Building Purpose-Driven Success: Scaling with Sustainability, Culture, and Partnerships
In this episode of Conversations with Michael Barnett, Michael sits down with Drew Shula, Founder and CEO of Verdical Group, a sustainability consulting firm dedicated to decarbonizing the built environment by helping to create efficient, resilient, and regenerative buildings. Drew shares his inspiring journey from launching his company in a garage to building a thriving 20-person business known for its impact-driven mission. Whether you're a startup founder, business leader, or sustainability advocate, this episode offers valuable lessons on integrating environmental responsibility into your business strategy. Tune in to learn how businesses can embrace sustainability without sacrificing profitability—and why doing good is just good business.
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From AI Hype to Real-World Impact: Building Smarter Businesses
What does it take to move beyond the buzz of AI and actually make it work for your business? In this episode, Michael Barnett sits down with Dr. Anna Litvak-Hinenzon—Chief AI Product Officer, Georgetown professor, and Founder of Altech AI—to unpack how leaders can cut through the hype and turn AI into real-world results.

Mastering Change in Business: How to Lead Through Uncertainty
What does it take to lead a company through constant uncertainty while still building great teams and attracting top talent? In this episode of Conversations with Michael Barnett, Michael sits down with Jim Urquhart, Managing Director at ZRG, to unpack the realities of today’s tech hiring market and what it means for founders, executives, and job seekers.

From Burnout to Buy-In: How to Create Teams That Love Mondays
In this episode, Michael Barnett sits down with Jasmine Martirossian, Gallup-certified strengths coach and Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at StrategyArc, to explore how leaders can build high-performance cultures that people genuinely want to be part of. Together, they unpack why traditional management styles often fall flat—and how coaching-driven leadership transforms disengaged teams into energized, innovative ones.
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