Swayed

What is the biggest indicator of teacher success? It is probably not what you are assuming. Listen to my conversation with Scott McCue, Dean of Sposato Graduate School (and my cousin) discuss his experience developing and training teachers. Whether you are in the academic or corporate world, he provides insightful and valuable ideas for creating a culture of feedback. He is also a kind, articulate, and thoughtful person.   Bio: Scott McCue is the dean of the Sposato Graduate School of Education. He worked as founding Head at Boston Preparatory Charter Public School from 2002-2012.  Before founding BPCPS, he taught History at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School and in the New York City Public Schools.  He has a Master of Arts in Teaching from Teachers College at Columbia University and A.B. from Harvard University.

When you realize what your kid’s whining jag or tantrum triggers in you, you are in a much better place to respond. Understanding where your stuff ends and your kid's stuff begins involves slowing down and recognizing your own reaction. Listen to Dr. Rachel Barbanel-Fried (known as Dr. RBF) share insights and data around the value and benefits of meditation and breath. She is a smart and approachable psychologist who makes this seemingly impossible stuff seem almost achievable. Bio: Dr. RBF is a Clinical Psychologist and Optimal Performance Consultant based in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. She consults with executives and organizations looking to elevate performance and reach new levels of success in the workplace and beyond. She also sees individuals, couples, and families in a therapeutic setting who are looking to move forward towards growth, change, and healing. To learn more about Dr. RBF’s background, education, and services check out her webpage https://drrbf.com/about/.  

Morgan Ruff , Snohomish Basin Capital Program Coordinator at Tulalip Tribes, grew up in the Seattle area and has a deep love of the environment. She works with farmers, tribal members, and community members to tackle issues specifically related to salmon protection. Working collaboratively is necessary for key policy changes. Listen to her explain her learning path towards effective communication. Morgan lives in Mount Vernon, WA with her family.  

Listen to my conversation with friend and film editor Celia Beasley about her recent 11 month long trip from Madagascar to Columbia with her two children and husband. She shares some powerful insights around giving kids more latitude, using empathy to limit whining, and why riding on a scooter in Sri Lanka is the perfect time to discuss the birds and the bees. Celia is dynamic and thoughtful and makes me feel like a big wimp. Celia Beasley is a film editor based in Seattle her recent credits include SADIE, directed by Megan Griffiths and OUTSIDE IN, directed by Lynn Shelton. Her website is: celiabeasley.com. To learn more about Celia’s trip you can find her blog including posts and videos from her kids at http://btfwa.blogspot.com.  

When the Bosnian War started in 1992 Tijana Dwight was 15 years old and living in Sarajevo. She was uprooted from her home, spent two years in a refugee camp in Slovenia, and ultimately moved to Los Gatos, CA. Her refugee journey reflects her positive perspective, self-reliance, and love of all math classes. Hear about her experience volunteering at a refugee camp in Greece in 2017 and gather ideas for how to support refugees today. Bio: Tijana Dwight lives in Santa Clara, CA with her husband and two children. She spent 13 years at PayPal in Large Enterprise Product Marketing and is currently focusing on her family during their children’s most precious years.

We’re talking about feedback. Listen to difficult conversations expert and executive coach Debbie Goldstein discuss the power of coaching. Despite the fact that she doesn’t like being introduced as an expert or a master coach she is incredibly adept at listening closely to executives and students alike to help them raise awareness around themselves and their strategic choices. Learn about the concept of “doubling” and why it is so important to give people a safe “sandbox” in which to play. Debbie is a partner at Triad Consulting and teaches at Harvard Law School and Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is also an awesome, warm, and smart person. Bio:  Debbie is a Principal and the Managing Director of Triad Consulting Group. She teaches negotiation as a faculty member at Harvard Law School and Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has also taught at Tufts University School of Medicine and was an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center for many years. Debbie’s varied clients include Merck, Chanel, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Capital One, Barclay’s, Honda, Standard Bank, Shell, Boeing, General Mills, MetLife, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Citigroup, Prudential and Proctor & Gamble.  She has addressed students and alumni at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, University of Denver, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Medical School,  Dartmouth’s Tuck Business School and Harvard Business School.  Her work often takes her internationally: to Dubai, where she worked with government leaders; to Ethiopia, where she worked with the Members of Parliament; and to Cyprus, where she taught public policy students from across the globe.   She coaches senior executives through difficult decision making and managing critical relationships, and has helped mediate family business disputes.  In the public sector, she founded and ran a free legal aid clinic called LINC (Legal Initiative for Children) for the patients at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Chelsea outpost.  She has been a featured guest on NPR, and her writing has appeared in the Boston Globe Magazine,  the Management Information Exchange Journal, and the Harvard Business Review. Debbie is a graduate of Williams College and Boston College Law School.  After college, Debbie lived in Chicago chasing (and catching) her dream of becoming a jazz vocalist.  

Rather than focusing on “presence” and “confidence”, speaking expert Scott Stiefvater explains that when your intent is to be in service to the listener you are better able to connect than when trying to protect your own ego. Consider ideas like the fact that listeners are much less concerned with what you know and more interested in how you make them feel. Take a deep dive into what is actually happening when you speak from the swing of the sentence, the activity of the discussion, and the inner world of the speaker. Gather key tips like: the importance of vocal tone to be in line with the sentence and how you can sound more warm when speaking. My favorite take-away - the listener’s mind is not linear and when you intrude by introducing a linear narrative people struggle to process the idea. The solution? Have more impactful conversations. Bio: Scott Stiefvater coaches senior and emerging leaders to become masterful communicators on stage and in the boardroom. To learn more, contact him at scott@scottstiefvater.com.

We’ve been getting empathy wrong. If used well empathy can improve the ROI on marketing and communications, employee retention, the brand, ability to connect with customers, and recruiting numbers to name a few. Listen to my conversation with Michael Ventura, CEO of the design and strategy studio Sub Rosa, to learn why he developed the design process Applied Empathy and wrote the book by the same name. Listen to stories including how Applied Empathy enabled GE to improve cancer detection by 10% through mammography exams while also making patients feel more comfortable and eager to schedule their next appointment. This guy is super interesting and smart. Bio: Michael Ventura is Founder & CEO of Sub Rosa, Author of Applied Empathy. In Michael’s own words: “I’m a problem solver at heart. I like to help remove obstacles that stand in the way of getting people where they want to go. I've tried to build my career in the service of helping those I interact with to be better than they were yesterday. Slowly but surely, this practice has grown into the beautiful creature it is today. I’m not sure where it’ll go next, but I’m happy to discover whatever destiny presents along the way.”

Listen to Nina Lorez Collins, Author and Founder of the Group “What Would Virginia Woolf Do?” share her story of creating a group now comprised of 26,000 women over 40. Learn about the power of normalization and honesty to help bring people together. Consider the concept of “reinvention” as people get older and the pressure associated with that idea. You will be captivated by Nina and her path of self-exploration. Bio: Nina Lorez Collins has had a long career in book publishing, first as a scout and then as an agent. In 2013 Nina completed both a life coach certificate and a Columbia University Masters in Narrative Medicine. She has been consulting and writing since then. Nina’s interests—issues around transition, loss, separation, end of life, how women in particular tell stories—have come together in the creation of a closed online community for women over 40 called What Would Virginia Woolf Do? now also the title of her book, which was published by Grand Central in 2018. Following is a New York Times Article describing her group https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/style/should-i-join-what-would-virginia-woolf-do-facebook-group.html. Nina is currently at work on a memoir about her mother. She has four children, lives in Brooklyn, and is a trustee of the Brooklyn Public Library.

What do Patagonia, BlackRock, and Campbell’s Soup have in common? What are the benefits of creating social value for your bottom line and clients? Listen to Cheryl Kiser of the Lewis Institute at Babson College discuss the power and benefits of social innovations, What it means to be “Flevegan”, and how she is taking action to change the world. Bio:Cheryl Kiser is the Executive Director of The Lewis Institute and Babson Social Innovation Lab.

Listen to the stories of top ski coach and former member of the US ski team, Chris Marchetti, to learn why some skiers rise above the rest and how he tailors his coaching style to reflect the specific needs of the skier. Hear why gold metal Olympian Jonny Moseley might have made a bigger impact coming in 4th than getting a medal in 2002.  Bio: Chris Marchetti is Acting Mogul Head Coach at the Park City Ski and Snowboard program and founder of the Park City Freestyle Foundation. Here is the article and mustache I mention https://www.parkrecord.com/sports/local-athlete-skis-her-way-to-world-cup-start/.

What do passionate love and cocaine have in common and what is the difference between the way our brain responds in love versus hate? What is happening chemically when we are “falling in love” and why can we exist on almost no sleep and a piece of pizza for four days when experiencing passionate love? What can you do for yourself during betrayal – if anything? You can also hear me butcher the word “perseverating.” These topics and more with my friend Dr. Sarah Sarkis. Bio: Dr. Sarkis is a licensed psychologist and writer living in Honolulu, Hawaii (originally from Boston Mass).  She has a private practice where she works with adultswho are looking to achieve long-term change and growth.She emphasizes collaboration, partnership, and personal empowerment. Dr. Sarkis earned her master’s from Boston College and doctorate from George Washington University.  She approaches psychological wellness from a holistic and integrative perspective.  Her style is eclectic and blends psychoanalytic theory, positive psychology, existential psychology, neuro-biology, and functional medicine to bring a truly integrated approach to your quest for a sense of wellness.   In addition to her psychology training, Dr. Sarkis has studied extensively the use of mindfulness, functional medicine, hormones, and how food, medicine and mood are interconnected. Check out her blog, The Padded Roomto learn more about her services, areas of expertise, and upcoming events, lectures, blogs and more.

Discover why experts get lazy regarding creativity and why creatives and non-conformists within organizations are often not welcomed with open arms. Listen to a thought leader share examples and insights of organizations who are getting it right (Trader Joe’s is on to something). Bio: Professor Michael Roberto is the Trustee Professor of Management at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI. He joined the faculty after serving for six years on the faculty at Harvard Business School. Hisresearch, teaching, and consulting focuses on leadership, with a particular emphasis on decision-making and teams. His newest book, Unlocking Creativity, was released on January 7, 2019 by Wiley. He has published two previous books based upon his research: Why Great Leaders Don't Take Yes For An Answer (2nd edition, 2013), and Know What You Don't Know (2009). You can listen to more of his ideas on Trader Joes on the 11/28/18 episode of Freakonomics.

Listen to the path of Sarah Kuberry Martino, SVP of Product Management for Accolade. While she demonstrates a tough and "get sh!t done" attitude, get a glimpse of the kind and selfless side of a woman who loves developing other people (hint: I make her a tiny bit teary). Bio: Sarah Kuberry Martino serves as SVP of Product Management for Accolade. In this role, she is responsible for overall strategy, roadmap and design of the company’s portfolio of products. Prior to Accolade, Sarah spent almost 10 years at Concur, where she held various responsibilities and roles, the most recent as VP of Product Management for the expense global product portfolio. Sarah is married with 1 daughter in preschool and lives in Seattle.  She enjoys playing with her daughter, traveling with the family, doing the occasional running/yoga/spinning workout, eating good food and drinking good wine.  Sarah sits on the board of trustees for Seattle Girls School and is committed to developing the next generation of courageous female leaders.

Learn what happens when East Palo Alto, a city full of culture and love, was hit by a crack cocaine epidemic and the technology boom at the same time. Hear one woman’s evolution working in an anti-violence program in San Francisco and her journey to name a conference room after a woman of color.  Bio: Demetra Jones started her career in education and instruction in math, later creating and developing a comprehensive Math & Financial Literacy program, under the umbrella of a non-profit organization, which continues to grow in its 15th year. As a Trader, she built strategic and analytic skills to drive results for clients and partners. She has nearly a decade of financial management/trading experience all while continuing to build her skills in instructing, program development, and business operations. Today, she remains personally committed to reducing social inequalities in her community and beyond. Professionally she continues to broaden her skills and expertise as a Business Operations Manager by taking on more challenging duties and responsibilities that allows her to combine her experience and skills while continuing to live out her personal and vocational desire to impact lives.

Episode 4: Kate Milliken Listen to the inspiring story of a video producer living with MS who is working to positively impact the mental effects of the disease. You can also listen to me gush about how cool she was in elementary school. Bio: For five years, Kate Milliken was immersed in the personal stories of people living with chronic illness as the founder of MyCounterpane.com, an online platform that allows patients and caregivers to lay out their personal narratives based on how they feel.  The venture began when Kate was diagnosed with MS in 2006.  Kate saw a need for moment- based authentic content of what it was like to actually live with an illness, where every entry was tagged with an emotion to make it immediately helpful and easily searchable for people in need of finding others to relate to.  MyCounterpane aimed to demonstrate insights and prove outcomes in the emotional realm of health, healing people through the story of them in the process.  Though the company began to relevant data, they were unable to find a clear revenue model, and as a result, this iteration of MCP closed in June 2018. Kate is now deliberating her next chapter which will be based in the biggest insights she garnered from her work- that loneliness kills and that connection over time builds resilience.    Pre- MS, Kate founded Milligrace Productions, a video production company specializing in mini documentaries for private, corporate and non-profit clients.  She has worked in television for more than 15 years, off camera as a producer for the View and VH-1 and as a correspondent in alternative sports (such as snowboarding, mountain biking and monster trucks) where she worked for Fox Sports NET, TNT, TNN the Outdoor Life Network and Oxygen.   Kate lives in Bronxville, New York with her husband and two young children, a 8-year old son who works to throw 3 pointers on a basketball court like Steph Curry and a 6-year daughter who wages a daily battle against the hairbrush.

Learn how mass incarceration can be positively impacted when you “re-route” a win and change the mind-set of criminal prosecutors. Consider how the most powerful form of influence may be to change the way success is measured. Bio: Adam J. Foss, Executive Director of Prosecutor Impact, is a former Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (SCDAO) in Boston, MA. Adam is a fierce advocate for criminal justice reform and the importance of the role of the prosecutor in ending Mass Incarceration. Mr. Foss believes that the profession of prosecution is ripe for reinvention requiring better incentives and more measurable metrics for success beyond, simply, “cases won.” Watch Adam discuss a reformed justice system in his Ted Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/adam_foss_a_prosecutor_s_vision_for_a_better_justice_system?language=en

Discover why you should be terrified of anyone with the nickname “the sleeper” and how successful long-term professional athletes in the world of Jiu Jitsu must become chameleons over time.  Bio: Cindy Hales is the head instructor at Gracie Barra BJJ. She is a black belt and a Member of the Women’s Dirty Dozen of BJJ. She has over 15 years of experience teaching children and adults and is a 2x Master World Champion, Pan Am, Grapplers Quest, Naga and US Open Champion. She is also kind and not the least bit scary off the matt. Here is a fascinating article about her in Vice http://fightland.vice.com/blog/cindy-hales-the-sleeper-awakens.

Learn why it’s better to get bad news about your health when you have your clothes on and gather one surgical oncologist’s perspective on how to help patients make the best decisions for their health. Bio: Dr. Osteen is a retired surgical oncologist with the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and continues to teach students at Harvard Medical School. He is also my dad. He is impossibly cool for many reasons including the fact that he has provided surgical coaching to the well-known surgeon, writer, and public health researcher Atul Gawade and is featured as the coach in Atul’s New Yorker Article “Personal Best” https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/03/personal-best.