In this episode of The Manager’s Mic, I speak with Francie Jain, CEO of Terrawatt and a Princeton University graduate, about how coaching transforms the workplace. Francie shares her journey building a B2B marketplace for coaching and unpacks the direct links between professional development and employee retention. From navigating remote work to fostering psychological safety, this conversation delivers powerful insights for leaders looking to drive performance through people.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why professional development is essential to retaining top talent

• How coaching reduces turnover and improves company culture

• Psychological safety in team performance

• Truths about remote work

• What makes a great coach and why it matters
  

Favorite quotes:

• “You have to be changing to grow.”

• “What got you here won’t get you there.”
  

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Francie Jain and Terrawatt

02:30 Francie's Journey and the Birth of Terrawatt

04:58 The Value of Professional Development

06:51 Understanding Employee Turnover

09:18 Expanding Beyond Healthcare

11:40 Common Challenges in Coaching

13:55 Psychological Safety in the Workplace

16:07 The Debate on Remote Work

18:28 Creativity in Employee Engagement

20:43 Addressing Criticism of Remote Work

24:10 Exploring Virtual Best Practices

26:17 The Impact of Virtual Work on Productivity

29:14 Cost Savings Through Employee Retention

31:19 Defining a Good Coach

35:59 Personal Growth Through Coaching

38:35 Building a Values-Driven Business

39:42 Connecting with Francie Jain

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Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Manager's Mic, I converse with my wife, who shares her experience while we discuss insights from a Korn Ferry article emphasizing the "No-Nos for New Managers." Our conversation also touches on the balance between being too nice and mean as a leader, and the necessity of clear communication and understanding individual team members' needs.

Reference:

Korn Ferry. (2025 Apr. 25th). 7 No-Nos New Bosses Should Avoid. Article. ⁠Link.⁠

Chapters:

00:00 Who is Tricia Leon, Ph.D?

02:25 Tricia's Professional Journey

05:01 The Importance of Management Training

09:51 Avoiding the Know-It-All Mentality

20:17 Making Thoughtful Decisions

28:15 Navigating Change Management

31:26 Navigating Change in Higher Education

34:26 The Importance of Authentic Leadership

36:34 Learning from Past Experiences

39:43 Fresh Perspectives in the Workplace

41:06 Valuing Your Team

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Welcome to The Manager’s Mic, hosted by Paul Leon, a sales enablement trainer, MBA candidate, and selling strategist. I was a former college dropout who has now trained over 2,000 professionals.

This podcast will help you develop management skills that foster rapport in the workplace. You will also gain real-world leadership insights, communication skill strategies, and lessons from the trenches.

Follow Paul Leon:

⁠Newsletter | ⁠YouTube⁠ | Discord | LinkedIn⁠ | Website

Welcome to The Manager’s Mic, hosted by Paul Leon, a sales enablement trainer, MBA candidate, and selling strategist. I was a former college dropout who has now trained over 2,000 professionals.

This podcast will help you develop management skills that foster rapport in the workplace. You will also gain real-world leadership insights, communication skill strategies, and lessons from the trenches.

Chapters

00:00 Creating Engaging Participant Guides

03:11 Understanding Adult Learning Needs

06:04 Facilitating Effective Training Experiences

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⁠⁠Newsletter |⁠ YouTube⁠⁠ | ⁠Discord⁠ ⁠| LinkedIn⁠⁠ |⁠ Website

In this conversation, I discuss strategies for reviving dead leads in the sales process.

Welcome to The Manager’s Mic, hosted by Paul Leon, a sales enablement trainer, MBA candidate, and selling strategist. I was a former college dropout who has now trained over 2,000 professionals.

This podcast will help you develop management skills that foster rapport in the workplace. You will also gain real-world leadership insights, communication skill strategies, and lessons from the trenches.

Follow Paul Leon:

⁠Newsletter | YouTube⁠ | Discord | LinkedIn⁠ | Website

Summary

In this episode of the Manager's Mic podcast, Paul Leon discusses three critical mistakes that can lead to a toxic workplace culture. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing performance over personal relationships, giving credit where it's due, and focusing on praise rather than punishment. Through personal anecdotes and insights, Paul offers valuable lessons for managers seeking to create a healthier work environment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Toxic Culture in Management

02:28 The Importance of Performance Over Personal Relationships

04:52 The Dangers of Taking Credit for Others' Work

05:51 The Need for Praise Over Punishment

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Summary

In this conversation, Fadi shares his journey from personal training to becoming a business growth architect, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, leadership, and pursuing dreams. He discusses his unique approach to helping founders achieve significant ROI through strategic business practices and the value of understanding one's capacity for growth. Fadi also reflects on the impact of personal experiences and the importance of vulnerability in leadership. In this conversation, we discuss the importance of positive thinking, purpose over profit, and the impact of workplace toxicity. He shares insights on the roles of CEOs and founders, the concept of bridge loans, and the significance of gratitude in personal and professional life. The discussion also touches on personal growth, self-reflection, and the emotional connections necessary for effective leadership.

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Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | X

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Networking in the Digital Age

00:49 Fadi's Journey: From Fitness to Finance

03:11 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership

05:24 The Evolution of Fadi's Career and Business Strategies

08:04 Understanding ROI and the 100X Strategy

10:39 Leadership Lessons from Personal Experiences

13:15 The Role of Vulnerability in Effective Leadership

16:26 Building Trust and Relationships in Business

19:02 The Art of Leading

21:58 Scaling Businesses: The Importance of Documentation

24:20 Identifying Target Markets

36:22 Maximizing Capacity for Business Growth

38:50 The Importance of Relationships in Business

39:21 The Impact of Aspirations

42:32 The Journey of Learning

44:12 The Role of Authenticity in Business

46:15 Understanding the Cost of Employee Turnover

48:05 Cultural Perspectives on Wealth and Happiness

51:00 The Value of Training and Development

56:12 The Importance of Purpose Over Profit

58:26 Navigating the Corporate Landscape

01:03:58 Understanding Bridge Loans Simplified

01:10:51 The Illusion of Home Ownership

01:13:58 Experiences Over Material Wealth

01:15:23 The Journey of Personal Growth

01:19:53 The Power of Gratitude

01:24:11 Building Meaningful Relationships

01:29:56 The Art of Writing Love Letters

01:34:18 Empowerment Through Recognition

01:42:08 The Rich Mindset

In this podcast, I discuss converting leads into quality consultations through effective consultative sales strategies. Emphasizing the importance of aligning the marketing and sales value propositions to enhance customer experience and improve conversion rates. Sharing personal anecdotes and insights, I provide actionable advice for businesses to evaluate and refine their value propositions, ensuring they resonate with potential clients and lead to successful sales outcomes.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Consultative Sales

01:02 Understanding the Value Proposition

01:48 Marketing vs. Sales Value Proposition

04:28 Aligning Marketing and Sales for Success

06:45 Qualifying Prospects Effectively

Helpful Source:

Kotler, P., Rackham, N. & Krishnaswamy, S. (2006 July-August). Ending The War Between Sales and Marketing. Harvard Business Review.

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