Episodes

Many have heard the phrase that “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” originated by Peter Drucker. Well, the question is, how does that apply when we think about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? During this episode, my guest, Yemi Akisanya, juxtaposes the key differences between a good strategy and the evidence of a great culture.

Imagine implementing four day work weeks across your organization, followed by 30% + increases in employee engagement and spikes in productivity. Imagine thousands of organizations following your lead, asking you to help implement and your Prime Minister suggesting that businesses use this model as they re-emerge from Covid-19. Andrew Barnes, the founder of Perpetual Garden, joins me and shares his journey, the best practices, how he helps other companies, and the road ahead.

With the continued, and understandable outcry for social justice within the United States and abroad, we have seen many organizations focus on their efforts to contribute to change. Angela Talton, is a senior diversity and inclusion strategist, with notable experience, including leading Nielsen to rank as one of the top companies in D&I in Fortune and Forbes. During our discussion, Angela shares the practices that she has seen succeed, the characteristics as what she calls “committed companies,...

During the first half of this year, we have seen a tremendous amount of impact on businesses, resulting in spiking unemployment rates. At the time of this recording, over 20MM people have filed for unemployment benefits, many of them uncertain about if or when they might return to those places of employment. During this episode, we highlight four simple, yet key shifts, that many job seekers may need to make to improve their success.

As leaders, we all fight for growth against a multitude of headwinds. However, certain things are closer to our circle of control than others. Employee engagement is one of those things. Christine J. Quinn, Ph.D., joins me in this discussion, highlighting the tried and true methods and acknowledging what leaders must do differently to drive results during these challenging times.

By its very definition, trust is “the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” But how do you create trust in a turbulent environment where the underlying norms are shifted and the future is uncertain? Lt. Colonel Jason O. Harris joins me and shares his experiences doing so across organizations from the United States Air Force to Fortune 500 companies. Further, he shares his five-step model specially developed for times such as these.

“Tastes like chicken,” we have all heard that, right? It is the common descriptor often used when first tasting meat is not beef or fish. Our human nature causes us to place things within a frame of reference, which is often beneficial. However, when it comes to communicating your value, differentiation is critical, and sharing your story helps. Within this episode, you’ll find five steps to help you shape your story.

Many are inspired to contribute to the eradication of systemic racism but struggle with how best to do so. The call to action is seemingly driven by a “tragic moment,” but the issues drive much deeper. As one begins to understand the depths of challenges that span areas such as criminal justice, education, economics, voting, jobs, health, and more, it can be overwhelming. Institutions of higher education can be engaged as allies provided you understand the landscape and have a strategy. They a...

Most of us struggle to focus on personal growth and development during normal times, add to that a pandemic, unprecedented uncertainty, and social unrest, and it becomes nearly impossible. We know change is constant, but how do you learn at that speed, let’s explore it. Bejoy Philip is a Talent and Organizational Development executive with progressive experience working with leading companies in both the financial and pharmaceutical industries. He believes the power of innovative culture, agile...

On this episode I am joined by Shola Richards, a positivity writer and workplace civility expert who’s turned his struggles and mental trauma in life into a rallying cry for change in the workplace. We discuss the importance of self-care, both through this time of unrest, while having a view of the other side, which many of us want to positively impact. We provide practical tools for self-care, leading others, engaging in the shift of workplace culture and allyship. Shola Richards is a dynamic...

We’ve often seen the word “authentic” being used to describe leaders, influencers, and personalities, especially in the time of digital media. But what does being authentic actually mean, besides being a trendy hashtag? What does authentic leadership look like and can we be more authentic leaders? A leadership coach and consultant with senior operations experience in several Fortune 500 companies, David Brown Jr. has uncovered revolutionary ideas on authenticity in leadership while continuing h...

The human element is not just a nice to have, it’s a business imperative. To be truly human, we must embrace all of our qualities, raising our emotional intelligence (which is more critical than ever given digital automation and social distancing) and our ability to be inclusive and effective leaders, personally and professionally. Amita Mehta, C-Suite advisor and host of Outcast, shares her journey to inspire people to be authentic doers and unapologetic dreamers. With more than two decades of...

Phrases such as “higher productivity, increased employee engagement, and better retention” are things we all want to hear. Combine that with the feeling, that as a team, you are making an existential difference, “changing lives every day” and you have a thriving culture. Brad Nardick, president of the Bazaar, Inc., shares how the company integrated helping people with disabilities as a shared purpose across the organization, effectively creating sustainability for what might be considered chari...

Begin tapping into your talents like never before by helping others tap into theirs! Kare Anderson, whose TED Talk has been viewed over 2.4 Million times, shares the secrets of mutuality, her journey, and tips to get started. During this episode, Kare will share: How specificity makes you more credible and your messages more meaningful. How mutuality amongst diverse allies allows you to achieve faster and more informed decision making. How to identify who to partner and ways to get started.

What happens when you don’t know your purpose or your “why” from the onset? Many get stuck in a cycle of doing nothing, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Jacklyn is a great example of starting from “I know what I do not want to do” and taking action. During the episode, Jaclyn shares how to use experimentation to dial into your passion and purpose. She discussed the power of mindset, how important it is to keep you moving in the right direction and provides tips to help you move forward. La...

Women start their careers on parity with men but generally end them far earlier, having achieved less status, lower compensation, and less satisfaction than men. During this episode, we’ll be joined by spouses, Andrea Kramer, and Alton Harris. Andie is a partner in an international law firm, is a nationally recognized advocate for women’s advancement and an authority on gender communication. Al was a founding partner of the Chicago law firm of Ungaretti & Harris and has extensive experience wat...

It is natural for us to want to bet on a “sure thing,” but as we know, life is full of uncertainty. During this episode, Kim Davis, one of my favorite mentors, shares how to embrace uncertainty as an opportunity and deliver value at the highest levels. Kim Davis is the Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs at the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to the NHL, she served as a Senior Managing Director at Teneo and served as President of the JPMorgan Ch...

Will using emotional intelligence like a hostage negotiator enable a leader’s success? How can the ideologies and techniques of hostage negotiation be applied to business? Our featured guest, Derek Gaunt, shares the essential information you need to take your leadership to another level by connecting two different disciplines - hostage negotiation and business leadership. Derek is a lecturer, author (Ego, Authority, Failure), trainer and former commander of hostage negotiations teams in the Was...

Gillian Zoe Segal is an author of two books, New York Characters and Getting There: A Book of Mentors. She finished her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Michigan and Law degree at Benjamin Cardozo School of Law. She currently lives in Manhattan, New York with her daughter and dog. Gillian is also a passionate photographer. In this episode, we will learn more about Gillian and her journey – from attending Law school to working in their family business and pursuing her burning passion...

In and of itself, being authentic may feel challenging in today’s hyper influenced environment. Further, authenticity in the workplace has become a major of concern for employees and employers alike. On this episode, I welcome Fran Tarkenton to this conversation as one who has started and run over twenty companies and further, helps small businesses succeed. He is also a former National Football League (NFL) quarterback and television personality. During and after his NFL career, he started mor...

Damon Hurst is a financial and banking professional with ten years of experience in a large financial institution. He specializes in helping individuals, families, and businesses to maximize the full benefits and resources of a deeper banking relationship. Together with his team of experts who specialize in the different areas in Finance, they manage multi-million-dollar books of business. During this episode, Damon will share the three building blocks that will enable your financial success. L...

James talks with Aliza Licht the author of Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media. Aliza shares her personal story including her incredible career at Donna Karan. She explains why she left to pursue her own consulting company and why she ultimately shifted back to a corporate position. Land your dream job. Get the 4 key components for setting up a successful career. You can apply these strategies in a job search or if you’re looking to move to another p...

Michel is the CEO and co-founder of DirectTech Labs a company focused on the intersection between AI and behaviorial science in the gig economy and the social selling space. This eye-opening interview is about the methods AI provides to create a better experience for customers (in this case network marketers), which in turn creates additional value for the company. Michel explains how his company can use data to recognize and identify patterns of behavior. Michel isn’t a Silicon Valley tech gu...