Breakfast Leadership Show

Kym Ali on AI Implementation and Business Strategy: How to Leverage Artificial Intelligence Without Failing Your Organization

In this episode, Michael sits down with Kym to talk about how businesses can not only survive but thrive with artificial intelligence.
After her company lost 80% of its revenue due to executive orders, Kym led a bold pivot into AI. She shares how her team automated workflows, cut costs, and freed up resources to launch new ventures. Michael points out why this kind of hands-on experience sets her apart in guiding other organizations through AI transformation.
Why Strategy MattersDid you know that 95% of AI implementations fail? Michael and Kym dig into the reasons why. Too many organizations jump in without understanding their current systems, creating more chaos instead of solutions. The two stress the importance of starting with an AI audit—identifying inefficiencies and revenue leaks—before ever choosing a tool.
AI and Organizational InsightMichael and Kym highlight the gap between executive views and front-line experiences. By listening to employees who work closest to the systems, leaders can uncover real bottlenecks and opportunities. They argue that AI should enhance processes, not replace people, and that smart adaptation to current economic conditions matters more than long-term guesswork.
Addressing Employee ConcernsKym addresses the fear of AI taking jobs. Instead, she frames AI as a companion—augmenting employees’ abilities and giving them space for creativity and productivity. Michael adds that when used wisely, AI helps businesses find new growth opportunities and sharpen their focus. Both stress the importance of thoughtful planning, privacy safeguards, and data responsibility.
Technology’s Broader ImpactThe conversation also explores how innovations like predictive analytics are already woven into everyday life, from mortgages to personalized ads. Michael emphasizes using technology to increase efficiency and create meaningful work, while also recognizing the ongoing debates around privacy and data use.
Skills That TransferKym also shares how her background in nursing shaped her approach to consulting, underscoring the power of transferable skills. She encourages listeners to examine their own roles, projects, and metrics for growth opportunities.
Michael closes by highlighting Kym’s expertise and her commitment to helping businesses and communities adapt to an AI-driven world.
About Kym Ali
Kym Ali is an award-winning Registered Nurse, dynamic speaker, and CEO of Kym Ali Consulting, a boutique firm specializing in leadership development, workplace wellness, coaching, and AI-driven solutions for modern leaders. With more than 20 years of nursing experience — including five years abroad helping launch Qatar’s first Women’s and Children’s Hospital — Kym brings a rare global perspective to building healthy, high-performing organizations.
Her expertise has been trusted by federal agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and global institutions like the Department of Health and Human Services, Pfizer, Stanford University, and Meta, where she has consistently earned client satisfaction ratings above 96 percent.
Recognized as a 2024 Enterprising Woman of the Year, recipient of a Maryland Governor Citation, and ranked among the Top 25 Speakers of 2023, Kym blends proven leadership strategies with AI innovation and wellness practices to help leaders prevent burnout, navigate uncertainty, and inspire engaged, motivated teams.
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadershiptransformer/
 

Journey from Burnout to Transformation with Mindset Coach Michael Shaw

Journey from Burnout to Transformation with Michael Shaw
In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, I sat down with Michael Shaw, a mindset coach who knows firsthand what it’s like to climb the mountain of achievement, only to find emptiness at the summit. Michael’s story is one of relentless drive—building and selling fitness businesses, excelling in competitions, and constantly chasing that next big win. Yet behind the accolades lived an undercurrent of anxiety and the haunting belief of never being enough.
His breaking point came through emotional collapse, a moment that forced him to dismantle old belief systems and rebuild his life with clarity, resilience, and alignment.
Overcoming Unfulfillment in Success
Michael and I unpack the paradox of high achievers who look successful on the outside but feel unfulfilled within. He shared the story of a businesswoman who overcame financial struggles to hit impressive revenue milestones, only to realize tenacity without alignment doesn’t guarantee joy. Burnout, as Michael reminds us, often stems from a misalignment between our actions, values, and identity. The cure isn’t just time off—it’s reconnecting with who we truly are.
Understanding and Addressing Burnout
We also explored Michael’s personal encounter with burnout. Poor boundaries and unhealthy habits played a role, but the deeper issue was misalignment. Taking a vacation wasn’t enough—it took honest reflection on his motivations and alignment with his current goals. Michael emphasizes that recovery requires slowing down, seeking feedback from trusted advisors, and courageously reassessing one’s path.
Identity Transformation Through Mindset Mastery
Michael introduced his Mindset Mastery Method, which revolves around five pillars: revisiting trauma, awareness, rewiring beliefs, alignment, and activation. At the heart of this method is alignment—living in congruence with one’s core values and chosen identity. He stressed the importance of crafting an “I AM Declaration,” a personal anchor that drives both growth and fulfillment.
Career Transition and Belief Transformation
Michael also reflected on his own career shifts—from accounting to marketing—choosing creativity and joy over routine. Through coaching, he helps clients identify and release limiting beliefs that weigh them down, replacing them with empowering ones that fuel breakthroughs.
Leadership Alignment and Self-Realization
We talked about leadership, self-doubt, and how misalignment trickles down into organizations. Michael cited T-Mobile’s success under Mike Sievert as an example of how self-realized leaders fuel thriving companies. When leaders shift from surviving to thriving, the entire culture benefits.
From Burnout to Aligned Leadership
Michael views burnout not as a failure but as a portal to transformation. He generously offered listeners two free resources: his Fear to Freedom Formula and a complimentary 60-minute Mastery Mindset Breakthrough Session. Listeners can DM him the word FREEDOM on Instagram to access these tools.
If you’re a high achiever running on empty or a leader carrying the weight of misalignment, this conversation will inspire you to step into clarity, alignment, and authentic growth.
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/michaelshaw.mindset
This episode's partner is MRPeasy.  Link to sign up:  https://try.mrpeasy.com/rzhgcr9jcov5
 
The AI-powered MRP software for small manufacturers
Ideal for companies with 10 - 200 employees
MRPeasy is a seriously powerful yet easy-to-use manufacturing software. It gives you everything you need to manage your manufacturing and distribution.
 
 

Deep Dive: Adaptive Leadership in a Volatile World — Lessons from Gartner’s Q4 2025 Report

Struggling with costs in your healthcare organization? Reach out to Michael.  Click Here for more info
In this episode, we unpack key findings from Gartner’s Q4 2025 Report, revealing how adaptive leadership is redefining success in today’s volatile workplace. From the collapse of annual planning cycles to the rise of “strategy sprints” and AI-driven decision support, leaders are being challenged to stay agile without burning out their teams.
We share insights on:
Why continuous adaptation now outperforms rigid long-term plans
How AI can enhance, not replace, human judgment
The role of psychological safety in resilient organizations
Practical ways to embed adaptability into daily leadership
Discover how to lead with calm focus amid chaos — and why adaptive leadership is the essential skill for 2026 and beyond.
Read the full article: Adaptive Leadership in a Volatile World
More insights at BreakfastLeadership.com/blog
 

Midday Centering Gratitude Practice

A 2-minute guided mindfulness reset designed to help you pause, breathe, and reconnect with gratitude in the middle of your day. Narrated with a warm, calming voice and soft ambient background.

How AI Is Changing Cybersecurity Fast: Protecting Businesses in the Digital Age with Harish Chandramowli

Imagine an engineer who’s gone from writing code to building a venture-backed startup—now creating AI-powered tools tailored for fashion brands in New York. That’s Harish Chandramowli, Co-Founder of Flaire. His journey is a compelling example of the kind of leadership, innovation, and resilience we highlight on the Breakfast Leadership Show.
With a twelve-year engineering career at organizations like MongoDB, Bloomberg, and Johns Hopkins, Harish made the leap into entrepreneurship by co-founding Flaire—an ERP platform that fuses artificial intelligence with user-centered design for retail. What makes Harish’s story stand out is his ability to blend deep technical expertise with the gritty, hands-on realities of scaling a business.
Whether he’s designing smarter code-review workflows (like Greptile, which dramatically reduces dev feedback cycles) or jumping into client sales conversations, Harish brings a unique perspective. He’s learned firsthand how to build high-performing remote teams rooted in trust, and how small, strategic process bets can drive sustainable growth.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scharish/Website: https://Flairesoftware.com
This episode's partner is MRPeasy.  Link to sign up:  https://try.mrpeasy.com/rzhgcr9jcov5
 
The AI-powered MRP software for small manufacturers
Ideal for companies with 10 - 200 employees
MRPeasy is a seriously powerful yet easy-to-use manufacturing software. It gives you everything you need to manage your manufacturing and distribution.
 

Mike Goldman on Transforming Talent Management for Lasting Impact

In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, Michael sits down with Mike Goldman to challenge the status quo of performance management. Traditional reviews often disengage employees and hinder organizational progress. Instead, Mike shares why leaders must focus on people growth as the true driver of profit.
They dive into the concept of “high-performance math” — showing that investing in top performers yields the greatest returns. Too often, leaders spend energy on underperformers while high performers walk away due to toxic culture or poor management.
Mike also introduces his simple talent management framework, designed to replace outdated annual reviews with ongoing coaching, accountability, and development. His insights, drawn from his latest book, stress the importance of making tough calls, avoiding mediocrity, and building an environment where employees actually look forward to work.
A must-listen for leaders ready to transform how they grow and retain talent.
https://StrengthOfTalent.com
Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-better-leadership-team-show/id1670173291
Website:  https://www.mike-goldman.com/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mikegoldmancoach
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgoldman10/

Mick Todd on Active Listening and Loyalty Beyond Reason: How Experiences Shape Great Leadership

Active Listening in Leadership
Michael and Mick explored why active listening is at the core of great leadership. Rather than listening just to reply, they emphasized listening to truly understand — making people feel seen and valued. Mick shared a recent insight from the “experience revolution,” where 75% of client satisfaction is based on how people feel, not just on what gets done. Together, they highlighted how leaders can build stronger teams by asking questions like, “What are you proud of that we may not be recognizing?”
Loyalty Beyond Reason in Hospitality
Michael reflected on his personal loyalty to certain hotels, often choosing them over more convenient options. He compared this to sports stadiums and entertainment venues that deliver unforgettable experiences, inspiring loyalty that defies logic. Mick expanded on this concept of “loyalty beyond reason,” sharing lessons from global stadium designers who helped shape experiences for the World Cup and Olympics.
Experiences Over Material Possessions
Michael shared how he and his wife prioritize experiences over material goods, recognizing that memories last far longer than products like appliances or smartphones. Experiences spark creativity, curiosity, and joy, and he explained how leaders who design meaningful client experiences not only enrich their work but also strengthen long-term relationships and outcomes.
Harmony in Work and Life
Mick reframed the common idea of “work-life balance” into a broader vision of life integration. He encouraged leaders to step away from rigid linear thinking and embrace space for creativity and lateral ideas. With finite time, he advised finding mentors who offer honest feedback and guidance. Michael echoed these insights, noting that harmony — not balance — is what allows people to thrive personally and professionally.
Embracing Challenges for Personal Growth
The conversation turned to resilience and growth under pressure. Michael stressed the importance of focusing on what can be controlled — mindset, habits, and health — while Mick used his “orange juice” analogy to illustrate that how we respond to challenges reveals our preparation. Both agreed that being challenged is vital to staying relevant and avoiding stagnation, especially when surrounded by people who care enough to push us forward.
Networking and Next Steps
To close, Michael and Mick discussed ways listeners can continue learning from Mick’s work through his Instagram, LinkedIn, and website. The conversation underscored how leadership rooted in listening, loyalty, and life integration can transform both personal growth and organizational success.
Website:  https://www.2blimitless.com/
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mick-todd-a887b313/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/2blimitless/?hl=en
 
 

Supporting Underrepresented and Mission-Driven Entrepreneurs with Kate Lowry

Supporting Underrepresented and Mission-Driven Entrepreneurs with Kate
On this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, I welcome Kate, a Silicon Valley CEO, coach, and venture capitalist. She has dedicated her career to supporting underrepresented and mission-driven founders who bring unique perspectives and innovative solutions to their communities.
We discuss the motivations that drive entrepreneurs in healthcare, AI, and climate tech, and how clarifying purpose is key to long-term impact. Kate also shares strategies for navigating toxic and fear-based leadership environments, offering a practical toolkit built from 30 years of experience. Together, we explore how leaders can resist hierarchical pressures, build resilience, and thrive without sacrificing values.
Kate’s new book, Unbreakable, will be released on October 28, and provides guidance for professionals facing toxic leadership cultures.
__________________________________________________
Kate (she/they) is a CEO coach, venture capitalist, and author based in Silicon Valley. She is dedicated to helping leaders unlock agency and navigate challenges with clarity, strategy, and hope. Through her work, she creates meaningful connections and empowers people, whether readers, clients, or peers, to move through difficult realities with resilience and grace.
Her expertise in fear-based leadership comes from her own lived experience and was sharpened through years in high-performance environments such as startups, private equity, management consulting, and big tech. Kate’s mission is to remind those facing bullies or fear-driven systems that they are not alone, and that their power runs deeper than they realize.
Kate works primarily with mission-driven, underrepresented startup CEOs who want to grow businesses that are not only profitable but also human-centered. Her writing, spanning nonfiction and comedy, equips people with the skills to thrive while inviting the world to feel more connected, warm, and authentically human.
Outside of her professional work, Kate expresses her creativity through writing music and comedy specials, exploring the Bay Area food culture, and spending time with her service dog, Annie.
website:  https://www.katelowry.com/
New book:  Unbreakable
Preorder links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR1G981Y/ref=sr_1_2?
https://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Thrive-Under-Fear-Based-Leaders-ebook/dp/B0FQ71FW72/ref=sr_1_1
Social media links:. 
https://www.instagram.com/kateunbreakablelowry/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579366067469
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinejlowry/