Leading in a Lonely World

Meet Jason Marsili. Jason is a dynamic leader and successful employee and union side attorney in LA and now neutral (mediator/arbitrator). Jason always knew he wanted  a career in Conflict Dispute Resolution. Join us as we discuss the roots of his passion for dispute resolution, beginning in high school where he emerged as a leader in addressing racial tensions among his peers. He describes  how his leadership style has evolved over the years from an initial vocal participant when he was striving as a diverse individual to be granted a seat at  the table and be heard. And now that he has earned his seat through his dedication, experience and skill, he can lead with quieter confidence, flexing his Emotional Intelligence skills and listening before jumping in with his ideas.  We have a spirited discussion on the lack of diversity in our nation's judiciary and in the alternate dispute arena. We also offer up some suggestions for moving the needle forward to more balanced equitable opportunities for mediators and arbitrators. Lastly, Jason, a law professor in dispute resolution, offers some advice for emerging leaders that is both funny and on point.This is a must listen for individuals wanting to learn more about leadership and creating opportunities for diversity.DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

During this episode, listeners are in for a treat, as well-known leadership expert and business guru to the Fortune 500, Steven Gaffney, shares his vision on creating highly performing teams and organization.  You will enjoy his insights on why executive committee members should not be constrained to addressing only their siloed area of expertise, but rather, encouraged to take ownership of the organization/team as a whole and share perspectives.  One key component to highly functioning teams is to create a place of “emotional” safety and trust by utilizing the Vegas Rule: what happens in the team discussion, stays in the team discussion. In this way, team members develop trust and feel empowered to share authentically and honestly. Honesty does not equal brutality and Steven shares effective ways to tackle challenging (toxic) personalities and address performance issues.  Get ready with a pen and paper for this episode. You will want to take notes for actionable steps to creating more effective teams.As a bonus for listeners of Clark Hill's Leading in a Lonely World: Conversations with Transformative Leaders, Steven is offering a free toolkit on conducting honest conversations.  Just send an email to Steven, sgaffney@stevengaffney.com, and mention you listened to our podcast. 

On this episode, Vanessa Kelly speaks with Gabrielle Dolan of Gabrielle Dolan Consulting, based in Melbourne Australia. Gabrielle has written 7 books on leadership, the most recent of which is, “Magnetic Stories: Connect with customers and engage employees with brand storytelling.” Gabrielle shares the science behind storytelling and how storytelling in a business setting, if done right, can be one of the most effective methods of communication. The story must relate to the business message and be authentic. When done correctly, storytelling taps into the listener's emotions and helps listeners to better retain the information being contained. As a leadership trainer, Gabrielle helps business leaders connect more authentically with their stakeholders, boards, employees, customers, business partners, and the like. As humans, we are all storytellers to a degree; listen in to this episode to learn more about using storytelling to communicate and create lasting impressions. 

Just in time for mother's day, I got to sit down with my colleague Kimberly Reisman, a Business Development Manager for Clark Hill, and her dear friends, Barbara and Nichelle Robinson. Barbara and Nichelle are a power team in Los Angeles real estate. They refer to each other as best friends and thoroughly enjoy working together. Barbara's husband and Nichelle's dad was Frank Robinson, MLB great, Hall of Famer,  first black manager, and medal of freedom winner. Mother and daughter reflect on moving around the country for Frank's career, encountering discrimination in housing and segregation. Through it all, Barbara made every new house a home, which has shaped Nichelle's later career to connect buyers with a home that will resonate with them. They reflect on meeting the Queen, and more.  Frank, through all his fame, remained a humble centered individual who enjoyed making pathways to others. This trait, coupled with both of her parent's work ethic and compassion made an indelible impression on Nichelle.On leadership, I asked each to describe the other. According to Barbara, Nichelle s decisive and not afraid to make decisions. Where Nichelle says Barbara is warm, engaging and a genius at making people feel comfortable. Words of wisdom for those starting out, go to a company that will teach and find what works for you.  I think you will enjoy this episode that gives a glimpse of life-long friendship formed between mother and child, triumph during troubled times, and humility and grace even through the fame.DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

On this episode of Leading in Lonely World: Conversations with Transformative Leaders, we meet Ruvin Levavi and Bobby Kaslander of Power Forward Group, who provide financial advisor and estate solutions services. Ruvin, as a self-proclaimed reformed attorney, founded Power Forward with intention of pairing collaborative teams with clients to attain creative solutions and the best possible client results. During our chat, we learn from Bobby the lessons he learned from his father, which he still practices today, about the importance of goals and planning for your success with a positive mindset. From Ruvin we learn about the ingrained notion of mentorship and learning from those he mentors. We also talk about teams – pairing skill sets that complement and augment the others on the team. DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

In this episode we meet Dr. Tara Chalakani, who holds a doctorate in Behavioral Health Leadership. As a practicing counselor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Behavioral Health Group,  she has extensive knowledge of the behavioral health issues we face today. She describes herself as having a “Not for Profit Heart” and a “For Profit Brain” melding the best of both worlds to serve her organization, employees, clients and community. Having to pivot to tele-medicine, Dr. Chalakani describes that Preferred Behavioral Health held over 100,000 tele-health appointments. They were one the swiftest adopters of virtual medicine so that mental health services were uninterrupted. We talk a bit about the importance of getting help and dispel the myth of  “high functioning depression” or “high functioning alcoholism.”  “We need to normalize that mental health needs are important” and remove the stigma around care. As a leader with good boundaries, she sees herself as the head of a family who sets structure, a sense of security, providing opportunities for employees to grow. DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

This episode is a great listen as we honor Black History Month.  Vanessa speaks to Edward C. Hopkins, Jr., Esq., a renowned privacy and cyber security attorney. As an Air Force Academy graduate and air force veteran, Ed talks about the Tuskegee Experience and the first African American combat pilots. He discusses the importance of the Tuskegee Airmen to Black Air Force Academy cadets, and described their importance to history as an early step in the civil rights movement. Ed also shares with us a piece of African American culture: the belief that individuals are deeply connected to their ancestors, to the present generation and to generations to come.  As a proponent of "stoic leadership," Ed believes deeply that leaders should first focus on themselves, striving to be the best version they can be. Next, leaders should remove barriers to excellence – clear paths so that individuals can grow, develop and succeed.  Lastly, leaders should "hold up their end of the bargain," provide opportunities and real mentorship, and treat everyone with dignity. Listeners will enjoy getting to know this very thoughtful and dedicated man. DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

On this episode of Leading in a Lonely World: Conversations with Transformative Leaders, we meet James (Jim) L. Banks,  Jr., General Counsel of SHRM. Jim takes us through his path to leadership beginning with his career as an Airborne Army Ranger to his current position as the chief legal counsel for the largest HR organization in the world. He is adventurous and not content to rest on his laurels, and is always looking for ways to grow and improve.  He definitely enjoys a challenge. Following a long family history of military service, Jim naturally followed this course as a path to college and military service. The lessons learned in the military serve him well today, including the recognition of learning from those you lead and serve with – practicing empathy and genuine listening. He talks about enjoying the mission of the 82nd Airborne where he served “to respond to crisis contingencies anywhere in the world within 18 hours.”  This thorough preparedness enabled his team to have the crucial skills needed to be successful and survive. This is how he sees his role as true servant leader. We talk about how his style of leadership or rather the route and mechanism that leadership is applied in a more distanced working environment.  He has had to adapt from “leadership from walking around” to connecting via technology. The pandemic has caused him to be more thoughtful and purposeful about leadership.  Both employers and employees need to figure out how to navigate the remote/hybrid model and, as a reminder to new employees, that ultimately the individual is responsible for their own career and progression.  “Find a way to express yourself.”  Jim discusses his view on mentorship and how the best mentor/mentee relationships happen organically. His advice to newer attorneys and employees is to be open to many people that may be  in a position to mentor you someday. Allow the connections to grow. DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

On this episode of Leading in a Lonely World: Conversations with Transformative Leaders, we meet Reginald (Reggie) Turner, an attorney with Clark Hill PLC in its Detroit, Michigan office and current President of the American Bar Association. Reggie has a storied resume of key leadership positions within Clark Hill. He is a member of the firm's Executive Committee and is actively engaged in national and state bar associations. He served as a White House Fellow under President Clinton, and has worked for other administrations. Reflecting on his long-history of leadership, Reggie says he is well-suited to lead simply because he cares. You will hear Reggie talk about the challenges he faced during his leadership terms, including serving on his firm's executive committee and as the President of the largest voluntary bar association in the U.S. during a global pandemic. Reggie's leadership style brings quiet to the chaos – in other words, bringing order through a dignified, humble, steady commitment paired with inclusive collaboration to resolve problems. Listeners, I know you will enjoy Reggie's interview and join me in celebrating his leadership as a person who cares deeply.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Maryanne Spatola, NYU professor and consultant, who thrives at helping employers align talent and strategy to create business optimization. She began her consulting practice after achieving the top position in HR, Chief HR Officer, in order to help more employers achieve their best. Her practice focuses on HR strategy, leadership development and individual coaching around topics such as: the future of work and what it takes to lead in the modern world. In talking about the “Great Resignation,” she often asks her clients: “What reason did you give your employees to stay?” Where clients fumble through this question, Maryanne helps them align with strategies to meet this challenge.  Maryanne has long been a leader in promoting women to top leadership positions and keeping them there. She is part of Chief, one of the fastest growing start-ups in the market aimed at empowering women to claim their superpowers and step into positions of power. I know you will enjoy Maryanne's brand of empathy, analytics, and reality based pragmatism on our latest episode of “Leading in a Lonely World: Conversations with Transformative Leaders.”DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions. 

Meet Dr. Jill Huntley Taylor a social psychologist who has focused her curiosity about group dynamics and decision-making into a successful career in jury and trial consulting. Among other tools, Jill uses the “Story Theory” to assist trial attorneys present their most compelling and persuasive stories.  The approach captures the “story” that a juror will create based on personal experiences and the evidence presented at trial. The juror uses this story to explain the case and come to a decision.  Jill overlays the story approach with data collected from jurors – examining their attitudes, listening to their decisions and analyzing results. During COVID-19, Jill took the bold leap to open her own firm after 22 years.  Jill describes herself as a collaborative leader and likes to engage her team. She believes being a leader means being a role model and learning to listen well.I think you will enjoy hearing Jill's views on trial preparation and jury selection, leadership and more.DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions. 

Meet serial entrepreneur, Heather Dawson.  Heather is a co-founder of Xiggit, a fin-tech startup with a vision to reinvent access to health, retirement, and savings benefits to help financially vulnerable people improve their financial outlook. Xiggit provides curated benefits that are 'individual' but packaged for the six million small business employers who do not offer any employee benefits as workers select benefits that matter to them and benefits portability lets them take their benefits even when they change jobs. Xiggit also has a financial education component that helps workers improve their financial literacy and wellbeing. This venture is meaningful for Heather because as a teenager, she went from an upper-class family to being homeless after her mom's poor money management and speculative investments wiped them out. From that point, Heather made a pact to herself that she would never be in such a financial fiasco. Heather worked hard, moved up the career ladder, and became a successful sales executive at IBM. She transitioned to senior executive roles at few tech startups, several of which had successful exits. Through her personal experience, she's built a deep conviction that everyone can transform from being enslaved by money problems to harnessing it for personal gain. Heather makes time to mentor those around her, especially young girls with an interest in STEM or young entrepreneurs.  DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

During this episode, we hear Michele Meyer-Shipp, the first woman and person of color to lead Major League Baseball's Human Resources and become a part of the C-suite. Culture and Talent Management describe her leadership journey. She describes her current role as her “dream job” for a self-proclaimed sports “fanatic.” She is able to lean into all of her skill sets and expertise and activate her talents in one role. As a “first,” Michele feels tremendous responsibility to those young women and women of color who look to her. Her goal is to do her job well and leave a meaningful legacy. Michele speaks to building a “Board of Directors” of mentors that have helped her during her career and she pays it forward by mentoring students, attorneys, HR professionals as they pursue their own path towards excellence. Michele is spearheading a Leadership training program within MLB with a focus on building inclusive leaders with high emotional intelligence.  Her Leader's Bench shares best practices and tips for  MLB's leaders and emerging leaders.  Our listeners will enjoy hearing Michele talk about her brand of “authentic” leadership.DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

On today's episode, we meet Claire Wheaton, a seasoned HR professional for the Kindred Group working in London. During the pandemic, she learned firsthand, that “while we may all be in the same storm, not everyone is in the same boat.” A key reminder that as individuals, we have our own unique experiences, views, coping mechanisms, and support.  Kindred was at the forefront of caring for its employees' mental health and developed a robust program for mental health awareness in the workplace. Claire became a mental health first responder to be in a knowledgeable position to respond to her employees' needs. She believes her ability to be empathetic and to build trusted relationships has been a key to her success in her HR leadership role. Claire is a purposeful leader, clear on what she and her team want to accomplish, and making sure that all are working in alignment with that purpose.DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

In this episode of "Leading in a Lonely World: Conversations with Transformative Leaders”, host Vanessa Kelly talks to Dr. Marc Williams. Dr. Marc has an interesting career journey including representing some of the biggest brands in sports, such as Champs Sports, Reebok, and Footaction. He serves now as the Global Scholar Practitioner at HBCU Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, Florida where he created an innovative STEM program preparing students for careers in eSPorts, AR/VR, game design, marketing, communications, and entrepreneurship.  He's driven to help students, especially women and persons of color succeed in the STEM field where they are underrepresented.  He seeks to channel his students' adversity into resiliency setting them up for a lifetime of success.  Motivated by his own mentor, he also hopes to instill the message of being your own HERO through H – hope, E-efficacy, R-resiliency, and O-optimism.  Listeners will enjoy Dr. Marc’s story of grit and determination.  DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions. 

Meet Rich Vaill,  as he shares his leadership journey beginning with the US Naval Academy and his career as Marine Officer.  He is a strong advocate for hiring VETS and has some persuasive arguments for why VETS make great employees– loyalty, discipline, mission-oriented, and fierce integrity. Helping him during the pandemic was his Marine mantra:  Improvise, Adapt and Overcome!  He describes himself as “decisive” leader who stands by his decisions, takes accountability for missteps, but is confident making decisions on the basis of available resources, and moving forward with the mission.Rich shares that the service academies completely immerse you in service and leadership where you “learn, apply and correct.”  The Service Academies’ emphasis on training, preparing for the unknown and unexpected, and the commitment to service of the interest of your country is at the forefront.  One of the biggest lessons he learned is “take care of your people.”  Train your people, equip them with the resources they need to succeed, and then let them perform, don’t micromanage.  Rich learned in his command posts that leadership encompasses understanding and managing the “whole person”– dealing with marital, financial, other concerns of his team. His military experience served him well his roles of civilian leadership.  Key qualities and principles that carry over:  proficiency, communication, seeking self-improvement, endurance, enthusiasm ,and  knowing yourself.  Rich seeks to embody what he learned in the military: “integrity, discipline, lead by example, be professional, respectful, humble, stay in shape, and shine your shoes.”   Rich, like many of the transformative leaders we have been speaking to on our podcasts is devoted to giving back.  He has a passion for assisting veterans successfully transition into civilian careers.  He even returned to active duty service to be the New Jersey’s  “Hometown Link” in the Marine for Life” program. He has some words of wisdom for hiring managers to uncover humble veteran’s experiences to fully understand the unique qualities they can bring to the job. DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

Our guest this episode is Sue Ann Van Dermyden, founder of Van Dermyden Maddux Law Corporation, a preeminent workplace investigation firm.  Sue Ann shares her ability to “see and seize opportunities” and provides a great reminder for our leaders to recognize and capitalize on the opportunities that are all around us.   Her legal skills are focused on investigations so that she can serve both employers and employees by contributing to safe working environments.  She surrounds herself with the best and the brightest to constantly challenge herself to grow and learn.  Sue Ann is a shining example of taking a risk on yourself – really believing in your own abilities to soar.  She sees her role as a leader as a champion of others.DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

Jamie Pagliaro is the co-founder, Executive Vice President and Chief Learning Officer of Rethink, a global health technology company that provides cloud based treatment tools, training, and clinical support, specifically for persons with developmental disabilities.  Listen to his journey from an aide to a small child with autism, to founding a Charter School for Children with autism, to founding Rethink which has extended his reach globally by providing parents, teachers, clinicians and others with the vital tools and support to improve the lives of persons with neuro diverse conditions.  Jamie loves to inspire his team to collaborate and serve the company’s mission. Jamie, an innovator and entrepreneur, finds his drive to create as his inspiration. Jamie is a wonderful example of being able to make work a passion and to serve a community often ignored or underserved.DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.   

“Listen In” to Allison Manswell as she talks with Vanessa Kelly about her impactful book on race relations:  “Listen In: Crucial Conversations on Race in the Workplace,” its relevance today, and why now is the right time to make real changes to bring lasting racial equity.Allison Manswell was born and raised in Montreal, Canada and began her career in criminal justice with the Royal Canadian Mounties.  Moving to the United States for marriage, she found herself in a new field, HR. Listen in as she discusses her growth in HR and how she views her journey from policing to influencing behavior proactively by crafting effective organizational interventions.  Allison wrote “Listen In: Crucial Conversations on Race in the Workplace” as an organic response to the death of Freddie Gray, a 25 year old man who died from spinal cord injuries while in police custody and the ensuing Baltimore riots that she lived through. While racial inequity and the issue of police brutality were not new concepts in the black community, Allison felt a calling to write about the black experience at work.  Knowing that she had to be 100% authentic, she found a way to describe what many people of color experience in the workplace that did not involve shaming, but was designed to instill empathy and understanding.  Forward to present day, with racial tensions flowing from the George Floyd killing and the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on BIPOC workers and women, the interest in racial equity has never been greater.  Allison fears that if we do not make real sustained improvement in racial equity now, it will be difficult to ever “sell the notion of hope” for change again.  Recognizing that racial equity in our workplaces is a systemic change, she encourages leaders to embrace the concepts of change management, including providing historical perspectives and preparing those with privilege and power for the changes that will come.  Allison also advocates for making leadership accountable and making sure that today’s leaders have the tools, resources, empathy, and emotional intelligence to lead our diverse workforces.  “Leadership is its own discipline” and should be a “powerful factor for progress.”   DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.                                                                                                                                                                   

Meet Sonya Richburg, Employment Counsel with Coca-Cola Consolidated, as she shares her views of being a servant leader and having candid conversations about race in the workplace. Sonya Richburg is a bright light among in-house employment lawyers who uses her passion for mentorship, community, and leading with a genuine voice to guide employment at Coca-Cola Consolidated.  Sonya was in the unique position of leading the employment response for essential workers, remote workers, and workers in the disadvantaged recreational and entertainment parts of the business.  She describes her leadership style as flexible depending on who she is working with – it may be “top-down,” collaborative, or as an influencer based on the situation.  She views leadership as being “responsible” for others.  Sonya also shared her perspectives on being a woman of color and being able to have candid conversations about race in the workplace and equipping people to continue those conversations.  She is committed to mentoring those within and outside of her organization.  She also makes it her job to ensure that leadership recognizes the talent within the organization and provide opportunities for developing leaders to be seen and promoted, instead of hiring outside. During COVID, she has learned to prioritize the relationships that are meaningful to her and spend time developing these relationships.  As a Board member of Campfire, she seeks to provide girls and boys with the tools to meet the challenges where they are at, not just for the future.  Please join us for conversation and be uplifted by Sonya’s positivity and genuineness.  DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.  

Meet George Washington, Jr., Chief Litigation Counsel for Orange Business.  George is a dynamic leader who describes his management style as “engaged.”  He manages litigation across the globe for Orange Business.  In this role, he partners with his HR group, finance group, and business managers, and directs his outside counsel teams where he collaborates to achieve the best possible outcomes for his company.  Since George manages a global practice, we talk about his observations on cultural differences and their impact in the workplace.  George candidly discusses the challenges he and many employees face working remotely and balancing child care, education, and household responsibilities while working from home.  George offers some strategies he has found effective for self-care, staying productive  and achieving a work -life balance.  Lastly, we discuss social issues, including gender and race equity and make some predictions for the future.DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.  

In our second podcast episode, Vanessa speaks to insurance professional Bob Mazey who is the President of the New Jersey Agents Alliance. Bob is a dynamic entrepreneur, industry thought leader, and inspiring leader. He lives by the mantra that “not every good idea has been taken” and there is always room for innovation. Bob enables his organization, which is comprised of independently owned insurance agencies, to compete and operate on a larger scale -- crucial for succeeding in today’s competitive world. His leadership style focuses on analyzing data and making strategic decisions based on information because, without data, “everything else is just an opinion.” He focuses his energies on recognizing his business’ greatest asset, employees, and never forgets that no matter how much technology enhances and simplifies, clients still want a personal connection. If today’s pandemic has taught business owners one thing, it is that companies that embrace change and adapt stay “relevant” and can thrive. “Change is good, change is fun, change helps you grow.” His parting words of advice are: “make work fun” and don’t be afraid of failure, it is an “opportunity to do better.” Above all, leaders “must believe in themselves.” Please join us for a deep dive into how to grow your business, collaborate, and adapt to change.DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

Meet Donna Hughes, Esq., Chief People Officer for the Emblem Health Family of Companies. Donna describes her leadership style as a “builder” and a “server” to enable her teams to thrive. During our chat, we discuss how the HR profession has been fundamentally changed by the pandemic. She shares her view that the focus had to be on the “human” in Human Resources. HR professionals could “not just be personable – you needed to be personal. “ Donna describes how “HR became the First Responders.” Please listen in as Donna shares her thoughts on overcoming her bias of keeping personal things out of the workplace and her own personal growth to “let the guard down and let people be people.” As Donna shares: “People need to express how they are feeling and we as leaders need to honor the right to feel that way when so much is going on and there is so much unfortunate pain in the world.” Lastly we talk about diversity as a critical component of business success and how diverse teams perform better and are more competitive than non-diverse teams. DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

“Leading in a Lonely World: Conversations with Transformative Leaders” is hosted by Vanessa Kelly, an employment attorney with Clark Hill PLC. In this podcast, we meet with business owners and entrepreneurs, C-suite officers, legal and HR professionals, and community leaders who share their thoughts on leadership against the backdrop of a tumultuous world. Tune in to exchange ideas on best practices with the goal of strengthening not only your own leadership skills but working to build strong leaders among your workforce and communities.