Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: Productive vs. Constructive: Why the Illusion of AI Productivity Is Short-Circuiting Human Development

Host: Dr. MJ Vignone

Guest: Dr. Trevor Maber, Award-Winning Faculty, Edwards School of Business & COO, Pure Strategy Inc.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Dr. Trevor Maber — award-winning business school faculty member, organizational development scholar, TED community contributor, and COO of AI analytics firm Pure Strategy Inc. — for a conversation that starts with a startling classroom statistic and doesn't let go.

32 o...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: Surfing the AI Wave: A CEO's Honest Case for Middle Management, Deep Relationships, and Getting the Basics Right

Host: Dr. MJ Vignone

Guest: Mateo Bervejillo, CEO of Xseed Solutions & Author of Back to Basics

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Mateo Bervejillo — CEO of Xseed Solutions, author of Back to Basics, and host of the podcast The Future of the Future — for a candid, grounded conversation about what gets lost when companies flatten their...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Episode

Title: Moments That Matter: What Your Employees Actually Remember When Everything Else Is Forgotten

Host: Dr. MJ Vignone

Guest: Chris Dyer, Keynote Speaker, Author & Founder of PeopleG2

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Chris Dyer — keynote speaker, three-time bestselling author, and founder of PeopleG2 — for a conversation that started with an uncomfortable question. Chris spent 20 years building his company, sold it, and years later sat down with his former employees expecting gratitude. Instead, he heard...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: The Full Stop Thank You: What Handwritten Notes, Gratitude, and the Service Recovery Paradox Teach Us About Human Connection

Host: Dr. MJ Vignone

Guest: David Wachs, Founder of Handwrytten & Serial Entrepreneur

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with David Wachs — serial entrepreneur, Inc. Magazine columnist, and founder of Handwrytten, the world's largest company sending handwritten notes at scale — for a conversation about something radical in a world drowning in digital noise: slowing down to say thank you.<...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: The Generous Leader: Why Asking Questions and Actually Listening Is the Sharpest Leadership Strategy Nobody Is Using

Host: Dr. MJ Vignone

Guest: Joe Davis, Author of The Generous Leader & Former Managing Director and Senior Partner, BCG

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Joe Davis — 37-year BCG veteran, former head of BCG North America, and author of The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's Gain — to explore a question that sounds soft and turns...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: Okay, Now What? A Healer's Guide to Intuition, Presence, and Leading from the Inside Out

Host: Dr. MJ Vignone

Guest: Dr. Valerie Girard, Chiropractor, Healer & Creator of PanHarmonic Healing

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Dr. Valerie Girard — chiropractor, meditation teacher, author, and creator of PanHarmonic Healing — for a conversation that arrives at leadership from an entirely different direction: the body, the breath, the present moment, and the quiet inner voice most of us have learne...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: Connect First, Automate Second: How a 29-Year CEO Thinks About AI, Ethics, and the Work That Actually Matters

Host: Dr. MJ Vignone

Guest: Barry Moline, CEO, Author of Connect! & Cialdini-Certified Trainer in Ethical Influence

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Barry Moline — 29-year CEO, award-winning author of Connect!, and Cialdini Institute Certified Trainer in ethical influence — to explore why the most important leadership skill in the AI era has nothing to do with technology.

Barr...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: 24 Episodes In: The One Truth That Keeps Surfacing — AI Informs, Emotional Intelligence Transforms

Host: Dr. MJ Vignone

Episode Type: Solo — Compilation & Reflection Episode (Episode 24)

Episode Summary

In this milestone solo episode, Dr. MJ steps back from guest conversations to draw the through-line connecting 23 episodes of wisdom. From CFOs to crisis responders, recruiters to risk officers, artists to founders — every conversation kept circling back to the same question: how do we maintain our humanity in a world increasingly shaped by AI?

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: Building the Digital World: AI, Security, and Why Human Judgment Still Matters

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: Andrew Koberlein

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ welcomes Andrew Koberlein, a technology leader whose career began during the earliest days of global digital communications. Andrew reflects on his work developing the infrastructure that enabled worldwide connectivity, sharing firsthand stories about building communication systems for governments, military operations, financial institutions, and the early internet. He also recounts being one of the first si...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: Kind, Not Nice: Building Human Leaders in a Robotic World

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: David Shar, PhD, SHRM-SCP, President & Founder, Illuminate PMC

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with David Shar — behavioral scientist, organizational consultant, and lecturer in the University of Maryland's I/O Psychology graduate program — to draw a hard line between being nice and being kind, and to explore what that distinction means for leadership in an AI-driven workplace.

David has spent his ca...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: The Last 20%: How a CFO Uses AI, Reads Rooms, and Tells Clients What They Don't Want to Hear

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: Jay Kaplan, Co-Founder & Principal, Tuross Group

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Jay Kaplan — co-founder and principal of Tuross Group, an outsourced financial operations firm serving complex businesses across the U.S. — for a conversation that turns out to be as much about emotional intelligence as it is about finance.

With 15 years...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: Know Thyself First: The Self-Awareness Foundation Every Leader Needs in an AI World

Host: Dr. MJ Vignone

Episode Type: Solo — Teaching Episode

Episode Summary

In this solo teaching episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ goes deep on the first — and most foundational — competency of emotional intelligence: self-awareness. Building on conversations from earlier episodes about how rapidly AI is reshaping leadership, she makes a case that the smarter AI gets, the more essential it becomes for leaders to know themselves clearly.

This isn...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: The Human Spark: Why AI Needs You More Than You Need It

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: Jim Sterne, AI Business Strategist, Author & Founder, Digital Analytics Association

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Jim Sterne — author of fourteen books, consultant to the world's largest companies, and one of the most grounded voices in the AI conversation — to explore what artificial intelligence actually is, what it genuinely cannot do, and why the leaders who understand that distinction will b...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: AI as a Human Amplifier: Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, and the Time We're Getting Back

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: Mike Wald, Executive Coach, Brand Strategist & AI Integration Advisor

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Mike Wald — executive coach, trained anthropologist, and CMO of boutique marketing firm Oniracom — to explore what emotionally intelligent leadership actually looks like when AI is already inside the building.

With nearly 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, startups, and household brands...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: Words, Trust, and the Human Voice: Leading and Writing in the Age of AI

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: Valerie Cantella, Communication Strategist, Author & Book Coach

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Valerie Cantella — award-winning communication strategist, public service veteran, and book coach — to explore what happens to words, trust, and leadership identity when AI enters the picture.

With over 30 years of experience guiding elected officials, organizations, and individuals through high-stakes communication, Valerie brings a grou...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: Teaching the Machine to Care: AI, Grief, and the Future of Human Leadership

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: Kristina Galvez, Ph.D., Supply Chain Leader, Author & Founder of Grief Graceful

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Kristina Galvez — aerospace defense supply chain leader, psychologically trained entrepreneur, and author of Teaching the Machine to Care — to explore what happens when AI meets grief, humanity, and ethical leadership.

Kristina shares how she built Grief Graceful, a grief...

Episode Title

Leading with Humanity in Crisis: AI, Empathy, and Disaster Relief with Kerri Murray

Host

Dr. MJ

Guest

Kerri Murray — President of ShelterBox USA

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for an AI World, Dr. MJ sits down with Kerri Murray, President of ShelterBox USA, to explore what emotionally intelligent leadership looks like on the front lines of global humanitarian crises. Kerri shares how her organization responds to families displaced by war, earthquakes, hurricanes, and climate disasters by providing emergency sh...

Episode Title: AI Is Not Neutral: Leading with Awareness, Identity, and Responsibility

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: Dr. Okokon O. Udo, Leadership Scholar, Coach & Founder of SoulEngineering LLC

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Dr. Okokon O. Udo—a scholar, coach, and self-described “engineer of the soul”—to explore the deeper human implications of artificial intelligence.

Drawing from his experience designing a leadership program for an African audience, Dr. Udo shares how AI revealed hidden assumptions, cultural gaps, and systemic biases embedded within its outputs...

Show Notes: Heartwired – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Episode Title: The Creative Process in an AI World: Mindfulness, Trust, and Lateral Thinking

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: Kathy Leader, Founder of The Art Process Studio

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ speaks with Kathy Leader, founder of The Art Process Studio, about the role of creativity in an AI-driven world. Kathy shares her journey from being a visual artist and educator to creating a space where individuals and teams can explore creativity without the pressure of producing a perfect en...

Episode Title: Hiring for Authenticity: Emotional Intelligence, Discernment, and Building the Right Teams

Host: Dr. MJ

Guest: Julie Spear, CEO of Jewels Talent Solutions, LLC

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Julie Spear, CEO of Jewels Talent Solutions, LLC, to explore what it really takes to hire the right people in today’s fast-paced, AI-influenced hiring landscape. Drawing from over a decade of experience in recruiting, Julie shares how she moves beyond resumes and scripted answers to truly understand the person behind the candidate.

...

Host: Dr. MJ Guest: Jake Pasimi, Digital Marketing Strategist & Villanova University Professor

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Jake Pasimi—a leader with over 15 years of experience spanning D2C brands and SaaS martech—to discuss where technology meets humanity. Jake shares his "Batman" persona as a professor at Villanova University, where he has spent a decade teaching the next generation of leaders how to balance high-tech tools with high-touch emotional intelligence.

From the "Tree Metaphor" of prompt engineering to the ethical concerns of data privacy, Jake and...

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into how emotional intelligence empowers us as leaders in the rapidly advancing age of AI.

I have the privilege of sitting down with Noah Daniels, Senior Vice President of Market Development at Simpson Strong-Tie. Noah’s career is a remarkable journey that seamlessly blends technical expertise with a true people-first philosophy. He’s known for championing emotionally intelligent leadership and driving digital transformation in the traditionally structured world of manufacturing.

We explore Noah’s unique approach to integrating digital transformation within Simpson Strong-Tie, a 70-year-old manufacturing company that’s lea...

Welcome to HeartWired! I’m Dr. MJ, and today’s episode is packed with powerful insights for anyone curious (or a little apprehensive) about navigating the intersection of AI, leadership, and being authentically human in a tech-driven world.

Hilary Bilbrey is not just an award-winning author and speaker; she’s a true thought leader in emotional intelligence, resilience, and authentic leadership. Hilary’s work especially her book The Authenticity Key challenges us all to deepen self-awareness, lead with integrity, and leverage technology as a tool for good, not as a replacement for meaningful human interaction.

In this...

Welcome back to HeartWired! I’m Dr. MJ, your host, and in this episode, I’m joined by the remarkable Dr. Gemma Sharp, a powerhouse in the worlds of epidemiology, mental health, and ethical AI innovation. Gemma is not only a professor and globally-minded researcher but also the founder of the Global Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders and CEO of her own AI mental health technology company.

In this inspiring conversation, we dive deep into the intersection of mental health care and artificial intelligence. Dr. Gemma Sharp shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and charity lead...

Welcome back to another episode of HeartWired: the podcast where we explore how emotionally intelligent leadership can thrive in an AI-powered world. I’m your host, Dr. Mary Jean Vignone, and in this episode, we’re diving into the future of banking, risk, compliance, and the undeniable human element at the core of technological change.

In this insightful conversation, I sat down with Laurel Sykes, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at American Riviera Bank, a seasoned leader with over 30 years navigating regulatory shifts, mergers, and enterprise risk management in the banking sector. Together, we explore how...

Welcome to HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for an AI World! In this episode, I dive deep into the intersection of intuition, leadership, and artificial intelligence with the dynamic Deborah Deras. With three decades of corporate experience, a focus on AI education, and an inspiring outlook on emotionally intelligent leadership, Deborah brings a fresh perspective to today’s rapidly changing landscape.

We explore how leaders can cultivate and trust their intuition amid the noise of fear and fast-paced technological change, especially as AI is integrated into more aspects of our organizations and lives. Deborah’s stories, including her surp...

Welcome back to HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for an AI World! I’m Dr. Mary Jean Vignone, your host, and in this episode, we dive deep into the crossroads of technology, education, and emotional intelligence with our incredible guest, Alan Sitomer–award-winning educator, CEO of Mastery Coding, and author of 23 books.

Alan Sitomer’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. From his beginnings as a high school English teacher in inner-city LA to being named California Teacher of the Year, Alan now leads Mastery Coding, a company transforming computer science education for K-12. He’s also a member o...

Welcome back to HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for an AI World! I’m Dr. MJ, your host, and in this episode, we dive deep into where cutting-edge technology meets true human empathy in mental health. Joining me is the remarkable Mehek Mohan, co-founder of Kahani—a personalized, gamified recovery platform supporting people with eating disorders using evidence-based therapy and artificial intelligence.

Mehek brings a fascinating blend of experiences to the show. She’s a Stanford MBA graduate with a background in molecular biology from UC Berkeley, and has led AI initiatives in the pharmaceutical industry. Inspired by her pe...

Welcome back to HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for the AI World! I’m Dr. MJ, and in this insightful episode, we dive into how artificial intelligence is transforming one of America’s most beloved community organizations: the YMCA. This episode is all about blending heart and technology—showing how emotional intelligence and intentional governance can make AI work for people, not the other way around.

I’m thrilled to be joined by two incredible leaders: George Leis and Jorge Perez. George is a YMCA USA Board Chair, the EVP and Market President for CalPrivate Bank, and a trusted...

Welcome to another episode of HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership in an AI World! I’m Dr. Mary Jean Vignone, and today’s episode is extra special for me as I’m joined by my longtime mentor, coach, and true business visionary—Mark Sylvester.

Mark Sylvester is a thought leader with decades of experience at the cutting edge of technology and leadership. He is a Creativity Strategist, AI Innovation Leader, Executive Producer, TED/TEDx Veteran and Award-Winning Innovator.

He’s the mind behind the “dive in and discover” strategies that helped bring HeartWired to life, and he draws on hi...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for an AI World! I’m Dr. Mary Jean Vignone, and I’m so excited to kick off our journey into the intersection of technology and humanity. As your host, I’ve spent over 20 years coaching leaders from banking executives to emerging entrepreneurs, and I firmly believe that emotional intelligence is our greatest human superpower—especially as artificial intelligence transforms the way we live and work.

In this first episode, I dive deep into why emotional intelligence (EQ) matters more than ever in an AI-driven world. Drawing from my...

HeartWired: Emotionally-Intelligent Leadership for an AI World is the podcast where technology meets humanity, and where leadership requires more than just technical expertise. In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and algorithms, what truly sets us apart is our ability to connect, empathize, and lead with heart. This show explores what it means to be human in a tech-driven landscape—and why emotional intelligence (EQ) is the leadership skill that will determine who thrives in the AI era.

Hosted by Dr. MJ Vignone, a PhD in Human and Organizational Development with more than 20 years of le...