The Executive Connect Podcast cover art

The Executive Connect Podcast

The Executive Connect Podcast

Written by: The Executive Connect Podcast
Listen for free

About this listen

 This is the Executive Connect Podcast - a show for the new generation of leaders. Join us as we discover unconventional leadership strategies not traditionally associated with executive roles. Our guests include upper-level C-Suite executives charting new ways to grow their organizations, successful entrepreneurs changing the way the world does business, and experts and thought leaders from fields outside of Corporate America that can bring new insights into leadership, prosperity, and personal growth - all while connecting on a human level. No one has all the answers - but by building a community of open-minded and engaged leaders we hope to give you the tools you need to help you find your own path to success.Copyright Executive Connect Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • How Great Leaders Handle Hard Conversations | Jen Hardy

    How Great Leaders Handle Hard Conversations | Jen Hardy
    Jan 12 2026
    Avoiding hard conversations might feel safer, but it quietly limits growth, trust, and leadership effectiveness.

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Jen Hardy to unpack why difficult conversations trigger fear at a nervous system level and how leaders can learn to regulate themselves before trying to influence others.

    Jen shares her journey from results-driven athletic coaching to emotionally intelligent leadership, explaining why vulnerability is not weakness and why clarity begins with self-regulation. Together, they explore how psychological safety, emotional awareness, and intentional communication frameworks allow leaders to navigate conflict without losing authority or trust.

    This episode is a practical guide for executives who want stronger teams, healthier cultures, and conversations that actually move people forward.

    Key Takeaways
    • Why avoiding conflict shuts down logical thinking and decision-making
    • How nervous system regulation impacts leadership communication
    • The difference between vulnerability and oversharing
    • Why emotional safety is required before clarity can exist
    • How to lead difficult conversations without losing authority
    • Simple frameworks leaders can use to reduce defensiveness and resistance
    • Why courage, not certainty, drives long-term leadership growth

    Timestamp Chapters
    (00:00) Why logic fails without emotional safety
    (01:10) From performance coaching to conscious leadership
    (03:30) Vulnerability versus weakness in leadership
    (05:55) Self-regulation before difficult conversations
    (07:26) Psychological safety and communication breakdowns
    (10:04) Leading with strength and transparency
    (12:54) Conflict, courage, and growth in modern teams
    (15:26) Tools for navigating high-stress conversations
    (17:24) Pre-framing communication for better outcomes
    (21:43) Why uncertainty creates leadership growth
    (23:39) Supporting leaders through emotional mastery
    (25:03) Final leadership reflections

    About the Guest

    Jen Hardy is the COO at the Academy of Motive Action, where she supports high-stress professionals through communication, emotional literacy, resilience, and self-mastery. With a background in athletics, education, and executive coaching, Jen helps leaders transform discomfort into clarity and connection.

    Connect With Jen Hardy
    Website: https://motivaction.academy/home-614511
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-jenhardy/

    Connect With Executive Connect
    Website: www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
    YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
    LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
    Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
    TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
    Facebook: Executive Connect
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Leadership Is Not What You Say. It Is How You Make People Feel | Andrea Wanerstrand

    Leadership Is Not What You Say. It Is How You Make People Feel | Andrea Wanerstrand
    Jan 8 2026
    Leadership is not just about vision, strategy, or charisma. It is about the emotional footprint you leave behind.

    In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with leadership strategist and cultural transformation expert, Founder & CEO of A3 Culture Lab, Andrea Wanerstrand to explore why emotional awareness is now one of the most critical leadership skills.

    Andrea explains how leaders unintentionally create stress, confusion, and fear through tone, energy, and emotional inconsistency, even when their intentions are good. She breaks down the science behind emotional intelligence, how the nervous system shows up at work, and why people remember how leaders make them feel more than what they say.

    This conversation is a practical guide for leaders who want stronger trust, higher engagement, and better performance without burning out their teams or themselves.


    What You Will Learn
    • Why emotional awareness drives trust and loyalty
    • How leadership energy creates ripple effects across teams
    • The difference between being nice and being kind
    • How emotional intelligence improves clarity and execution
    • Why stress kills creativity and innovation
    • How to reset your energy between meetings
    • The real ROI of leading with empathy

    Chapters

    (00:00) Why leadership is emotional, not positional
    (02:45) How leaders unintentionally create fear and confusion
    (06:30) The ripple effect of unmanaged energy
    (10:20) Emotional intelligence explained simply
    (15:40) Navigating tough conversations with clarity
    (20:30) Why micromanaging destroys confidence
    (26:10) Consistency, trust, and psychological safety
    (32:00) The myth of separating work and personal emotions
    (38:10) Feedback, presence, and emotional accountability
    (44:30) Leading with empathy in an AI driven world
    (50:20) Final reflections and how to connect


    Guest Bio

    Andrea Wanerstrand is a leadership strategist and cultural transformation expert who helps executives build emotionally intelligent organizations. Her work focuses on self awareness, trust, nervous system regulation, and high performance leadership.

    Connect with Andrea Wanerstrand

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawanerstrand/
    Website: https://a3culturelab.com


    Connect With Executive Connect

    Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
    YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
    LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
    Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
    TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
    Facebook: Executive Connect
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • How Smart Investors Use Real Estate to Build Resilient Portfolios | Mike Zlotnik

    How Smart Investors Use Real Estate to Build Resilient Portfolios | Mike Zlotnik
    Jan 6 2026
    What if chasing individual real estate deals is actually increasing your risk?

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Bryan sits down with Mike Zlotnik to break down how experienced investors think about real estate as part of a long-term portfolio strategy, not a one-off deal strategy.

    Mike explains how cap rates really work, why portfolio construction matters more than deal hunting, and how rising interest rates have reset commercial real estate pricing. They also explore why real estate behaves differently from public markets, how cash flow acts as downside protection, and why today’s environment favors disciplined, income-focused investors.

    If you are evaluating commercial real estate, private equity deals, or alternative investments and want a clearer framework for managing risk, leverage, and long-term returns, this episode delivers practical insight grounded in real market cycles.

    What You’ll Learn:
    • How portfolio construction matters more than chasing individual real estate deals
    • Why working with the right people is more important than picking the “perfect” deal
    • How commercial real estate fits into a diversified wealth strategy
    • What cap rates really mean and how interest rates impact property values
    • How to think about leverage, risk, and downside protection
    • Why today’s market cycle presents unique opportunities for patient capital
    • How to evaluate operators, sponsors, and investment terms
    • The importance of defining your personal buy box and don’t-buy box
    • How income-focused real estate can support long-term financial freedom


    Episode highlights:
    01:05 Why portfolio construction beats deal chasing
    02:45 Defining your investment goals before deploying capital
    04:12 Liquid vs illiquid assets in a balanced portfolio
    06:01 Why real estate shines for income and tax efficiency
    07:32 How rising interest rates reset commercial real estate
    08:58 Buying below replacement cost and intrinsic value
    10:41 Positive leverage and margin of safety explained
    12:05 Simple vs complex real estate strategies
    13:34 Why commercial real estate is a contrarian opportunity
    14:56 Choosing the right operator and sponsor
    17:48 How to evaluate deals beyond the spreadsheet
    19:11 Negotiating better terms as a capital partner
    21:00 Funds vs individual syndications
    23:12 Defining your buy box and your do not buy box
    25:55 Final thoughts on risk, leverage, and discipline

    Mike Zlotnik is a seasoned real estate investor, fund manager, and educator with decades of experience across private equity, private lending, and alternative investments. He is the founder of several investment firms and the host of the Big Mike Fund Podcast, where he interviews top investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders on building wealth outside traditional markets. Mike is known for his disciplined approach to capital preservation, cash flow, and long-term financial freedom.

    🔗 Connect with Mike:
    https://tempofunding.com/
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzlotnik/
    https://bigmikefund.com/

    🔗 CONNECT WITH EXECUTIVE CONNECT
    Website: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
    Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect
    Subscribe on Newsletter: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/join/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
No reviews yet