In this episode of The People Dividend, Mike Horne speaks with Anya Cheng, former product leader at Target, Meta, eBay, and McDonald's, and founder/CEO of Tailor AI. They explore why execution gets harder as organizations scale, how clarity breaks down in large companies, and why leaders often confuse data, metrics, and alignment with true decision-making.

Key Points:

• Execution becomes harder as organizations grow.

• Data alone has limits in decision-making.

• Clarity can break down inside large organizations.

• Goals, tactics, strategy, and mission are not the same thing.

• Teams slow down when they do not share a common goal.

• Alignment improves when leaders agree on selection criteria first.

• Startup life moves faster and feels more intense than big tech.

• AI can create noise when it is not paired with unique company data.

• Context and transitions matter more in today's workplace.

Links:

Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin

Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com

Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/,

LinkedIn Mike's Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/,

Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike

Learn More about Anya Cheng: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anyacheng/

https://taeler.ai

In this episode, Mike Horne hosts Daniel Doerksen to explore why leadership advice often doesn't translate into organizational performance. They discuss the psychological and cultural barriers to effective leadership, the importance of self-awareness, and practical strategies for closing the gap between knowing and doing to drive sustainable success.

Key Points:

• Knowing what to do is not enough; lasting change depends on turning insight into consistent behavior.

• Decision-making is often shaped by unconscious needs and emotional drivers rather than logic alone.

• Self-awareness and honest feedback are essential for improving leadership impact.

• Organizational culture strongly shapes behavior, performance, and the success of strategy.

• Traditional leadership development often fails because it does not create lasting behavioral change.

• Reflection, experiential learning, and clarity around purpose and values are key to closing the knowing-doing gap.

Links:

Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin

Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com

Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/,

LinkedIn Mike's Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/,

Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike

Learn More about Daniel Doerksen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielanthonydoerksen/ https://www.achievecentre.com

In this week's episode, host Mike Horne sits down with Monique Kelley to explore how modern career success is shaped by relationships, trust, and intentional networking. They discuss why authentic connection-building can open doors that credentials alone may not. The conversation also highlights practical ways to strengthen your network in a hybrid and AI-influenced workplace.

Key Points:

• Opportunity is increasingly influenced by relationship-building rather than skills alone.

• Monique shares why giving value first is the foundation of effective networking.

• Diverse and inclusive networks can improve access and fairness.

• Practical tips are offered for building genuine relationships in a hybrid work environment.

• Trust and vulnerability are presented as important ingredients for professional growth.

• The episode also examines how AI bias can affect visibility and opportunity creation.

Links:

Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin

Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com

Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/,

LinkedIn Mike's Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/,

Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike

Learn More about Monique Kelley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquekelleygigliotti/ https://www.redefiningnetworkingbook.com/

In this episode, host Mike Horne talks with Fleet Maull, founder of the HeartMind Institute, who shares insights on how leaders can harness radical responsibility and self-regulation to excel under stress. Discover practical tools to improve decision-making, reduce drama, and lead with clarity and compassion.

Key Points:

• Leaders must regulate their nervous systems to respond effectively under pressure.

• Radical responsibility involves owning all choices and circumstances.

• Expanding the window of tolerance is crucial for stress resilience.

• Recognizing and breaking free from the drama triangle can transform organizational culture.

• Leaders can make immediate shifts to stay grounded and lead optimally.

Links:

Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin

Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com

Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/,

LinkedIn Mike's Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/,

Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike

Learn More about Fleet Maull: https://www.fleetmaull.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fleetmaull/

In this week's episode, host Mike Horne sits down with returning guest Marilee Adams to explore how the quality of questions leaders ask can transform thinking, relationships, and organizational culture. The discussion delves into practical insights from her book Change Your Questions, Change Your Life, revealing the mental models, mindsets, and strategies leaders need for greater influence and innovation.

Key Points:

• The power of questions can significantly impact leadership and decision-making.

• Marilee Adams explains the difference between Judger and Learner mindsets, highlighting their effects on leadership.

• Curiosity and inquiry can foster trust, psychological safety, and innovation within organizations.

• Practical tools like the choice map are introduced to help develop questioning skills effectively.

Links:

Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin

Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com

Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/,

LinkedIn Mike's Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/,

Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike

Learn More about Marilee Adams: linkedin.com/in/marileeadams

inquiryinstitute.com

In this episode, host Mike Horne talks with sales leader and leadership coach John Donnelly about the true drivers of performance in organizations. They explore how mindset, grit, clear vision, and intentional leadership foster execution and resilience through market shifts and personal challenges—culminating in actionable tips for immediate impact.

Key Points:

• Mindset and grit play crucial roles in achieving successful performance, especially in disruptive industries like mortgage lending.

• Pressure reveals and tests organizational systems and culture.

• Intentional one-on-one meetings and personalized engagement are powerful tools.

• Understanding team members' love languages and what motivates them is significant.

• John's journey to climbing Kilimanjaro symbolizes goal-setting, training, and disciplined effort.

Links:

Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin

Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com

Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/,

LinkedIn Mike's Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/,

Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike

Learn More about John Donnelly: https://johndonnelly.com/

linkedin.com/in/thejohndonnelly

In this week's episode, host Mike Horne sits down with Founder & CEO of Miller Advisory Partners, Jason Miller, to explore how organizational success hinges not on strategy alone, but on effective execution. Jason shares practical insights, system designs, and leadership behaviors that drive consistent performance and sustainable results.

Key Points:

• Many organizations mistakenly believe they have a strategy problem when, in fact, they face challenges with execution.

• Execution drift, decision friction, and accountability variability are significant barriers to achieving optimal performance.

• The "execution gap" is a critical concept that highlights the financial impact of poor execution on businesses.

• Changing and reinforcing leadership behavior is essential for achieving desired results.

• Small, continuous "one-degree redirects" are crucial for maintaining long-term alignment within an organization.

Links:

Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin

Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com

Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/,

LinkedIn Mike's Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/,

Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike

Learn More about Jason Miller: linkedin.com/in/jrmiller21

In this week's episode, host Mike Horne explores how leaders can thrive amidst rapid change, ambiguity, and emotional turbulence. He emphasizes the importance of "calm authority"—a leadership style grounded in judgment, steadiness, and humanity—to create environments where people can perform their best despite uncertainty.

Key Points:

• Leadership is shifting from a focus on activity to a focus on judgment and environmental influence.

• Traditional leadership qualities can fall short in modern complexity.

• "Calm Authority" offers a disciplined and intentional approach to leadership.

• Leaders' emotional states influence the organizational climate.

• Leaders must create clarity even when the future is uncertain.

• Trust and effective conditions help teams perform at their best.

• The environment shapes both leadership behavior and organizational culture.

• Judgment, discernment, humility, and curiosity are qualities that cannot be outsourced.

Links:

Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin

Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com

Learn More About Executive and Organization Development with Mike Horne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikehorneauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehorneauthor/,

LinkedIn Mike's Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6867258581922799617/,

Schedule a Discovery Call with Mike: https://calendly.com/mikehorne/15-minute-discovery-call-with-mike