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Elevate Your Leadership Journey Through Authentic Conversations with Business Leaders
In business, balancing acts are everywhere. Join Dr. Andrew Temte for The Balancing Act Podcast—an award-winning leadership development podcast featuring authentic, in-depth conversations with accomplished business leaders, senior executives, entrepreneurs, and industry experts who share the real stories behind their professional success.
What You'll Discover:
Each episode explores the critical skills and balancing acts that define exceptional leadership through engaging conversations covering:
- Leadership development and executive management strategies
- Organizational health, trust, and workplace accountability
- Employee engagement and team performance optimization
- Communication skills and business transformation
- Financial acumen and business decision-making
- Career acceleration strategies and professional growth
- Continuous improvement and lifelong learning principles
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
- Emerging trends in AI, technology, and workforce development
The Balancing Act Format:
Every episode features four powerful segments:
- Origin Stories - Discover how today's leaders began their professional journeys
- Rocket Booster Moments - Learn about the pivotal events that accelerated their careers
- Deep Dive Conversations - Explore timely business topics with actionable insights you can apply immediately
- Lightning Round Questions - Quick-fire questions that reveal your guests' perspectives on leadership, success, and life
With over 200 episodes, The Balancing Act examines business challenges from multiple perspectives, giving you comprehensive insights into the skills that drive workplace success.
Your Host:
Dr. Andrew Temte is the former CEO of Kaplan Professional and bestselling author of "Balancing Act: Teach, Coach, Mentor, Inspire" and "The Balanced Business: Building Organizational Trust and Accountability through Smooth Workflows." As a thought leader on leadership development, organizational health, and corporate learning, Andy brings deep expertise in professional education and business management to every conversation. He holds a PhD in finance from the University of Iowa and the CFA designation, with over 15 years of university teaching experience.
Who Should Listen:
Perfect for aspiring leaders, mid-level managers seeking executive roles, C-suite executives refining their approach, entrepreneurs building their businesses, and anyone committed to continuous improvement and professional growth.
New episodes weekly. Subscribe today and elevate your leadership journey.
Episodes

Thursday Nov 20, 2025
Mastering Intentions with Bianca D'Alessio
Thursday Nov 20, 2025
Thursday Nov 20, 2025
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Bianca D'Alessio. Bianca is one of the top real estate brokers in New York, star of Selling the Hamptons on HBO Max, and author of the new book, Mastering Intentions: 10 Practices to Amplify Your Power and Lead with Lasting Impact.
Bianca shares her journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of purpose, authenticity, and teamwork in leadership.
Tune into episode 220 to hear Bianca's story, her career rocket-booster moment, and her thoughts on "teamship" and intentional leadership.
andrewtemte.com

Thursday Nov 13, 2025
The Last 8%: Transforming Difficult Conversations (with Bill Benjamin)
Thursday Nov 13, 2025
Thursday Nov 13, 2025
In this episode of The Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Bill Benjamin. Bill is a Partner at the Institute for Health and Human Potential and co-creator of The Last 8% framework.
Bill and Andy talk about the intersection of leadership, emotional intelligence, and high performance. They discuss the importance of addressing difficult conversations, the impact of organizational culture, and the necessity of emotional intelligence in leadership.
Tune into episode 219 to hear Bill's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on challenging conversations and organizational culture.
andrewtemte.com

Thursday Nov 06, 2025
AI and the Future of Trust in Sales (with Ari Galper)
Thursday Nov 06, 2025
Thursday Nov 06, 2025
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Ari Galper, founder of AriAI and author of several bestselling books. They discuss the concept of trust-based selling, the importance of building trust over relationships, and the impact of AI on the sales profession.
Ari shares his personal journey and insights on how to navigate the current trust recession in sales, emphasizing the need for sales professionals to focus on listening & understanding their clients' challenges rather than just selling solutions.
Tune in episode 218 to hear Ari's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on trust-based selling and success in the sales field.
andrewtemte.com

Thursday Oct 30, 2025
Tiny Superheroes (with Erika Sinner)
Thursday Oct 30, 2025
Thursday Oct 30, 2025
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Erika Sinner, CEO of Directorie and owner of Tiny Superheroes. They discuss Erika's journey in the life sciences industry, the importance of empathetic leadership, and her nonprofit work empowering children with disabilities.
Erika also shares insights on the significance of pets in our lives and the need for compassionate workplace policies. The conversation highlights the balance between caring for employees and achieving business success, along with personal growth and storytelling.
Tune into episode 217 to hear Erika's story, her career rocket-booster moment, and her thoughts on careers in marketing and the impact of Tiny Superheroes on children that are facing life's biggest challenges.
Learn more about Tiny Superheroes: https://tinysuperheroes.com
Learn more about Erika: https://www.erikasinner.org

Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Unlocking Your Potential (with Joel Steele)
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
In this episode of The Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Joel Steele, author of 'Life Switch,' owner of Steele Financial Solutions, and minority owner of the Grand Rapids Gold. They discuss Joel's journey from failure to success, the importance of self-discovery, and how to turn potential into action.
Joel shares insights on resilience, the challenges the triumphs and challenges of sports franchise ownership, and the significance of financial literacy. The conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in personal goals and the power of gratitude in transforming one's life.
Tune into episode 216 to hear Joel's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on achieving success by living life "ON."
andrewtemte.com

Thursday Oct 16, 2025
Breaking Barriers: The Journey of a Latina Leader (with Monica Marquez)
Thursday Oct 16, 2025
Thursday Oct 16, 2025
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Monica Marquez, a seasoned corporate leader with over 20 years of experience in workforce inclusion and talent development. Monica shares her journey as a young Latina in West Texas to leading innovative programs at major firms like Goldman Sachs and Google.
The conversation delves into the importance of creating pathways for underrepresented groups, the evolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and the role of AI in shaping the future of work.
Tune into episode 215 to hear Monica's story, her career rocket-booster moment, and her thoughts empowering Latina's in the world of work and the future corporate DEI efforts.
andrewtemte.com

Thursday Oct 09, 2025
The Cost of Toxic Leadership (with Maria Brinck)
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Maria Brinck, a thought leader and author of The Leadership We Need: A New Mindset for a Brighter Future.
Maria shares her transformative journey from corporate America to working in the Congo Basin rainforest, where she learned valuable lessons about leadership, connection, and the importance of diversity of thought. Maria emphasizes the need for mindfulness and long-term thinking in leadership, as well as the importance of recognizing and addressing subconscious biases that can hinder effective leadership.
Tune into episode 214 to hear Maria's story, her rocket-booster moment, and our conversation about the costs of toxic leadership in corporations and institutions.
andrewtemte.com

Thursday Oct 02, 2025
Navigating Fear-based Leadership (with Kate Lowry)
Thursday Oct 02, 2025
Thursday Oct 02, 2025
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Kate Lowry, CEO, coach, venture capitalist, and author; about the pervasive issue of fear-based leadership in the workplace.
Kate shares her personal journey and insights into how fear-based leaders operate, the rise of such leadership styles, and the impact on employees and organizational culture. She provides practical strategies for managing fear-based bosses and emphasizes the importance of emotional maturity in leadership.
Tune into episode 213 to hear Kate's story, her rocket-booster moment, and a robust conversation about her new book, Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders.
Learn more about Kate Lowry and her new book Unbreakable:
https://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Thrive-Under-Fear-Based-Leaders-ebook/dp/B0FQ71FW72/ref=sr_1_1
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinejlowry/

Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Improving Customer Experience in the Age of AI (with Sameer Narkar)
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Sameer Narkar, founder and CEO of Konnect Insights, about the evolution of customer experience management. They discuss the importance of customer service in business success, the role of AI in enhancing customer interactions, and how to empower customer service agents. Sameer shares insights on the challenges of managing customer experiences across multiple channels and the significance of simplicity in software design.
Tune into episode 212 to hear Sameer's story, his rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on empowering customer experience in the age of artificial intelligence.
andrewtemte.com

Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Empowering Women in Business (with Chantell Preston)
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with healthcare executive Chantell Preston, CEO of Preston Partners, about her journey in the industry, the importance of mentorship, and the challenges women face in leadership roles.
They discuss practical advice for college graduates, mid-career professionals, and budding entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need for self-advocacy, networking, and finding balance in life. Chantell shares her personal experiences, the sacrifices made along the way, and the significance of enjoying the journey while pursuing one's goals.
Tune into episode 211 to hear Chantell’s story, her rocket-booster moment, and her thoughts on entrepreneurship and breaking glass ceilings!
andrewtemte.com
