In the transformative episode "Mastering Powerful Goal Setting" of The True You Podcast with Paula Burns, strategy coach and self-described "goal nerd" Sara Lobkovich challenges conventional wisdom around strategic planning and achievement. As the author of the upcoming "No-BS OKRs Workbook" and "You Are A Strategist," she offers a refreshingly direct approach tailored specifically for unconventional leaders and organizations seeking meaningful transformation. The conversation explores Lobkovich's distinctive methodology for setting clear objectives, maintaining focus on what truly matters, and building cultures that simultaneously drive high performance and honor authentic self-expression. Drawing from her specialized experience working with introverted, neurodivergent, and non-traditional business leaders, she reveals powerful frameworks for harnessing one's inner strategist without resorting to masking or self-abandonment. Particularly valuable is her nuanced exploration of how Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) can be implemented in a way that creates empirical clarity while reducing the bias and subjectivity that often plagues performance management. This episode provides exceptional guidance for leaders who feel at odds with mainstream business approaches, program managers seeking to uplevel their strategy skills, and organizations committed to creating environments where diverse thinking styles become strategic advantages rather than perceived liabilities—making Lobkovich's insights essential listening for anyone looking to achieve big things while remaining true to themselves.

In this transformative episode of Speak Easy, strategy coach and OKR activist Sara Lobkovich challenges conventional goal-setting wisdom by centering well-being and intrinsic motivation as critical drivers of sustainable achievement. Moving beyond traditional approaches that often trigger shame, blame, and burnout, she offers a refreshingly human-centered methodology that reconnects people with their internal drivers rather than external pressures. The conversation examines powerful techniques like verbal processing and visualization, providing listeners with practical tools to articulate and pursue objectives that genuinely matter to them. With her characteristic no-BS approach, Lobkovich reveals how creating learning-centered goals aligned with personal purpose not only drives better results but actively reduces workplace suffering—replacing the all-or-nothing mindset that dominates conventional strategic planning. Particularly valuable is her nuanced exploration of how this approach benefits both individuals feeling disconnected from their work and organizations seeking more sustainable performance cultures. This episode delivers essential guidance for executives navigating cultural transformation, program leaders seeking to maximize achievement while minimizing burnout, and individuals who feel like "square pegs" in traditional environments—providing a clear roadmap for designing goals that honor who you are while driving measurable progress toward what matters most.

In the illuminating episode "Goals Are Non-Toxic" of Ju$t Figure It Out with Jen McAllister, Sara Lobkovich presents a paradigm-shifting approach to goal setting that challenges the notion that achievement must come with suffering and self-criticism. As an author and educator specializing in translating strategic vision into actual behavior change, she introduces "non-toxic goal setting"—a methodology that transforms objectives from sources of anxiety into opportunities for curiosity, learning, and authentic growth. The conversation examines how appreciative inquiry can uncover natural strengths through analyzing peak experiences, providing listeners with concrete techniques for leveraging what already works rather than fixating on perceived deficits. Lobkovich's distinctive background, spanning high-performance domains like motorsports and holistic approaches through wellness coaching, offers a powerful demonstration that heart-centered values and performance-driven outcomes aren't opposing forces but complementary elements of sustainable achievement. Her groundbreaking work bridging neurodivergent and neurotypical approaches to strategic thinking offers particular value for those whose cognitive styles feel at odds with mainstream expectations, providing validation and practical frameworks for diverse thinking styles. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes the significance of connecting with your deeper "why," illustrating how this alignment creates intrinsic motivation that makes progress natural rather than forced—replacing shame, blame, and all-or-nothing thinking with empirical clarity and psychological safety.

In this illuminating episode of Growth Dialogues, host Venkat speaks with Sara Lobkovich, founder of Red Currant Collective and self-described "strategy rebel" who has transformed how organizations implement Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). Sharing her transition from corporate executive to OKR activist, Lobkovich reveals the often-overlooked human elements that make or break strategic initiatives. The conversation examines why leadership modeling isn't just helpful but essential—creating the psychological safety necessary for honest reporting and continuous improvement. With characteristic directness, she explains how maintaining the integrity of key results prevents the "watermelon metrics" phenomenon (green on the outside, red on the inside) that breeds organizational distrust. Particularly valuable is Lobkovich's nuanced exploration of ensuring there's something meaningful for everyone affected by OKR implementation, replacing shame and blame with curiosity and learning. The discussion takes a forward-looking turn when addressing AI's emerging role in coaching, with Lobkovich offering thought-provoking insights on balancing technological efficiency with the irreplaceable value of human connection. This episode delivers essential guidance for leaders committed to driving strategic change that generates measurable results without sacrificing the human experience or authentic engagement.

In "Mastering OKRs: How to Set Goals and Measure What Matters," an engaging episode of the Full Time Freedom Podcast, strategy coach and OKR activist Sara Lobkovich delivers a game-changing perspective on goal setting that goes beyond wishful thinking. She demonstrates why this framework has become the secret weapon of the world's most successful companies—and how you can implement it without the complexity that often derails strategic initiatives. Specializing in translating strategy into actual behavior change, Lobkovich unpacks the critical differences between activity-based metrics and outcome-focused measurement, offering a refreshingly direct approach to performance tracking. The conversation challenges conventional goal-setting wisdom, revealing how the right OKR implementation creates empirical clarity that reduces bias and establishes clear expectations. Whether you're a CEO navigating organizational transformation, a program leader seeking to maximize achievement while minimizing burnout, or someone whose thinking style feels at odds with mainstream business approaches, this Full Time Freedom Podcast episode provides the tactical roadmap you need. Listeners will discover how to move from setting goals that don't stick to creating a strategic framework that mobilizes resources toward what actually matters—making your impact undeniable without masking who you are.

In this compelling episode of The Strategy Inside Everything, host Adam Pierno engages with Sara Lobkovich, founder of Red Currant Collective, in a conversation that starts with a deceptively simple yet profound question: "What would you accomplish at your job if you had no fear of losing it?" Drawing from her dual expertise as a strategy coach and her personal experiences challenging fear through climbing and motorcycling, Lobkovich reveals the hidden dynamics that determine whether organizations foster cultures of innovation or stagnation. The discussion examines the critical difference between security (which enables bold thinking) and fear (which paralyzes it), offering a refreshingly candid look at how these forces shape both individual careers and organizational systems. With her characteristic no-BS approach, Lobkovich unpacks how leaders can create environments where people feel safe bringing their full strategic brilliance without self-censoring or conformity. Particularly valuable is her nuanced exploration of psychological safety as a business advantage rather than a feel-good initiative. This episode delivers essential insights for executives navigating cultural transformation, program leaders seeking to unlock team potential, and individuals who feel constrained by traditional workplace expectations—providing a roadmap for accomplishing truly meaningful work by replacing fear with curiosity and outcome-focused clarity.

Sara joins host Kim Kimball on the Sensitive. podcast for a conversation about non-toxic goal setting, and methods of goal setting that work more naturally for neurodivergent brains.