Episode 116: Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Every Conversation – Even in an AI World

Amy Jacobson is an EI and human behaviour specialist, delivering emotional intelligence programs, keynotes & workshops across Australia internationally. She is a twice Wiley-published author of 'Emotional Intelligence: A simple and actionable guide to increasing performance, engagement and ownership', and the new book ‘The Emotional Intelligence Advantage: Mastering change and difficult conversations’. Amy is a sought-after media commentator whose mission is to break down misconceptions around E.I., help people to increase their emotional intelligence and create purpose-driven teams who get results! Guest: Amy Jacobson: Emotional Intelligence Specialist https://www.linkedin.com/company/finding-your-y/about/   Hosts: Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/ Lena Scullard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenascullard/   INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only. 

Jeffery Robinson is the Senior Program Director at Build Wealth MN, where he leads financial education, coaching, workforce development, and housing counseling programs that help families build stability and generational wealth. His work is rooted in his personal mantra: “Because Somebody Did It for Me.” A graduate of the University of Minnesota–Morris, Jeffery co-founded Imani, a student organization supporting Black men on a predominantly white campus. Before joining Build Wealth, he spent over 20 years as a Senior Quality Control Mortgage Underwriter, evaluating mortgage-backed securities across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and abroad, experience that gave him a deep understanding of the financial barriers families face. Jeffery first came to Build Wealth as a client seeking support for his own family. Inspired by the transformation he experienced, he became a volunteer, contractor, coach, and ultimately Senior Program Director, now helping thousands move toward financial stability. When he’s not meeting with clients or strengthening programs, you’ll find Jeffery running the trails of Minneapolis and St. Paul, training for his next marathon, both in life and on the pavement. Eric Howell is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, workforce strategist, and innovator with over 15 years of experience advancing economic empowerment and career mobility across diverse communities. As the Senior Innovation & Expansion Director at Build Wealth MN, he oversees the flagship Pathways to Increase Employment & Earnings Potential (PEEP) workforce program and has been instrumental in taking Build Wealth’s Financial Stabilization Program Online curriculum to national scale. Eric leads statewide and national strategies that integrate workforce development, financial wellness, and technology—strengthening talent pipelines and expanding opportunities for individuals and families. Prior to this role, he served as Director of Workforce, Wealth, and Housing Solutions, and Operations at the Urban League Twin Cities, and he is the founder of the Urban Tech Institute, a virtual IT training school supporting learners of African descent. A dynamic national and international speaker and professional actor, Eric engages audiences with powerful insights on leadership, innovation, motivation, and community transformation. Passionate about creating sustainable pathways to success, he champions collaborative solutions that uplift families, strengthen organizations, and drive measurable, lasting change. Guests: Jeffery Robinson | Senior Program Director  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffery-robinson-905643206/ Eric Howell | Innovation and Development Strategist | Career and Organizational Management Consultant | Public Speaker & Facilitator | Educator https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericchowell/ Host: Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/ INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only. 

Paul DeBettignies, better known online as Minnesota Headhunter, is a Minnesota IT Recruiter who builds IT teams with startups and tech companies, creates recruiting strategies for Fortune 500 clients, author of the Minnesota Headhunter blog, the longest running regional recruiter blog and an Advisor to ToggleGreen. He is a frequent local and national speaker, trainer and subject matter expert on recruiter, HR, career, networking and social media topics. Recent activities include presentations at Twin Cities Startup Week, Google for Entrepreneurs, Michigan Recruiters Conference, University of Minnesota, CHS, MinneBar and ERE and interviews with NPR, WCCO AM (CBS) Radio & TV, KSTP TV (ABC), MSP Business Journal, Minneapolis StarTribune and Dice.com Paul is involved in the Minneapolis and St Paul technology, marketing and social media communities as a sponsor, volunteer and mentor and is the founder of Midwest Recruiting Bootcamp. Guest: Paul DeBettignies | Senior Talent Strategist & Advisor | Speaker | MN tech Scene Advocate | https://www.linkedin.com/in/mnheadhunter/ Hosts: Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/ Lena Scullard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenascullard/ INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only. 

A 6-time award-winning keynote speaker Meredith Breitstein tours the world encouraging leaders to step into their destiny, walk through fear, and SHINE by finding their courage. She specializes in helping teams, and her audiences speak up, stand out, and command a room with their presence. After coaching thousands of leaders she has learned there are 5 steps all of us can take to level UP and start right away. In her most requested Keynote Meredith teaches her 5-step framework to reveal how all teams and leaders can S. H. I. N. E. In Meredith's TEDx talk "Don't waste a minute, shine RIGHT NOW" she inspires her audiences to take fast, committed action to show up powerfully so they can SHINE after adversity. She is frequently hired as a Motivational Speaker, Emcee, and a Leadership Trainer for organizations to help leaders and teams standout and SHINE. She loves teaching clients how to level up their courage to power up their presence and be SEEN! Guest: Meredith Breitstein | Motivational Keynote Speaker, Master Leadership Trainer, TV Talk Show Host  | https://www.linkedin.com/in/themeredithshow/ Contact info:   o Email: [email protected]  Hosts: Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/ Lena Scullard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenascullard/ INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only. 

Rick Rittmaster is a Leadership and Talent Development expert who leads the Leadership Solutions practice at Strategic Talent Partners and is a Co-Founder at Groveland Leadership. With over a decade of experience partnering with CEOs and senior executives, he helps organizations enhance leadership capability and drive sustainable growth. Rick is known for his unique ability to make complex leadership strategies attainable and actionable. He designs practical solutions that not only address the root causes of leadership challenges but also resonate across organizations, bringing leadership development to broader audiences. He holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology and has spent more than 10 years in Talent Management roles with companies including UnitedHealth, MTS Systems, and Starkey Hearing Technologies. Rick regularly presents at national leadership conferences, webinars, and industry panels, sharing insights on leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and talent strategy. Guest: Rick Rittmaster | Leadership & Talent Development Expert at Strategic Talent Partners, and Co-Founder at Groveland Leadership | linkedin.com/in/richardrittmaster Contact info:   o Email: [email protected] Hosts: Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/ Becky Lauseng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-lauseng/ INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only. 

Heather Polivka helps leaders create workplaces where people thrive, great talent stays, and businesses grow. Whether clients are responding to a changing talent market, fueling high growth, or navigating accelerated change, Heather guides leaders to cultivate a way of working that fuels their business and empowers their people. She has been doing that for more than two decades at companies of all sizes. Her journey includes leadership roles at major brands such as Target—where she spent a decade in product management and development—and the Lenox Group, where she served as Managing Director of Product Marketing, honing her expertise in consumer behavior and brand strategy. Guest: Heather Polivka | Founder & CEO of Awesome People Leaders | https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherpolivka/ Contact info:   o Email:  [email protected]  o Schedule Time with me at: https://meetings.hubspot.com/heatherpapl/meetings o LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherpolivka/ o Our website:  https://www.awesomepeopleleaders.com/ Hosts: Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/ Becky Lauseng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-lauseng/ INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only. 

Lena Scullard and Becky Lauseng welcomed employment attorney Kate Bischoff to discuss employee handbooks, which she defined as documents setting expectations and guidance distinct from tactical policy manuals. Kate advised that HR should determine the handbook's tone to match the company culture, use the document to drive cultural change, and review the handbook annually, ideally from back to front and through the perspective of an employee needing guidance. Key recommendations included ensuring harassment and essential EEO policies are prominently featured, avoiding broad off-the-clock conduct language, and keeping the handbook concise (less than 35 pages) by removing specific policy details like employment classifications, lengthy discipline policies, and temporary trend topics like returning to the office. Guest: Kate Bischoff | Employee Attorney & HR Professional | https://www.linkedin.com/in/k8bisch Resources: Website: http://www.k8bisch.com Kate's LinkedIn Learning Session on Employee Handbooks: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/human-resources-creating-an-employee-handbook-26129200 Email: [email protected] Hosts: Becky Lauseng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-lauseng/ Lena Scullard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenascullard/ INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only. 

Eric Harkins is the President and Founder of GKG Search & Outplacement, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm that helps organizations Get, Keep & Grow talent. He is also an Amazon #1 best-selling author of: Great Leaders Make Sure Monday Morning Doesn’t Suck. His goal is simple: Help every company he works with make sure Monday morning doesn’t suck for their employees. Eric is a motivational speaker, consultant, executive-coach, and an expert in helping companies create a culture high performers want to be a part of.  During his 25-year career in corporate America, Eric held leadership roles ranging from Manager to Chief Human Resources and Chief Administrative Officer.  Guest: Eric Harkins | President and Founder of GKG Search & Outplacement | https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-harkins-3144296/ Resources: https://ericharkins.com https://www.amazon.com/Great-Leaders-Monday-Morning-Doesnt/dp/1950863832/ Hosts: Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/ Becky Lauseng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-lauseng/ INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only. 

Tiffany McDaniel, an Absence Consultant at Brown and Brown, explained the new Minnesota paid leave program, which takes effect on January 1st. Tiffany explained that employees are eligible for up to 20 weeks of paid time off with job and benefit protection for various reasons, including caring for a family member, bonding with a child, or their own serious health condition. Tiffany McDaniel also clarified employer options for administering the program, communication requirements, and eligibility for different family structures, including fostering, adoption, and surrogacy, addressing concerns raised by Becky Lauseng and Lena Scullard. The main talking points were program eligibility, employer responsibilities, and specific provisions for new parents and diverse family definitions. Guest: Tiffany McDaniel: Absence Consultant at Brown & Brown https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-mcdaniel-clms-790394205 Resources: https://paidleave.mn.gov/ Hosts: Becky Lauseng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-lauseng/ Lena Scullard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenascullard/ INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only. 

Becky Lauseng and Jay Olson introduced Keynote Speaker, Janice Litvin, who defined burnout as chronic, unmanaged work leading to complete mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion, impacting organizational productivity and employee retention. Janice emphasized that individual awareness, effective managerial support, setting boundaries, and a top-down culture of well-being are crucial in preventing burnout. Her final message was to "know yourself and know your people," encouraging connection with professional communities. Janice Litvin, Founder of Banish Burnout Academy, is a keynote speaker, author, and workplace wellness consultant who helps organizations prevent burnout and build thriving teams. With a career spanning software consulting, tech recruiting, and workplace well-being, Janice knows what it takes to keep people engaged and motivated under pressure. She is the author of Banish Organizational Burnout: 26 Tips for Managers and Banish Burnout Toolkit. Known for her interactive, high-energy style, Janice equips leaders and managers with practical tools to strengthen culture, coach with emotional intelligence, and help employees stay in the game. Her sessions inspire teams to move from stress to success—boosting retention, productivity, and morale. Guest: Janice Litvin | Founder of Banish Burnout Academy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicelitvin Resources: Free Banish Organizational Burnout: 26 Tips for Managers is available at: https://janicelitvin.com/resources-book/ The Burnout Cycle Self-Check is available at: https://janicelitvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Burnout-Cycle-Self-Check-Janice-Litvin-Banish-Burnout-Academy.pdf Hosts: Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/ Becky Lauseng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-lauseng/ INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email [email protected]. Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels. Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member Attend a TCSHRM Event Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.  © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only.