BusinessManagementSociety & Culture

Conflict Managed

Merry Brown

Conflict Managed is a podcast about toxic workplaces and how to fix them. Listen to stories of dysfunction and triumph from different walks of life and professions. Join us on the journey as we talk about the good, bad, and ugly of our work environments and discuss a vision for the future of human-centered workplaces where people are not only treated with dignity and respect but encouraged to be their brilliant selves. Managing Conflict is not magic, though it takes intentional and sustained planning for health to win over chaos in any environment. Conflict is normal and expected. Let’s deal with it.

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#232
Tuesday · 1 hr 3 min
Ep 232, The Community of Work: When Values Become Culture
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Bernardo Ruiz. Together we explore: Courage to try something new Moving past the “bootstraps” myth to see and help each other Working to make money The community of work Owning our part in workplace culture Recognizing past harm while moving forward Conflict as a gift Giving people the resources they need to succeed Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration. Bernardo Ruiz has spent more than twenty-five years helping organizations change what they believe about themselves. As CEO of Bridging International Consulting Collective, he works with foundations, companies, and governments across fifteen countries on questions of race, culture, and leadership. He is also a Curandero, a Medicine Man in the Mexica tradition, who cares for his community through sacred plant medicine, ancestral recovery ceremonies, and limpias. His work joins two things most institutions keep apart: rigorous organizational science and ancestral wisdom. He is at work on a trilogy that carries the same conviction — that the world heals when these two ways of knowing stop competing and start speaking to each other. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast #Confllict
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#231
October 6 · 59 min
Ep 231, What Is Needed Now?
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Kathy Coffey Solberg. Together we explore: Incremental action and rebuilding trust Channeling the energy of leaders who love change Preparing for difficult conversations Why it’s always personal to the person The role of preparation in creating and implementing systems “What do we agree on?” as a path toward fruitful progress Finding neutral ground instead of common ground Keeping conversations going instead of shutting people down The challenges and opportunities of middle management Kathy’s new book, Reweaving What Matters: Practical Tools for Workplace Transformation Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration. Kathy Coffey Solberg is an author, community weaver, experienced consultant, executive director, and systems thinker with a demonstrated history of empowering others through professional and personal leadership development, civic engagement, and a deeper understanding of how to navigate communication and workplace systems to create greater efficiency. She is the author of Reweaving What Matters: Practical Tools for Workplace Transformation. Her expertise spans leadership, philanthropy, human systems design, collective governance, and organizational development. Kathy specializes in guiding individuals to harness their strengths and supporting organizations in fostering collaboration, adaptability, and impact. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast
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#230
September 29 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep 230, Your Customer’s First Experience Begins with Your Employee’s Experience
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Kristi Ellingsworth. Together we explore: Engaging and empathizing with those who don’t get what they want Creativity and generosity The willingness to be uncomfortable with people in conflict Sharing your calm with others Leadership energy Curious vs judgmental mindset Taking pauses throughout the day to self-regulate Being generous with compliments Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @3pconflictrestoration Kristi Ellingsworth is the Director of Hospitality at Dartcor Enterprises. Her work centers on employee experience, leadership development, emotional intelligence, and creating workplace cultures where people feel genuinely supported and connected. What makes her perspective especially unique is that she didn't come up through traditional HR—she spent more than a decade in fine dining, including nearly seven years as Maitre d' at Nobu Hospitality, where she managed VIP guest relationships, trained front-of-house teams, and navigated the constant demands of high-pressure hospitality environments. Today, she brings those same hospitality principles into the workplace, helping leaders think differently about communication, conflict, trust, and psychological safety. She also previously hosted her own wellness podcast, The Alternative Podcast with Kristi Ellingsworth, where she interviewed experts on mindset, mindfulness, and personal growth. Kristi’s philosophy is simple: the employee experience is the first customer experience. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Connection #Podcast
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#229
September 22 · 53 min
Ep 229, Generational Responses to AI
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Maria Colacurcio. Together we explore: Empathy for the messenger The power in having a humanities based education The specific results of being curious Clarity in pay transparency and the ability to explain pay decisions Cognitive surrender and AI ‘Running at’ conflict Giving clear feedback What does leadership cost you? Change agility vs change management Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @3pconflictrestoration Maria Colacurcio is reshaping how enterprises govern their largest and most consequential investment: how they pay their people. As CEO of Syndio, she leads the company that defined the market for pay equity software and is now pioneering Decision Intelligence for Pay. Under her leadership, Syndio partners with global brands including Walmart, Microsoft, and Salesforce to make every pay decision compliant, optimized, and aligned with business strategy. Maria previously co-founded Smartsheet, which went public in 2018. She has built her career at the intersection of technology, policy, and purpose-driven leadership, earning recognition as one of the 100 most exceptional entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs Builders + Innovators Summit. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Connection #Podcast
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#228
September 15 · 57 min
Ep 228, In Conflict, Are You Trying to Win or Move Forward?
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Amie Fox. Together we explore: The business case for disability inclusion Work systems: design with human nature and user experience in mind What do I need people to know, feel, and do after this interaction? Moving beyond compliance to see, value & recognize others Progress, not perfection Resistance as fear Feedback culture Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration. Amie Fox is a managing director, trainer and keynote speaker who helps founders, HR and operations leaders in growing organizations build practical people systems that improve employee engagement, manager confidence and business performance. She moved into this work after a portfolio career across communications, training, fundraising, corporate responsibility and operations exposed her to how differently people experience workplaces. A key turning point was struggling to find early employment as a visually impaired woman, which shaped her understanding of hidden barriers, workplace design and the importance of systems that help people perform at their best. Her credibility is grounded in recent and current roles: she set up A Fox Consulting, serves as a non-executive director at Vision Ireland, and has held senior CSR and operations roles at organizations including SCOPE Eyecare & Healthcare. Through her consulting, communications, fundraising and inclusion work, she has contributed to projects with organizations such as McDonald’s, Telefonica, Deloitte, Novartis, Abbott, Newstalk and John Sisk & Sons. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast
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#227
September 8 · 1 hr
Ep 227, Facing Your Expectations
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Lynnae Brown. Together we explore: What kind of work and workplace is right for you? Orienting how to think about work Clear parameters in your work Developing standards that everyone knows What work can and can’t do for you Do you have to change your job to change how you feel at work? Assuming good intentions Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @3pconflictrestoration. Lynnae Brown is a work navigation strategist. She thinks we need another way to approach work. Something stealthier and sturdier - an approach where we navigate the workplace as it actually is, develop our own way of being inside it, and still do the job well. Lynnae has spent more than a decade in workforce development, thinking hard about what people needed in order to take care of themselves while working in a system that wouldn't. Most of that work was with people in mental health recovery - helping them move from service users to service providers, preparing them for workplaces that were often as hard to navigate as the conditions they'd survived. With enough distance, she finally saw the shape of the approach she’d been developing all along and developed three starting points for people who want to begin approaching work differently: 6 Questions offers prompts that help you examine what you actually bring to work, 6 Actions are ideas you can put into action now to create space between you and your job, and BOOT — Brown’s Organizational Orientation Theory approaches workplace disorientation as a structural condition rather than a personal failing. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Connection #Podcast
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#226
September 1 · 52 min
Ep 226, What Makes Someone Fit To Be A Leader
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Vladimir Baranov. Together we explore: How do you uncover what you want? Gathering context Setting expectations Developing leadership skills Role modeling Annoyance vs. pain at work Exposure to a variety of experiences Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration Vladimir Baranov is an Executive Coach for Founders and Technical Leaders with a track record of coaching and mentoring at U.S. and U.K. incubators and accelerators, specializing in launching, developing, and sustaining startups through a zero-to-one approach that transforms ideas into tangible businesses — including bridging the frequently misaligned worlds of business and technology. A serial entrepreneur, he founded three companies with successful exits in fintech and spacetech, and his experience across founder, CTO, COO, and CISO roles has given him a comprehensive perspective on scaling businesses through various funding stages and building optimal data and technology services. Vladimir holds MBAs from Columbia and London Business Schools and dual degrees in Computer Science and Computer Engineering from Stony Brook University, where his studies spanned software development and robotics. He remains deeply passionate about communication strategies, organizational and social behavior, and lifelong learning. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast #Confllict
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#225
August 25 · 1 hr 2 min
Ep 225, The Utility of Conflict
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Kenyada Meadows. Together we explore: How to find community What do you want/need from work? What do your colleagues want/need? Building a reflective relationship with yourself Distraction His new book, The New Alpha: Be Three Times the Leader Through Balance, Not Dominance Not catering to your emotions Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration Kenyada Meadows is a financial services executive, governance expert, and board member with 25+ years leading audit, risk, and compliance across global Wall Street institutions. A Harvard Business School alumnus, Author, and Master Certified Executive Coach (MPCC) with CPA, CIA, and CFE credentials, he helps working fathers and executives succeed without sacrificing their humanity by moving leaders beyond dominance through values-driven governance and emotional integrity. Kenyada mastered the traditional playbook—outworking, outlasting, outperforming—in environments where pressure proved value and self-sacrifice seemed mandatory. The turning point came when senior leadership responsibilities, fatherhood, and caring for an ailing parent collided, forcing him to confront corporate conditioning's hidden costs and challenge the belief that well-being could survive on the margins. Through this journey, Kenyada developed a unique approach helping high-performing men lead with wholeness through the Three Pillars of the New Alpha (Home, Work, Self). This framework redefines strength through balance, not control, empowering leaders to lead with purpose, presence, and emotional clarity by recognizing vulnerability as true strength. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast
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#224
August 18 · 1 hr 1 min
Ep 224, Messy: Making Sense of the Mess of Leadership
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Daniel Atlin. Together we explore: The messiness of leadership In the age of AI, what does it mean to be human? The art of reflection The fear and uncertainty of change Making sense of change and Internal sense making Dealing with disappointment at work ‘Seeing’ others and meeting them where they’re at Relational leadership Understanding the strengths of people in different age groups at work Getting unstuck in conflict through finding common ground Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @3pconflictrestoration Daniel Atlin is a strategic advisor and executive coach with over 30 years of experience in senior roles across Canada’s post-secondary, cooperative, and government sectors, and host of the Messy - Making Sense of the Mess of Leadership- podcast. Specializing in helping complex, purpose-driven organizations and individuals navigate change and uncertainty, Daniel brings a unique blend of leadership, strategy, and empathy to every engagement. Daniel has worked with leaders at all levels to drive transformation. Whether overseeing multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns, advising on strategic planning, or guiding organizational mergers, he’s known for his ability to turn complex challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. Daniel is deeply passionate about change leadership. In 2024, he earned an Executive Master’s degree from Oxford Saïd Business School and HEC Paris, where he conducted research on how university leaders leverage sensemaking skills to create high-performing teams in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. His research, based on interviews with 25 university Presidents and Principals across the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, continues to inform his work with leaders in higher education and beyond. Daniel has presented his findings at conferences, including the International Leadership Association’s Global Conference, and shares insights that empower leaders to adapt and thrive in today’s rapidly evolving world. An adjunct professor at the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph and certified in the SPARK Resilience Program and Hogan Personality Assessments, Daniel helps leaders and teams build resilience, enhance self-awareness, and thrive in today’s fast-changing environment. Daniel is also the Griffith Group's Associate of Leadership Assessment and Coaching Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown.
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#223
August 11 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep 223, Honest, Calm, and Empathic Conversations
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Ron Camacho. Together we explore: Mentorship opportunities Building your reputation The benefits of coaching for career insight, knowledge, and development When you have a ‘difficult’ co-worker Standards and flexibility Building trust Put yourself in their shoes Admitting mistakes Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @3pconflictrestoration Ron Camacho is an accomplished law enforcement executive with more than 30 years of service, including 17 years in senior leadership roles. He retired in 2013 as Patrol Operations Captain with the York City (PA) Police Department, where he commanded over ninety officers and detectives and oversaw critical operational functions. Following retirement, Chief Camacho served internationally as a police advisor in Afghanistan and later as the in-country Deputy Program Manager on a U.S. State Department training contract in Mexico. In that role, he supervised more than thirty retired American law enforcement professionals tasked with strengthening policing capabilities at the local, state, and federal levels. In 2023, his prior department’s innovative leadership received national recognition. He was named one of Police Magazine’s Innovative Law Enforcement Leaders for pioneering an officer wellness program, and the department was featured in Police Chief Magazine for its Citizen Advisory Committee initiative. These efforts reflected his commitment to transparency, operational excellence, and a service-oriented culture that builds public trust. A graduate of the FBI National Academy (239th Session), Dr. Camacho holds a Doctorate and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice. A nationally published author and sought-after speaker, he focuses on leadership development, mentorship, and emotional intelligence. He was sworn in as Chief of the North Charleston Police Department in December 2024. He is the author of the upcoming book (January 2027) Bringing Ego to the Forefront: The First Steps Towards Ego-Free Leadership. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Connection #Podcast
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#222
August 4 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep 222, Ungraceful First, Confident Later
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Patty Azzarello. Together we explore: Learning to deal with scary problems How to have everything you want (just not all at the same time) What you get when you ask for help Networking for introverts Resilience in the face of bullying and bad treatment The conflict, questions, and issues are present at work. Are you listening? Is the negative behavior you’re experiencing annoying or is it dangerous? Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration At 35, Patty Azzarello was the most qualified candidate for a job running a $1 billion software business. But she didn't apply. She had already decided - quietly, without anyone asking her to - that she wasn't ready. When a mentor showed her the list of male candidates who had applied without hesitation, most of them less experienced, none of them were more qualified. That moment didn't just change her mind about that job. It changed how Patty understood everything she'd done up to that point. Self-disqualification is one of the least discussed and most damaging forces in women's careers. Not the glass ceiling - the glass floor women build under themselves before anyone else gets the chance. Patty has spent her career studying it, living it, and now she's written the book on it. Why Is SHE Still Here? is Patty Azzarello’s memoir of being the youngest GM at Hewlett-Packard at 33, running a $1B software business at 35 and becoming a CEO at 38 - while navigating sexism, imposter syndrome, and the relentless internal voice telling her she didn't belong in the room. It's not a polished success story. It's an honest account of every time Patty nearly got in her own way, and the unglamorous moves that got her through anyway. Patty has spoken to audiences of over 10,000 at Intel, Oracle, Microsoft and P&G. She is the author of two previous bestsellers, RISE (Random House) and MOVE (Wiley). She isn't a motivational speaker - she's a former operator who has been in the rooms most people only read about, and she's refreshingly honest about what it actually took to stay in them. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast
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#221
July 28 · 55 min
Ep 221, Calm Is Fast
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Benjamin Chen. Together we explore: Generosity of communication Developing your stillness muscle Do you have two minutes? Benjamin’s new book, Lessons from the Mat: The 12 Martial Arts Principles that Will Help You Succeed in Business and in Life Leaving your ego on the shelf to develop an excellent team How to get to truth-telling quickly Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration Benjamin Chen is a serial entrepreneur, supply chain expert, and black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has successfully built businesses across industrial, enterprise software, cloud, and consumer internet sectors. He's sat on the boards and senior management teams of 4 companies that have gone public in the U.S.; raised $500+M of investment capital; and helped lead M&A processes across 30 transactions. His from-scratch lighting and controls business generated $250+M in revenue in its first six years. He's also a professor at Freedom Jiu Jitsu in Carlsbad, CA. His new book is Lessons from the Mat: The 12 Martial Arts Principles that Will Help You Succeed in Business and in Life. Learn more at FromtheMatAcademy.com. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast
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#220
July 21 · 1 hr 5 min
Ep 220, Fairness at Work
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Hanna Hasl-Kelchner. Together we explore: How is collaboration rewarded? What should be happening vs. what is happening Getting at discretionary effort Meeting reasonable expectations The unwritten rules at work Developing and maintaining trust at work The need for management training Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration Hanna Hasl-Kelchner’s a no-nonsense workplace fairness strategist and the award-winning author of 'Seeking Fairness at Work - Cracking the New Code of Greater Employee Engagement, Retention & Satisfaction.' Her straight talk and practical tools have helped organizations from startups to S&P 500 companies tackle the messy realities beneath the surface of employee engagement and retention. Hanna works at the intersection of leadership, organizational psychology, and legal insight, which gives her a unique ability to cut through both jargon and wishful thinking. Her recent book, recognized by multiple major awards, unpacks how fairness expectations silently shape workplace culture and offers actionable steps for leaders navigating burnout and generational shifts. Hanna’s experience, including advising the White House and teaching top MBA programs, means she brings both real-world stories and research-backed frameworks to the table. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast
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#219
July 14 · 58 min
Ep 219, When You Are The Bystander
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Celeste Warren. Together we explore: Looking out for colleagues When to speak up and why Setting expectations in ‘after hours’ events When there’s a problem or conflict at work: are you losing sleep over it? Are they? Resilience and the ability to articulate issues and problems Expecting failure and mistakes on the path to success Celeste’s new book, The Truth about Equity: What It Really Is, What It Isn’t and Why Everyone Wins When We Get It Right The power of equity in conflict management Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration Celeste Warren is a visionary leader who had an impressive 28-year tenure at a global Fortune 100 company, where she rose to the esteemed position of Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. During her decade-long leadership of the Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence, Celeste implemented groundbreaking initiatives that fostered a culture of inclusivity and equity, setting new standards in the industry. After her retirement, Celeste founded Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, where she passionately continues her mission to reshape the landscape of diversity and inclusion. Her consulting services empower organizations to create fair and equitable opportunities for all, driving meaningful change and enhancing workplace culture. In addition to her consulting work, Celeste, alongside her two children, established Destination STEM, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing vital resources and support to students of color and those in need pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).Throughout her illustrious career, Celeste has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion on a global scale, elevating the importance of understanding diverse cultures, perspectives, and beliefs within corporate strategies. Her visionary approach not only reshaped internal culture but also influenced the broader business landscape, empowering organizations worldwide to embrace inclusivity as a cornerstone of success. She has recently published her second book entitled “The Truth About Equity, What It Really Is, What It Isn’t and Why Everyone Wins When We Get It Right.” Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast
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#218
July 7 · 56 min
Ep 218, Habit Stacking
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Kevin Rice. Together we explore: Crash course in running a business Doing a temperature check Yeilding to colleagues’ strengths Developing and building trust Great executive coaching The CEOs & ABCs podcast Being intentionally present Practicing how to have difficult conversations Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @3pconflictrestoration Kevin Rice is a founder and leadership advisor who knows firsthand how much intentional planning and sustained effort it takes to create healthy, genuinely human-centered workplaces. He grew Hathway from $0 to $42M in revenue, leading more than 200 people before the company was acquired. At Bounteous, he led growth efforts for a 5,000-person global team, deepening his understanding of scaling not just processes, but the cultures and leadership systems that actually allow people to thrive, even under real pressure. What makes Kevin’s insight rare is that he’s lived through high-stakes conflict and culture-building, all while navigating a major personal transition to single parenthood at the peak of a hypergrowth phase. He now advises AI-driven companies and hosts the CEOs & ABCs podcast, where thousands of professionals tune in to hear about leadership, emotional intelligence, and building workplaces that don’t drain the very people you rely on. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown.
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#217
June 30 · 57 min
Ep 217, The Stories That Build Us: Creating Healthy Workplace Culture
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Gavin McMahon. Together we explore: Is this a technology problem or a people issue? Formal vs. informal practices (how it should work vs. how it does work) Boiling down business to the most basic parts Leadership storytelling: leadership – the choices I make; storytelling – the amplification of those choices through stories Developing collective good habits (culture) through storytelling Building story narratives (showing), instead of telling ‘Why it’s good’ meetings What’s better this week than next week? Improvement by inches. Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @3pconflictrestoration Gavin McMahon builds things. Once, it was submarines, sports cars, and steel plants—big, complex systems built on logic and precise plans. But plans have a funny way of falling apart when people get involved. As Gavin tried to figure out why, one truth became clear: People don’t move without a story. Business is more than just strategy and execution—it is persuasion and inspiration too. So he switched gears, traded engineering for business, and earned an MBA in Innovation, Strategy & Information Technology from the Institute Theseus in France. Today, as CEO and co-founder of fassforward, he helps companies shape strategy, leadership, and culture through storytelling. Over the years, he’s worked with some of the world’s biggest brands and learned that even the best ideas will go nowhere if they aren’t told well. Now, he’s written a book about it, Story Business: Why Stories Rule the World and How They Can Reinvent Your Business. In Story Business, Gavin McMahon takes you on a journey from ancient cave paintings to billion-dollar tech unicorns, revealing how storytelling is a powerful—and undervalued—tool for driving business success. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Connection #Podcast
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#216
June 23 · 56 min
Ep 216, Failure Is A Component Of Success
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Andre W. Thornton. Together we explore: The gift of asking questions Thinking through failure, and what it means The 1440 method What does your average perfect day look like? O.S.E.ing In conflict, there is always something to learn from the other person People are likely to listen when they’ve heard Leadership question: Why would someone volunteer to follow you? Leaning into conflict to strengthen relationships Andre’s new book, Disrupted Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @3pconflictrestoration Andre W. Thornton is the founder and CEO of Whitman Consulting, one of the top ten leadership-development firms in the US, which helps organizations grow their people faster than their challenges. A former engineering director at Lockheed Martin, Andre spent sixteen years leading teams on advanced aircraft programs and capturing over $1 billion in new business before discovering his true calling: developing leaders. His book, Disrupted, introduces the two stabilizers and seven accelerators that turn chaos into growth—a framework drawn from neuroscience, engineering, and two decades of coaching experience. Andre helps executives and teams raise their baseline, shorten recovery, and lead with clarity in times of change. He lives in Maryland with his wife, Myesha, and their two children. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Connection #Podcast
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#215
June 16 · 58 min
Ep 215, Responsible Interaction With AI
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Michelle Hamilton. Together we explore: What does it mean to be creative? And why is creativity important? How to help people process and thrive with the extreme fast pace of change today Holding ‘what’s in it for you?’ conversations at work about AI technologies Seeing new technology as a great opportunity for intergenerational dialogue and collaboration Valuing and listening to colleagues Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration After three decades leading major transformations, Michelle Hamilton started two AI companies to close that adoption gap. That work led her to AnswerRocket, an enterprise AI firm, who recruited her to build a new global division focused on practical AI adoption and change management. Michelle’s stance is clear: measurable business outcomes only happen when leadership bridges the gulf between innovation and everyday execution. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast #AI
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#214
June 9 · 1 hr
Ep 214, Strong Microcultures Build Thriving Organizations
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Artem Koren. Together we explore: The communication skills leaders will need now and into the future The impact of AI on work, learning, and human connection Technology, isolation, and the growing challenge of workplace loneliness How strong microcultures shape and strengthen organizational culture Why drive and initiative matter in effective leadership Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration. Artem Koren is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Sembly AI, where he is building a new category of meeting intelligence and enablement technology for professional services teams. With a background spanning systems engineering, enterprise consulting, and product leadership, Artem combines deep technical expertise with a strong understanding of how organizations operate—transforming everyday business conversations into structured insights that drive revenue, delivery, and decision-making. Sembly, which Artem co-founded in 2019, leverages advanced natural language understanding to turn meetings into a source of operational intelligence—powering sales enablement, improving client delivery workflows, and helping teams capture and act on critical business information at scale. Artem is passionate about using AI to augment human potential, enabling teams to work smarter, collaborate more effectively, and unlock value hidden within their day-to-day interactions. His work sits at the intersection of AI, enterprise productivity, and the future of knowledge work—pushing beyond simple automation toward systems that actively support how organizations sell, deliver, and grow. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast #AI
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#213
June 2 · 59 min
Ep 213, Disrupt Conflict Patterns That Aren’t Working: Exhale. Explore. Engage.
This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Masha Rusanov. Together we explore: Identifying your default conflict pattern What happens when you break your usual conflict script Listening to the body’s “yes” and “no” signals in difficult conversations Limiting beliefs that keep conflict cycles going Finding alignment with colleagues, even in disagreement The conflict is the enemy, not the people: uniting against the issue Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration Masha Rusanov is a conflict resolution expert, coach, and creator of the Exhale-Explore-Engage method. Drawing on Internal Family Systems, somatic psychology, and conflict theory, she helps people break free from legacy patterns to live with integrity. Masha’s new book, Repatterned: How to Transform Your Conflict Defaults and Reclaim Your Life, introduces a practical three-step framework for interrupting automatic conflict reactions and responding with clarity instead of conditioning. Blending neuroscience, psychology, and real-life stories, Repatterned shows readers how to pause, recognize learned patterns, and choose responses aligned with their values. Masha lives in California with her husband and their blended constellation of children. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown. #ConflictManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Communication #Podcast #Ombuds
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