Innovating Leadership: Co-Creating Our Future

S8-Ep4: Building Communities within Your Business

Guest: Alice Yoo LeClair
Contrary to old-school management beliefs, having a work-best-friend boosts productivity.  Having an entire work community?  That boosts a lot of people’s productivity, morale, even longevity with the organization.  Best of all, the communities you foster at work don’t need to be work-related to have these effects:  gamers, Trekkies, and football fanatics in your workplace all benefit.So how does an HR leader drive community building within their organization?  Does remote work make it more difficult? How does it fit with the CHRO’s other responsibilities?  And how do you focus on this when managers so often dump their personnel responsibilities on the HR department instead of taking their own leadership reins? Alice Yoo LeClair knows the world of Human Resources well, with experience in organizations of all sizes.  With her deep experience and eyes on the future, she shares her wisdom and observations with host Maureen Metcalf.
This is the first of several episodes which view innovative leadership from the perspective of the CHRO and other human resources leaders:  the Connex Executive Insights Series.
Here's what Alice and Maureen cover:
What a community is, and why having work communities is so important for your team;
How workplace communities benefit the broader business; and
Why Gallup research shows that having good friends at work substantially boosts productivity.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Joy at Work – with Roxanne Brown and Edward Cook
Achieving Employee-Centric Leadership – with Heather Krentler
Workforce Demographics & an Inclusive Culture – with Nadia Younes, Gamiel Yafai, & Louise Carvalho
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
For a deeper dive on all things HR, check https://www.connexpartners.com/ .
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Citizenry of our Podcast Community: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Instagram: @innovativeleader
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Alice Yoo LeClair is the Head of Talent, Culture, & Performance at Ascendion. At the time of recording, she was Chief Human Resources Officer for Euromoney PLC’s Financial & Professional Services (FPS) division. Before joining Euromoney, Alice was the Head of HR for the Americas GTM region and multiple product verticals at Refinitiv, an LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) business. Previously, she held global people strategy and commercial program management roles at IPC Systems, IntelePeer and Level 3 Communications (now Lumen Technologies). Alice has a bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Hartford where she double majored in Piano Performance and English. She also has a certificate in Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell, Cornell University’s external education unit.

S3-Ep46: Implicit Bias - What You Don’t See Hurts You!

Guest: Rebecca Heiss
From our archives, a special show about our hidden biases.
 
We all have bias. In various forms, it’s built into our brains. But implicit bias creates a disadvantage for leaders and their organizations. Dr. Rebecca Heiss has studied bias extensively, and shares what implicit bias is and how it impacts each of us. As leaders, we need to understand and manage implicit biases because they impact our hiring choices, promotion and succession decisions, company policies—even how closely we pay attention to someone in a presentation. To truly ensure we hire and retain top talent, we need to remove bias from our decision making process as much as possible. During this show, Rebecca shares her research…and what it reveals about the ways we can beat the bias in our business, and our lives.
Here's what Rebecca and Maureen cover:
What, exactly, implicit bias is – and how it taints your decision-making without you realizing;
How implicit bias goes beyond major strokes like race and religion, such as the seemingly subtle bias of “Blondes have more fun” which has deep effects in the workplace; and
The ways bias actually impedes how efficiently (and profitably) your company is achieving its goals.
 
Other episodes for deeper learning:
The Blindspots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias with Gleb Tsipursky
Reimagining American Identity with Amiel Handelsman & Jewel Kinch-Thomas
DEI: Needed Conversations & Understanding with Laura Morgan Roberts & Courtney McCluney
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We're on Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Dr. Heiss has a fascinating book on dealing with stress and boosting productivity. Instinct is available here.
Her equally fascinating TEDx talk on Ghostbusting Our Evolutionary “Other” is on YouTube here.
There’s more on her website at www.RebeccaHeiss.com.
 
Our host, Maureen Metcalf, posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0.
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Producer: Dan Mushalko
Editor: Connor Carson
Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Podbean Patroller: Luigi Morelli
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Dr. Rebecca Heiss is an evolutionary biologist focusing on human behavior and physiology. She’s the founder and CEO of a measurable stress reduction company, Instinctive Cognition. As a speaker and consultant, Rebecca has developed a passion for helping others overcome blind spots to become their best biological selves.
After earning a PhD with research designated as “transformative” by the National Science Foundation, Rebecca went on to hold multiple appointments in academia, applying her research to solve practical problems in overcoming what she refers to as “biological ghosts”—subconscious behaviors that haunt modern life. A creative thought leader, she delivered a TEDx talk on a portion of her work, and has built her career on helping others break through their evolutionary ethical “blind spots.” Having conquered the business of biology, Dr. Heiss has turned her focus to revolutionizing the biology of business.

S8-Ep8: Hiring in the Great Resignation - Developing Your Culture, Communications, & Pipeline in a Crisis

Guest: Michelle Sanchez-Bickley
Amidst the Great Resignation, exceptional organizations are still retaining their top employees, and recruiting new staff.  Renown Health is one of them.
 
In the second of our Connex Executive Insights series, Michelle Sanchez-Bickley of Renown Health joins Maureen Metcalf to discuss the challenges of the Great Resignation for HR departments.  It’s particularly challenging in the health care sector; the strains of COVID on our medical system put particular pressure on doctors, nurses, and hospital support staff.  That’s led to 30% or more turnover.
 
Using a combination of developing internal culture, open communications, hybrid and remote working, and a modern innovation on apprenticeship, Renown Health is a bright spot emerging above the crisis.
Here's what Michelle and Maureen cover:
Why taking a hard look at your company culture is key to losing staff;
How Michelle maintained a hiring pipeline even though COVID hit the healthcare industry so hard; and
Why you lose good employees when they don’t see a path for growth, development, or simply learning.
 
Related episodes:
Innovative Leadership for the Healthcare Industry – with Neil Grunberg
High Performance Medicine: Healthcare & Innovation – with Brian Ferguson
Integrating Integrative Medicine in Leadership – with Dr. Maryanna Klatt
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Further information on Michelle’s healthcare system is online at Renown.org .
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Purveyors of Podbean Podcast Perfection: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Michelle Sanchez-Bickley is Chief HR Officer for Renown Health, the largest not for profit health system in Northern Nevada. In this role, Michelle is responsible for overall strategic and HR operational functions for the enterprise. She has over 25 years of HR leadership experience, with the majority of her career spent in healthcare. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science and justice studies from Frostburg State University in Maryland, and earned her Master’s degree in human resource development from Georgia State University. She is a certified senior professional in human resources (SPHR) and a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). She serves on several local not for profit boards, including Education Alliance, Nevada Works, and Nevada Employer Association. She loves to mentor others and is passionate about the community in which she serves.

S8-Ep10: ShEquity - A Refugee’s Path to Empowering Women & Their Businesses

Guest: Pauline Koelbl
 
Surviving life as a refugee is one thing.  To turn that life into a mission to empower other women is quite another. 
 
That’s exactly what Pauline Koelbl did.  Escaping the war in Rwanda, she found herself a homeless refugee.  Eventually, Pauline found a home in Tucson, Arizona.  More importantly, she found mentoring and support there – and now “pays it forward” as the founder and managing director of ShEquity, and investment firm providing capital and other resources to women-led and -owned businesses in Africa.  Women are the key to unlocking economic success on the continent; they operate over 40% of small and medium sized enterprises.  What’s more, they reinvest about 90% of their revenue in sectors and activities that benefit their families and communities – men only reinvest 40%.  That’s one of many reasons the McKinsey Global Institute estimates the global GDP would increase by $28 trillion if we simply closed the business gender gap! 
 
Pauline shares her compelling story of refugee-turned-entrepreneur focused on female empowerment with host Maureen Metcalf. 
 
Here's what Pauline and Maureen cover:
How closing the gender gap in the workforce potentially adds $28 trillion to the global GDP;
Why, despite the stereotypes, refugees bring with them vast amounts of intellectual capital host countries tend to waste; and
Why women are the key to African (and other) nations fully realizing their economic potential.
 
Other episodes you'll find edifying: 
- Diamonds in the Rough: Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship – with Pat Dambe
- Diversity & Inclusion Insights from IBM South Africa – with Roger Madison
- Empowering Women for the Prosperity of Nations – with Amanda Ellis & Augusto Lopez-Claros
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
More on Pauline’s investment firm is online at https://shequity.com/ .
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf 
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko 
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko 
They Who Shall Remain Unnamed: Luigi Morelli and Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Pauline Koelbl is AfriProspect GmbH’s Founder/CEO as well as ShEquity’s Founder/Managing Partner.  AfriProspect focuses on connecting African innovators with global markets, and ShEquity provides smart investment to impactful and scalable African female-led and owned businesses. Pauline also has 10+ years’ experience catalyzing innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa.  Her passion lies in innovation, entrepreneurship, youth, and women economic empowerment.  A double Fulbright -Scholar and Fellow-, Pauline is currently serving on a variety of boards of companies/organizations connected to business, entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa.
Pauline holds an Executive Education in Innovation for Economic Development from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; a Master’s Degree in Poverty and Development, Institute of Development Studies (IDS) from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (Honors) from the University of Arizona, USA.

S9-Ep2: Using Storytelling to Elevate Leadership

Guest: Chris Nolan
Does your world feel chaotic, unpredictable – lunging beyond your understanding or control? You’re not alone: in fact, the US military felt the same, and created the concept of VUCA to maintain a defensive edge. The good news: you can readily apply VUCA to your organization to maintain YOUR defensive edge!
In this episode, Emmy award-winning filmmaker Chris Nolan reveals the power of storytelling to help leaders navigate the rapidly accelerating VUCA Max world. It’s an inspiring how-to in creating a compelling vision to shape and rebrand your future…and drive success in your organization.
Here’s what Chris and host Maureen Metcalf cover:
How to use future-back thinking to prepare for and accommodate rapid change;
How storytelling can change the future; and
The importance of vision in guiding and motivating your team.
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute. We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
RELATED PODCASTS to Continue Your VUCA Binge:
Facing Uncertainty: It’s VUCA – with Chris Nolan (this is a great primer on the VUCA concept)
Expecting the Unexpected: VUCA in Action at Red Roof – with George Limbert
Improve Virtual Team Success by Leveraging Paradox – with Jean Brittain Leslie
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RESOURCES:  
Chris’ VUCA documentary is on Amazon here. The website supporting the film and with more VUCA information is www.ItsVUCA.com. And to contact Chris, follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/it-s-vuca.
For just plain fun, check out Chris’ musical comedy feature film about the teen vampire scene, I Kissed a Vampire.
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video Editor: Devon Mushalko
League of Extraordinary Podbean Gentlemen: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Chris Nolan is a multiple Emmy Award-winning director, creative director, marketing strategist, branding story expert, writer, songwriter, playwright and author. His most recent projects include the award-winning “Unforgettable Happens Here” campaign for Disney earning 20M views on YouTube. Two ten minute spy movies “From The Adapt or Die Files” for Google‘s API division. And the “Your Life. Now Playing.” series for RealNetworks.  Chris has developed and directed brand storytelling campaigns and commercials for Fortune 100 companies and won countless advertising awards: Cannes, Clios, Addy's and Telly's. He has also directed several hours of episodic TV as well as directed and written feature films. His latest film projects are the documentary "It's VUCA: The Secret to Living in the 21st Century" and a feature about Jimi Hendrix entitled ‘Floating Bridge’. His most recent book is "It's VUCA: The Master Guide to Living in the 21st Century".

S8-Ep11: Workforce Demographics & an Inclusive Culture

Guests: Nadia Younes, Gamiel Yafai, & Louise Carvalho
Slow as molasses.  That’s one way to describe how leaders have responded to the rapidly changing workplace.  The work environment was already changing before the COVID pandemic; now, there’s no going back to the old “industrial” model.  It doesn’t meet rapidly evolving employee expectations nor the major shifts in workforce demographics.  That, in turn, means the Great Resignation should have come as no surprise at all!
The new, effective workplace models all embrace DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  Inclusive business cultures hold many advantages for staff, leaders, and profitability.  From morale to a broader pool of leaders, the benefits are impactful.
How does it work?  Nadia Younes, Louise Carvalho, and Gamiel Yafai use CERN, Europe’s particle physics research center, as a launching point to explore inclusiveness with host Maureen Metcalf.
Here's what Nadia, Gamiel, & Louise cover:
While Gen Z gets all the press, leaders must learn how to juggle the wants and needs of five different generations overlapping in the same workplace;
Why – despite the old-school wishes of CEOs like Tim Cook, Bob Iger, and Elon Musk – workers and the workplace have changed forever; and
With the decline in church attendance and other traditional social arenas, how the workplace has become most people’s place of “community.”
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Recruiting & Retaining Diverse Executives – with Eric Douglas Keene
DEI: Needed Conversations & Understanding – with Laura Morgan Roberts & Courtney McCluney
5 Trends to Know: Leadership in 2023 – with Christopher Washington
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
The international online leadership community, Rejuvi 45, is on the web at https://www.rejuviventure.com/ .
More about the human side of the CERN physics center is at https://home.cern/ .
For further reading, Nadia Younes co-authored The Diversity Calling: Building Community One Story at a Time.  Gamiel Yafai wrote or co-wrote two books: Demystifying Diversity: A Handbook to Navigate Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Yemen Proud: Past & Present. 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
International Men of Podbean Mystery: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guests:  
Nadia Younes has extensive cross-industry and geographical experience leading efforts in DEI, employee experience, and work-life/wellbeing in global multinational companies headquartered in Switzerland, the US, Canada, Australia and the UK…including Wells Fargo, Amgen, Novartis, Rio Tinto, International Monetary Fund and Zurich Insurance. She has also consulted with over 100 other multinational and non-profit organizations and helped introduce the next generation of measurement of gender equality that includes intersectionality with race and other dimensions of diversity.
Gamiel Yafai has worked at the highest levels with many public, private and voluntary organisations on diversity and inclusion culture change initiatives over the last 21 years. Recipient of the Global Diversity Leadership Award presented by the Global HRD Congress, and author of Demystifying Diversity and Yemen Proud, Gamiel has worked with some of Europe’s largest employers to design and implement diversity and inclusion culture change strategies and action plans to both attract new talent from diverse backgrounds, and to support existing talent as they reach their potential.
Louise Carvalho, a lawyer by profession, has practiced in Canada, in England, within the United Nations and European Union institutions in post-conflict Kosovo, and at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (Nobel Peace Prize 2013) in The Hague. Louise joined CERN in October 2014 as a Legal Adviser and was appointed Diversity & Inclusion Programme Leader in 2018.

S8-Ep12: Power, Charisma, Hormones: Science Studies Leadership

Guest: John Antonakis
Power does tend to corrupt.  Especially the more testosterone is added to the mix.
That’s just one finding that the scientific study of leadership has revealed.  Yet, despite the legions of leadership consultants plying their theories, very little research in the field has been conducted with scientific rigor.  Even science basics, such as control groups and identifying variables, are missing.  That punches big holes in many leading leadership philosophies and best-selling books; they look at what top-performing companies have in common…but don’t check to see if the worst performing companies have those same things in common, too!
Enter John Antonakis.  A professor of organizational behavior, and the editor-in-chief of The Leadership Quarterly, John applies the scientific model to studies of leadership qualities, with a particular interest in charisma.  He’ll talk about power, hormones, and his AI charismometer in this episode.
 
Here's what John and Maureen cover:
Why the lack of truly scientific studies of leadership makes it difficult to tease out what really forges a good (even great) leader;
How testosterone in a leader increases their likelihood of corruption; and
That most traits of truly great leaders can be learned – you don’t have to be born with them!
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Getting Lost in the Language of Leadership – with Jonathan Reams
The Bonobo Sisterhood: Ape Society’s Lessons for Leadership – with Diane Rosenfeld
The Science of Dream Teams – with Mike Zani
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Learn more about John’s research at http://www.hec.unil.ch/people/jantonakis .
We have a short (1:21) excerpt from this interview on YouTube at https://youtu.be/CaALP3jTo4s .
Information on John’s book, The Nature of Leadership, is at https://amzn.to/3Xdm7UH . He also contributed to Being There Even When You Are Not (Vol. 4), available at https://amzn.to/3ik8Rir
Host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Our Scientifically-Studied Podbean Gurus: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
John Antonakis is Professor of Organizational Behavior and editor-in-chief of The Leadership Quarterly, a high-impact journal in management and applied psychology. John’s research focuses on estimating the causal effect of leadership on outcomes. He is a highly-cited scientist, and has published groundbreaking research in journals such as Science. His work has been covered by media outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Guardian, NEWSWEEK, the Daily Mail, BBC News, Forbes, The New Yorker, Business Insider, Fast Company and hundreds of other news sources.

S8-Ep13: How HR Drives New Beginnings

Guest: Fara Palumbo
Change is probably the biggest single consequence of the pandemic on organizations in every sector and of every size.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina not only weathered that change, but thrived – even winning awards. Their Chief People Officer, Fara Palumbo, talks with host Maureen Metcalf about the positive opportunities the pandemic presented to her HR department in launching initiatives – and making Blue Cross/Blue Shield an even better place to work.  They discuss change, transformation, and how HR acts as the primary driver for those shifts.
This interview is part of the Connex Executive Insights Series.
Here's what Fara and Maureen reveal:
How remote work has so many advantages for both the worker and the organization;
Why it can be outright foolish to return to the inefficiencies of full on-site work; and
Changing your focus from work-life balance to work-life flexibility.
 Other episodes you'll enjoy:
The New Role of Leadership in a Hybrid Workplace – with Greg Moran
Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust & Connection – with Erica Dhawan
The End of Jobs: The Rise of On-Demand Workers & Agile Companies – with Jeff Wald
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
There’s more about Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina on their website at Bcbsnc.com .
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Dynamic Duo of Podbean: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Fara Palumbo is Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina, a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services, and information to 3.8 million members. Throughout her career, she has focused on transforming the talent and culture of teams via a focus on innovation, diversity, and change leadership. During her tenure at Blue Cross NC, Fara has led the transformation of the company’s talent strategy, leading cultural change to enable long-term business growth. Under her leadership, the company has achieved and maintained its certification as a Great Place to Work©, and has earned numerous recognitions as an employer of choice, including the Working Mother Top 100, Best Companies in Healthcare & BioPharma, Forbes Best Mid-sized Companies for Diversity, and NAFE Top Company for Women Executives.

S8-Ep14: Getting Lost in the Language of Leadership

Guest: Jonathan Reams
Leadership is nothing without thought -- and research shows we (literally!) think with our hearts as well as our minds.  Neurocardiology is just one way we're learning about how a good leader thinks.  The development of more robust thinking skills is vital in growing as a leader.  Jonathan Reams, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, discusses the mindsets required for leaders to be effective.
Here's what Jonathan and Maureen cover:
What the science of neurocardiology shows about how a leaders’ emotions physically affect their teams;
How the fall of Superman and rise of The Avengers in popular culture reflects the change in leadership the real world needs; and
The thinking tools we need in a knowledge economy.
Watch an excerpt from this interview on YouTube at https://bit.ly/Reams-YT .
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Optimize Your Mindset: A Case Study – with David DeRam
Opportunity in Uncertainty – with Dr. Ciela Hartanov
Mindset Is Only One Piece of the Puzzle – with Sean Castrina
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Jonathan has two books. Maturing Leadership dives deeper on the topics in this interview; you can buy it here.  The second, Integral Education, is about teaching, not leadership per se!
You can also learn more at Jonathan’s website: JonathanReams.com .
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. Follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Masters of All They Survey…on Podbean: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Jonathan Reams practices the cultivation of leadership through awareness-based consulting, coaching and action research on leadership development program design and delivery in a variety of settings. He has a position at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), serves as Editor-in Chief of Integral Review, and is a co-founder of the Center for Transformative Leadership and of the European Center for Leadership Practice. He brings awareness-based leadership development practices to his work, focusing on how the inner workings of human nature can develop leadership capacities for today’s complex challenges.

S8-Ep17: Cultivating Empathy through Authenticity

Guest: Jason Lioy
Authenticity boils down to one key concept: be yourself.  That concept is critical at Dawn Foods; their passion is their people, and their goal is to create a psychologically safe environment for people to bring their whole selves to work.  In short, every Dawn employee can truly “be yourself.”
 
Making the workplace a safe space took a lot of effort, but Dawn succeeded.  The Great Resignation barely touched the company; taking DEI, empathy, and authenticity to a whole new level has driven both retention and core business strategy.  Their I Am staff campaign and Women in Leadership program are just two successful facets of Dawn’s belief in people.  Dawn’s Chief People Officer – Jason Lioy – joins host Maureen Metcalf to discuss the motivation and implementation of this unique and inspiring drive to help each person achieve their potential.
 
Here's what you’ll learn from Jason & Maureen:
Pre-pandemic, companies viewed their staff as resources or assets (things), but successful companies today view them as people first;
Why people respond better to (and are more productive with) authentic leaders; and
How respect for diversity boosts the bottom line.
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on Twitter:  @IL_Institute .
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
DEI: Needed Conversations & Understanding – with Laura Morgan Roberts & Courtney McCluney
5 Trends to Know: Leadership in 2023 – with Christopher Washington
Informed Leadership: The Power of Trauma – with Rachael Kelly
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RESOURCES:  
Learn more about Dawn Foods – their products and their people – at www.DawnFoods.com .  
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Masters of the (Podbean) Universe: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
 
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About Our Guest:  
Jason Lioy is the Chief People Officer for Dawn Foods, a global leader in bakery manufacturing and ingredients distribution. In this role, Jason leads the global people team to ensure the long-term success of Dawn’s 4,000+ team members across the company’s three core regions: Europe, Middle East, and Africa; Latin America; North America. Since joining Dawn in 2014, Jason has helped build Dawn's brand and culture into one that recruits, develops, and celebrates diverse top talent, and promotes expertise, collaboration and a passion for bakery. Prior to joining Dawn, Jason's experience spanned global HR leadership and development roles with a strong background in HR operations in manufacturing plants at Philips, GE, and Armstrong World Industries. In his spare time, Jason enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two sons.

S8-Ep21: Achieving Employee-Centric Leadership - A Leader’s Food for Thought

Guest: Heather Krentler  
Employees want to be heard. They want to know their employer wants the best for them. Continental Services heard – and worked hard to innovate their company culture to fully focus on the employee journey.  Heather Krentler, Continental’s chief administrative officer, joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore Continental’s employee-led culture and how it came to be; the changes made not just to engagement, but sourcing the best talent in the first place; and how leaders embraced the new employee-centric culture.  The results have been remarkable: a happy staff really does lead to a pleasant bottom line!
Here's what Heather and Maureen cover:
How part of the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting stem from people – your staff – asserting more control over their lives;
Why compensation doesn’t cut it as the only benefit to retain a valuable employee; and
Why the best ideas tend to come from the front line, not the back office.
See an excerpt from this interview on YouTube at https://bit.ly/Heather-YT .  
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on Twitter:  @IL_Institute .
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
What Your Team REALLY Thinks…in Real Time – with Greg Moran
Leading with Care in a Tough World – with Bob DeKoch & Phil Clampitt
Joy at Work! – with Roxanne Brown & Edward Cook
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RESOURCES:  
You can learn more about the employee-centric initiatives Heather and her team have created at ContinentalServes.com .
Or contact Continental via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/continental-services-michigan/ .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Associate Producers Extraordinaire: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson  
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Heather Krentler is the Chief Administrative Officer for Continental, a food management company that specializes in “Food Your Way”: providing flexible food solutions for a flexible workforce.  After fifteen years in advertising and media, Heather transitioned to the food industry in 2017 and has been dedicated to building consultative and collaborative centralized services for a rapidly growing enterprise ever since, including Human Resources, Marketing, Systems Management, Risk Management, Loss Prevention, and Project Management.  She brings a passion for service to the table and specializes in leadership development and change management as a Gallup-Certified Strengths-Based Coach.

S9-Ep1: The Job I Love to Hate: It’s Never Too Late to Upgrade Your Career!

Guest: Tammy Alvarez
You shudder when Monday rolls around. You dread checking overnight work messages on your phone when you wake up. Yup: it’s easy to find yourself in a career you don’t love, and not know how to get out.
Take heart! Tammy Alvarez has been there. She found her way out…and now coaches people to help them forge the path to careers they actually love. She shares some of her tips with host Maureen Metcalf in this episode. One key mindset: think of your career as a business, and you are its CEO. If you’re still searching for the job that brings you joy, these tips from Tammy and her Career Winners Circle -- a comprehensive collection of coaching and training programs designed to strengthen leaders to grow their careers quickly and sustainably – will help!
Here's what Tammy and Maureen cover:
How to determine what parts of working can still make you passionate about a job,
Why it’s never too late to switch jobs or careers – even as you near retirement, and
Saying goodbye to quiet quitting as the leader of your team!
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on Twitter:  @IL_Institute .
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Career Sponsorship and Being Sponsor Ready – with Ricky Robinson & Keith Powell
- Finding Meaning, Joy, & Purpose in What You Do – with Paul Gibbons
- The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success No One Taught You – with Mark Herschberg
  
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RESOURCES:  
Learn more about Tammy’s career coaching firm at CareerWinnersCircle.com. You can also connect with Tammy on LinkedIn here.
The book Maureen mentioned – Leadership 2050 – to which she contributed is available here.  
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko  
Podbean Guru: Luigi Morelli
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
 
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About Our Guest:  
Meet Tammy Alvarez, CEO and founder of Career Winners Circle: a comprehensive collection of coaching and training programs designed to strengthen leaders to grow their careers quickly and sustainably.
Her spirited “Break all the Rules” approach blends decades of C-Suite experience on Wall Street with a pragmatic, results-based coaching style. She helps business professionals like you create impact so you can love every Monday morning again! 
She is an inspirational coach, trainer, and epic storyteller who delivers transformative learning experiences for her global client base. She believes the heart of every successful business is leaders who inspire courage.