Speak Arizona

Upgrade Your Leadership Operating System in the AI Era - Anna Barnhill

The skills that made you an exceptional leader were built for a world that no longer exists. In this episode, Rupesh sits down with Anna Barnhill - ICF Master Certified Coach, Professional Fellow at IOC McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School and author of Leaderwired: The AI-Era Leadership Playbook for Transforming How You Think, Decide and Lead - to unpack why high-achieving leaders hit a hidden ceiling, and why the very strengths that built their careers are often the ones holding them back. Anna brings sixteen years of executive coaching experience to reveal how leaders can identify and upgrade their internal operating system before AI exposes the gaps for them. You will walk away with a clear framework for recognizing your leadership defaults, understanding what the AI era actually demands from you, and taking the first concrete steps toward a real upgrade."

Key Takeaways:
- The leadership approach that built your career was designed for past challenges, not future ones
- Certainty, control, and expertise are strengths that quietly become liabilities at the highest levels
- Insight alone does not create change - there is a specific gap between knowing better and doing better
- AI does not replace leaders, it amplifies them, including their blind spots
- Every leader is running an internal operating system that can be identified, challenged, and upgraded

 

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Leadership and AI
04:16 Understanding the Internal Operating System
07:08 The Transition from Individual Contributor to Leader
10:14 Self-Awareness and Leadership Challenges
13:02 The Role of Strengths in Leadership
16:18 Bridging Knowledge and Action
19:05 Embracing Discomfort for Growth
21:36 The Impact of AI on Leadership
24:21 Techniques for Leveraging AI
27:48 Awareness and Acceptance in Leadership
30:27 Final Thoughts and Resources

 

Resources
Leaderwired - https://leaderwired.com/

Leaderwired: The AI-Era Leadership Playbook For Transforming How you Think, Decide and Lead - https://www.amazon.com/Leaderwired-AI-Era-Leadership-Playbook-Transforming/dp/B0GQD6YZKC/ref=zg_bsnr_g_2675_d_sccl_28/000-0000000-0000000?psc=1
Anna Barnhill on LinkedIn -  www.linkedin.com/in/annabarnhillmcc

AdvantageEdge Leadership - https://www.annabarnhill.com/

How Humor Makes You a Better Speaker - Paul Pastore

What if humor is not something you are born with, but something you can build? In this episode of Speak Arizona, Rupesh Parbhoo talks with Paul Pastore about why humor works like any other communication skill: it can be practiced, refined, and used with purpose. They explore how speakers can build confidence by learning jokes, telling better stories, and paying attention to audience response. The conversation also goes beyond laughs into mentorship, long-term commitment, and what change management looks like inside volunteer organizations. Along the way, Paul shares practical wisdom on feedback, growth, and why continuous improvement matters. Perfect for professionals, speakers, and club leaders who want to communicate with more confidence, connection, and impact.

Key takeaways

- Humor becomes more accessible when you treat it as a skill instead of a personality trait.
- Great speakers use stories, short jokes, and audience awareness to keep people engaged.
- Mentorship often starts with simple encouragement and consistent feedback.
- Change takes time, especially in volunteer organizations where trust and habits matter.
- Long-term growth in speaking and leadership starts with setting bigger goals.

Chapters

00:00 - Intro
01:48 - Meet Paul Pastore 
03:44 - A joke
05:20 - Humor as a skill
10:35 - How Paul prepares
12:25 - What makes humor effective
16:32 - Why Paul keeps coming back to Toastmasters
17:24 - Mentorship, encouragement, and helping clubs improve
21:22 - Kaizen vs entropy
26:40 - Lessons in change management
33:17 - Using Notes
41:09 - Rapid Fire

Guest

Paul Pastore has been a residential real estate broker in Arizona since 1977. He is also a longtime Toastmasters member known for his humor, mentorship, and commitment to helping others grow as speakers and leaders.

Connect

- Email: paulpastore@realtor.com
- Website: https://www.paulpastore.com/

Executive Presence for Technical Leaders - Bianca Riemer

Moving from technical expert to executive leader is not just a promotion, it is a communication and influence shift. In this episode, Rupesh sits down with Bianca Riemer to unpack what executive presence actually is, why it gets misread in high-stakes rooms, and how subtle power dynamics can make or break your credibility. Bianca shares real stories from financial services and corporate environments, plus practical tactics you can use immediately to show up calmer, clearer, and more decisive. You will learn how to read the room, adapt your style across cultures, and influence senior stakeholders without forcing it. Perfect for technical leaders who want to earn trust fast and lead with authority under pressure.

Key Takeaways
- Executive presence is perceived certainty plus sound judgment, not volume or dominance.
- Influence often depends on reading political signals and adapting your style to the room.
- Senior audiences want the headline and the decision, not the 30-page deck.
- Small presence shifts (posture, breath, pacing) can change how you are received immediately.
- When feedback gets quiet at senior levels, you must proactively build self-awareness.

Chapters
00:00 - Cold open

01:37 - Host Introduction
03:16 - Meet Bianca
05:16 - Missing political signals
10:58 - What is executive presence
19:23 - The Newspaper Headline rule
27:24 - Direct vs indirect communication
29:04 - Adapting your style 
35:49 - Difficult conversations
44:41 - Rapid fire Questions
48:30 - Where to connect with Bianca

About the Guest
Bianca Riemer is a leadership and executive presence coach who has supported 250+ senior professionals and leaders over 7+ years in financial services and high-pressure corporate environments.

 

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

 

Communicate Better in Career Transitions - Caitlin Magidson

Career change can feel like a mix of rejection, identity shake-ups, and pressure to have it all figured out fast. In this episode, Rupesh sits down with Caitlin Magidson to explore how self-awareness can reduce stress, sharpen decision-making, and strengthen how you communicate when the stakes feel high. They connect mindfulness to career pivots, unpack what is really underneath public speaking fear, and talk through how to separate who you are from a single tough moment. You will also hear practical ways to build emotional vocabulary and self-trust so you can show up with more clarity in work and life. Perfect for professionals in transition who want to make calmer decisions and communicate with confidence.

Key takeaways
- Career change stress often comes from identity disruption, not just tactics like resumes and LinkedIn.
- Mindfulness builds the awareness needed to respond instead of react in high-pressure moments.
- Public speaking fear is often tied to past experiences and the stories we keep replaying.
- Self-trust grows when you separate what happened to you from who you are.
- Emotional vocabulary helps you name what you feel so you can choose how you show up.

Chapters
00:00 - Cold open
01:29 - Caitlin's Intro
02:51 - Caitlin's background
06:19 - Career change and rejection
10:03 - Identity beyond your title
16:20 - Public speaking fear
21:38 - One bad stage moment
27:38 - Values as an anchor
34:56 - Regulate before you respond
36:16 - Emotional vocabulary
38:50 - Rapid fire and closing

Guest
Caitlin Magidson is a career coach, psychotherapist, and corporate speaker who helps individuals and organizations build clarity, confidence, and meaningful growth.

Connect
- Website: https://www.caitlinmagidson.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmagidson/
- Instagram: @caitlinmagidson

Improv Improves Leaders - Jess Klemm & David Raftery

In Part 2 of our conversation with The Bridge Improv Theater, host Rupesh Parbhoo and cohost Rachel Perez dig into how improv skills translate directly to stronger leadership. Guests David Raftery and Jess Klemm share how "going with the flow" helps leaders navigate constant change, why leadership is a shared activity (not a single role), and how "Yes, And" creates momentum and trust on teams. They also explore the power of third spaces for community, and why authenticity will matter even more as AI and automation accelerate. Perfect for leaders and communicators who want to build trust, presence, and authentic connection.

Key takeaways
- Leaders improve outcomes when they can adapt in real time and keep moving forward.
- "Yes, And" is a practical framework for shared leadership and stronger collaboration.
- Listening and empathy create connection, especially when people drop the "masks" they wear.
- Third spaces help people build community outside of work and home.
- Authenticity becomes more valuable as AI makes communication easier and less human.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:16 - The Bridge Improv returns
02:19 - Recap Part 1
03:11 - Leadership as improvising
04:22 - "No one person is the leader"
08:24 - The "third space" and why community matters
14:30 - Why people are craving authentic connection
16:52 - Improv celebrates being human
33:25 - Where to find The Bridge

Guests and cohost

Jess Klemm is the education director at Bridge Improv Theater and began her improv journey in 2018.
Connect
- https://www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/bridgeimprovtheater/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge-improv-theater/

David Raftery is a co-owner of Bridge Improv Theater and has been performing and teaching improv in Arizona since 2012.
Connect
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-raftery-7ab689212/
- https://www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/bridgeimprov/

Rachel Perez is a brand identity designer and runs Composion, a one-person design studio.
Connect
- https://www.composion.design/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-perez-composion/

Improv Skills for Confident Speaking - Jess Klemm & David Raftery

In Part 1 of our conversation with Bridge Improv Theater, co-owner David Raftery and education director Jess Klemm join host Rupesh Parbhoo and co-host Rachel Perez (Composion) to explore how improv builds confident communicators. You will hear simple warm-up games to spark creativity, why presence and active listening beat memorizing a script, and the real meaning of "yes, and" as agreement and support. They also clear up common misconceptions about improv and share how a playful mindset can reduce speaking anxiety and strengthen connection with any audience. Perfect for professionals, leaders, and speakers who want to show up more present, confident, and connected.

Key takeaways
- Presence and listening reduce anxiety more than memorizing a perfect script.
- Quick warm-up games help you think faster and loosen up before speaking.
- Improv is collaborative discovery, not standup or "being funny on command."
- "Yes, and" is really agreement - supporting what is happening and building together.
- Repetition in a safe, playful environment builds confidence and connection.

Chapters
00:00 - Cold open
00:55 - Welcome to Speak Arizona 
01:38 - Meet co-host Rachel Perez
02:56 - Meet Bridge Improv Theater 
04:51 - Warm-up games
10:13 - What improv is and what happens on stage
14:24 - Stop clutching the script
18:14 - How Jess and David got into improv
23:41 - Misconceptions
28:56 - Confidence and community
37:38 - "Yes, and" 
43:14 - How to visit Bridge

Guest
Jess Klemm is the education director at Bridge Improv Theater and began her improv journey in 2018.
Connect
- https://www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/bridgeimprovtheater/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge-improv-theater/

David Raftery is a co-owner of Bridge Improv Theater and has been performing and teaching improv in Arizona since 2012.
Connect
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-raftery-7ab689212/
- https://www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/bridgeimprov/

Rachel Perez is a brand identity designer and runs Composion, a one-person design studio.
Connect
- https://www.composion.design/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-perez-composion/

Intentional Communication for Remote Teams - Kelly Soifer

Remote work makes communication more visible - and more fragile. In this episode, host Rupesh Parbhoo talks with leadership coach Kelly Soifer about how to create clarity across time zones, tools, and work styles without burning people out. They unpack why many meetings feel draining, how to balance asynchronous and synchronous work, and what it looks like to set expectations and boundaries around responsiveness. You will also hear practical ways leaders can model healthy norms, like clarifying response windows and removing pressure from late-night messages. Perfect for managers, team leads, and individual contributors who want to communicate with more clarity and less stress in remote or hybrid teams.

Key takeaways

- Stop using meetings for status updates. Move updates to async and use meeting time for decisions and discussion.
- Make expectations explicit: response times, channels, and what is truly urgent.
- Meetings should earn their place on the calendar (brainstorming, professional development, trust and team building).
- Healthy boundaries are a leadership skill, model them so your team does not feel "always on".
- Zoom fatigue is often a meeting-design problem, not a Zoom problem.

Chapters

00:00 - This could have been an email
01:33 - Introduction
02:32 - Remote, hybrid, and distributed realities
09:27 - Replace live reporting with async updates
11:48 - What meetings are really for
16:46 - Setting response-time norms and discussing responsiveness across channels
18:03 - Model boundaries with late-night email disclaimers and clear cues
21:39 - Cameras on/off, engagement, and why "Zoom fatigue" happens
23:46 - The "golden rule" for communication in remote teams
26:49 - Rapid fire collaboration preferences + closing

 

Kelly Soifer is an ICF-certified leadership development and career coach at KS Leadership Development. For nearly 40 years, she has guided professionals through personal and career transitions, helping them clarify identity, values, and purpose. Her approach blends emotionally intelligent coaching with practical tools that support leaders navigating change.

Connect

- Website: ksleadershipdevelopment.me
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellysoifer/

Hook Them in 7 Seconds: Start strong - Serban Mare

Most speakers lose the room before the first slide. In this episode, Rupesh sits down with Serban Mare to break down the most common opening mistakes that kill momentum, and the simple fixes that help you earn attention fast. They walk through 10 “how not to start” tips, including the cold “Hi, my name is…” opener, nervous disclaimers, tech checks, purposeless questions, housekeeping first, time excuses, and more. Each tip comes with a better alternative that helps you establish value, confidence, and clarity in the first seconds. If you present to customers, leadership, or cross-functional teams, this one will upgrade your opening immediately.

Key takeaways
- Your opening should create value fast, not apology, nerves, or admin.
- If you ask the audience something, have a purpose and use the response.
- Avoid time excuses and “I didn’t prepare” signals. They lower trust instantly.
- Humor is high risk early. Use it only when it supports the message.
- Memorize your first 2-3 sentences and your last 2-3 sentences to deliver with presence.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
03:50 - Tip 1: “Hi, my name is…” (why it is a weak start and what to do instead)
05:56 - Tip 2: “I’m so nervous…” (how it undercuts authority)
10:17 - Tip 3: “Can anybody hear me?” (avoid tech fumbling as your opener)
13:23 - Tip 4: “How are you doing today?” (stop asking questions with no purpose)
16:23 - Tip 5: Starting with housekeeping and logistics (why it kills momentum)
18:09 - Tip 6: “I only have ten minutes…” (do not waste time talking about time)
20:26 - Tip 7: “I didn’t have enough time to prepare…” (what it signals to the room)
22:47 - Tip 8: The weak joke opener (when humor backfires)
26:16 - Tip 9: Starting with a negative example or confusing setup (how it loses the room)
30:00 - Tip 10: Over-explaining your title, background, or topic (start with the point)
31:58 - Practical tactic: Memorize your first 2-3 sentences (and your last 2-3)
44:00 - Where to connect and closing thoughts

About the guest
Serban Mare is PMP-certified Technical Program Manager with 20 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, leading complex mixed-signal IC projects from concept to mass production. Serban is a corporate speaker specializing in stress resilience, energy management, and workplace well-being.

Connect
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/serban-morea-pmp/
- https://serbanmare.com/

From Stutter to Stage: Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking - Matthew Malan

What happens when the story you tell yourself is “I can’t speak” - and you decide to rewrite it? In this episode, Rupesh sits down with Matthew Malan to unpack his journey from a childhood stutter and years of hiding to finding confidence on stage through Toastmasters, coaching, and consistent reps. Matt shares how fear shows up (and how it lies), why all-or-nothing thinking stalls growth, and how changing your words can change your future. You’ll also hear the role a mentor played in helping him practice, believe again, and keep showing up. Perfect for professionals who want to speak with confidence even when they feel nervous.

Key takeaways
- Confidence is built through reps, not waiting until you “feel ready.”
- Reframe mistakes as feedback so you can improve without spiraling into shame.
- The words you repeat become beliefs, and beliefs shape behavior.
- Surround yourself with positive people and find a coach or mentor who will challenge you.
- Baby steps and consistency beat perfectionism every time.

Chapters 
00:26 - Welcome to Speak Arizona
01:22 - Meet Matt Malan and why his story matters
02:09 - The moment fear won: skipping his first speech
03:10 - Childhood stutter and speech therapy
08:07 - Hiding to stay safe and the decision to change
09:21 - Words, beliefs, and the “spell” fear can cast
09:41 - Growth mindset: learning from flops and building confidence
12:03 - The power of a mentor: meeting Don and relentless practice
17:18 - Training under pressure: the 26 posture sequence analogy
23:52 - “Speeches aren’t written, they’re rewritten” - how to get better fast
40:29 - Closing encouragement: take risks, change things up, and keep going

Guest
Matthew Malan is a sales representative at Vemo Smart Energy.

Connect
- Instagram: @mattmalan6
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-malan-766a15208/

Networking for Introverts - Rachel Perez

Introverted and tired of networking that feels like forced small talk? In this episode, Rupesh Parbhoo sits down with Rachel Perez, Owner and Creative Director of Composion, to share low-pressure ways to build real professional relationships. They talk about why deep listening is an introvert superpower, how arriving early makes conversations easier, and simple icebreakers that feel natural. Rachel also shares how improv classes helped her get comfortable thinking on her feet. Perfect for introverts and quiet professionals who want to grow their network with confidence and authenticity.

Key takeaways

• Lead with curiosity, not an agenda. People can feel when you are trying to sell.
• Arrive early to events so conversations start one-on-one, not in a big group.
• Use easy icebreakers: shared context (like the food), genuine compliments, and thoughtful questions.
• Regulate the anxiety: zoom out, keep it playful, and remember the stakes are smaller than they feel.
• Practice outside your comfort zone (like improv) to build social confidence over time.

Rachel Perez is the Owner and Creative Director of Composion. She specializes in branding, logo design, and website design for small, service-based businesses in the human and animal health and wellness space, with 14+ years of experience and a degree in Visual Communication.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-perez-composion/
• Website: https://www.composion.design/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrs.rachelperez/

Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Speak Arizona
00:57 - Why networking can feel hard for introverts
01:16 - Meet Rachel Perez and Composion
04:55 - Building confidence with improv reps
06:09 - What networking is really about
11:20 - Network without an agenda
12:48 - Brownies and other easy icebreakers
15:10 - Arrive early to make it easier
15:35 - The "floating rock" perspective shift
18:24 - Following up after events (Instagram and LinkedIn)
26:01 - Speaking gigs, confidence, and practice
28:46 - Box breathing and where to connect with Rachel
29:36 - Closing and outro