Archives

Guest: Mike McLellan

Season: 9   Episode: 15

Supply chain disruptions: they’ve been at the top of the list for leaders’ anxiety in nearly every sector for years. Will it ever get better?

Yes – if you’ve learned lessons from COVID and other supply chain disrupters. That’s the advice Mike McLellan has for leaders. A vice president of operations for DHL Supply Chain, Mike discusses the innovations DHL and others are implementing: from rapid responses to exoskeletons for warehouse workers. If your organization relies on supplies – and few organizations don’t – this is a must-listen episode!

Here’s what Mike and host Maureen Metcalf cover:

1. How COVID-19 exposed weaknesses that had been brewing in the supply chain for years;
2. Why having a single-source supplier looks great on the balance sheet, but is quite costly in reality; and
3. The critical role of resilience for companies’ future survival.

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

• Evolving Leadership to Navigate Disruption with Greg Moran
• Leading in Circles: The Inevitable Circular Economy with Christoph Hinske
• Are You Disrupting, or Being Disrupted? with Mark Kvamme

Guest: Paul Austin

Season: 9   Episode: 16

You never know where the next big breakthrough in leadership research will come, so we’re going to sporadically feature outlier ideas, research from the fringe. Today is our first foray, as we investigate the role psychedelics can play in leadership development.

Struggling with the dichotomy of legality and morality, Paul Austin found himself on an unexpected journey of self-discovery – a journey that led him to establish Third Wave, a platform dedicated to using psychedelics to unlock leadership potential and transform paradigms. As Paul says to host Maureen Metcalf, “If I could focus my time and energy on one thing that would move the needle the most, it would be intentional psychedelic use by the leaders who are creating the paradigms of tomorrow.”

Here’s what Paul and Maureen cover:

• How intentional microdoses of psychedelics can propel leadership development;
• Why the proper setting and having an expert facilitator for guidance is absolutely critical; and
• How CEOs and other leaders are already using psychedelics to help them problem-solve in today’s new normal of chaos and disruption.

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

• Leading with Care & Purpose with Raj Sisodia & Sudhanshu Palsule
• Bringing Clarity to Confusion with Terri O’Fallon & Kim Barta
• Integrating Integrative Medicine in Leadership with Dr. Maryanna Klatt

Guest: Greg Moran

Season: 9   Episode: 18

Odds are Artificial Intelligence isn’t going to replace you at work. It’s going to join you.

Greg Moran sees AI integrating much the same way breakthrough technologies always have. It will help us be more efficient, and help leaders make better decisions. Of course, it’s not all rasterized rainbows and Unix unicorns; to thrive, people will have to be able and willing to continually learn new skills and processes. In short, the obsessively curious will rise to the top. Greg shares the details in this episode.

Here’s what Greg and host Maureen Metcalf cover:

• How generative AI has already proven it can give you a competitive advantage by helping you make better, faster decisions on quality information, but…
• …be careful! AI won’t make those decisions for you!
• Why continually growing, learning, and adapting are top skills for career success (and coasting at work is no longer an option).

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

• How to Own the AI Revolution with Neil Sahota
• The Future Is Yours to Create with Rebecca Ryan
• The New Role of Leadership in a Hybrid Workplace with Greg Moran

Guest: Kvon Tucker

Season: 9   Episode: 19

If there’s one key thing that’s common to all effective leadership theories, it’s this: leadership is all about relationships. Kvon Tucker distilled this through both academic scholarship and real-world experience at Netflix, Google, and Amazon. Those companies remain high-performing outliers because of their unique leadership culture, and an emphasis on relationships (and writing!) are key.

Losing sight of that leads to more than just sterile numbers on morale, low engagement, or layoffs. It leads to real pain for people, real depression, and – as Kvon saw – real suicide.

Kvon discusses all this, along with solutions for leaders who care, in this episode.

Here’s what Kvon and host Maureen Metcalf cover:

• How an old school practice – writing – leads to innovation and better odds of project success;
• Why truly effective leaders understand the importance of relationships; and
• The reasons that, even with all the trappings of success, your job can still leave you feeling miserable and depressed…and what to do about it.

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

• Building a Culture of Brain Health, Growth, & Effectiveness with Dr. JJ Walcutt
• Leading with Care in a Tough World with Bob DeKoch & Phil Clampitt
• Leading with Care and Purpose with Raj Sisodia & Sudhanshu Palsule

Guest: Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

Season: 9   Episode: 21

Many CEOs and executives insisting on staff returning to the office full time are making decisions based on myths about hybrid work. The truth may surprise them – and you!

Dr. Gleb Tsipursky busts those myths with hard data and direct experience with 23+ organizations. The bottom line: for the majority of “office” workers, hybrid work benefits both wellbeing and productivity. With mental health concerns at an all time high world-wide, that’s a message more employers should be paying attention to.

Here’s what Gleb and host Maureen Metcalf cover:

• How hybrid work boosts not only boosts mental well-being and productivity, but employee retention and satisfaction, too;
• How to establish new norms for workdays that accommodate diverse lifestyles; and
• Why workers feel social isolation in the office, too – and targeted strategies to combat it!

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

• The Blindspots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
• Building a Culture of Brain Health, Growth & Effectiveness with Dr. JJ Walcutt
• Leading with Care & Purpose with Raj Sisodia & Sudhanshu Palsule

Guest: Teuila Hanson

Season 9:   Episode: 22

Does your team feel like they belong in your organization? Do you?

At LinkedIn, that feeling of belonging is a critical part of workplace culture. And one way they accomplish it is by taking DEI to a whole new level: DIBs (Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging programs). Chief People Officer Teuila Hanson has seen remarkable success with it…so much so, LinkedIn happily shares techniques with other companies. It’s like an open source program for HR departments anywhere! What’s more, the benefits cascade into the community. Teuila brings us the details in this discussion with host Maureen Metcalf.

Here’s what Teuila and Maureen cover:

1. Why LinkedIn looks at an employee’s entire career cycle, and how it helps them advance within the company;
2. What DIBs means in practice; and
3. How HR innovations like this break generational cycles in and provide opportunities for families in poor socioeconomic conditions.

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

• Workforce Demographics & Inclusive Culture with Nadia Younes, Gamiel Yafai, & Louise Carvalho
• DEI: Needed Conversations & Understanding – with Laura Morgan Roberts & Courtney McCluney
• Recruiting & Retaining Diverse Executives – with Eric Douglas Keene

Guest: Neil Sahota

Season: 9   Episode: 23

The jobs of tomorrow are being incubated right now.

Artificial Intelligence – AI – is already rapidly transforming our world. You have two years, maybe up to five, before it transforms your work, too. But IBM Master Inventor Neil Sahota sees hope, not gloom: throughout human history, technological transformations meant more and often better jobs. The key is to be ready, and Neil tells us how.

Here’s what Neil and host Maureen Metcalf cover:

• The five skills every job will require;
• The fact that we don’t teach three of those five skills in U.S. education; and
• The top actions leaders need to take right now (because odds are you’re already behind the curve…and your competitors!).

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

• How to Own the AI Revolution – with Neil Sahota
• The End of Jobs – with Jeff Wald
• The Creative Mindset – with Jeff DeGraff

Guest: Sarah Ahern

Season: 9   Episode: 24

Client loyalty. Stakeholder loyalty. Employee loyalty. However you define your customers, their loyalty is key to moving your organization from just good to great. One key to growing it is to always make it easy for your customer to get what they want from you.

But how do you know what they want, much less how they want to receive it?

With data! And knowing how to find that data is what Sarah Ahern and her company, PATH, help organizations of all sizes understand. In this episode, Sarah shares the role of surveys, communication, and more in delivering exceptional customer experiences. And that, in turn, delivers long-term success for your business!

Here’s what Sarah and host Maureen Metcalf discuss:

• What Your Team REALLY Thinks, in Real Time! – with Greg Moran
• Leadership Is Relationships – with Kvon Tucker
• Lead Responsibly: An Absolut – with Ann Mukherjee

Guests: Ricky Robinson & Keith Powell

Season: 9    Episode: 25

Are you on code?

“On code” is like authenticity on steroids: as a leader you not only walk the talk, but give back, bring others along (mentor and sponsor), and fight for change when you see inequity. Being on code can be tough; after all, as guest Ricky Robinson points out, “In reality, most organizations don’t want you to be your authentic self.”

But fear not; Ricky and Keith Powell, the founders of C-CRETS, join host Maureen Metcalf to explain the many ways of getting on code…and the many benefits it presents.

Here’s what Keith, Ricky, and Maureen cover:

1. How being on code can help you win the war for talent;
2. What the concept of Village Accountability is all about; and
3. The very real importance of DEI in AI.

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

• Career Sponsorship & Being Sponsor Ready with Ricky Robinson & Keith Powell
• Building Communities within Your Business with Alice Yoo LeClair
• DEI Insights from IBM South Africa with Roger Madison

Guest: Pamela Larde, Ph.D.

Season: 9   Episode: 26

Does the struggle to balance work and personal life sound familiar? Have you bought the myth that working harder leads to? You’re not alone. But the truth is, that leads to burnout, stress, and decreased productivity. It’s time to break free and discover the power of joy in professional settings. By prioritizing joy and well-being, you can enhance your personal and professional life, build mental stamina, and create a positive work environment.

Pamela Larde joins us with details on building your joy. And by incorporating joy into your leadership approach, you can foster a culture that is not only successful but also fulfilling for both you and your team. Join us to learn how to integrate joy into your workplace and achieve the results you want.

Here’s what Pamela and host Maureen Metcalf cover:

1. The difference between joy and happiness;
2. How leaders can help their teams find joy – and how that benefits your organization; and
3. The personal benefits of fostering joy and well-being in your own life.

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

• Joy at Work! With Roxanne Brown & Edward Cook
• Finding Meaning, Joy, & Purpose in What You Do with Paul Gibbons
• The Science Behind Our Yes! with Jim Ritchie-Dunham