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97% Effective

97% Effective

Written by: Michael Wenderoth
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Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.com. 97% Effective is dedicated to helping great people get ahead at work and increase their impact – without selling their souls in the process. Season #1 focuses on Power and Influence, two widely acknowledged (but poorly understood) forces that can help you rise, lead more effectively and get big things done. Each week we have candid conversations with an academic, coach, or executive, helping you gain new insights to better navigate your work and career.

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Episodes
  • EP 133 – Khanh-Linh Lê, Entrepreneur & Host at Forest Builders – Daring to Do: Building Impact through Courage and Power

    EP 133 – Khanh-Linh Lê, Entrepreneur & Host at Forest Builders – Daring to Do: Building Impact through Courage and Power
    Dec 31 2025

    Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.com

    What holds you back, but more importantly what springs you forward? In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth speaks with Khanh-Linh Le, entrepreneur and host of the Forest Builders podcast. Khanh-Linh shares how she left prestigious corporate jobs in France and Vietnam to dive into the world of chocolate entrepreneurship – then later made the equally tough decision to leave that venture behind. Khanh-Linh speaks to the importance of asking what you actually want, why showing up and “daring to do” is your critical first step – and how convincing yourself, and repetition, is a key unlock to projecting confidence as an entrepreneur. You’ll leave this episode with a much deeper appreciation for the power that lies within you.

    SHOW NOTES:

    • When Khanh-Linh’s passion awoke: “The power of the smell of chocolate to get you to feel and see things in a different way”
    • Why do you want power?
    • The dark side of chocolate
    • “With time I’ll get closer”: The career shift from management consulting in France to chocolate in Asia
    • Serendipity and Synchronicity: The 4 AM bus ride and chance encounter with Gricha
    • Using coaching as an opportunity to step back and ask what you actually want
    • How Khanh-Linh “dared” and took the next step
    • “A lot of time you just need to show up”
    • How Khanh-Linh sees power and influence as critical to entrepreneurship
    • Communication insights for Entrepreneurs: Convincing yourself, repetition, projecting confidence
    • Patience and calmness: Reflections on projecting confidence as a Vietnamese French female entrepreneur
    • The power of a support group: Khanh-Linh and the female entrepreurs of Saigon
    • “Would a man censor himself?” – Khanh-Linh on how women often need to get out of their own way
    • Making the choice to let go
    • Khanh-Linh reflects on the power of podcasting to open doors, help you find inspiration – and show the world what you are into
    • Get started and dare to show up!

    BIO AND LINKS:

    Khanh-Linh Le is an entrepreneur and host of the Forest Builders Podcast. She is based in France where she supports food companies and their transition to regenerative supply chains. She previously co-founded the Cocoa Project in Vietnam and worked for McKinsey and Anheuser-Busch InBev. Khanh-Linh is from France and holds master's degrees in international management and business at HEC Paris and CEMS.

    • Khanh-Linh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khanhlinh-chocolate/
    • The Forst Builders Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/49xSK5SlZ2xvTwLIAgSDNz?si=a4bec083e9a54305
    • The Cocoa Project: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-cocoa-project/
    • The Female Entrepreneurs of Saigon: https://www.facebook.com/fesaigon/
    • “Chocolateman: Harnessing Power to Create Sustainable Business Practices” (EP#22 with Gricha Safarian on 97% Effective): https://redcircle.com/shows/86fcd90d-083e-4af2-9bc8-6d52fb981ae1/ep/4caaa1d9-0fa2-42a4-89e1-3ef10739c889
    • Michael’s Award-Winning book, Get Promoted: What Your Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back https://tinyurl.com/453txk74
    • Watch this episode on video, the 97% Effective Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffective


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    45 mins
  • EP 132 – Julia Bunyatov, Founder & Executive Coach at Sirmio Leadership – Leading Through Complexity: What Neuroscience Really Teaches Us

    EP 132 – Julia Bunyatov, Founder & Executive Coach at Sirmio Leadership – Leading Through Complexity: What Neuroscience Really Teaches Us
    Dec 17 2025
    Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comWhat does neuroscience tells us about the brain-body connection? How we can utilize that knowledge to thrive amid times of uncertainty, change and fear? In this episode of 97% Effective, Michael speaks with Julia Bunyatov, executive leadership coach and founder or Sirmio. Julie discusses her work with Wall Street executives and how she applies neuroscience insights to her coaching practice. She shares how mindfulness, curiosity and optimism are the keys to leading amid uncertainty – and to approaching the important question of how we are changing as leaders with the emergence of AI. Discussed: her latest articles, how to best eliminate the brain’s prediction errors, optimism vs toxic positivity, and what it means to thrive and “create magic.”SHOW NOTES:How Julia’s years on Wall Street informs her work as an executive leadership coachThe personal family experiences that led Julia to neuroscience, the science of thriving – and into coachingThe rock formation behind her company’s name, Sirmio LeadershipHow do we lead through complexity – and create outcomes that could not have been predicted beforeAddressing the soft “new age” perception of “Mindfulness, Optimism and Curiosity”Mindfulness defined: Our ability to manage our attention and focus in a desired way – and observe in a non-judgmental wayPractical ways (beyond meditation) to become more mindful so you can deepen your self-awarenessIs stress good – and if so, how much do you want?Curiosity: How it helps us engage our capacity to be creative and innovativeHow mindfulness helps us when we get triggered at workHow empathy creates more energy in the brain body system that helps usWe think our brain is reactive, but it is actually predictingThe best way to eliminate prediction error and anxiety is through experience: the example of thriving in a snowstormOne of the most important things that Coaches doOptimism vs “toxic positivity”Applying the process of mindfulness, curiosity and optimism to the emergence of AI: how do we collaborate and create something that did not exist before?AI is absolutely about creating efficiencies in the workplace, but the more important question is how are we changing as leaders?Why we need friction – and not everything should be smooth sailingHow Julia uses AI in her coaching practice and workJulia’s take on emotions: don’t suppress them, use them as a source of energy and conduit to our resultsBIO AND LINKS: Julia Bunyatov is the founder of Sirmio Leadership, which focuses on Executive Coaching & Advisory. She is a certified Executive Coach and former C-suite leader with 30 years of experience in executive leadership, board governance, and coaching. She held senior roles including COO of Global Equities Trading, COO of Global Equity Derivatives, and Americas Risk Officer at Bankers Trust, Lehman Brothers, and Barclays. Today she supports senior leaders in aligning insight with real-world leadership to drive meaningful change. In addition to other board commitments, Julia serves as Treasurer of the Columbia Coaching Conference and is a board member of the Columbia Coaching Learning Association. Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bunyatov-0b23001/Sirmio Leadership: https://www.sirmioleadership.comThe meaning of “Sirmio”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SirmioJulia’s article in Choice: “Thriving in Uncertainty ~ Neuroscience and applications for coaches and leader” https://choice-online.com/thriving/Julia’s article: “We Built the Machine. Now We Must Build the Mindset: How Emotion, Neuroscience, and AI Are Rewiring Leadership” https://tinyurl.com/4e7bpcm9Michael’s Award-Winning book, Get Promoted: What Your Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on video, the 97% Effective Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    46 mins
  • EP 131 – Mary Olson-Menzel, CEO at MVP Executive Development: Lighting the Way to Your Next Big Career Step

    EP 131 – Mary Olson-Menzel, CEO at MVP Executive Development: Lighting the Way to Your Next Big Career Step
    Dec 3 2025
    Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comWhen it comes to taking the next big step in your career, some urge you to follow your passions – while others back a more bare-knuckled approach. But there’s a third way, says Mary Olson-Menzel, author of the bestseller “What Lights You Up.” In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth and Mary talk about the key factors that lead to a fulfilling and successful career, and Mary’s 10-step pivot process that has helped thousands of her clients at MVP Executive Development. They debate passion, authenticity, networking – and discuss how to create opportunity during turbulent times. If you’re struggling with taking the next big step in your career, this episode is for you.SHOW NOTES:Michael was deeply skeptical about Mary and her message, so why he invited her on the showMary’s 10-step pivot program and what led her to write her book“The light is not woo-woo… it is all about what’s driving you”Mary address the critique that “following your passion is terrible advice” (Newport, Galloway, Wenderoth)The ven diagram of Ikigai that puts passion in its proper placeCore elemants that drove Mary’s career successThe role of curiosity when it comes to pivoting with purposeHow to make opportunities “fall into your lap”How to take advantage – and thrive – in chaotic timesIdentifying gaps: a practical and underused way to be helpful to others - and yourselfHow to overcome fear and stay in the driver’s seat of your careerCan sharing your passion at work lead to you being exploited (offered lower pay)?How a “personal board of directors” can help you stay on track – and not get taken advantage ofNo one has a crystal ball, which is why you need to shake the bushes: Great questions to ask, before you join a companyDealing with setbacks: Having champions, mentors – and always a Plan BMary’s take on authenticity: What it is, what it is notMary’s take on why we still get so many terrible leadersQuiet confidence: How to make sure you and your accomplishments are heard and visible, without seeming like a bombastic, self-promoting jerk?Mary and Michael discuss “threading the line”: how to embrace things that are effective, but may initially feel uncomfortableTop tips on building connection in a remote, distributed worldMary’s “Networking Power Hour”For younger professionals: Tips for networking with people 2-3 levels above youNetworking tips beyond the time consuming 1-1Success is personal and changes: How do you define it, and what lights you up? BIO AND LINKS: Mary Olsen-Menzel is the Founder and CEO of MVP Executive Development, and the author of the USA Today National Bestseller “What Lights You Up? Illuminate Your Path and Take the Next Big Step in Your Career.” She is a renowned expert in career and workplace success, with more than 30 years of leadership experience with global organizations across media, tech, healthcare, and sports. Mary earned her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Public Relations from Illinois State University. Mary lives in West Chester, New York, with her husband and family. She is part of Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, and a regular Guest Lecturer on career development, internships, and workplace success at the NYU School of Professional Studies.Mary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-olson-menzel-mvpexec/“What Lights You Up?” Mary’s bestselling book, and free workbook: www.maryolsonmenzel.comMVP Executive Development: www.mvpexec.comCal Newport’s book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You: https://calnewport.com/writing/Ikigai: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IkigaiResearch at Duke: How attribution of passion may legitimize the poor treatment of workers: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000190Michael’s Award-Winning book, Get Promoted: What Your Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Watch this episode on video, the 97% Effective Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@97PercentEffectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    45 mins
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