In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Dr. Katina Sawyer, co-founder of Workr Beeing, Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the Eller College of Management, and co-author of Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives.

Together, they explore the deeper meaning of workplace wellness - beyond programs, perks, and initiatives - and uncover how true well-being is built through leadership behavior, team culture, and daily interactions. Dr. Sawyer shares the research and real-world insights that inspired her book, discussing why so many wellness efforts fail to take root, how leadership directly shapes the health of an organization, and what OD professionals can do to align evidence-based practice with human-centered care.

From redefining what it means to thrive at work, to rethinking the role of leadership in shaping wellness, this episode offers a refreshing, research-informed perspective on how organizations can move from performative gestures to authentic, sustainable cultures of care.

If you’re an OD professional, leader, or HR practitioner ready to rethink what well-being truly looks like inside organizations, this is a conversation that will challenge and inspire your practice.

Connect with Dr. Katina Sawyer:
🔹 LinkedIn: Katina Sawyer, Ph.D. | LinkedIn

🔹 Website: https://workrbeeing.com/

🔹 Book: Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives - https://workrbeeing.com/book ... and available wherever books are sold.

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CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: info@pearsonpearson.llc

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 21-DAY LEADERSHIP REALIGNMENT
https://www.pearsonpearson.llc/21-day-leadership-realignment

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Dr. Sy Islam - Co-Founder and Vice President of Consulting at Talent Metrics, and Associate Professor of Psychology at Farmingdale State College - to explore the art and science of leadership development.

Dr. Islam shares his insights on how organizations can better support middle managers, why data-driven decisions need a human lens, and how integrity in action separates good leaders from great ones. Together, they discuss the quiet challenges of leadership transitions, the psychology behind motivation and self-efficacy, and the importance of building leadership programs that actually sustain impact over time.

You’ll also hear how pop culture - from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Avatar: The Last Airbender - can serve as a creative bridge for teaching timeless lessons about courage, ethics, and the complexity of leading others.

Whether you’re an OD practitioner, L&D professional, or simply a leader navigating organizational change, this conversation offers grounded, practical insights you can apply immediately.

ABOUT DR. SY ISLAM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sislam/
Website: www.talentmetrics.io

Links to Books:
Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU
Elements of Leadership: Lessons from Avatar the Last Airbender

Ask us a question!

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2430745/support

CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: info@pearsonpearson.llc

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 21-DAY LEADERSHIP REALIGNMENT
https://www.pearsonpearson.llc/21-day-leadership-realignment

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

In this episode of Unboxing OD, I sit down with Jenn Stevens, an Organizational Development leader whose path into this work is anything but conventional. From firefighter to yoga studio owner to executive coach and L&D leader in tech, Jenn’s story reflects a career stitched together by one consistent thread: a deep commitment to people.

We talk about what it really means to “hustle with heart” - bringing both drive and presence into the work. Jenn shares why presence is the true differentiator in leadership, how she’s built teams with a 100% promotion rate, and the simple but powerful practices that sustain real development: weekly one-on-ones that never get canceled, rotating leadership opportunities, and strengths-based stretch assignments that let people grow into their potential.

This isn’t just theory. Jenn gets candid about the difference between checking the box on development and actually investing in people, why advocating behind closed doors matters, and how the advice to “lead from the seat you’re in” transformed her approach to ownership and leadership.

If you’re looking for a grounded, human perspective on how to develop leaders at every level, this is a conversation worth listening to.

Connect with Jenn Stevens:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-stevens-ms/
• Website: https://presenceod.com/

Ask us a question!

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2430745/support

CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: info@pearsonpearson.llc

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 21-DAY LEADERSHIP REALIGNMENT
https://www.pearsonpearson.llc/21-day-leadership-realignment

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session