Join us as we kick off Part One of our one-year anniversary special, celebrating some of the most impactful conversations and insights that have shaped Nexus at UCF over the past year.

In this special anniversary edition of Nexus at UCF, we revisit standout conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, educators, and industry leaders to explore entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of business. From building resilient startups and embracing calculated risk to leveraging AI, fostering workplace culture, mentorship, and adaptability, this anniversary compilation highlights some of the most valuable lessons shared by our guests throughout Nexus at UCF's first year. As Part One of our anniversary celebration, this episode reflects on the ideas, experiences, and perspectives that continue to shape the future of business.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:17 Leadership: How to Succeed

03:55 Leadership: The Required Character & Perseverance

06:22 Advice: Facing storms and taking opportunities

08:47 Advice: Taking risks and finding your passion

10:25 Advice: Problem solving and being fully immersed

13:28 Advice: Joining communities and organization alignment

15:08 (Outro) – Thank you for listening!

🔗 Connect with Us
🌐 Website: https://nexusatucf.wixsite.com/nexus-at-ucf
💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nexusatucf
📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nexusatucf
🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nexusatucf
▶️ More episodes: https://youtube.com/@nexusatucf
🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

🔗 Connect with UCF
🏛️ College of Business Website: https://business.ucf.edu/
📊 College of Business on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucf-college-of-business/posts/?feedView=all

🌐 UCF Website: https://www.ucf.edu/
💼 UCF on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/posts/?feedView=all

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay connected to the future of business.

What does it take to become a leader people actually want to follow?

From emotional intelligence to mentorship and resilience, this conversation explores the skills that make leadership transferable and impactful across industries evolving workplace.

In this episode of Nexus at UCF, host Luke Kelly sits down with Jamie Merrill, the president and CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, to explore leadership development, emotional intelligence, and transferable leadership skills and how they’re shaping the future of business. From mentorship and feedback to adaptability and resilience through failure, this conversation dives deep into innovation, leadership, and its evolving role across nonprofit organizations, healthcare, and business environments.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Nexus + Meet Jamie Merrill
01:44 The importance of listening
02:30 Taking criticism + Being an approachable leader
05:34 Confidence is not innate, it's built up
06:45 Accountability + How to handle feedback
13:31 Why everyone needs mentorship + How to utilize a mentor correctly
15:54 How to get a mentor!
18:06 Learn to fail successfully + Jamie's push pull strategy
21:00 Be present with your employees
22:50 Leadership books, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset
28:42 Jamie's last pieces of advice + her most ambitious career choice
33:17 Outro – Thank you for listening!

🔗 Connect with Us
🌐 Website: https://nexusatucf.wixsite.com/nexus-at-ucf
💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nexusatucf
📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nexusatucf
🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nexusatucf
▶️ More episodes: https://youtube.com/@nexusatucf

🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

🔗 Connect with UCF
🏛️ College of Business Website: https://business.ucf.edu/
📊 College of Business on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucf-college-of-business/posts/?feedView=all
🌐 UCF Website: https://www.ucf.edu/
💼 UCF on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/posts/?feedView=all

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay connected to the future of business.

#NexusatUCF #BusinessInnovation #Podcast #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #Mentorship #CareerGrowth #FutureLeaders

What if your side hustle could actually give you more energy instead of draining it?

In this episode of Nexus at UCF, host Natalie Broadhurst sits down with Dr. Jim Gallo, Faculty Talent Management at UCF / Human Resources Principals Professor, to explore the role of side hustles in career development and personal growth, and how it’s shaping the future of business. From time management and prioritization strategies to career exploration through side hustles, this conversation dives deep into innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of human resources and workforce development.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Teaser

00:34 Welcome to Nexus + Meet Jim Gallo

01:49 What is a side hustle? How do you get into it?

04:12 The benefits of side hustles + How to balance it

10:17 Utilizing your side hustles’ benefits for your career

17:01 Career shifts: How to utilize side hustles to find your passion

19:54 Beginner mistakes made in taking on side hustles

22:04 Have your side hustle recharge you, not stress you!

27:04 Early career mentality: Build a foundation of long-term payoffs & explore opportunities

31:56 Summarizing concepts + Closing thoughts

34:01 (Outro) – Thank you for listening!

🔗 Connect with Us
🌐 Website: https://nexusatucf.wixsite.com/nexus-at-ucf

💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nexusatucf
📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nexusatucf
🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@nexusatucf
▶️ More episodes: https://youtube.com/@nexusatucf

🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

🔗 Connect with UCF

🏛️ College of Business Website: https://business.ucf.edu/

📊 College of Business on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucf-college-of-business/posts/?feedView=all

🌐 UCF Website: https://www.ucf.edu/

💼 UCF on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/posts/?feedView=all

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay connected to the future of business.