How do great leaders move people, not just manage them? In this episode of Hire Power, I sit down with storytelling expert Mario Juarez, founder of StoryCo to unpack why story is one of the most essential leadership tools most leaders underuse.

We explore why your story isn’t just what you say about yourself, but what people experience with you.

Drawing from nearly 30 years inside Microsoft and his work with executives, Mario shares how story has the power to transform cultures, align teams, and redirect entire organizations. He also gets real about what most leaders get wrong and what it really takes to tell stories that feel authentic, grounded, and emotionally resonant.

Whether you run a small team or an entire company, this conversation will change how you think about the way you talk to and lead your people.

In this episode:

• Why storytelling is a core leadership skill
• What your story really is (and isn’t)
• The biggest mistake leaders make with storytelling
• Where to start if storytelling feels uncomfortable
• What Mario learned working with senior executives at Microsoft, including the time investment and practice it takes to make a talk look “effortless.”
• Human storytelling in an AI-driven world
• Mario’s six-word story method and how it forces clarity on what truly matters in your message.

About Mario Juarez

Mario Juarez is the founder of StoryCo, where he helps leaders and organizations craft stories that move people to action. Before starting his firm, Mario spent nearly three decades at Microsoft in communications, marketing, PR, and executive communications. There, he developed his “Storytelling for Impact” framework and saw firsthand how story can reshape cultures, engage teams, and support major leadership transitions. Today, he teaches leaders how to use story as a strategic tool—not spin, but a way to connect, inspire, and lead with intention.

Connect with Mario: https://mario-juarez.com

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

After taking her first two-week vacation since 2018, Kim Frost is back, recharged, refocused, and reminded that real leadership requires rest.

In this episode of Hire Power, Kim unpacks what truly happens when you step away from the grind and give your brain, your relationships, and your business room to breathe. From the science of detachment and creativity to the leadership benefits of unplugging, this episode is your reminder that rest isn’t indulgent, it’s strategic.

In this episode:

• Why your best ideas come during the pause, not the push.
• The surprising link between time off and promotions.
• How detachment boosts creativity, problem-solving, and long-term perspective.
• What two weeks away revealed about love, leadership, and life beyond work.
• A leadership challenge to schedule your next real break... no excuses!

Rest like a leader, and show others how it’s done.

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Let’s flip the script on what makes a powerful leader. It’s not always authority, strategy, or a polished presentation... it’s humor.

In this episode of Hire Power, Kim Frost explores why humor is one of the most underrated yet most effective leadership tools. Drawing on insights from Harvard Business Review and her own experience coaching executives, Kim reveals how laughter isn’t just about fun, it’s a trust-building, retention-boosting strategy.

In this episode:

• Why humor is a measurable leadership advantage
• The five laugh languages and how to use them
• How humor builds trust and lowers turnover
• The three humor boundaries every leader must know
• Real-life stories of leaders using levity to build culture

Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

Learn more: frostconnections.com

When was the last time you truly unplugged? For me, it’s been since 2008, and that changes this month.

In this episode, I am sharing why I am taking a full month off, including her first two-week break in over a decade, and what it means for leadership.Here's the truth, if the person at the top never unplugs, the whole team learns that rest is weakness.

In this episode:

• Why modeling balance matters
• How time away strengthens leadership.
• Why healthy cultures are built on actions, not slogans.

Take this as your own nudge: breaks aren’t just allowed—they’re smart leadership.

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Most people groan when another meeting lands on their calendar, and honestly, for good reason. Too many meetings waste time, drain energy, and leave everyone wondering, what just happened? But here’s the truth: meetings can be one of the strongest signals of leadership strength—when they’re done right.

In this episode, Kim Frost breaks down how effective leaders transform meetings from time-wasters into powerful tools for clarity, alignment, and action. She shares the pitfalls that make meetings unbearable (no agenda, no outcomes, lateness, endless talking) and the simple shifts that turn them into high-impact moments where people leave energized and informed.

You’ll learn:

• Why meetings are a litmus test for leadership credibility
• The biggest mistakes leaders make (and how to avoid them)
• Simple time rules to instantly make meetings more productive
• How to create clear agendas, encourage the right voices, and assign next steps
• Why respect for time equals trust and stronger culture

If 71% of meetings are unproductive, imagine the competitive advantage if yours are the exception. Meetings don’t have to suck—when you lead them well, they become one of your most powerful leadership tools.

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Are you leading communication, or letting it lead you?

In this episode we are diving into one of the most overlooked leadership skills: communication protocols. With endless channels- email, text, Teams, Slack, DMs, WhatsApp, and more - it’s easy for leaders and teams to slip into chaos instead of clarity.

I share real stories from my own career and from clients who’ve struggled with notification overload, unclear expectations, and constant interruptions. I also breaks down how setting clear rules for communication can improve productivity, reduce stress, and protect your team from burnout.

You’ll learn:

• Why technology has made us worse communicators (and what to do about it)
• The simple framework leaders can use to set communication norms
• Real-world examples of quiet time, weekend email bans, and tool-specific rules
• How communication priorities should align with leadership priorities—not just individual preferences

The takeaway? Effective communication isn’t about adding more tools. It’s about more discipline. Leaders set the tone, and when you establish clear protocols, you create focus, protect priorities, and build a healthier culture.

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Hiring doesn’t end when the offer letter is signed, it begins with onboarding. In this episode of Hire Power, we break down why onboarding is not a “nice to have” but the launchpad for every new hire’s success.

I share a story from my time in global consulting, where one small change in onboarding practices dropped turnover from double digits to single digits. And joining me is Laura Poepping of Plum Coaching and HR Consulting, who brings her expertise and practical best practices for building an onboarding experience that truly works.

In this episode:

• Why onboarding is just as critical as recruiting in the hiring process
• The hidden costs of weak or rushed onboarding (and how to avoid them)
• Simple steps every leader can take to make new hires feel valued from day one
• The ROI of investing in a structured, personalized onboarding process
• How leaders—not just HR—set the tone for culture and retention

Whether you’re running a small business or leading a large team, this episode will change the way you think about onboarding—and show you how to turn it into a powerful tool for engagement, performance, and retention.

Connect with Laura: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorapoepping/

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

One of the biggest myths I hear from small business owners is: “We’re too small to attract top talent.” The truth? You’re never too small for a great hire... in fact, it matters even more at your stage of growth.

In this episode of Hire Power, I’m breaking down why small companies actually have an edge when it comes to leadership hires—and why waiting until you’re “big enough” could cost you everything.

In this episode:

• Why flexibility, visibility, and direct impact make small businesses attractive to top leaders
• The hidden risks of believing large corporations offer more security
• The true cost of a bad hire (up to 2.5x salary for leadership roles!)
• How one great leader can transform a small company with growth, culture, and engagement
• Why investing in the right recruiting partner isn’t an expense—it’s an ROI multiplier

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com