“Some leaders feel if I’m really good at pushing you at 1% better…you gotta be better, think better, elevate yourself, and you’re always coaching them at the gap of who they are about to be, some people thrive on that. Well then, to the next person, it sounds like ‘you’re not enough.’” - Marcy Stoudt Pause for 10-15 seconds, before giving feedback or direction, try asking: How might this land for them? Simply asking the question creates a shift from expressing your perspective to considering theirs. therevelcompanies.com

Instead of evaluating a conversation based on what was said or accomplished, try this more useful lens. How did that person feel after interacting with me? Encouraged? Clear? Pressured? Overlooked? “How do I want other people to experience my leadership?” - Marcy Stoudt therevelcompanies.com

Think you’re late to the AI conversation? Georgia Groc says you’re not. The ship hasn’t sailed yet. The opportunity is still wide open for anyone willing to start learning. If you’re ready to dive in but don’t know where to begin, listen to the full episode wherever you get podcasts. Or check out our Career Strategist to build a custom AI GPT tailored to your goals: https://www.therevelcompanies.com/leaders-in-transition-revel-career-strategist Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7IyqYMKU9r7tPHZLkEi51F Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/above-center-leadership-podcast/id1557113848 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@revelcompanies

"The second you try to be somebody else, your leadership weakens." - Marcy Stoudt Pause for 10-15 seconds before an interaction or decision and ask: Who do I want to be in this moment? Not just...What should I say? What should I do? But...How do I want to show up? Clear? Supportive? Direct? Patient? Answering this question can change the tone of an entire interaction. therevelcompanies.com

Guest: Georgia Groc | AI Automation & Process Transformation Leader, U.S. Bank In this Above Center® episode, Georgia Groc shares a grounded, real-world view of what leadership looks like when the pace of change is relentless and the stakes feel personal. As an AI Automation and Process Transformation leader at U.S. Bank, Georgia makes the case that leaders don’t need to be experts overnight, but they do need to get in the arena. Her advice is simple and powerful: block time to learn, start experimenting, and let AI handle the “nonsense work” so people can double down on what makes them uniquely valuable. But the conversation goes deeper than technology. Georgia connects the fear many professionals feel about AI to a fear she knows intimately: a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis at 36. What helped her move forward wasn’t pretending the fear wasn’t there. It was getting informed, building clarity, and choosing a mindset that refused to let a hard season become her identity. The result is a leadership posture that is both resilient and human: acknowledge what’s real, learn what we can, and keep choosing the path that aligns with our best self. Key Takeaways from Georgia’s Leadership Philosophy 🧠 Don’t Wait to “Be Ready” for AI Georgia believes the biggest risk is not starting. Leaders don’t need massive budgets or advanced expertise; they need intentional practice. An hour a week of learning and tinkering builds fluency, confidence, and momentum. 🧩 AI Raises the Bar on Human Value As AI accelerates execution, Georgia encourages teams to focus on what can’t be automated: judgment, vision, relationship-building, creative problem solving, and leadership presence. Let AI do the repetitive work so people can lead at a higher level. 🤝 Psychological Safety Is the New Adoption Strategy AI adoption isn’t just a tool rollout—it’s a culture shift. Georgia emphasizes creating a team environment where people can voice skepticism, fears, and frustrations without shame. Real progress happens when leaders “double-click” on what’s underneath the resistance. 🧭 Knowledge Reduces Fear From navigating AI uncertainty to navigating cancer, Georgia returns to one theme: information is empowering. When people understand what they’re facing, fear quiets down enough for clear action to emerge. 🔥 Choose Your Life—Daily Georgia’s resilience is rooted in choice. When life feels fragile, clarity sharpens. Her approach is to go all-in on what matters: family, impact, career, and presence. Choosing above center is not denial of hardship; it’s ownership of response. 💬 Favorite Quote “What a day, what a life!” For Georgia, this quote is a reset. The day might be hard, messy, or exhausting, but the larger story is still worth celebrating. It’s a reminder to hold both truths at once: reality can be heavy—and life can still be beautiful. About Georgia Groc Georgia Groc is an AI Automation and Process Transformation leader who turns complex problems into scalable solutions. Over the past decade, she has helped highly regulated financial organizations reimagine how work gets done—delivering millions in cost savings and revenue, accelerating operational efficiency, and empowering teams to do their best work. Today, Georgia leads an AI Automation Solutions Team at U.S. Bank, managing a team of eight and overseeing high-visibility AI and automation use cases across Operations for Consumer, Business and Treasury, Wealth Management, Contact Center, and Transaction Processing & Shared Services. She was promoted into this role for her ability to learn new business areas quickly, build frameworks that increase efficiency, and activate cross-functional teams around a compelling vision. Her leadership style is rooted in transparency, accountability, and building strong team culture. ABOVE CENTER® is brought to you by REVEL®, an Executive Search and Coaching firm that helps people and companies grow through the power of great leadership. Our ABOVE CENTER® approach is about staying grounded, clear, and resilient, especially when the stakes are high. In this podcast, we feature leaders in corporate America who share how they navigate the pressures of leadership while living ABOVE CENTER®. We uncover the mindsets, strategies, and personal philosophies that drive high-performing executives to lead themselves and their teams to success. From hiring and retaining top talent to thriving in the first 90 days of a new role, these conversations go beyond leadership—they’re about building a career and a life with purpose, impact, and joy in the journey.

We’re often the biggest obstacle in our own way. When doubt shows up, it’s worth pausing and asking whether the story you’re telling yourself is actually true. A powerful reminder from Marcy on why mindset matters more than we think. Catch Marcy on the Past the Pitch Podcast with @Anna Frazzetto: 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6NHVFEEV6cwmhs0tmxcuca?si=739438331b5249a5 ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16LW8YuA-O4

Growth doesn’t start with fixing the problem. It starts with asking better questions. Curiosity creates understanding. Without it, we risk repeating the same patterns over and over. Catch Marcy on the Past the Pitch Podcast with @Anna Frazzetto: 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6NHVFEEV6cwmhs0tmxcuca?si=739438331b5249a5 ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16LW8YuA-O4

Busy doesn’t always mean productive. When teams operate from urgency and pressure, decision-making suffers. Leading from inspiration creates better outcomes for people and the business. Catch Marcy on the Past the Pitch Podcast with @Anna Frazzetto: 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6NHVFEEV6cwmhs0tmxcuca?si=739438331b5249a5 ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16LW8YuA-O4

Reminder of the day!!! Leadership gets lighter when you stop trying to be everything to everyone. Learn what happens when you’re clear on who you are and lead from that place (hint: interactions become far less draining, among other positive side-effects!!). Catch Marcy’s leadership conversation with Jeremy Greene on Birds of a Feather: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rqRKnmdxO4