems theory and continuous improvement. What she learned was not just what to do, but how to think. Too often, organizations chase the latest management fad—Six Sigma, Lean, "best practices"—without understanding the systems that create real success. Marcia calls these "tragedies" because they add complexity without meaning. She estimates that 50 to 80 percent of organizational waste comes from such misguided efforts. Her process begins with a bold question: "What do we need to stop doing?" Once leaders remove what's not working, they can open the flow of communication, creativity, and collaboration—what Marcia calls the "system of profound knowledge." When systems make sense, people thrive. Watch the podcast here: Learning to See Differently Like many of my guests, Marcia helps organizations "see, feel, and think" in new ways. She starts by asking questions that uncover hidden assumptions and systemic barriers. Employees usually know what's wrong, she says, but no one listens. When she leads workshops, she doesn't rely on PowerPoint slides. Instead, she creates experiences—conversations, simulations, and reflections—that shift perspectives. "I don't get resistance," she explains, "because the exercises take care of that." It's an anthropologist's insight wrapped in a strategist's toolkit: people don't change because they're told to—they change because they experience a new way of being together. The Strategic Compass for an Uncertain Future In today's world of disruption, Marcia argues that leaders don't need a roadmap—they need a compass. The future can't be predicted; it must be navigated through exploration, experimentation, and learning. Her Strategic Compass helps executives pivot as they encounter new "rivers and mountains" in their business landscape. Leadership, she reminds us, is not about control but curiosity. The most powerful organizations foster environments where everyone can learn, question, and contribute. Her three "legs of the stool" are: Innovation as a business strategyContinuous improvement as a business strategyQuality as a business strategy Sadly, she says, quality and customer service—once foundational to success—have too often been forgotten. Building a Culture of Trust and Curiosity Both Marcia and I share a passion for culture change. She emphasizes that great leaders reduce fear and build trust. When people feel safe, they can be curious and collaborative. It's not enough to post company values on a wall; leaders must define the behaviors that bring those values to life. Her workshops often transform even the most rigid workplaces. In one session, an employee of 15 years said it was the first time he had felt truly appreciated and engaged. That's the power of inclusion, curiosity, and respect in action. Leading in the Age of AI As we discussed the rise of artificial intelligence, Marcia was unequivocal: "If you're afraid of AI, you'll be left behind." She sees AI not as a threat but as a tool for learning and transformation. The challenge, she warns, is to build guardrails—policies and ethics that guide its use responsibly. In an age when consulting firms can generate proposals in minutes, leaders must rethink how people create value. The winners will be those who empower their teams to use new tools, think critically, and continuously learn. Key Takeaways Stop before you start. Identify and eliminate wasteful management practices that add complexity without results.Think in systems. Every part of your organization is interconnected. Problems are rarely isolated.Create flow. Open channels for communication, creativity, and collaboration.Replace fear with trust. People thrive when they feel safe to contribute.Stay curious. Learning is not a phase—it's a way of life.Use AI wisely. Embrace new tools, but balance innovation with ethical governance. What You Can Do Next Run a "Stop Doing" audit. Gather your team and list processes or habits that no longer serve your mission. Eliminate one per quarter.Host a curiosity circle. Ask open-ended questions like, "What assumptions are we making?" or "What would our ...
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    40 m
  • How Can the Sixth Level Help Women Redefine Leadership?

    How Can the Sixth Level Help Women Redefine Leadership?
    Nov 5 2025
    What happens when two powerful women—one a psychologist devoted to leadership transformation and the other a CEO who grew up in a family-run business—join forces to rethink what it means to lead? They discover the "Sixth Level" of Leadership! On this episode of On the Brink, Stacy Feiner, PsyD and Rachel Wallis Andreasson, MBA invite us to imagine leadership not as a position of power, but as a practice rooted in purpose, connection and care. The Birth of the Sixth Level Stacy Feiner, a high-performance psychologist and coach, has long focused on helping family and mid-market companies unlock the emotional dynamics that drive sustainable success. Her fascination with human potential began early—her mother introduced her to the groundbreaking Self-in-Relation theory at Wellesley's Stone Center, which challenged male-centered models of psychology and placed women's experiences at the center of understanding human behavior. From that foundation grew The Sixth Level: Capitalize on the Power of Women's Psychology for Sustainable Leadership, co-authored with Rachel Wallis Andreasson, Kathy Overbeke, DBA, and Jack Harris, PhD. The book expands on the belief that women's relational intelligence—empathy, collaboration, and the ethic of care—is not a deviation from leadership excellence but its evolution. Watch our video on Sixth Level Leadership here From Gas Station to $2 Billion Company Rachel Wallis Andreasson's story grounds those ideas in lived experience. The daughter of a gas-station owner on Route 66, she watched her father grow one small shop into a company now approaching $2 billion in annual sales. He modeled three values that remain central to her leadership: a strong work ethic, genuine care for people, and shared ownership through open communication. "When my dad walked into one of our stores," she recalls, "he didn't just check the numbers—he asked employees for their opinions. And then he used their ideas." Rachel worked for her family business for 24 years, rising to CEO and overseeing more than 1,100 employees. She is most proud of the cultural integration of the largest and most strategic acquisition of the company's history. Rachel builds cultures where people feel seen, heard, and trusted. Her philosophy mirrors her father's wisdom—lead by example, connect with authenticity, and invite others to own the company's success. The Four Core Differentiators of Sixth-Level Leadership At the heart of The Sixth Level are four principles that originate in women's social-psychology and form the basis of transformational leadership: Mutuality — Two-way empathy and shared purpose that align people behind a common vision.Ingenuity — Creative problem-solving that benefits the collective, not just the individual.Justness — Inclusion, accountability and equity built on transparency and trust.Intrinsic Motivation — Leading from within, not for external reward or authority. These are not soft skills—they are strategic capabilities that strengthen performance, retention, and resilience. "Accountability," Feiner explains, "doesn't start at the end of a project. It begins at the beginning, as a promise we make to each other to achieve success together." A Story of Transformation One of the book's most vivid case studies features Lisa, president of a rural Missouri hospital. Stepping into her role during the height of COVID-19, she found a demoralized staff, fragmented teams, and exhausted caregivers. Instead of imposing control, Lisa began by listening. She conducted open "snack-cart sessions" with employees, asking questions, sharing food, and gathering stories. From those conversations came a rallying cry—One Heart, One Team. Lisa modeled the change she wanted to see, shadowing every department, empowering cross-functional collaboration, and celebrating ingenuity at every level. The results were astonishing: record financial performance, unprecedented patient-satisfaction scores, and a palpable sense of unity across the hospital. "Transformation," says Andreasson, "is tangible. When you walk into that hospital today, you feel the caring culture. You feel 'One Heart, One Team.' " Beyond Self-Awareness to Relational Awareness Feiner believes traditional leadership training—often built on male norms—emphasizes self-control and individual performance. The Sixth Level expands that frame to relational awareness: how leaders build trust, reciprocity, and shared accountability. "We've been taught that leadership is about dominance and hierarchy," she says. "But sustainable success comes from mutuality—the capacity to care for others while driving results. Everyone can learn it. It's a human capability." A Model for All Leaders Although the book is rooted in women's social-psychology, both authors stress it is not for women only. Men thrive in Sixth Level environments too. "Command-and-control cultures haven't served anyone," Feiner notes. "When we bring the full ...
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    51 m
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