UNBOXING OD: Exploring the Work Behind the Work

What happens when Organizational Development Professionals apply their own principles to their own organization? 
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with members of the executive team from the St. Louis Organizational Development Network — Ryan McCrea, Aaron Adams, and Joani Alsop — to explore how STL-ODN moved from survival mode to sustained momentum. 
This conversation goes beyond networking and professional development. It unpacks what intentional strategy, structured operating rhythms, succession planning, mentoring systems, sponsorship development, and regional focus actually look like in practice. 
The STL-ODN team shares: 
How they clarified strategy and separated tactical work from strategic work
Why co-creating their mission and vision with members mattered
How mentoring became both a development tool and a pipeline for leadership continuity
The importance of financial sustainability in nonprofit professional communities
How they built succession visibility with a president-elect model
What it takes to protect momentum without overextending the organization
This episode is a real-world case study in systems thinking, resilience, and human-centered leadership within a volunteer-run organization.
 
If you’re part of a professional association, an internal OD team, or a leadership group trying to move from “just keeping it afloat” to thriving with intention, this conversation offers practical insight and encouragement.
 
Connect with the Executive Team

Ryan McCrea
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmccrea

Aaron Adams
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronadams82

Joani Alsop
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanialsop
Visit the St. Louis Organizational Development Network Websites and Consider Supporting the Organization!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/st-louis-organizational-development-network-stl-odn
Website: https://www.stlodn.org
Support the show
CONNECT WITH KENNETH:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
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Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

What actually happens after the survey closes, the insights are delivered, and the change initiative officially “launches”?
In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Dr. Jason Guttadauria, founder of JSG Advisory and widely known as “Dr. Irrelevant,” to unpack why so many well-intentioned change efforts stall and what it really takes to move from insight to sustained impact.
Jason shares the story behind his “Dr. Irrelevant” moniker and how it reflects a deeper truth in organizational work: credentials and models matter far less than what actually improves the employee experience. Together, they explore the gap between listening and action, the limits of top-down change, and why organizations struggle when insights are treated as endpoints instead of starting points.
The conversation dives into real-world examples of hybrid top-down and bottom-up change, the role of behavior in sustaining transformation, and why the popular “seventy percent of change fails” narrative may be doing more harm than good. Jason also introduces the idea of “light-touch coordination” and explains how change becomes more durable when employees help shape it rather than receive it.
This episode is for Organizational Development practitioners, I-O psychologists, HR leaders, and anyone responsible for turning feedback into action. If you’ve ever wondered why change feels exhausting, episodic, or disconnected from the people doing the work, this conversation offers a grounded, human-centered perspective on what comes next.
CONNECT WITH JASON ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/jasonguttadauria
VISIT THE JSG ADVISORY LLC WEBSITE: https://www.jsgadvisoryllc.com
Support the show
CONNECT WITH KENNETH:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES
Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

Applying for a job shouldn’t feel like shouting into a void. Yet for many candidates today, the recruitment process is defined by silence, redundancy, rigid requirements, and being ghosted after investing real time and effort. Organizations claim they can’t find talent, while candidates quietly opt out of systems that feel dismissive and disconnected from human reality.
In this solo episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson takes a hard look at what’s broken in modern recruitment -- and why this is not a candidate problem, but a systems problem. From bloated job descriptions and preferred qualifications treated as requirements to algorithmic screening and months-long interview cycles with no closure, the hiring process has drifted away from the people it’s meant to serve.
This episode challenges Organizational Development Professionals and I/O Psychologists to step into their responsibility as systems thinkers and designers. 
It's important to note that not all recruitment processes are broken -- some organizations still balance efficiency with human interaction -- but those examples are becoming the exception rather than the rule.
The question is simple and uncomfortable: if your organization says it can’t find talent, but your recruitment system is quietly repelling it, what exactly needs to change?
This is not an episode about blame. It’s an invitation to rethink what we’ve normalized -- and to decide what kind of systems we’re willing to keep defending.
Support the show
CONNECT WITH KENNETH:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES
Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Dr. Katina Sawyer, co-founder of Workr Beeing, Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the Eller College of Management, and co-author of Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives.
Together, they explore the deeper meaning of workplace wellness - beyond programs, perks, and initiatives - and uncover how true well-being is built through leadership behavior, team culture, and daily interactions. Dr. Sawyer shares the research and real-world insights that inspired her book, discussing why so many wellness efforts fail to take root, how leadership directly shapes the health of an organization, and what OD professionals can do to align evidence-based practice with human-centered care.
From redefining what it means to thrive at work, to rethinking the role of leadership in shaping wellness, this episode offers a refreshing, research-informed perspective on how organizations can move from performative gestures to authentic, sustainable cultures of care.
If you’re an OD professional, leader, or HR practitioner ready to rethink what well-being truly looks like inside organizations, this is a conversation that will challenge and inspire your practice.
Connect with Dr. Katina Sawyer:
🔹 LinkedIn: Katina Sawyer, Ph.D. | LinkedIn

🔹 Website: https://workrbeeing.com/

🔹 Book: Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives - https://workrbeeing.com/book ... and available wherever books are sold.
Support the show
CONNECT WITH KENNETH:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES
Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Dr. Sy Islam - Co-Founder and Vice President of Consulting at Talent Metrics, and Associate Professor of Psychology at Farmingdale State College - to explore the art and science of leadership development.
Dr. Islam shares his insights on how organizations can better support middle managers, why data-driven decisions need a human lens, and how integrity in action separates good leaders from great ones. Together, they discuss the quiet challenges of leadership transitions, the psychology behind motivation and self-efficacy, and the importance of building leadership programs that actually sustain impact over time.
You’ll also hear how pop culture - from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Avatar: The Last Airbender - can serve as a creative bridge for teaching timeless lessons about courage, ethics, and the complexity of leading others.
Whether you’re an OD practitioner, L&D professional, or simply a leader navigating organizational change, this conversation offers grounded, practical insights you can apply immediately.
ABOUT DR. SY ISLAM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sislam/
Website: www.talentmetrics.io

Links to Books:
Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU
Elements of Leadership: Lessons from Avatar the Last Airbender
Support the show
CONNECT WITH KENNETH:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES
Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund