Episodi

  • Burnout, Breakthroughs, and Building People-First Teams: Career Lessons and Growth with Cindy Gordon

    Burnout, Breakthroughs, and Building People-First Teams: Career Lessons and Growth with Cindy Gordon
    Aug 5 2025

    On this episode of Pathfinders, we are joined by the one and only Cindy Gordon, Chief People Officer at Madison Energy Infrastructure. Cindy takes us on a wild, thoughtful, and inspiring career journey that includes wanting to be a dump truck driver, a fashion designer, AND a pro wrestler. (Yes, a triple threat if there ever was one.)

    Cindy shares how she navigated her career using curiosity, courage, and a willingness to follow what felt interesting, even when the path wasn’t linear. From studying psychology, nutrition, and zoology, to building her career at McKinsey over 15 years across roles in HR, recruiting, and professional development, Cindy crafted her own map by chasing what lit her up.

    We dig into how she transitioned from consulting into leadership at startups like Oscar Health and Policygenius, before starting her own consulting practice. Now, as the first-ever CPO at Madison Energy Infrastructure, she’s building a people-first function from the ground up.

    Cindy shares practical advice on building your personal board of advisors, battling burnout before it beats you, and the importance of asking for help; not as a sign of weakness but as a tool for growth. She drops wisdom on the power of reflection, proactive networking, and how even small wins can create big impact.

    Oh, and she’s also on an eternal quest for the world’s best chocolate chip cookie, croissant, and Neapolitan pizza. (New Yorkers, you’ll want to take notes!)
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    34 min
  • Beyond Borders and Benefits: Lessons in People-Centered Leadership with Zuzel Prieto

    Beyond Borders and Benefits: Lessons in People-Centered Leadership with Zuzel Prieto
    Jul 22 2025

    On this episode of Pathfinders, Pete Schramm sits down with Zuzel Prieto, a globally seasoned HR executive and co-founder of the People Advisory Group. With a career spanning continents, industries, and executive teams, Zuzel brings a powerful perspective on the value of career mapping, mentorship, and embracing the uncomfortable moments that drive real growth.

    Starting with a chalkboard and an imaginary classroom, Zuzel’s passion for teaching evolved into a purpose-driven career in HR; one rooted in developing people and driving organizational effectiveness. From her early days in labor relations at Liz Claiborne to leading complex global HR initiatives at Ralph Lauren, she’s seen the power of pairing people strategy with business goals firsthand.

    In this episode, Zuzel and Pete unpack two cornerstone concepts of professional development: the Career Map and the Personal Board of Advisors. Zuzel shares how these tools helped shape her own path, from shifting out of accounting into HR, to stepping into international leadership roles, sometimes by choice, sometimes by surprise. Her story reinforces a powerful message: growth often starts when we say “yes” to the unknown.

    They dive deep into the importance of foundational HR experience (union environments, retail roles), the criticality of mentorship across functions, and how leaders can help their teams spot and seize career-defining opportunities.

    Whether you’re navigating M&A transitions, considering an overseas assignment, or building out mentorship programs at scale, Zuzel shares candid, practical insights that are as relevant for HR pros as they are for business leaders.

    Today, Zuzel is helping organizations of all sizes with end-to-end people strategy, from onboarding to succession planning, through the People Advisory Group. Her advice? Stay open. Stay curious. And surround yourself with trusted advisors who challenge and champion you at every stage of your journey.

    This is an episode full of real talk, relatable lessons, and a few global travel stories for good measure. For anyone mapping out what’s next, Zuzel’s story is a masterclass in leading with heart, strategy, and a global mindset.
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    41 min
  • Nurture Before You Need: Building a Career of Purpose with Amy Bouque

    Nurture Before You Need: Building a Career of Purpose with Amy Bouque
    Jul 8 2025

    On this episode of the Pathfinders Podcast, Amy Bouque, Chief People Officer at Kelly Services, joins Pete Schramm for an insightful conversation on what it means to lead, grow, and navigate a meaningful career. From her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut to forging a career in labor relations, HR, and people leadership, Amy’s story is rooted in resilience, intentionality, and relationships.

    She opens up about how early mentors, especially a fourth-grade teacher who saw her potential, shaped her journey. Amy shares how her career evolved through the support of former leaders, emphasizing the importance of nurturing relationships before you need them. Her personal board of advisors has played a pivotal role in every major transition.

    Amy and Pete dive deep into the power of a career map and how, even though Amy spent years helping others build theirs, she realized she hadn’t fully formalized one for herself. They explore how creating clarity around career goals, skills, and relationships strengthens teams and reduces costly, unwanted turnover across organizations.

    If you’re looking for advice on navigating change, investing in relationships, and designing a career, and a life, with meaning, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, humor, and heart!
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    38 min
  • Coal Mines to Career Maps: Resilience, Mentorship, and Mapping a Career with Rob Thomas

    Coal Mines to Career Maps: Resilience, Mentorship, and Mapping a Career with Rob Thomas
    Jun 10 2025
    In this powerful episode of Pathfinders, host Pete Schramm talks with Rob Thomas, a Marine Corps veteran and HR leader whose career has spanned an extraordinary range of experiences—from underground coal mines to boardroom strategy. Rob’s professional journey didn’t follow a straight line. After growing up in a challenging environment with no clear blueprint for success, he pursued college, then shifted course to serve in the Marines. It was there, by the needs of the Corps, that he first stepped into a personnel administration role, unwittingly launching a career in HR that would later define his civilian life. When he left the military, Rob faced the same uncertainty many veterans experience in transitioning to the civilian workforce. He took on several retail and HR roles before making a bold move: working as an underground coal miner to support his family. That decision, while unconventional, led to an unexpected breakthrough: a hiring manager saw HR experience on his résumé and called him in for a corporate HR interview instead. That single conversation became a turning point, opening the door to a new chapter of professional development and leadership in the HR space. Throughout the episode, Rob reflects on the importance of self-awareness, mentorship, and strategic growth. He shares how informal mentors from his time in the military helped shape his thinking, and how having a long-term goal, becoming a senior HR leader by 2027, has guided his choices ever since. He encourages younger professionals to embrace discomfort, stay flexible, and use a “career map” to track their development. Rob also emphasizes the importance of regularly reviewing and adjusting that map, both as individuals and alongside trusted mentors or a personal board of advisors. Rob’s story is not just about upward mobility; it’s about resilience, transformation, and paying it forward. Now working on career navigation strategies inside his organization, he’s helping others build their own maps, showing that meaningful progress is possible, no matter how unexpected the path may be. His journey is a reminder that success is not always linear, and that leadership often comes from those who’ve learned to lead themselves through the hardest of transitions.
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    28 min
  • Redefining Leadership: Why Titles Don’t Matter with Divya Divaakaran

    Redefining Leadership: Why Titles Don’t Matter with Divya Divaakaran
    Jun 3 2025
    In this inspiring episode of Pathfinders, host Pete Schramm sits down with Divya Divakaran—award-winning HR strategist, author, fashion designer, and unapologetic champion of people-first leadership. Together, they explore how mapping your career journey and building a personal board of advisors can transform your professional path. Divya shares her unconventional leap from aspiring finance professional to HR trailblazer, reflecting on the power of curiosity, lateral learning, and strategic mentorship. She breaks down her approach to building high-performing teams, scaling impact in both startups and enterprises, and helping organizations design career pathways that actually retain talent. You’ll also hear the story behind her book From Paper Pushers to Strategic Partners, her take on why HR belongs in the boardroom, and why she believes leadership has nothing to do with titles—and everything to do with action. Whether you’re an HR leader, business executive, or curious career climber, this episode is packed with insights that will challenge how you think about growth, culture, and people strategy. Tune in to learn how to turn talent into traction—and HR into a strategic superpower.
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    35 min
  • The People Path: Talent into Transformation with Colleen Capel

    The People Path: Talent into Transformation with Colleen Capel
    May 27 2025
    On this episode of the Pathfinders Podcast, Pete sits down with Colleen Capel, founder of Leap Leadership Solutions, and a true people-first leader. Colleen’s career didn’t start with a plan to land in HR. In fact, she wanted to be an actress named Tess. But life had other plans, and her first role in talent acquisition changed everything. Colleen shares how she built a career focused on culture, talent, and leadership, and how along the way, she began forming her Personal Board of Advisors (PBA). It didn’t happen overnight or through formal asks, but through intentional relationships and mutual trust. She breaks down the difference between mentors and sponsors, how to approach mentorship with clarity, and why the right relationships can change the course of your career. We also dive into the power of a Career Map, where your roles, skills, achievements, education, and yes, the fun stuff, all connect to tell your story. Colleen explains how she mapped her own journey and why every professional, no matter their level, should be doing the same. And of course, we talk about her leap into entrepreneurship. On March 16, 2024, a leap year, Colleen launched Leap Leadership Solutions to help companies develop leaders, build cohesive teams, and engage employees in meaningful ways. It’s the culmination of everything she’s learned about leadership that lasts. This episode is filled with practical takeaways for HR leaders, career climbers, and anyone building a more intentional professional path.
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    36 min
  • Our Deepest Fear Is Playing Small: Lessons from the HR Frontlines with Zane Zumbahlen

    Our Deepest Fear Is Playing Small: Lessons from the HR Frontlines with Zane Zumbahlen
    May 13 2025
    On this episode of Pathfinders, Pete talks with Zane Zumbahlen, a former IBM executive, current CPO, and lifelong space enthusiast whose career path is anything but ordinary. Zane dreamed of becoming an astronaut but pivoted from physics to people. That path led him to roles at IBM, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and beyond, each shaped by moments of reflection, feedback, and mentorship. Pete and Zane explore the Career Matrix, a powerful way Zane mapped his growth across business functions and leadership styles. He also shares how an early tough performance review became a turning point, helping him shift from reactive to strategic leadership. A big theme in this episode: the Personal Board of Advisors (PBA). Zane still leans on his IBM brain trust and emphasizes that trusted voices are critical for navigating transitions. He’s also passionate about helping people see their future clearly. Because when employees understand where they’re going, engagement and performance follow. Zane gets real about speaking up, owning your story, and turning vulnerability into strength. Whether you’re leading change or managing your own growth, this episode is a playbook for building trust, clarity, and confidence at every level of your career.
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    31 min
  • Jack of All Trades: Leadership Lessons from the Golf Course to HR with John Bernatovicz

    Jack of All Trades: Leadership Lessons from the Golf Course to HR with John Bernatovicz
    Apr 29 2025
    This week on the Pathfinders Podcast, Pete Schramm welcomes John Bernatovicz, entrepreneur, author of HR Like a Boss, and founder of Willory, a leading HR and payroll staffing and consulting firm. John’s career kicked off with a dream of professional golf (he even beat Tiger Woods once!). But after realizing he wouldn’t break into the top 1%, he pivoted, first into sales at ADP, then into building a business that merges people, purpose, and performance. Pete and John dig into the Career Map and the Personal Board of Advisors (PBA). John breaks down his PBA, from his golf coach and therapist to his leadership mentor and family circle, sharing how each one brings perspective and keeps him grounded. We talk about accountability, building systems that outlive you, and John’s belief that leadership is a process of showing up consistently, getting better at the basics, and never shortcutting the fundamentals. He also shares how HR Like a Boss went from book to national movement, giving HR professionals the recognition and influence they deserve. This episode is a must-listen for HR pros, founders, or anyone trying to improve just 1% every day.
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    37 min