Recorded on March 5, 2026:
In this episode of The AV Life Podcast, host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Joe Way, Nancy Blanchard, James King, and returning guest Brandy Johnson (PTZOptics) for a candid conversation about self-assessments and performance reviews in the AV industry.
The group explores how AV professionals can take an honest look at their performance, advocate for their accomplishments, and maintain ongoing communication with leadership rather than waiting for annual reviews. Panelists discuss strategies such as documenting achievements, maintaining regular one-on-one meetings, and setting clear expectations to avoid surprises during evaluations.
The conversation also touches on leadership challenges, managing remote teams, and the importance of flexibility when evaluating employees with different working styles. Beyond career development, the group briefly discusses AV industry trends, including potential chip pricing concerns, higher-ed budget pressures, and university mergers.
The episode closes with updates on InfoComm registration, travel challenges, and upcoming industry events, making this both a reflective and forward-looking discussion for AV professionals.
Topics Discussed:
- Self-assessments and performance reviews in AV careers
- Advocating for your work and documenting achievements
- The importance of regular one-on-one meetings with leadership
- Managing remote teams and visibility of contributions
- Leadership responsibilities during employee evaluations
- Growth mindset and identifying areas for improvement
- Balancing expectations between employees and managers
- Neurodiversity and flexibility in evaluation systems
- Higher education budget pressures and university mergers
- Semiconductor supply concerns and potential price increases
- InfoComm planning and industry travel challenges
- Career development and professional growth in AV
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
