302. The Dream Manager: The Question Most Leaders Never Ask | Kate Volman | the Learn-It-All™ podcast

What happens to a person, and to a company, when people stop believing their dreams can actually come true?

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Kate Volman, author, podcast host, and CEO of Floyd Consulting, for a powerful conversation about people-first leadership, employee development, dream management, workplace culture, coaching, creativity, and why helping your people become better versions of themselves may be one of the smartest business strategies a leader can build.

Kate explains why an organization can only become the best version of itself when its people are growing, too. Even in the age of AI, she believes people remain the driving force behind great companies. Damon and Kate explore The Dream Manager, a coaching-based program that helps employees identify personal dreams, create action steps, and grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Kate also shares real stories of skeptical employees who experienced breakthroughs after feeling seen, supported, and encouraged to dream again.

They also discuss why many people say they “don’t have dreams,” how leaders can reawaken curiosity through simple questions, and why pursuing a dream can be just as meaningful as achieving it. For CEOs, founders, executives, HR professionals, coaches, and business owners, this episode challenges the way we think about leadership, employee engagement, talent retention, coaching, and the future of work.

📘 Get a FREE copy of The Learn-It-All Leader Book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3ingcx2pp5

In this episode, you’ll learn...

Why people-first leadership matters even more in the age of AI, especially if you want your team to actually use new tools, collaborate, and grow with the business
How The Dream Manager program helps employees identify personal dreams like buying a home, improving their health, building stronger relationships, becoming financially free, or pursuing a creative goal
Why asking employees about their dreams can change how they show up at work, communicate with their team, take initiative, and build confidence
The power of dream storming and why Kate encourages people to create a list of 50 to 100 dreams across financial, emotional, spiritual, creative, physical, and relationship categories
How leaders can help high achievers see their own superpowers, especially when they downplay their skills or assume “this is what everybody does”
Why the pursuit of a dream is often just as valuable as achieving the dream because of the skills, confidence, relationships, and self-knowledge gained along the way
Why growth often requires getting through the “messy middle,” the uncomfortable part of the creative process where most people are tempted to quit

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction
01:09 What happens when dreams stop feeling possible
02:26 Why AI makes people-first leadership even more urgent
05:13 What a Dream Manager actually does
13:36 Why coaching unlocks what people keep buried
16:10 Should the CEO share their dreams too?
18:19 What if you think you have no dreams?
22:54 How dream storming works
24:17 The relationship people want to fix first
25:55 Why “start small” beats big promises
28:06 How leaders help people see their superpower
30:45 The mentor moment Kate never forgot
36:08 Who should become the Dream Manager?
40:21 A simple exercise to get your team dreaming
42:39 Why chasing the dream matters more than reaching it
44:40 The dream Kate abandoned, and why it still mattered
46:35 Why everyone is creative, even if they don’t think so
49:43 How curiosity opens a bigger world
51:09 Why dreams need a messy middle
54:57 Who needs a Dream Manager most
57:39 Damon’s challenge for every leader
58:49 Where to connect with Kate

About Kate Volman

Kate Volman is the CEO of Floyd Consulting, an author, coach, speaker, and people-first culture advocate who helps individuals and organizations reconnect with their dreams, creativity, and personal growth. Through The Dream Manager program, her book Do What You Love, and her podcast Create For No Reason, Kate helps leaders build cultures where people feel seen, supported, challenged, and inspired to become better versions of themselves at work and beyond.

Resources and Mentions

Do What You Love book: https://www.amazon.com/Do-What-You-Love-Creative/dp/1635823331

Kate Volman’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katevolman/

Kate Volman’s website: https://katevolman.com/

Create For No Reason podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-for-no-reason/id1534939856

The Dream Manager’s website: https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Books Mentioned:

Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon: https://www.amazon.com/Steal-Like-Artist-Things-Creative/dp/0761169253

The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Noticing-Creativity-Inspiration-Discover/dp/0525521240

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: www.learnit.com

Email: [email protected]