Episode recap:

Today’s show focused on workforce transformation and employee engagement, featuring lively discussions with Kristian Gaetano from Achievers and Janelle Jordan from GoDaddy. They explored the importance of recognition in driving employee engagement, the impact of AI-powered recognition tools on organizational culture, and strategies for creating inclusive work environments. The conversation covered personal leadership practices, successful recognition initiatives, and the transformative power of feedback in fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion.

Guest Bio:

As COO of Achievers, Kristian Gaetano leads all post-sales functions, ensuring customers receive exceptional experiences and long-term value. His focus is on delivering for customers, building a world-class team, and driving customer retention and growth.

As Sr. Program Manager, Employee Experience, GoDaddy, Janelle Jordan is passionate about building positive workplace cultures. In her current role, she leads efforts to boost engagement, recognition, and diversity, including GoDaddy’s global recognition program, Everyday Champions (EDC), and its employee resource groups.

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Show Notes

Quotes:

• “The ability to understand how your employees are experiencing the operating reality—where they are, the challenges they’re facing in their role, and the opportunities for development they’re looking to lean into—is really enabling leaders to be more empathetic.”- Kristian Gaetano
• “Feedback is a gift, and it’s also a skill. It’s powerful for leaders and individual contributors to learn how to be better at giving and receiving feedback—both positive.” – Janelle Jordan 
• “Recognition doesn’t just help us feel good—it actually helps employees feel and contribute more to their organization.” – Kristian Gaetano 

Takeaways:

• Practice daily recognition by sending a quick message or note to a team member who made a meaningful contribution, even if it feels awkward at first.
• Ask your team members how they want to be recognized and what makes them feel valued, creating a personalized approach to appreciation. 
• Conduct a self-reflection exercise to understand your leadership biases and triggers, then develop strategies to lead with more empathy. 
• Review your current recognition practices and identify one specific way to make recognition more visible and meaningful in your organization. 
• Start tracking the impact of recognition on key metrics like engagement, retention, and performance to demonstrate its business value. 

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Book Announcement
00:47 Welcome to the Love in Action Podcast
01:21 Today’s Topic: Workforce Transformation
01:53 Meet the Guests: Kristian and Janelle
03:46 Janelle’s Leadership Journey
05:44 Kristian’s Leadership Journey
07:07 The Importance of Recognition
09:30 Empathy and Leadership
12:38 GoDaddy’s Values and Recognition
14:43 Challenges Faced by Managers
20:46 Success Stories and Impact of Recognition
27:20 The Role of ERGs at GoDaddy
30:03 Leading with Humanity, Love, and Trust
32:32 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
35:23 Closing Remarks

Conclusion:

Recognition isn’t just a nice gesture—it plays a real role in how people show up and stay motivated at work. When teams feel seen and appreciated, they’re more likely to stay engaged, do better work, and support each other. Building a culture where people are valued helps reduce stress and brings out the best in everyone. Strong leadership means treating people like people, not just roles. A workplace built on respect and honest feedback sets the stage for lasting success. 

Links/Resources: 

Achievers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/achievers/ 

Achievers website: https://www.achievers.com/ 

GoDaddy: https://www.godaddy.com/  

GoDaddy Life Blog: https://www.godaddy.com/resources/godaddylife  

GoDaddy Life (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/godaddylife/?hl=en  

Kristian Gaetano on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiangaetano/  

Janelle Jordan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelleljordan/ 

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