C-Change Show- Changing Business Culture for GOOD

In this highlight episode of my transformative conversation with  Amri Johnson, I unpack how bringing expectations that people will change to the equity and Inclusion conversation may be inhibiting progress.More about Amri B Johnson:For more than 20 years, Amri B. Johnson has been instrumental in helping organizations and their people create extraordinary business outcomes. He is a social capitalist, epidemiologist, entrepreneur, and inclusion strategist. Amri's dialogic approach to engaging all people as leaders and change agents (previously at the research division of Novartis, as Global Head of Cultural Intelligence and Inclusion) has fostered the opening of minds and deepening of skillsets with organizational leaders and citizens enabling them to thrive and optimally contribute to one another and their respective organizations.As CEO/Founder of Inclusion Wins, Amri and a virtual collective of partners converge organizational purpose to create global impact with a lens of inclusion. His theory of change is focused on building ‘Inclusion Systems.' Inclusion systems provide direction and momentum in the complexity of organizations that allow them to be antifragile—leaning into and engaging with resistance, stressors, disruptions, and disequilibrium and being stronger as a result of such engagement. His book, Reconstructing Inclusion: Making DEI Accessible, Actionable, and Sustainable outlines how organizations can create inclusion-normative cultures and build approaches to DEI that are designed for and with everyone, unambiguously prioritized, and purpose aligned.Born in Topeka, Kansas (USA), Amri has worked and lived in the U.S., Brazil, and currently lives in Basel, Switzerland, with his wife Martina and their three kids.Website: https://inclusionwins.com/Book: https://benbellabooks.com/shop/reconstructing-inclusion/Podcast: https://reconstructinginclusion.podbean.com/

Is it possible that progressive, DEI specialists are bringing resistance and judgment to the table? In my revealing conversation with the insightful Amri Johnson we discussed how practitioners like us can get in our own way of progress.More about Amri B Johnson:For more than 20 years, Amri B. Johnson has been instrumental in helping organizations and their people create extraordinary business outcomes. He is a social capitalist, epidemiologist, entrepreneur, and inclusion strategist. Amri's dialogic approach to engaging all people as leaders and change agents (previously at the research division of Novartis, as Global Head of Cultural Intelligence and Inclusion) has fostered the opening of minds and deepening of skillsets with organizational leaders and citizens enabling them to thrive and optimally contribute to one another and their respective organizations.As CEO/Founder of Inclusion Wins, Amri and a virtual collective of partners converge organizational purpose to create global impact with a lens of inclusion. His theory of change is focused on building ‘Inclusion Systems.' Inclusion systems provide direction and momentum in the complexity of organizations that allow them to be antifragile—leaning into and engaging with resistance, stressors, disruptions, and disequilibrium and being stronger as a result of such engagement. His book, Reconstructing Inclusion: Making DEI Accessible, Actionable, and Sustainable outlines how organizations can create inclusion-normative cultures and build approaches to DEI that are designed for and with everyone, unambiguously prioritized, and purpose aligned.Born in Topeka, Kansas (USA), Amri has worked and lived in the U.S., Brazil, and currently lives in Basel, Switzerland, with his wife Martina and their three kids.Book: https://benbellabooks.com/shop/reconstructing-inclusion/Podcast: https://reconstructinginclusion.podbean.com/

In the surprising conversation I had with Tanveer Naseer last week, we dove into the importance of empathy for successful leadership, development and change management. In this highlight episode, I unpack how practicing empathy is a great opportunity to create a culture of care, which has been proven to be a critical component of employee retention. A little bit of authentic care can save you millions of dollars in turnover.More  about Tanveer Naseer:Tanveer Naseer is an internationally-acclaimed keynote speaker and award-winning leadership writer. He is also the Founder and CEO of Tanveer Naseer Leadership, a corporate leadership  training and consulting firm that works with executives and managers to help them develop practical leadership and team-building competencies to drive organizational growth and development.Tanveer's work and writings have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc Magazine, The Globe and Mail, The Economist, CBC Radio Daybreak, Global News, and the Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center.He is also the recipient of several awards and recognitions as one of the world's top thinkers in the leadership sphere, including being recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts.His speaking and training skills have been procured by some of the biggest names in business including Boston Children's Hospital, Capital One Canada, Henkel, TJX Canada, Canadian Armed Forces, Blinkist, the Canadian government and many more. He was invited to grace the TED talk stage with his talk titled “Forget Passion – Purpose is the Real Spice of Life”. His engaging and thought-provoking style and content has lead to his recognition by Inc. Magazine as one of today's “100 Great Leadership Speakers”.His book, "Leadership Vertigo" has received rave reviews and endorsements by many of today's top leadership thinkers and practitioners.Tanveer is also the host of the popular and long-running "Leadership Biz Cafe" podcast, which has been ranked among the top 2.5% of podcasts globally where he has interviewed some of the biggest names in leadership expertise. Tanveer is a graduate of McGill University's Department of Medicine where he earned his Master of Science degree in Pathology. He currently lives in Montreal, Canada with his wife and their three daughters

What is the most overlooked aspect of change management that can make or break organizational change? Empathy. I had the chance to interview the remarkable Tanveer Naseer about the Powerful role of empathy in developing high performance leadership teams. This skill has become table stakes for growth in the 21st century.More about Tanveer Naseer:Tanveer Naseer is an internationally-acclaimed keynote speaker and award-winning leadership writer. He is also the Founder and CEO of Tanveer Naseer Leadership, a corporate leadership  training and consulting firm that works with executives and managers to help them develop practical leadership and team-building competencies to drive organizational growth and development.Tanveer's work and writings have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc Magazine, The Globe and Mail, The Economist, CBC Radio Daybreak, Global News, and the Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center.He is also the recipient of several awards and recognitions as one of the world's top thinkers in the leadership sphere, including being recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts.His speaking and training skills have been procured by some of the biggest names in business including Boston Children's Hospital, Capital One Canada, Henkel, TJX Canada, Canadian Armed Forces, Blinkist, the Canadian government and many more. He was invited to grace the TED talk stage with his talk titled “Forget Passion – Purpose is the Real Spice of Life”. His engaging and thought-provoking style and content has lead to his recognition by Inc. Magazine as one of today's “100 Great Leadership Speakers”.His book, "Leadership Vertigo" has received rave reviews and endorsements by many of today's top leadership thinkers and practitioners.Tanveer is also the host of the popular and long-running "Leadership Biz Cafe" podcast, which has been ranked among the top 2.5% of podcasts globally where he has interviewed some of the biggest names in leadership expertise. Tanveer is a graduate of McGill University's Department of Medicine where he earned his Master of Science degree in Pathology. He currently lives in Montreal, Canada with his wife and their three daughters

The vast majority of white men on homogenized leadership teams, know that a change is needed to keep the company growing, maintain or create a competitive advantage, and prevent obsolescence.It's going to take a particular kind of leader to get on board. In this highlight episode of the amazing conversation I had with Steve urban CEO of Boutique consulting company, Riderflex, I unpack the kind of mindsets that inhibit innovation and growth, and give you actionable methods to innovate and grow anyway. This episode is essential, listening for active allies looking for ways to meaningful contributions to equity and representation without rocking the boat.More about Steve Urban:Steve Urban isn't just an established leader; he's a crisis management expert with a penchant for turnarounds. With a storied career as the Founder and CEO of Recruiting & Consulting Firm Riderflex—a top-rated firm known for cultural fit staffing—Steve has continually exhibited a rare aptitude for matching talent with opportunity. He also serves as Co-Owner of Kura Home Maintenance in Colorado and Presley Rose Investments, a residential real estate venture he co-manages with his wife, Kim Urban.Long before the inception of Riderflex, He served as CEO, COO and President of multiple companies with revenues exceeding $40 million, specializing in retail, wholesale, and service industries. His operational wizardry led to numerous company revivals, making him a sought-after talent for crisis management, restructuring, downsizing, and transitions.Known as a thought leader, Steve ventured into the podcasting sphere with the Riderflex Podcast, which rapidly gained acclaim for its entrepreneur-focused content and career advice. He further expanded his influence by authoring "The Riderflex Guide" series, a valuable resource for both hiring managers and job candidates. His latest book, "Mastering Job Interviews," has garnered rave reviews as an essential guide for job seekers.When Steve is not immersed in his professional pursuits, he lives for the family and the great outdoors. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Steve replenishes his soul through camping and overlanding, guided by his life mantra: “I want my life to be dictated by the experiences I'm chasing.”

Recruiters can have the biggest impact when it comes to diversifying organizations and senior leader ship teams. Steve, urban, who is the CEO and founder of Riderflex, a multi million dollar boutique recruitment company, speaks candidly about the realities of bringing in diverse candidates into the hiring process, and clever ways to be successful, when senior leaders are resistant to change.More about Steve Urban:Steve Urban isn't just an established leader; he's a crisis management expert with a penchant for turnarounds. With a storied career as the Founder and CEO of Recruiting & Consulting Firm Riderflex—a top-rated firm known for cultural fit staffing—Steve has continually exhibited a rare aptitude for matching talent with opportunity. He also serves as Co-Owner of Kura Home Maintenance in Colorado and Presley Rose Investments, a residential real estate venture he co-manages with his wife, Kim Urban.Long before the inception of Riderflex, He served as CEO, COO and President of multiple companies with revenues exceeding $40 million, specializing in retail, wholesale, and service industries. His operational wizardry led to numerous company revivals, making him a sought-after talent for crisis management, restructuring, downsizing, and transitions.Known as a thought leader, Steve ventured into the podcasting sphere with the Riderflex Podcast, which rapidly gained acclaim for its entrepreneur-focused content and career advice. He further expanded his influence by authoring "The Riderflex Guide" series, a valuable resource for both hiring managers and job candidates. His latest book, "Mastering Job Interviews," has garnered rave reviews as an essential guide for job seekers.When Steve is not immersed in his professional pursuits, he lives for the family and the great outdoors. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Steve replenishes his soul through camping and overlanding, guided by his life mantra: “I want my life to be dictated by the experiences I'm chasing.”

Last week I was honored to have a conversation with Jeff Hoffman. In this weeks highlight episode, I dig into one of his most memorable quotes, “the biggest piece of advice I've been sharing is that having a successful start up, it's not a funding game, it's a talent game“. I also review the source of his personal culture and Northstar: the single mom who raised him and his siblings by working three jobs.More about Jeff Hoffman:Jeff Hoffman is an award-winning global entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, bestselling author, Hollywood film producer, a producer of a Grammy Award winning jazz album, and executive producer of an Emmy Award winning television show. He is an Executive Producer and stars in the groundbreaking new TV series GOING PUBLIC, a show where viewers worldwide can invest in thestartups that Jeff is mentoring on the air. In his career, he has been the founder of multiple startups, he has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and he has served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known successful startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com, uBid.com and more.Jeff is the Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which works with entrepreneurs in 200 countries, as well as being a founding board member of The Unreasonable Group, whose portfolio companies have raised over $11 billion in funding and have positively impacted more than one billion lives worldwide. He is also on the Advisory Board of CEED Global, the Centers for Entrepreneurship andExecutive Development, teaching entrepreneurship globally in developing countries. Jeff has supported the White House, the State Department, the United Nations, and similar organizations internationally on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship programs.Jeff is the Managing Partner of Jeff Hoffman Advisory Services, a strategic consulting firm that teaches exponential growth to business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as teaching innovation strategies to corporations and governments worldwide. Jeff serves on the boards of companies in the US, Europe, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Asia. He supports entrepreneurs and small businesses on a worldwide basis. Jeff is also the founder and CEO of World Youth Horizons, a non-profit organization providing homes, schools, food, and health care to children in need around the globe. Jeff is a frequent keynote speaker, having been invited to speak in over 70 countries. He speaks on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business leadership, and is the author of the book SCALE, a how-to guide for growing your business. Jeff also teaches innovation workshops to major corporations on a regular basis.Jeff is a featured business expert seen on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNN International, Bloomberg News, CNBC, ABC, and NPR, and in publications including Forbes, Inc., Time, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and more.Jeff recently received a Humanitarian Award from Disney and Be Great, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Tribune for his business and philanthropic contributions. He was honored with the Champion of Entrepreneurship Award from JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Rising Tide Capital, as

I had the privilege of speaking with Jeff Hoffman this week on the C-Change show. Among his innumerable accomplishments, he is the chairman of the global entrepreneurship network as well as a founding board member of the  unreasonable group whose portfolio companies have raised over $11 billion in funding he's been featured as a business expert on every major network and business publication and was honored with the Champion of Entrepreneurship award from JP Morgan chase, Citibank and rising Tide capital. Perhaps his most incredible achievement, was the successful sale of a company he founded, but it wasn't the money, it was the fact that not a single person voluntarily left the company during his tenure as the CEO. This man understands how to acquire and retain Rockstars. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the deep insights of this extraordinary human being who had the courage to reject the  ‘nice guys finish last' culture and pioneer a culture of care without any role models.More about Jeff Hoffman:Jeff Hoffman is an award-winning global entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, bestselling author, Hollywood film producer, a producer of a Grammy Award winning jazz album, and executive producer of an Emmy Award winning television show. He is an Executive Producer and stars in the groundbreaking new TV series GOING PUBLIC, a show where viewers worldwide can invest in thestartups that Jeff is mentoring on the air. In his career, he has been the founder of multiple startups, he has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and he has served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known successful startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com, uBid.com and more.Jeff is the Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which works with entrepreneurs in 200 countries, as well as being a founding board member of The Unreasonable Group, whose portfolio companies have raised over $11 billion in funding and have positively impacted more than one billion lives worldwide. He is also on the Advisory Board of CEED Global, the Centers for Entrepreneurship andExecutive Development, teaching entrepreneurship globally in developing countries. Jeff has supported the White House, the State Department, the United Nations, and similar organizations internationally on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship programs.Jeff is the Managing Partner of Jeff Hoffman Advisory Services, a strategic consulting firm that teaches exponential growth to business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as teaching innovation strategies to corporations and governments worldwide. Jeff serves on the boards of companies in the US, Europe, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Asia. He supports entrepreneurs and small businesses on a worldwide basis. Jeff is also the founder and CEO of World Youth Horizons, a non-profit organization providing homes, schools, food, and health care to children in need around the globe. Jeff is a frequent keynote speaker, having been invited to speak in over 70 countries. He speaks on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business leadership, and is the author of the book SCALE, a how-to guide for growing your business. Jeff also teaches innovation workshops to major corporations on a regular basis.Jeff is a featured business expert seen on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNN International, Bloomberg News, CNBC, ABC, and NPR, and in publications including Forbes, Inc., Time, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and more.Jeff recently received a Humanitarian Award from Disney and Be Great, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Tribune for his business and philanthropic contributions. He was honored with the Champion of Entrepreneurship Award from JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Rising Tide Capital, as

Last week I had the incredible opportunity to have a conversation with Dr. Robin DiAngelo who is the person who actually coined the phrase, white fragility. In this highlight episode, I drill down into the nuances of growing up in a country, where our racialized identities form a completely unconscious bias mechanism, that seeps unnoticed into our language, thoughts, and action.More about Dr DiAngelo:Dr. DiAngelo is an Affiliate Associate Professor of Education at the University of Washington. In addition, she holds two Honorary Doctorates. She is a two-time winner of the Student's Choice Award for Educator of the Year at the University of Washington's School of Social Work. She is the co-author of the award-winning textbook Is Everyone Really Equal?: Key concepts in Critical Social Justice Education. In 2011 she coined the term White Fragility in an academic article which has influenced the international dialogue on race. Her book, White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism was released in June of 2018 and debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List, where it remained for over three years and has been translated into 12 languages. It has now been adapted for young adults. Her follow-up book, released in June of 2021, is: Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm. Her work or interviews have been featured in the New York Times, The Guardian, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, NPR, PBS, and The BBC, among many other forums. In addition to her academic work, Dr. DiAngelo has been a consultant, educator and facilitator for over 20 years on issues of racial and social justice

I had the rare opportunity to interview one of the foremost thought leaders in the equity and inclusion movement. Dr. Robin DiAngelo, (who coined the term "white fragility") shared some deep insights about the struggle for equity and some great tools for even the most daunted person to take the first step in owning their privilege and using that power to change the system from the inside. Don't miss it!More about Dr DiAngelo:Dr. DiAngelo is an Affiliate Associate Professor of Education at the University of Washington. In addition, she holds two Honorary Doctorates. She is a two-time winner of the Student's Choice Award for Educator of the Year at the University of Washington's School of Social Work. She is the co-author of the award-winning textbook Is Everyone Really Equal?: Key concepts in Critical Social Justice Education. In 2011 she coined the term White Fragility in an academic article which has influenced the international dialogue on race. Her book, White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism was released in June of 2018 and debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List, where it remained for over three years and has been translated into 12 languages. It has now been adapted for young adults. Her follow-up book, released in June of 2021, is: Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm. Her work or interviews have been featured in the New York Times, The Guardian, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, NPR, PBS, and The BBC, among many other forums. In addition to her academic work, Dr. DiAngelo has been a consultant, educator and facilitator for over 20 years on issues of racial and social justiceRecommended reading and resources:Dr Robin DiAngelo - The Facilitator's Guide for White Affinity Groups: Strategies for Leading White People in an Anti-Racist PracticeCaprice Hollands - Inside out https://www.eddiemoorejr.com/

If you caught my interview with Dr. Joey Faucette last week, then you know how important it is to make a safe space for men to address their insecurities, and be better leaders. Who best to do that? The good guys. Please join me in this highlight episode, where I unpack the possibility, of the average good guy to step up and create immense positive change.More about Dr Joey Faucette:Dr. Joey Faucette is a Positive Culture Architect, Executive Coach, and best-selling author of numerous books including his latest, Small Hinges Swing Big Doors. Dr. Joey empowers individuals and companies to attract top talent, reduce team turnover and develop people, productivity and profits. He hosts the Work Positive podcast weekly. As a prolific writer of over 1,000 articles, his content has appeared on the websites of Fox News, CNBC, Wall Street Journal Market Watch, MSNBC, Entreprenur.com, and countless others and in more than fifty countries

Have you noticed that many male leaders constantly make everything about them? What is this about? I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Joey Faucette, of Work Positive, who shares his ideas about building bridges to help these leaders move from “me” to “we” and build, inclusive, equitable cultures.More about Dr Joey Faucette:Dr. Joey Faucette is a Positive Culture Architect, Executive Coach, and best-selling author of numerous books including his latest, Small Hinges Swing Big Doors. Dr. Joey empowers individuals and companies to attract top talent, reduce team turnover and develop people, productivity and profits. He hosts the Work Positive podcast weekly. As a prolific writer of over 1,000 articles, his content has appeared on the websites of Fox News, CNBC, Wall Street Journal Market Watch, MSNBC, Entreprenur.com, and countless others and in more than fifty countries

I talk a lot about the invisible obstacles that systemic racism places in the way of people of color and other minorities. In my conversation with Maria Morukian, (original air date - September 21)  she brought the other side of the equation by illuminating the invisible advantages of white people into the conversation, and I unpack it here. Owning our privilege and using it to dismantle systemic racism is our great opportunity.More About Maria Morukian:As President of MSM Global Consulting, Maria Morukian's mission is to help organizations develop and implement strategies to create a more equitable and inclusive global workforce, and fuel lasting change. For nearly 20 years, Maria has served as a consultant, coach, and facilitator, providing guidance to organizations and leaders on diversity, equity, inclusion, leadership development, and organizational transformation. Her firm has partnered with hundreds of clients of all industries and  sizes, including the State Department, Hazelwood School District, the World Bank, and the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.Maria's work has been featured in Forbes and TD Magazine, and her company was recognized as one of the Top 10 Diversity and Inclusion companies by Manage HR Magazine in 2022. Maria is a sought-after speaker and has presented on the TEDx stage, for Big Tech, federal agencies, higher education, and multinational corporations. Her popular DEI podcast, Culture Stew, is in its fourth season.Maria is an adjunct faculty at American University and the author of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Trainers: Fostering DEI in the Workplace (ATD Press, 2022). Maria lives with her husband and two future “peace teachers,” who regularly coach her on how to navigate conflict and manage her amygdala.

Being born into privilege doesn't mean you haven't suffered. It does mean through no fault of your own, you were born into a culture that has systems in place that advantage certain people and disadvantage others. I had the opportunity to learn from the incredible Maria Morukian about how to recognize and acknowledge these invisible advantages and how to use them to open the door to equity and inclusion.More About Maria Morukian:As President of MSM Global Consulting, Maria Morukian's mission is to help organizations develop and implement strategies to create a more equitable and inclusive global workforce, and fuel lasting change. For nearly 20 years, Maria has served as a consultant, coach, and facilitator, providing guidance to organizations and leaders on diversity, equity, inclusion, leadership development, and organizational transformation. Her firm has partnered with hundreds of clients of all industries and  sizes, including the State Department, Hazelwood School District, the World Bank, and the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.Maria's work has been featured in Forbes and TD Magazine, and her company was recognized as one of the Top 10 Diversity and Inclusion companies by Manage HR Magazine in 2022. Maria is a sought-after speaker and has presented on the TEDx stage, for Big Tech, federal agencies, higher education, and multinational corporations. Her popular DEI podcast, Culture Stew, is in its fourth season.Maria is an adjunct faculty at American University and the author of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Trainers: Fostering DEI in the Workplace (ATD Press, 2022). Maria lives with her husband and two future “peace teachers,” who regularly coach her on how to navigate conflict and manage her amygdala.

“Ouch.”Believe it or not, this one word could be all it takes to breakthrough bystander paralysis when a pattern interrupt is needed to disrupt someone who is making inappropriate comments. In this highlight episode of Brad Johnson's amazing interview last week, I review his brilliant action steps to help reduce bystander anxiety and step into the much-needed role of active ally at work and in life.More about Brad JohnsonW. Brad Johnson is Professor of psychology in the Department of Leadership, Ethics and Law at the United States Naval Academy, and a Faculty Associate in the Graduate School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. A clinical psychologist and former commissioned officer  in the Navy's Medical Service Corps, Dr. Johnson served at Bethesda Naval Hospital and the Medical Clinic at Pearl Harbor where he was the division head for psychology. He is a recipient of the Johns Hopkins University Teaching Excellence Award, and has received distinguished mentor awards from the National Institutes of Health and the American Psychological Association. Dr. Johnson is the author of numerous publications including 14 books, in the areas of gender in the workplace, mentoring, cross-gender allyship, professional ethics, and counseling. His most recent books include: Good Guys: How Men Can Become Better Allies for Women in the Workplace (Harvard Business Review, 2020, with David Smith), Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women (Harvard Business Review, 2016, with David Smith), The Elements of Mentoring (3rd edition, St. Martin's Press, with Charles Ridley), and On Being a Mentor (2nd edition, Routledge Press).

There is a SCIENCE to BEING AN ACTIVE ALLY and it's anchored in our physiology. When disrespectful behavior is witnessed, many men experience by-stander paralysis. It's a real thing that often prevents men from speaking up in the moment. If bad behavior isn't disrupted in 2 seconds, the moment is lost. I had the privilege of learning about this and effective pattern interrupt techniques from the remarkable Brad Johnson, co-author of Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women and Good Guys: How Men Can Become Better Allies for Women in the Workplace, both written with his partner in equity, David Smith. Listen. Share. Repeat : )More about Brad JohnsonW. Brad Johnson is Professor of psychology in the Department of Leadership, Ethics and Law at the United States Naval Academy, and a Faculty Associate in the Graduate School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. A clinical psychologist and former commissioned officer  in the Navy's Medical Service Corps, Dr. Johnson served at Bethesda Naval Hospital and the Medical Clinic at Pearl Harbor where he was the division head for psychology. He is a recipient of the Johns Hopkins University Teaching Excellence Award, and has received distinguished mentor awards from the National Institutes of Health and the American Psychological Association. Dr. Johnson is the author of numerous publications including 14 books, in the areas of gender in the workplace, mentoring, cross-gender allyship, professional ethics, and counseling. His most recent books include: Good Guys: How Men Can Become Better Allies for Women in the Workplace (Harvard Business Review, 2020, with David Smith), Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women (Harvard Business Review, 2016, with David Smith), The Elements of Mentoring (3rd edition, St. Martin's Press, with Charles Ridley), and On Being a Mentor (2nd edition, Routledge Press).

In this episode, I highlight some key concepts from the amazing conversation I had with Craig Forman  [Original air date August 24th].If you're taking the time to do a survey, optimize it as a tool for engagement, and belonging. By being thoughtful about the language of the survey itself, having clear and results oriented communication about how the data will be used, it sets up an empowered relationship with all employees, and creates a sense of ownership because it's tied to a result. More about Craig FormanFor well over a decade Craig's work has been driven by a singular professional purpose: to help the world work better by improving the places we work. Over his career, he's supported some of the most notable and highly successful organizations to build human-focused, high-performing workplace cultures.Craig recently founded CultureC Consulting following six-years as Lead People Scientist at Culture Amp. CultureC is focused on helping organizations implement a data-informed approach to their people and culture resulting in actions that have impact. Additionally, he designed and led Culture Amp's award-winning Culture First global community, now with over 100 global chapters and led the experience design for the Culture First Global conference, spanning four years and 15 events reaching hundreds of thousands of culture enthusiasts.Craig holds a Masters degree in Industrial / Organizational Psychology, and is a proud veteran of the US Air Force.Learn more about Craig - https://www.culturecraig.com/

For many people, culture is confusing. It's unclear how it contributes to the bottom line and who wants to mess around with all that soft stuff anyway. Well, it turns out the soft stuff is actually the hard stuff and the stuff most likely to contribute to an increase in performance and revenue. Join me this week as I talk with the, incredible Craig forman about how to identify when your stuff is getting in the way of the good stuff.More about Craig FormanFor well over a decade Craig's work has been driven by a singular professional purpose: to help the world work better by improving the places we work. Over his career, he's supported some of the most notable and highly successful organizations to build human-focused, high-performing workplace cultures.Craig recently founded CultureC Consulting following six-years as Lead People Scientist at Culture Amp. CultureC is focused on helping organizations implement a data-informed approach to their people and culture resulting in actions that have impact. Additionally, he designed and led Culture Amp's award-winning Culture First global community, now with over 100 global chapters and led the experience design for the Culture First Global conference, spanning four years and 15 events reaching hundreds of thousands of culture enthusiasts.Craig holds a Masters degree in Industrial / Organizational Psychology, and is a proud veteran of the US Air Force.Learn more about Craig - https://www.culturecraig.com/

In this episode, I highlight some key concepts from the amazing conversation I had with Dr David Smith  [Original air date August 10th].Strangely enough, one group of people that isn't top of mind when thinking about who to include in DEI conversations, are the white male leaders who can actually do a lot to improve equity at a company.When we create an inclusive forum, that welcomes everyone, including white men, where everyone feels safe, and their voices are valued, then we can start to make some big gains in equity, and inclusion and representation. More about Dr David Smith:Dr. David Smith, PhD, is co-author of the book, Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace and an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. David is a former Navy pilot who  led diverse organizations of women and men, culminating in command of a squadron in combat. Over the course of his 30 year military career, Dr. Smith flew more than 3,000 hours including combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a sociologist trained in military sociology and social psychology, he focuses his research in gender, work, and family issues including gender bias in performance evaluations, dual-career families, military families, women in the military, and retention of women employees. He is the co-author of Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women and numerous journal articles and book chapters that focus on gender and the workplace. Learn more about David at: workplaceallies.com

What is the fastest way to create sweeping improvements in equity and inclusion? Invite white men to the conversation! In this weeks episode, Dr. David Smith and I unpack the research that supports how engaging men as active allies and sponsors, creates inclusion for them in the equitable future we are all moving toward.More about Dr David Smith:Dr. David Smith, PhD, is co-author of the book, Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace and an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. David is a former Navy pilot who  led diverse organizations of women and men, culminating in command of a squadron in combat. Over the course of his 30 year military career, Dr. Smith flew more than 3,000 hours including combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a sociologist trained in military sociology and social psychology, he focuses his research in gender, work, and family issues including gender bias in performance evaluations, dual-career families, military families, women in the military, and retention of women employees. He is the co-author of Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women and numerous journal articles and book chapters that focus on gender and the workplace. Learn more about David at: workplaceallies.com

In this weeks highlight episode from my conversation with Beth Ridley [original air date July 27th], I unpack some tools to help people ease the discomfort associated with personal growth, in an effort to help underrepresented groups  feel like they belong and illuminate unconscious bias in a healthy and collaborative way. When a person of privilege, recognizes their privilege publicly, it invites feedback when an unconscious bias is revealed, micro aggressions are all but eliminatedMore about Beth Ridley:Beth Ridley is a corporate executive turned organizational transformation consultant, speaker, author and CEO of Ridley Consulting Group. Beth combines 25 years of leadership and management consulting experience to simplify what it takes to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices throughout the business with strategies that are approachable, relevant and doable for everyone.Beth's work is featured in national publications and she frequently delivers keynotes and workshops at events around the world.Beth holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Virginia, an MA in International Relations from Tufts University and an MBA from Columbia University.

In a world of cancel culture and micro aggressions, how can we bridge the gap for white men, who want to do more as active allies or sponsors to bring women and BIPOC into leadership,  but are afraid that one misstep may cost them their careers or reputation? Beth Ridley and I unpack the messy middle and how to move forward.More about Beth Ridley:Beth Ridley is a corporate executive turned organizational transformation consultant, speaker, author and CEO of Ridley Consulting Group. Beth combines 25 years of leadership and management consulting experience to simplify what it takes to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices throughout the business with strategies that are approachable, relevant and doable for everyone.Beth's work is featured in national publications and she frequently delivers keynotes and workshops at events around the world.Beth holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Virginia, an MA in International Relations from Tufts University and an MBA from Columbia University.

Most leadership teams are so conditioned to focus on performance, they hinder their ability to change or innovate in a way that would actually drive performance. In this episode, I highlight some key concepts from the amazing conversation I had with Greg Galle  [Original air date July 13th], the founder of Think Wrong.More about Greg Galle:Nikolai Gregory Galle has over 30 years of experience thinking wrong about leadership, motivation, coaching, planning, and decision making as well as a broad array of private, public, and civil sector innovation challenges including product, service, process, systems, policy, experience, engagement, talent, professional development, and culture innovation.  Greg co-founded Solve Next in 2012 and reaches thousands of people per year through client work and invitations to participate in top conferences and events around the world. Recognizing that the way we are solving problems is broken, he built a first-of-a-kind cloud-based problem-solving system with co-founder Mike Burn that enables individuals and organizations to transform what is and innovate what's next for themselves, their organizations, their communities, and their countries. Think Wrong is used around the world across all sectors and society—from global corporations to individuals running local non-profits. Greg, Mike Burn, and John Beelinberg co-authored Think Wrong: How to Conquer the Status Quo and Do Work That Matters (Visit thinkwrongbook.com for more). In 2001, Greg co-founded C2 Group, a brand strategy firm, to help leaders from technology start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, and the world's top business management consulting firms develop, build and protect their brands.  Greg also serves on the board of Not For Sale, is an advisor to Fuse Corps, and a board member emeritus of Hope Street Group.

This week's C-Change guest has over 30 years of experience THINKING WRONG about leadership, motivation, coaching, planning, and decision making! Recognizing that the way we are solving problems is broken, he built a first-of-a-kind cloud-based problem-solving system with co-founder Mike Burn that enables individuals and organizations to transform what is and innovate what's next. Discover what thinking  wrong can help you achieve!Just for my listeners! The generous people and wrong thinkers of Solve Next are offering a discounted rate for C-Change subscribers for any of their ground-breaking intensive trainings. Use the code:  “MAURA30” when you sign up for the IntensivesReady to think wrong into innovative solutions as a leader? Leaders of Next Intensive If you are a trainer, teacher or facilitator you don't want to miss this learning opportunity: Think Wrong Facilitators Intensives.More about Greg Galle: Nikolai Gregory Galle has over 30 years of experience thinking wrong about leadership, motivation, coaching, planning, and decision making as well as a broad array of private, public, and civil sector innovation challenges including product, service, process, systems, policy, experience, engagement, talent, professional development, and culture innovation.  Greg co-founded Solve Next in 2012 and reaches thousands of people per year through client work and invitations to participate in top conferences and events around the world. Recognizing that the way we are solving problems is broken, he built a first-of-a-kind cloud-based problem-solving system with co-founder Mike Burn that enables individuals and organizations to transform what is and innovate what's next for themselves, their organizations, their communities, and their countries.  Think Wrong is used around the world across all sectors and society—from global corporations to individuals running local non-profits.  Greg, Mike Burn, and John Beelinberg co-authored Think Wrong: How to Conquer the Status Quo and Do Work That Matters (Visit thinkwrongbook.com for more).  In 2001, Greg co-founded C2 Group, a brand strategy firm, to help leaders from technology start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, and the world's top business management consulting firms develop, build and protect their brands.   Greg also serves on the board of Not For Sale, is an advisor to Fuse Corps, and a board member emeritus of Hope Street Group.

In my interview with Traci Austin [original air date June 29th, episode 58], we talked about the disconnect between senior leadership, and having a HR voice at the table. Do you know why the number of HR executives on US public company boards has almost tripled from 84 to 243 in the last 12 years? Because boards are beginning to recognize that HR perspective makes your board perform better.  Strategic HR is contributing more and more to the greater strategic objectives of executive leadership. In this weeks episode, I talk about how to change HR language to speak “executive”.More about Traci Scherck:Traci Scherck, is a certified HR professional with two decades of experience building HR departments from the ground up for small businesses. Her mission is to create the container for every employee, if they choose, to be fulfilled in their work while meeting business outcomes. She does this through employee development and engagement, performance consulting, training facilitation and coaching HR professionals. Traci uses her consulting expertise to serve clients in applying behavioral concepts to hiring and selection, designing and implementing talent pathways, coaching, motivation, and leadership.  She is a highly sought after expert on these topics.  She hosts a weekly podcast titled, Talent Optimization with Traci Scherck and has been distributed to thousands of HR professionals and business leaders across the globe. She is the Chief Strategy Consultant and owner of Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified women owned business, that impacts small business and HR professionals in exceeding performance expectations while being fulfilled in their work

HR is proving to be more of a strategic role, especially in our current hot talent market. Attracting the right people and giving them REASONS TO STAY (*cough CULTURE *cough) is predominantly guided by whip-smart HR advisors like this week's guest on the C-Change show Traci Scherck. Her data-driven approach to creating an EVP culture worthy of the hottest talent is a must-hear!More about Traci Scherck:Traci Scherck, is a certified HR professional with two decades of experience building HR departments from the ground up for small businesses. Her mission is to create the container for every employee, if they choose, to be fulfilled in their work while meeting business outcomes. She does this through employee development and engagement, performance consulting, training facilitation and coaching HR professionals. Traci uses her consulting expertise to serve clients in applying behavioral concepts to hiring and selection, designing and implementing talent pathways, coaching, motivation, and leadership.  She is a highly sought after expert on these topics.  She hosts a weekly podcast titled, Talent Optimization with Traci Scherck and has been distributed to thousands of HR professionals and business leaders across the globe. She is the Chief Strategy Consultant and owner of Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified women owned business, that impacts small business and HR professionals in exceeding performance expectations while being fulfilled in their work.

Whether you are cultivating leadership in your direct reports or inspiring them to perform at their optimal level, Michelle Haggerty's direction to "Lead with high expectations and high support." is a proven way to lead people to their greatest accomplishments, regardless of their interest in leadership. Helping people dig deep and find greatness in themselves they didn't know was there is the job of leadership.Original interview air date: June 15th, episode 56.

"Lead with high expectations and high support." ~ Michelle Haggerty,  Prosci COOThis week on C-Change, Prosci's Tim Creasey, who has amassed the largest body of knowledge in the world on change management and Prosci's COO Michelle Haggerty, Prosci's Chief Operating Officer, discuss the realities of helping companies manage the change to shift their cultures  to a more resilient and sustainable model to achieve their business objectives.Find them at www.prosci.comSubscribe on youtube: PROSCI ON YOUTUBEMore about Tim:I enable change teams to catalyze adoption and usage to deliver results and outcomes. I know that the "soft" side of change is actually the harder side of change and strive to empower teams to more successfully manage it. I conduct best practices research in change management and develop holistic, easy-to-use and research-based models and tools for managing the people side of change. Recent efforts: Lead Prosci change management research and development. Conceptualized and created the CMROI (Change Management ROI) model and calculator. Spearheaded the creation of the Prosci Portal - a virtual workbench for change practitioners. Served as editor and lead analyst of Prosci's 2015, 2013 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005 and 2003 Best Practices in Change Management benchmarking studies. Presented at numerous conferences (Conference Board, Gartner BPM Summit, ACMP). Wowed the crowds. Designed and facilitated over 300 change management webinars. Authored numerous tutorials and whitepaper, as well as the book Change Management: The People Side of Change. Initiated work on Enterprise Change Management - building organizational capabilities and competencies - in 2005.Specialties: Change management theories, processes, best practices, benchmarking, communication, resistance management, leadershipMore about & Michelle:Michelle Haggerty, Prosci's Chief Operating Officer, oversees Prosci's service portfolio and internal Operations while leading the organization's strategic direction as a member of the executive team. Michelle has led proci's program, service delivery and instructional teams through growth and global expansion. Formally Proci's Strategic Director of Training, She helped individuals and organizations of all sizes develop and deploy change management solutions. In that role, she also ensured program delivery quality while supporting all Prosci certified master instructors as well as leading the executive training team. Michelle holds a bachelor degree in journalism from the School of Journalism and Mass communication University of Colorado at Boulder. ​​Michelle Hagerty overseas. Proceeds With proceeds People First Culture as a guiding star. Michele's overarching goal is to help organizations achieve optimal outcomes. From change management through premium training programs and advisory services that deliver unforgettable experiences.

Is it possible for a CEO of a MASSIVE, global enterprise to create an inclusive high-trust culture? 100% yes. In this episode, I highlight an important story Ed Essey shared on his episode [original air date June 1, 2023] about the extraordinary  inclusion and belonging demonstrated in a meeting by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. His care and curiosity spoke volumes and should be considered a slam-dunk for senior leaders who genuinely do care and absolutely do want a high-trust culture but aren't sure how to go about it. Learn more about Ed Essey:  Ed Essey helps intrapreneurs have, test, and grow brilliant ideas in the Microsoft Garage. He is an MIT grad, serial founder, and veteran product leader who is passionate about technology, creating great culture, and innovating through experimentation. During his engineering career, he's researched AI, developed intelligent agent-based systems, and democratized parallel computing. He has led company-wide change management programs in innovation, design-thinking, and agile methodologies that have helped over 25,000 employees earn raving fans for their products. He founded the Garage experimental outlet that has delivered over 130 new and exciting projects to market.  Ed practices mindfulness to bring his most courageous and caring self to every connection. He champions wise technology, because the best products cannot stop at intelligence, they need wisdom. He lives in Seattle with his two children.

How can representation for women in tech continue to grow? Through active allyship and sponsorship. I had the great fortune of interviewing Microsoft's one-and-only Director of Intrapreneurship about how his role as a coach supports women and BIPOC success in tech. He is a neuro-diverse super-genius with a gift for seeing talent and nurturing abilities in others. Learn more about Ed Essey:  Ed Essey helps intrapreneurs have, test, and grow brilliant ideas in the Microsoft Garage. He is an MIT grad, serial founder, and veteran product leader who is passionate about technology, creating great culture, and innovating through experimentation. During his engineering career, he's researched AI, developed intelligent agent-based systems, and democratized parallel computing. He has led company-wide change management programs in innovation, design-thinking, and agile methodologies that have helped over 25,000 employees earn raving fans for their products. He founded the Garage experimental outlet that has delivered over 130 new and exciting projects to market.  Ed practices mindfulness to bring his most courageous and caring self to every connection. He champions wise technology, because the best products cannot stop at intelligence, they need wisdom. He lives in Seattle with his two children.

Becoming a lynchpin and proximity to power. Those were the dominating factors in last week's episode where Softway VP and WSJ bestselling author Chris Pitre tells the story of how a C-Suite executive noticed his talents and abilities and sponsored him into the hallowed halls of power and influence. His big leap was recognizing and accepting that he belonged there. We are bombarded daily with stories about privileged and ignorant people going out of their way to obstruct and disempower women and BIPOC. It's important to hear stories about black men and women being recognized and welcomed into the high-stakes executive ranks to make big impact with their big talents and skills. For those active allies who are serious about making a difference for WOC:Author Minda Harts has you coveredThe Right WithinThe Memo

How did a 20-something  entry-level black male employee get invited to go to NYC on the company dime,  picked up by a limo, stay at the Waldorf Astoria, meet Serena Williams and Billie Jean King at an event before having a seat at the table at an enterprise sales meeting in a sea of C-suite execs? He got recognized, mentored and sponsored by a CSO of one of the largest staffing companies in the US. He got invited to the dance, but he showed up, over-delivered and knocked it out of the park.On this, the final episode of season 1 of the C-Change podcast, Chris speaks very candidly about his unique experience as a black man in the corporate world and how expertise, grace and gratitude paved the way for his meteoric rise to leadership and how other women and people of color can take control of their career trajectory.--> Learn more about SENECA LEADER TRAINING HERE --> Get the book Love As A Business Strategy HERELearn more about CHRIS PITRE here:Chris is a co-author of WSJ Bestseller Love as a Business Strategy and the Co-founder of Culture+, a culture-as-a-service company.  He works with and speaks at companies across Big Tech, energy, healthcare, financial services, and nonprofit sectors to strengthen their culture and organically build inclusive behaviors.Chris is a student of the world and enjoys anthropology, history, travel, and culinary experiences. His interests in global cultures naturally led him to travel around the world co-leading culture and leadership transformations through Culture+.Chris is a native Houstonian who loves everything Beyoncé. He has a BBA with a concentration in marketing from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.“Curiosity over fear.” If my career has a tagline, that's it. As Vice President at Softway, I oversee HR and business development, and support client projects through strategy, talent management, branding, communications, and tech ideation. Whether it's a talent conversation or helping a client solve a business challenge, my common thread is helping fellow humans get to their next level, and beyond. I lead teams that are consultative, collaborative, and outcome-oriented. My passions have led me to a place where I get to explore, learn, and create in multiple business areas. I've developed specialties in advertising, digital strategy, digital marketing, marketing automation and technology, social media, innovation, sales, HR, change management, and internal communications. In 2018, Softway created a radical and unique leadership transformation experience called Seneca. As a member of the Seneca team, I traveled to 8 countries to facilitate these sessions over 10 months. Developing leaders across so many different cultures was an education in itself, and made us even better at delivering the most empathetic, effective, humans-first products and services for our Softway clients.Most recently, I've been able to share my experience as a co-host of Softway's new podcast, “Love as a Business Strategy” (www.softway.com/laabs). We discuss all the highs and lows and in-betweens of creating human-centric tech, empathetic leadership, diversity and inclusion, and so much more. We often feature friends/special guests— elite-athletes and legendary coaches, business-turnaround experts, and stars from our in-house talent on their superpower techniques we can all borrow.In my career, I have been privileged to work with the following clients and industries:- Tech (HP, Microsoft, Adobe, Uber)- Healthc

Pulling oneself up by the bootstraps is not a level playing field. Generations of obstacles both visible and invisible have conditioned women and BIPOC to hesitate or question their readiness for opportunities. Paul Langlois, VP of Enterprise Learning and the clever HR people at Ecolab have collaborated to overcome this cultural hurdle through L & D and finding passive talent within an enterprise organization. In this highlight episode, I unpack the aspects of inequity that are invisible and the platform that Paul is collaborating on.[Original interview EP 50 aired May 4, 2023] More about Paul Langlois:I am an innovative Leader with a proven ability to implement and enhance learning outcomes to help businesses achieve superior outcomes. I love to help others improve business results by applying proven methodologies and tools. I am a talented speaker and trainer, and love to clearly communicate complex concepts. I am very self-motivated, and have a strong ability to assume multiple responsibilities and remain productive within a fast-paced business environment.Specialties: Program / Project ManagementLearning and Curriculum DevelopmentChange ManagementLean Six SigmaTeam Facilitation and Development

What does L & D have to do with creating inclusive culture? Everything. Paul Langlois, VP of Enterprise Learning at Ecolab discusses how organizations can build inclusion into the employee experience and how to find hidden emerging talent within a company that will increase representation and change people's lives.More about Paul Langlois:I am an innovative Leader with a proven ability to implement and enhance learning outcomes to help businesses achieve superior outcomes. I love to help others improve business results by applying proven methodologies and tools. I am a talented speaker and trainer, and love to clearly communicate complex concepts. I am very self-motivated, and have a strong ability to assume multiple responsibilities and remain productive within a fast-paced business environment.Specialties: Program / Project ManagementLearning and Curriculum DevelopmentChange ManagementLean Six SigmaTeam Facilitation and Development 

Original air date: April 20th, S1 E48When leaders are faced with performance and productivity slumps, what would happen if the first question they asked was, "what signals are we sending?" This week I highlight a key learning from Drew Fortin's episode where we unpack the direct relationship between "people problems" and leadership signals.Find out more about Drew Fortin:Drew is a people-first, values-driven leader with nearly 20 years of growth strategy and team-building experience across retail, marketing technology, local media, and HR tech. He spent 7 years at The Predictive Index, where he was Chief Growth Officer responsible for the company's strategy to build the world's first talent optimization platform. Drew is obsessed with helping leaders everywhere embrace the shift that technology is having on the employee/employer relationship. This led him to founding Lever Talent, where he is now CEO.He believes that you are capable of more than you could ever imagine.I am an extremely passionate growth leader. I started my career impatient, driven, and naive - pushing hard to climb the corporate ladder and eventually found myself fired from a highly coveted growth-stage start-up in my mid-20s. That moment sent me on a journey of self-discovery. I realized I'm a fixer, visionary leader, relationship builder, and goal setter. I'm successful working with people. I'm fascinated by the human condition and discovering how to use personal development and leadership to move the greatest growth lever - people. Over the last 18 years, I've learned that if you paint a vision big enough, vivid enough, surround yourself with people you admire and trust, and you'll be amazed at how quickly you can grow. On a macro level, the employee-employer relationship is broken. Thankfully, employees are gaining leverage, and the power dynamic with employers is shifting.I'm now the founder and CEO of Lever Talent, Inc. We're flipping the script by helping businesses lean into this shift - bringing humanity back to business.We help leaders find leverage in themselves, their teams, and their strategies. And we help companies find leverage by identifying their superpowers and developing complementary processes to spur growth at scale.Join the movement at levertalent.com. I use my LinkedIn to network, learn from others, and share any wisdom I've gained along the way. Let's grow, always, in all ways. Specialties: Talent Strategy, Growth Leadership, Cultural Transformation, Mission Vision Values, Team Building, Talent Optimization, Go-to-Market Strategy, Digital Transformation, Consulting:

Being inclusive requires leaders to be intentional about setting the tone to create a culture of belonging. Join me this week as CEO Drew Fortin  unpacks proven methods for leaders to present clear signals that you are working in a team-first culture that actually cares about you! If you want to know how to build a world-class employee experience, listen in.More about Drew Fortin:Drew is a people-first, values-driven leader with nearly 20 years of growth strategy and team-building experience across retail, marketing technology, local media, and HR tech. He spent 7 years at The Predictive Index, where he was Chief Growth Officer responsible for the company's strategy to build the world's first talent optimization platform. Drew is obsessed with helping leaders everywhere embrace the shift that technology is having on the employee/employer relationship. This led him to founding Lever Talent, where he is now CEO.He believes that you are capable of more than you could ever imagine.I am an extremely passionate growth leader. I started my career impatient, driven, and naive - pushing hard to climb the corporate ladder and eventually found myself fired from a highly coveted growth-stage start-up in my mid-20s. That moment sent me on a journey of self-discovery. I realized I'm a fixer, visionary leader, relationship builder, and goal setter. I'm successful working with people. I'm fascinated by the human condition and discovering how to use personal development and leadership to move the greatest growth lever - people. Over the last 18 years, I've learned that if you paint a vision big enough, vivid enough, surround yourself with people you admire and trust, and you'll be amazed at how quickly you can grow. On a macro level, the employee-employer relationship is broken. Thankfully, employees are gaining leverage, and the power dynamic with employers is shifting.I'm now the founder and CEO of Lever Talent, Inc. We're flipping the script by helping businesses lean into this shift - bringing humanity back to business.We help leaders find leverage in themselves, their teams, and their strategies. And we help companies find leverage by identifying their superpowers and developing complementary processes to spur growth at scale.Join the movement at levertalent.com. I use my LinkedIn to network, learn from others, and share any wisdom I've gained along the way. Let's grow, always, in all ways. Specialties: Talent Strategy, Growth Leadership, Cultural Transformation, Mission Vision Values, Team Building, Talent Optimization, Go-to-Market Strategy, Digital Transformation, Consulting

Original air date:  March 9, 2023When you are a leader who KNOWS  a culture change is needed to keep pace with competitors and sustainable growth, the most important question to ask yourself: are you willing to leave?As command and control leaders spend millions on performance trainings, the root of underperformance remains virtually unchanged: toxic culture. In this highlight episode, I pull out a moment in our conversation where Liz gets very specific about the dynamics that traditional leadership styles generate and the inevitable outcomes. Good news is, you don't have to be an executive or even in a leadership position to help turn the tide. #personalculture #microcultureMore about Liz:Join me as the incomparable Liz Kislik discusses the critical steps to  creating real change that impacts engagement, retention and the bottom line.More about Liz Kislik:Liz Kislik is a management consultant and executive coach, and a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes. Her TEDx “Why There's So Much Conflict at Work and What You Can Do to Fix It” has received more than 400,000 views. She specializes in developing high performing leaders and workforces, and for 30 years has helped family-run businesses, national nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies like American Express, Girl Scouts, Staples, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Highlights for Children solve their thorniest problems.Liz's work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal's Morning Download, the Washington Post, Business Insider, and Bloomberg Businessweek. Her articles have been included in Harvard Business Press books Guide to Motivating People, Dealing with Difficult People, and Guide to Power and Impact, as well as in Entrepreneur, the European Financial Review, and the Forward.She is a member of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches initiative, which brings together the world's top coaches and thinkers; has taught at Hofstra University and New York University; and is a frequent podcast guest. She received her BA from Yale University and earned an MBA in Management from NYU.

What do you do when you spend the better part of your career in finance in leadership and realize the culture is toxic and unsustainable? If you are the courageous Wais Achickzad, you start your own consultancy and establish strategic partnerships to help big money shift their culture for GOOD. Learn more about what Wais witnessed and his journey leaving a successful career to venture into the world of solutions that are more impactful when they come from the outside in! Learn more about Wais AchickzadWith over 20 years of experience at top tier investment banks such as JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, Wais Achikzad has a passion to positively impact individuals and organizations to be the best versions of themselves in their careers and as leaders.Through powerful personal experiences in the industry and leading multiple teams, Wais brings a non-traditional but more practical approach to coaching and development training which will have an enduring impact on the individual and organization.With a vast network, a strong partnership with Culture+, a wealth of actual on the ground experience at notable organizations as well as coaching and leadership certifications from Cornell University, Wais is determined to create a “ Xen “ movement of inner peace within individuals and organizations to optimize their potential in achieving their goals.Wais was born in Maryland , USA , lives in Brooklyn New York and is originally from Afghanistan. He is also one of the founders of a non-profit organization, the Homaira Rahman Foundation, which supports orphaned children and provides them with an education.

Original air date: February 23, 2023 S1 E41What is the primary bottlenecks for DEI? Hiring. This week I'm highlighting my interview with conscious capitalist and CEO of Avadel, Dave Valentine. As an owner of multiple businesses, DEI is a mission critical priority and in this episode I expand upon piece of our discussion, unpacking how our natural affinity for those who look and feel familiar to us creates big obstacles to successful DEI. Check it out!Does conscious capitalism really work? Can we honor and respect ourselves AND our employees AND make oodles of cash?? Yes, yes and YES! Join me as I unpack the realities of creating a fulfilling and successful business and shifting the culture of a nation with Dave Valentine,More about Dave Valentine: Dave owns 7 businesses that have generated over ONE BILLION dollars collectively for over 1000 clients, including major brands and Fortune 100 companies like Target, Time magazine, and American Express.At the age of 29, his doctor said, “Are you prepared for your heart attack?” Dave realized he needed to learn how to scale his businesses without being overwhelmed by stress. His life depended on it.Dave now runs multiple companies from the mountains in a house by a river with three waterfalls.Merging conscious capitalism with an unconventional marketing approach, Dave has rapidly grown his businesses by investing money in people rather than paid advertising.After selling his first business, Dave acquired three more companies and has put $3 MILLION into businesses this year. His mission is to employ over 200,000 people and revolutionize the way we reward good talent.Dave wants to be so big that governments can't ignore him because his companies take up too much of their GDP. Simply put . . . he wants to buy back the freedom that was stolen by greedy individuals and corporations.

From Crypto to Cosmetics to Psychedelics. Meet the young millionaire who was an early crypto investor, has a talent for seeing profitable trends and using his privilege to  "modern men" become for self-aware.More about Jeremy Gardner:Jeremy Gardner is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and venture capitalist with a track record of success operating and investing in frontier industries such as blockchain technology, cosmetics, and psychedelics. He is an early investor in over 100 startups as an angel and VC, worth tens of billions of dollars today. He most recently founded MadeMan, a men's skincare startup, and is the managing partner of Mystic Ventures, a venture fund focused on psychedelic medicine. He also is on the board of NFT Technologies (NEO: $NFT) and an advising partner at Round 13, a $100m crypto fund.

Frank Danna S1 EP 39 original air date February 9th 2023. How do we actually create culture and shift our 2-D core values off of the pages of employee handbooks and into 3-D embodied behavioral norms? In this episode, I spill the tea. Need help implementing? Let's talk: cutlureworks@maurabarclay.comMore about Frank Danna:Frank is the co-creator & facilitator of Seneca, a radical culture and transformation product. As Softway's Director of Culture and Seneca, he's taught culture change all over the world to over 1000 leaders from 46 different countries.  Previously, Frank the was Co-founder of Parabox Creative, a social media-focused creative agency, where he led creative execution & content development for dozens of agencies and nearly 100 global brands, with over 65 million video views across social platforms, until they were acquired by Softway in 2014. In his tenure as a creative director, he has worked with global brands such as Amazon, Butterfinger, CISCO, AT&T, HBO, ESPN, and Coca-Cola to name but a few of the household name companies that have sought his expertise and vision. Currently, he is the co-host of Softway's podcast, “Love as a Business Strategy.” Yes, they use the “L” word—something most businesses shy away from. And he hosts a regular live webinar series on linkedin called Innovating Teams.  

When you are a leader who KNOWS  a culture change is needed to keep pace with competitors and sustainable growth, the most important question to ask yourself: are you willing to leave? Join me as the incomparable Liz Kislik discusses the critical steps to  creating real change that impacts engagement, retention and the bottom line. More about Liz Kislik:Liz Kislik is a management consultant and executive coach, and a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes. Her TEDx “Why There's So Much Conflict at Work and What You Can Do to Fix It” has received more than 400,000 views. She specializes in developing high performing leaders and workforces, and for 30 years has helped family-run businesses, national nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies like American Express, Girl Scouts, Staples, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Highlights for Children solve their thorniest problems.Liz's work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal's Morning Download, the Washington Post, Business Insider, and Bloomberg Businessweek. Her articles have been included in Harvard Business Press books Guide to Motivating People, Dealing with Difficult People, and Guide to Power and Impact, as well as in Entrepreneur, the European Financial Review, and the Forward.She is a member of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches initiative, which brings together the world's top coaches and thinkers; has taught at Hofstra University and New York University; and is a frequent podcast guest. She received her BA from Yale University and earned an MBA in Management from NYU.

Does conscious capitalism really work? Can we honor and respect ourselves AND our employees AND make oodles of cash?? Yes, yes and YES! Join me as I unpack the realities of creating a fulfilling and successful business and shifting the culture of a nation with Dave Valentine, More about Dave Valentine: Dave owns 7 businesses that have generated over ONE BILLION dollars collectively for over 1000 clients, including major brands and Fortune 100 companies like Target, Time magazine, and American Express.At the age of 29, his doctor said, “Are you prepared for your heart attack?” Dave realized he needed to learn how to scale his businesses without being overwhelmed by stress. His life depended on it.Dave now runs multiple companies from the mountains in a house by a river with three waterfalls.Merging conscious capitalism with an unconventional marketing approach, Dave has rapidly grown his businesses by investing money in people rather than paid advertising.After selling his first business, Dave acquired three more companies and has put $3 MILLION into businesses this year. His mission is to employ over 200,000 people and revolutionize the way we reward good talent.Dave wants to be so big that governments can't ignore him because his companies take up too much of their GDP. Simply put . . . he wants to buy back the freedom that was stolen by greedy individuals and corporations.

Original air date: January 26, 2023, S1 E37Jason had incredible experience that put him and an entire senior executive team in an impossible position. It's about unconscious bias and having the courage and EQ chops to have those difficult conversations with people who could have you fired.  --What do you do when you are a black consultant, with a Master's degree and a best selling book, who is being paid the big bucks to deliver a keynote, and as you walk through the ballroom after the meal service, when you pass by the executive leadership table, the CEO hands you his empty plate?  Find out how Jason Greer handled this very tricky moment in his career.More About Jason:Jason Greer has been recognized as an Employee Relations and Diversity expert by Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, ABC, CBS and Fox News. Jason was named one of the Top Entrepreneurs To Watch in 2020 by Thrive Global. He is also the author of the Amazon #1 Best Selling Book “People Matter Most”.Jason's unique ability to marry his background in Labor Relations, Counseling, Psychology and Organizational Development has made him one of the most sought-after Labor and Employee Relations Consultants.He created proprietary process called The Employee Whisperer and through this unique methodology, he is able to gain an in depth understanding of the issues and challenges facing Physicians, Nurses and Healthcare Professionals which helps him facilitate powerful solutions.He previously served as a Board Agent with the National Labor Relations Board where he managed private sector labor relations' issues and worked to improve the labor petition filing process and he is the Host of his own podcast called: the "Employee Whisperer"

How does an unsafe culture contribute  to dips in performance?  When people are being asked to prove they belong, it drains vital performance energy out of the individual and the company --even for tall, deep-voiced, athletic, cis-gender white men with a heads full of hair! Hear how  Frank Danna, Director at Softway, conquered his own imposter syndrome and helped grow a psychologically safe culture of love. More about Frank Danna:Frank is the co-creator & facilitator of Seneca, a radical culture and transformation product. As Softway's Director of Culture and Seneca, he's taught culture change all over the world to over 1000 leaders from 46 different countries.  Previously, Frank the was Co-founder of Parabox Creative, a social media-focused creative agency, where he led creative execution & content development for dozens of agencies and nearly 100 global brands, with over 65 million video views across social platforms, until they were acquired by Softway in 2014. In his tenure as a creative director, he has worked with global brands such as Amazon, Butterfinger, CISCO, AT&T, HBO, ESPN, and Coca-Cola to name but a few of the household name companies that have sought his expertise and vision. Currently, he is the co-host of Softway's podcast, “Love as a Business Strategy.” Yes, they use the “L” word—something most businesses shy away from. And he hosts a regular live webinar series on linkedin called Innovating Teams.  

When discrimination and bias confront you at every turn as a woman or BIPOC, how do you handle the fire of that frustration?  You could burn the house down OR transform it into fuel to launch your career into the stratosphere with a company that sees, supports and appreciates your talent. Join me this week for a HIGHLIGHT of my  conversation with Bridgette McAdoo, the Chief Sustainability Officer for Genesys where we cover topics ranging from sustainable leadership, sustainable business practices and how to navigate change management  as a Black female executive. More about Bridgette HERE:Bridgette McAdoo leads the Global Sustainability practice at Genesys. As thecompany's first Chief Sustainability Officer, she has built a holisticsustainability management approach for Genesys from the ground up. The goal: To make sustainability an organic extension of how each employee works and lives at Genesys.Bridgette has more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles where sheutilized her expertise in sustainability, operations, and engineering. This experience spans multiple sectors, including the international non-governmental operation (NGO and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). ThereBridgette led corporate strategy and engagement for WWF's Freshwater and Food goals. Previously, she was Global Director of Sustainability for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). There she led sustainability issues for the brand, both internally as well as with various external stakeholders. She holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and an MBA in Strategy from Claremont Graduate University. 

What do you do when you are a black consultant, with a Master's degree and a best selling book, who is being paid the big bucks to deliver a keynote, and as you walk through the ballroom after the meal service, when you pass by the executive leadership table, the CEO hands you his empty plate?  Find out how Jason Greer handled this very tricky moment in his career.More About Jason:Jason Greer has been recognized as an Employee Relations and Diversity expert by Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, ABC, CBS and Fox News. Jason was named one of the Top Entrepreneurs To Watch in 2020 by Thrive Global. He is also the author of the Amazon #1 Best Selling Book “People Matter Most”.Jason's unique ability to marry his background in Labor Relations, Counseling, Psychology and Organizational Development has made him one of the most sought-after Labor and Employee Relations Consultants.He created proprietary process called The Employee Whisperer and through this unique methodology, he is able to gain an in depth understanding of the issues and challenges facing Physicians, Nurses and Healthcare Professionals which helps him facilitate powerful solutions.He previously served as a Board Agent with the National Labor Relations Board where he managed private sector labor relations' issues and worked to improve the labor petition filing process and he is the Host of his own podcast called: the "Employee Whisperer"

Originally aired on Dec. 29, 2022, EP 33 with Nicole Smart walked us through how to bring successful DEIB to mono-culture leadership teams. Key thinking: meet people where they are and don't force feed the vegetables .Nicole Smart has been helping de-homogenize leadership teams for 15+ years and found the meeting people where they are is step one for meaningful and lasting change. More about Nicole:Nicole Smart is the founder and principal of Smart EDI Solutions, LLC.   Throughout her 15+ year career span, Smart has evolved within a variety of roles that helped build upon her professional expertise within diversity, equity & inclusion, global human resources, labor relations and leadership development.  She has led, managed and facilitated strategic, operational and cultural objectives for national and global organizations in professional sports and professional live theatre. she received her bachelors in Leadership and Management Studies with a concentration in Organizational Management and Development from New York University and a masters Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. She is also a certified talent optimization consultant for Predictive Index (PI).Nicole Smart is a courageous and studious champion for change, She  supports organizations by providing strategic guidance, best practice recommendations and data-driven solutions to power up diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives to achieve optimal business results.

What do you do when you are a whip-smart industrial engineer with an MBA in strategy and a seasoned veteran of organizational change and sustainability who happens to be a Black woman? You turn the fire from bias and discrimination into fuel to launch your career into the stratosphere with a company that sees, supports and appreciates your talent. Join me this week for an in-depth and honest conversation with Bridgette McAdoo, the Chief Sustainability Officer for Genesys where we cover topics ranging from sustainable leadership, sustainable business practices and how to navigate change management  as a Black female executive. More about Bridgette HERE:Bridgette McAdoo leads the Global Sustainability practice at Genesys. As thecompany's first Chief Sustainability Officer, she has built a holisticsustainability management approach for Genesys from the ground up. The goal: To make sustainability an organic extension of how each employee works and lives at Genesys.Bridgette has more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles where sheutilized her expertise in sustainability, operations, and engineering. This experience spans multiple sectors, including the international non-governmental operation (NGO and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). ThereBridgette led corporate strategy and engagement for WWF's Freshwater and Food goals. Previously, she was Global Director of Sustainability for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). There she led sustainability issues for the brand, both internally as well as with various external stakeholders. She holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and an MBA in Strategy from Claremont Graduate University. 

In the original episode (S1 E31 aired December 15, 2022), we hear from Jeff Ma, the director at Softway who has been on the ride of moving from a logic first leadership approach to  team-first. In this highlight episode, I focus on the realities of change, the current statistics that reflect the cost of stagnation to the bottom line and what is possible when leaders are courageous enough to shift their world view for the greater good of all... especially the bottom line. More about Jeff:Director at Softway & Culture+Follow Softway on LinkedIn to attend their Innovating Teams Webinar (sooo good)Jeff Ma is the Director of Product Development at Culture+, co-creator of the Seneca suite of products and services, host of the ‘Love As A Business Strategy' podcast, and WSJ Best Selling Author of 'Love as a Business Strategy.' As someone who thrived as a Command and Control leader, Jeff helps us understand the realities about shifting into a compassion-based Servant leadership style. Don't miss this. Oh, and buy the book (it's incredible!): Love As A Business StrategyAnd don't miss their podcast: LAABS Coming up through a decade in the gaming industry, Jeff eventually found his niche in project management and agile coaching at Softway. As he continued working with teams and clients in scrum and agile environments, however, he started seeing the stronger underlying importance of culture in truly high performing teams. Pushed by a combination of his own introspection, feedback from his colleagues, and a whole lot of uncomfortable practice - Jeff shifted head-first into a new mission that he shares with his team: to bring humanity back to the workplace. Nowadays, he's hyper-focused on helping people find a workplace culture that allows them to be their whole selves - their best selves. Jeff is leading the development of various products and tools that are crafted with a culture of love at its center. As a co-facilitator of Seneca Leaders and the other experiences in the Seneca suite, he is also connecting and transforming leaders around the world directly - helping them improve their mindsets, behaviors, and leadership capabilities. 

How do we attract and retain underrepresented talent in senior leadership positions? Sometimes, it's what you don't do that makes a difference. One key to helping shift leadership styles from traditional to modern is to not "force feed the vegetables". Nicole Smart has been helping de-homogenize leadership teams for 15+ year and found the meeting people where they are is step one to meaningful and lasting change. More about Nicole:Nicole Smart is the founder and principal of Smart EDI Solutions, LLC.   Throughout her 15+ year career span, Smart has evolved within a variety of roles that helped build upon her professional expertise within diversity, equity & inclusion, global human resources, labor relations and leadership development.  She has led, managed and facilitated strategic, operational and cultural objectives for national and global organizations in professional sports and professional live theatre. she received her bachelors in Leadership and Management Studies with a concentration in Organizational Management and Development from New York University and a masters Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. She is also a certified talent optimization consultant for Predictive Index (PI). Nicole Smart is a courageous and studious champion for change, She  supports organizations by providing strategic guidance, best practice recommendations and data-driven solutions to power up diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives to achieve optimal business results.