The Leader Lounge

Showcasing leaders and trailblazing educators.

The popular range of existing podcasts and their genres continue to expand as peoples’ interest in them grows. As for the business world, many start-up podcast shows highlight topics such as self-growth, leadership, innovation, and so much more. The Leader Lounge Podcast was created within the Robert D. Walter Center at Ohio University College of Business.

Shortly after creating the Master of Science in Management program, Director Dr. Amy Taylor-Bianco wished to create a podcast showcasing the themes in leadership and self-growth taught within the program. The podcast’s mission aligns with the MSM, which “allows students to combine unique technical specializations and develop management and leadership skills to propel them in their careers.” 

Nick Winnenberg, Graduate Student President of the MSM, and his brother, Alex Winnenberg, were able to turn this dream into a reality.

The team recorded and produced their first episode with the help of OnBrandPodcasts, with Nick as the host and Dr. Amy Taylor-Bianco as the first guest.

“We’re excited to talk to guests about the program and the experience we offer,” Taylor-Bianco says in the inaugural episode. “It’s not just a program, but a whole set of experiences that have made me better, and I hope make all of us better.”

Each month, the show hosts a new guest speaker who explains the importance of leadership development, entrepreneurship, education, teaching, and career advancement and their experiences within these fields. 

The guests include students, faculty, and other industry leaders,  and hopes to expand its audience to listeners of all experience levels.

The show has featured seven podcast so far, including those from Dr. Amy Taylor-Bianco, Dr. Jen Traxler, and Professor Paul Benedict to name a few . They all provide valuable advice on navigating the professional world, drawing from their own life experiences and careers. Listeners can look forward to new episodes, including "Shaping the future of education in America - An interview with our 23rd President, Dr. Lori Stewart Gonzalez”.

President Stewart Gonzalez highlights her extensive career in higher education spanning over 30 years, which has led her to Ohio University. She shares her vision for the future, emphasizing inclusivity and highlighting how the university can further value its students and other stakeholders.

Starting as a speech pathologist working with students and hospitals, President Stewart Gonzalez was eventually asked to teach a continuing education session to a group of speech-language pathologists. From there, her career in higher education took off as she began teaching at Eastern Kentucky University.

Working through different leadership positions, she has been an Assistant to the Chair of the Department, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Associate Dean, and Provost. “I always made myself open to all opportunities, so you just don’t lock into one thing. Try to learn as much as you can, and keep yourself open to all opportunities. This will serve you well,” President Stewart Gonzalez advised listeners. 

Ohio University has many opportunities not only for prospective and enrolled students but also for its alumni. This episode and others on the podcast will inform its listeners how they can become involved with organizations and people that will help them further their professional development.

All available and upcoming episodes stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major streaming platforms. Future episodes will be released monthly.

Thank you to the team of producers who make this show possible and to Dr. Taylor-Bianco for having the vision that made this a reality.

In the words of the Leadership Lounge Podcast slogan,"Master your niche, lead the way!" We hope you keep listening!