When Nicole Welch first began her career in HR, she never imagined she’d one day be representing healthcare before legislators, leading in an organization with nearly 2,000 employees, or serving as Chief Human Resources Officer of Foundation Health Partners, an independent health system that didn’t yet exist. In this conversation, Nicole – who also happens to be my wife – opens … Read More
Why do I feel like somebody is watching me?
I was at an event recently and ran into a former leadership student I hadn’t seen in ages. I was really excited to cross paths and I asked them how they were doing after all this time. They laughed, told me they were well, and said they feel like they “see me” all the time because they get these messages. … Read More
Why Simple Beats Complicated in Fitness with Caleb Whittle
These eleven words stopped me in my tracks: “If fitness isn’t in your top three priorities, it won’t happen.” When Caleb Whittle left the CMO chair for the weight room, he had no idea he was about to reshape how high performers think about fitness. Caleb now helps executives and leaders cut through the noise—ditching fad diets and overcomplicated routines—in … Read More
There is no such thing as balance
You’ve been lied to. For years you’ve been fed a message suggesting that the ideal relationship between your work life and your personal life is one of balance. An implied 1:1 ratio. This ratio is not only generally impossible, but it completely betrays your own preferred mix. I’ve talked to so many people who feel a strong sense of tension … Read More
Comfortable Being Uncomfortable with Mark Oldmixon
When Mark Oldmixon first stepped into the Alaskan outdoors, he had no idea it would shape two decades of his life—and the lives of countless others. As Director of Nanook Recreation at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Mark has spent nearly 20 years helping students and community members stretch their comfort zones through rock climbing, rafting, ice climbing, and other … Read More
The Litmus Test for Clarity
I’m going to get plenty of hate in the comments, but here’s my take: Clarity is the most powerful lever leaders have to influence the success of their team. Ensuring your people have complete clarity about the desired outcome, their role in the work ahead, the timeline, and how their work interrelates to the work others are doing is the … Read More
The Minutes Matter with Amber Zins
When a COO admits she hates flying but plans the next trip before the wheels touch down, you know you’re in for a candid conversation. In this episode, I sit down with Amber Zins, Chief Operating Officer at Northrim Bank, to talk about building leaders by growing your own, setting clear guardrails, and giving people runway. Amber traces her path … Read More
I Know What’s Slowing You Down
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I really didn’t. But I just couldn’t help myself. On a recent camper trip, Nicole and I found ourselves across the path from a pair of couples with tents. On the morning of their departure it was fascinating to watch both couples go about dismantling their tents to pack everything into a pair of Jeep … Read More
Leaving Your Ego at The Door with Heather Handyside
Today’s episode features Heather Handyside, President and COO of Thompson & Co. Public Relations, who joins me to talk about leadership, culture, and making big career transitions. Heather’s career spans high-profile roles in government, corporate communications, and now agency leadership, and she brings a wealth of perspective on building strong teams and maintaining high standards while fostering genuine support for … Read More
Are you assuring your own failure?
A friend of mine* has recently been waking around 4AM and struggling to fall back asleep. I’m no sleep expert, but we chatted about how he responded to this nocturnal frustration and something struck me. Every time he woke up unexpectedly, he grabbed his phone and scrolled social media in an attempt to settle his mind and return to sleep. … Read More
Why Every Leader Needs to Think Like a Teacher with Luke Meinert
In this episode of the Leadership Huddle, I sit down with Dr. Luke Meinert, Superintendent of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. With over two decades of experience in Alaska’s public schools, Luke brings both strategic clarity and a deep sense of humanity to a role that is equal parts challenge and opportunity. We talk about baseball as a … Read More
Kelly Clarkson is my dream girl
The other night I had this dream in which I realized I was married to Kelly Clarkson. There was a legitimate feeling of increased status and cachet in having such a direct connection to a rich, famous, superstar. Except there was one big problem. In addition to the fact that Dream Geoff had no recollection of ever having met Kelly, … Read More
Rethinking Publishing for Change-Makers with Jesse Finkelstein
In this episode, I talk with Jesse Finkelstein, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Page Two Books, a publishing firm that’s redefining what it means to bring a book to life. Jesse shares her journey from bilingual camp counselor to publishing executive, and why she and her co-founder built a company that treats authors like CEOs—with a C-suite behind them. We dig … Read More
Think like David Bowie
I can fall down a rabbit hole from time to time watching videos about music production. I love hearing about how a certain song uses a sample from a James Bond movie, but they reversed it and chopped it up and turned it into a hook that most people would never know wasn’t wholly original. And it’s wild to me … Read More
Inside Alaska’s Airport Ecosystem with Angie Spear
In this episode, I talk with Angie Spear, Director of the Alaska International Airport System, about what it really takes to run not one—but two—of the most vital airports in the state: Ted Stevens Anchorage International and Fairbanks International. Angie brings the energy and insight you’d expect from someone who never turns off her “airport radar”—whether she’s traveling or just … Read More
Breakthroughs are overrated
Once upon a time there was a couple named John and Jane and their marriage was in big trouble. They wanted to fix things, so they went to see a marriage counselor. The marriage counselor listened to their problems and advised them to wait 6-months until Valentine’s Day, go have a spectacular date – really pull out all the stops, … Read More