The Balancing Act with Andrew Temte, PhD, CFA
Andrew Temte
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.
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
Mentioned books
Apr 2, 2026 • 23min
How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders | Kate Lowry
Fear-based leaders are forming networks—and they’re not hiding anymore. In this return episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy Temte sits down with CEO coach and author Kate Lowry to unpack practical tools for navigating toxic leadership without losing yourself in the process.
Kate Lowry is a CEO coach, venture capitalist, and author based in Silicon Valley. She developed her expertise on fear-based leadership growing up in a hierarchical family, then refined her approach across startups, private equity, management consulting, and big tech—including roles at McKinsey, Meta, and Insight Partners. She is the founder of Scaleheart Co. and the author of Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders (October 2025). Kate first appeared on the Balancing Act in Episode 213.
In this conversation, Kate describes the cultural whiplash she’s witnessed over the past three years—a dramatic swing from emotionally intelligent, employee-centered leadership to an environment where fear, dominance, and cruelty are openly celebrated. She shares how she recognized that her coaching clients—accomplished leaders from top institutions—were paralyzed by this shift, and realized she had a survival toolkit they desperately needed.
Guest: Kate Lowry
Website: katelowry.com
Coaching: scaleheart.co
Book: Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katherinejlowry
Instagram: @kaitunbreakablelaury
Host: Andy Temte
Website: andrewtemte.com
Mar 26, 2026 • 34min
Mental Health at Work: Skills for Leaders and Teams | Melissa Doman
Why do leadership titles make it harder — not easier — to talk about mental health at work?
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy Temte speaks with Melissa Doman, MA — organizational psychologist, former mental health therapist, and author of Yes, You Can Talk About Mental Health at Work and her new book, Cornered Office: Why We Need to Talk About Leadership Mental Health. Melissa shares why awareness alone isn’t enough — people need conversational literacy to discuss mental health in the workplace.
From coaching hyperventilating leaders behind closed doors to watching entire organizations transform their conversations over 18 months, Melissa makes the case that mental health is a core strategic business priority, not an optional wellness add-on.
Tune in to episode 238 hear Melissa’s practical framework for starting these conversations — and why the quiet part needs to be said out loud.
Mar 19, 2026 • 23min
Career Growth Through Mentorship and an Open Mind | Bolaji James
How does a 16-year-old immigrant from Nigeria end up leading global trade marketing at Bose Corporation?
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy Temte speaks with Bolaji James — Head of Global Trade Marketing & Retail Operations at Bose and a proud member of the very first cohort of the Kaplan Leadership Program. Bolaji shares the story of how a persistent transfer advisor and a challenge from his then-girlfriend (now wife) led him to write the essay that changed his life — and how the Kaplan Educational Foundation didn’t just offer a scholarship, but molded him into the leader he is today. From his emotional arrival at Morehouse College to the career lessons he carries into senior management at Bose, this conversation is a masterclass in the power of mentorship, an open mind, and asking for help.
Tune in to hear Bolaji’s story and learn why the best career advice often comes from simply asking one question: “What do you wish you knew?”
Mar 12, 2026 • 28min
Leveraging AI to Enhance Human Connection | Allison Shapira
What does authentic leadership communication look like in the age of AI? In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Allison Shapira—opera singer turned keynote speaker, Harvard Kennedy School lecturer, and bestselling author of Speak with Impact and AI for the Authentic Leader.
Allison shares her career rocket-booster moment—quitting a prestigious consulting job on day three to launch her own business—and reveals why the leaders who communicate most effectively are the ones who listen first. The conversation covers the fear of public speaking, the trust gap created by AI over-reliance, the hidden cost of corporate jargon, and why folk music taught her more about authentic leadership than opera ever did.
Tune in to hear Allison’s story and learn how to lead with your voice—authentically.
Mar 5, 2026 • 28min
Stop Competing, Start Co-creating | Chris Deaver
In this episode of The Balancing Act Podcast, Andy sits down with Chris Deaver, the co-founder of BraveCore and the "quiet force" behind leadership initiatives at Apple and Disney. Chris shares how he helped these global giants navigate massive growth by moving away from "rock star" individualism toward a culture of co-creation.
Discover how to move beyond efficiency and effectiveness to embrace a future where humans and AI work together to build something super-abundant. Whether you are a mid-career manager feeling stuck or an executive looking to reduce friction in your organization, this episode provides a roadmap for leading with curiosity and bravery.
Chris is the co-author of Brave Together, a breakthrough leadership book featured in The Next Big Idea Club with Malcom Gladwell and Adam Grant. Through his consultancy, BraveCore, he helps leaders rethink their influence and build cultures where teams can do the impossible.
AndrewTemte.com
Feb 26, 2026 • 29min
The Evolution of ADA and FMLA | Rachel Shaw
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy speaks with Rachel Shaw, a nationally recognized ADA expert and president of Shaw HR Consulting, about the complexities of disability accommodation in the workplace. They discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the cultural challenges surrounding these laws.
Rachel shares her personal journey in HR, the importance of proactive planning, and how organizations can create a supportive environment for employees with disabilities. The conversation emphasizes the need for compassionate leadership and the value of understanding the modern workforce's needs.
Tune into episode 234 to hear Rachel's story, her career rocket-booster moment, and her thoughts on all things ADA and FMLA.
AndrewTemte.com
Feb 19, 2026 • 25min
Swiftynomics: The Intersection of Pop Culture and Economics | Misty Heggeness
In this episode of The Balancing Act podcast, host Andy speaks with Misty Heggeness - co-director of the Kansas Population Center, an associate professor of economics at the University of Kansas, and author of Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy.
They discuss Misty's journey in economics, her passion for increasing women's representation in the field, and her innovative teaching methods that incorporate pop culture to engage students. Misty shares insights from her research, the importance of valuing caregivers' contributions to the economy, and her personal growth journey centered around authenticity.
Tune into episode 233 to hear Misty's story, her career rocket-booster moment, and her thoughts on the complex economic lives of American women through the lens of pop culture.
AndrewTemte.com
Feb 12, 2026 • 26min
Empowering Diversity in STEM Careers | Dr. Eugene Manley
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Dr. Eugene Manley discusses his journey in STEMM education, the importance of diversity in the workforce, and the challenges of healthcare equity. He emphasizes the need for mentorship, early engagement in science for underrepresented populations, and the critical role of patient advocacy in addressing systemic biases in medical research.
Dr. Manley is the Founder & CEO of the SCHEQ Foundation and comes to us with over 20 years of experience across engineering, molecular & cell biology, nonprofit strategy, and workforce development.
Tune into episode 232 to hear Eugene's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts on STEMM education in underrepresented populations and healthcare equity.
AndrewTemte.com
Feb 5, 2026 • 29min
The Cost of Bad Hiring Decisions | Jason P. Carroll
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy speaks with Jason P. Carroll, a leadership strategist and entrepreneur, about the importance of self-awareness, the costs of bad hiring decisions, and the innovative Aptive Index assessment tool.
They discuss the challenges of current pre-hire assessments, the role of technology in improving hiring practices, and the significance of understanding behavioral traits in leadership and team dynamics.
Tune into episode 231 to hear Jason's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his thoughts about pre-hire assessment tools and making better hiring decisions.
AndrewTemte.com
Jan 29, 2026 • 32min
Why Are We Still Talking About Culture? (with Rob Van Craenenbroeck)
In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Rob Van Craenenbroeck, co-founder of Culture@Work, about the importance of organizational culture transformation. They discuss the unique approach of Culture@Work, the challenges organizations face in defining and maintaining their culture, and the impact of AI on work dynamics.
Rob shares insights on mentorship for HR professionals and introduces Culture Camp, a new initiative aimed at enhancing business outcomes through proactive HR strategies.
Tune into episode 230 to learn more about the importance of organizational culture and the ever-changing world of work.
AndrewTemte.com
