Bring Your Whole Self To Work

In this week’s solo episode, I share some takeaways I’ve encountered while working on the manuscript for my next book, We’re All In This Together.  Many of these things may be relevant to you while engaging in a creative project or anything important you’re currently working on (or wanting to). I talk about embracing deadlines, accepting help from others, and staying in the discomfort of that messy middle part, among other important things.    Key Takeaways [6:17] Deadlines are important. They help us stay on track and orient our focus and action to produce tangible results. [9:47] Lean on the people around you who love and care about you. Create a reciprocal culture where people can help lend their skills and strengths, and you are able to help raise them up with yours. [12:40] Done is better than perfect. The voice of fear will try to take us into perfectionism, but this is also why deadlines and the support of others are important to the finished project. [16:33] Lean into the discomfort, and try to stay i

I’m joined on the show today by Aimée Lapic, the Chief Marketing Officer at Pandora. She’s a passionate, authentic, and high performing leader who cares deeply about her team.  Aimée and I discuss ways to be authentic and caring as a leader, how to manage your personal and professional life without feeling guilty, and the key elements that make a great team.     Key Takeaways [3:25] Aimée shares a little bit about her background and where she grew up. [9:50] Back in the mid-’90s the internet was on fire and it gave Aimée the chance to hit the ground running in the Bay Area. She was able to work for startups and get her feet wet in online marketing and e-commerce. [14:25] When Aimée stepped into a leadership role, the biggest lesson she learned was that not everyone is motivated by the same things. You have to pay attention to each person and what they care about. [19:15] Aimée has always strived to be the top of her class but when she got into Princeton she realized that the country’s top students were also t

My friend Holly Dowling joins the show today.  She’s a thought leader and a fantastic inspirational keynote speaker.  Holly is passionate about creating inclusive environments within companies so that teams can thrive and organizations can retain talented people. She and I talk in-depth about how to create a culture where everyone feels a true sense of respect and belonging.   Key Takeaways [4:25] What’s new in the world of inclusive leadership? [6:35] Why are more men showing up to inclusion talks than women? Holly believes they’re scared. They want more inclusion, but they don’t know how to start the conversation. [10:50] Unfortunately, by having women-only empowerment groups, these women are being siloed from a bigger purpose. The reality is, we need men included in on these conversations so that a healthy dialogue can be developed. [15:15] Men want to be included in the conversation, they just don’t know how. There are a lot of tools out there for women, but when it comes to men wanting to be more inclusi

Kimberly Davis, author of Brave Leadership and expert in authentic leadership, joins the show this week. Kimberly shares how her experience as a trained actor set the stage for a career in leadership and coaching, the relationship between bravery and fear, and how we can live, lead, and work with courage. Kimberly helps people and leaders connect to their real and powerful selves, which in turn creates a team culture where others feel at ease to do the same.   Key Takeaways [5:30] One of her “survival jobs” as an actress led Kimberly to lead cross-cultural workshops in Japan, and the experience transformed the way she looked at the world. She saw that training and leadership development helped her access her own values and talents, and also saw a striking similarity between the high-stakes environment of life on the stage and in the corporate world. [15:10] Kimberly reframed her definition of bravery to mean an individual being their best and most authentic self. Bravery is about focusing on the impact and co

In today’s busy world with a never-ending “to-do” list of obligations, responsibilities, and commitments, it’s hard to take a break. In today’s episode, I share my own experience of taking a break in the midst of the daily grind and why it’s important to get off the grid every now and then for your own well-being and creativity. Wherever you are in your career, and whether you love almost every minute of what you do or you need to get better aligned, you can purposefully and deliberately build in time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate.   Key Takeaways [2:29] We used to get breaks built-in during summer vacation and winter break in school, but in the real world, it is a lot tougher to take time off. Even if we do get vacation days or holidays, many of us have fear and insecurity about missing something or dropping the ball. [8:16] Even if you love what you do it is still healthy to take a break. [10:09] Breaks give us the chance to rest our brain, break out of everyday habits and let our minds wander to regain mo

Author, entrepreneur, coach, and speaker Jenny Blake has a passion for helping people move beyond burnout and create the kind of work and life that truly inspires them. Jenny joins the show today to discuss her work at startups and at Google, which then led to her own big pivot and starting her own business. She talks about what inspired her to write her first book, Life After College, while still working at Google.  Jenny also shares her journey of going out on her own, the methodology behind her popular book, Pivot, and how she turned the scary moments of remote work and side hustling into blazing a trail for others.   Key Takeaways [4:09] Jenny grew up in the Bay area and attended UCLA, originally thinking she may be interested in a career in politics or working on a presidential campaign. She interned for Rock the Vote and loved the passion and energy behind the movement. [5:11] Fun fact: Jenny’s mom is a landscape architect in Stanford, so a lot of the beautiful scenery you see is in part thanks to her!

Chris Barbin is a serial entrepreneur and investor with more than 25 years of experience across a number of startups, companies, and enterprises. Chris joins the show today to talk with us about his work as a Venture Partner at GGV Capital, how he co-founded Appirio and stayed on as Chief Culture Officer when it was acquired from Wipro. Chris is an expert on company culture, team building and what it takes to scale a business. He also gives advice on building strong relationships when people work remotely, the upsides and downsides of being incredibly transparent, and how to create an environment where people feel safe to talk about the important stuff.   Key Takeaways [3:27] Chris was born and raised outside of Boston and graduated from Bates College, of which he now sits on the Board of Trustees. He landed in Chicago and was in various tech and consulting gigs before he co-founded Appirio in 2006. [8:26] While others were experiencing hardships in the economy around 2007, Appirio found that their company pr

Amy Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, and the world’s leading expert in psychological safety. On this week’s podcast episode, Amy and I discuss her groundbreaking research, as well as her latest book, The Fearless Organization. We also talk about what psychological safety is, what it is not, why it’s necessary for high performance, examples of leaders who are doing it well, and what we can do even better in modern society to create an environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves, take risks, and do their best work.   Key Takeaways [2:55] Psychological safety is when you genuinely feel as though your voice is welcomed, and you are free to be yourself and have your own opinions. [4:43] Amy found that the most cohesive teams reported making the most mistakes, but it wasn’t because they were less capable. It turned out they were just more able to and willing to come forward about their mistakes and to grow and learn from them. [5:10] Trust i

Award-winning entrepreneur, author, and speaker, Jennifer Brown, returns as a guest this week. Jennifer has a fantastic new book, How to Be an Inclusive Leader, which comes out in August.  This book has important information we need now more than ever in the workplace. Jennifer discusses where one even starts when trying to create a culture of inclusion and belonging, and what leaders can do specifically to cultivate this type of environment. She also shares the reasons why people may refrain from speaking up, and some simple steps to get started and/or to expand our ability to be inclusive leaders in today’s world.   Key Takeaways [3:37] Jennifer’s new book, How to Be an Inclusive Leader, will be out in August. In it, she provides a step-by-step guide for creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. [6:20] Jennifer notes that the election in 2016 sparked both more self-reflection and also a focus on what really makes a workplace an environment where others feel safe and accepted. [8:56] Most co

My friend Eric Saperston is an award-winning filmmaker, best-selling author, international speaker and the Chief Creative Officer of an organization called Live In Wonder.  He’s an amazing human being and joins me on the show today to discuss what he has learned from over 25 years studying the behaviors of extraordinary people. Eric met, hung out with, and interviewed actors, musicians, artists, and business executives while creating his documentary The Journey. He talks about the common thread he found in icons such as Jimmy Carter, Jerry Garcia, and Billy Crystal. Eric then discusses what is next for him and his team, and what we can expect from the new series Three Things: Wisdom From Strangers.   Key Takeaways [7:39] Extraordinary people know how to pivot. They aren’t afraid to change, learn, and grow in new directions. [9:33] Eric discusses how The Journey came to be. After he graduated college he sought a time to press pause and enjoy life before entering the workforce and didn’t want to get a corporate

Today I talk to my friend and colleague of almost 20 years, Vicki Abadesco.  As the Co-Founder of of an amazing organization called Soul Shoppe, Vicki brings 30 years as an educator teaching life skills and conflict resolution tools to both young people and adults. She’s also a fellow for the Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and author of the book Free to Be. Vicki talks with us today about what it takes to create a truly safe environment, the growth and impact of Soul Shoppe, and what she has seen shift over the years in the areas of social and emotional learning. She also discusses how we can feel a part of something rather than apart from it and what she and her team are doing to help schools, teams, and people feel more empathy for one another and a true sense of belonging.   Key Takeaways [4:40] So much of our success is related to our relationships. When we establish deep roots with another person, the connection helps us both grow. [8:40] You never know who in your network will be able to help you get wher

This week we welcome Mike Corkery, President and CEO of Deltek, to the show. He and his team at Deltek have created a strong company culture that is focused on authenticity, collaboration, and performance. Mike shares his perspective on leadership and what it takes to create a winning culture. He also talks about career advice for the modern working world, the importance of taking ownership of our careers, and how Deltek’s values inform the way they operate and serve their customers.   Key Takeaways [2:44] Mike joined Deltek in 2010 initially as the CFO and became the CEO in 2012. Deltek is the leading provider of Software and Solutions for project-based businesses globally. They are well known for the 60% of business in the government space, and 40% in other professional services such as consulting, creative agencies, and architecture. [5:28] Deltek has just over 3,000 employees, and they are based outside of D.C. [11:13] Mike’s parents had a huge influence on him as a leader. They ingrained in him a sense o

In this episode I talk with author, podcaster, and leadership speaker Dov Baron.  He is one of the most passionate and unique people I’ve ever had on the podcast. We talked about his business Full Monty Leadership, what real authenticity looks like, and what gets in the way of our true magnificence.  It is a fascinating, intense, and explicit conversation.   Key Takeaways [4:22] Dov has been an entrepreneur since the early age of 15. He grew up in Northern England in the ghetto, surrounded by violence, crime, and addiction. He made a decision to leave and pursue the study of how quantum physics, psychology, and the metaphysical intersect. [16:40] Dov points out how in our culture we are made to feel that in order to be “worthy,” we must constantly be buying material possessions and upgrading to keep up with those around us. This comes from a place of feeling broken when really there is nothing wrong with us. [33:16] Polarity is not a choice, it’s a reaction. The choice is where the power lies. [36:30] We must

Freddy Garcia is the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity Inclusion and Community Engagement at Marist College in New York. His role is to promote inclusion amongst all constituents of the college and to teach others how to really listen with curiosity, openness, and compassion. He joins me today to discuss how he got into this role, what he has seen change in diversity and inclusion over the recent years, and the challenges we are facing now more than ever. We also talk about ways Marist College inspires people to pay attention and take action, and ways we can both honor our differences and find common ground at the same time.   Key Takeaways [3:57] Freddy was born and raised in the South Bronx of New York City and moved up north to attend Marist College. A first-generation United States citizen, he was also the first in his family to attend college. His family set expectations high by displaying a hard work ethic. Freddy got a job right out of college working in diversity and has stayed intrigue

Shannon Adkins and I have known each other for almost 20 years, and it’s been fun to see her life and career grow to such great heights. She is the CEO of Future State, an organizational transformation consulting firm and has spent 15 years driving internal innovation and external collaboration. Shannon chats with us today about how her career started, challenges that go along with working with Fortune 500 companies, fostering cultures of engagement and belonging, and why it’s important for leaders to model healthy conflict.   Key Takeaways: [5:44] Shannon’s previous roles at Wells Fargo and Intuit provided her with examples of great leadership. It is possible for companies to do both engaging work on a large scale and treat their employees with compassion and transparency. This laid the foundation for how she sought to be as a CEO and leader herself. [12:43] While flexibility and freedom often come with being an entrepreneur, there are times where the stability that comes in working for a large company bette

Ashley Goodall, SVP of Leadership and Team Intelligence at Cisco, invites us to think freely about work and life. In this thought-provoking conversation, he discusses how we can challenge today’s conventional wisdom about leadership and focus on what research and experience prove to be effective. He also talks about his partnership with Marcus Buckingham in writing their new book, Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World, and what truly matters when it comes to inspiring excellence in ourselves and others.   Key Takeaways: [4:50] Ashley describes the writing process for his book Nine Lies About Work, which he co-authored with Marcus Buckingham. He would make time for writing on weekends, early mornings and would re-write and go over drafts while traveling for work. Even just setting aside 2-3 hours a week for writing can make a huge difference. [7:50] Great leaders stay curious about what really works, and how to measure if something is working. [8:49] Ashley appreciates the persp

Lisa Hufford, Founder, and CEO of the talent solutions company Simplicity Consulting, joins the show today. She and I chat about her interesting story and perspective on how she has grown her company, her book Navigating the Talent Shift, making the transition from corporate to consulting, what qualities and characteristics make a great consultant, and what she sees the most successful managers doing.   Key Takeaways: [5:27] Even if you don’t see others doing what you want to do, challenge yourself and go after what it is you are seeking. While at Microsoft, Lisa took her position from directing a large sales team to a consultant with contract work. She paved her own path based on using her valuable skills in sales and strategic project management. [12:08] In consulting, you get to choose who you work with. However, it takes courage, self-discipline, and clarity on your values. [15:46] When going from a corporate role to consulting, one of the biggest challenges can be the transition of generating the busines

Best-selling author Kim Scott joins the show again to discuss her important work and bestselling book, Radical Candor.  She’s also working on a new book right now - about gender dynamics at work and how radical candor applies to that.  She and I discuss this important topic, as well as what has been surprising about her work, and her personal experience as a thought leader and woman working with many top leadership teams. She also gives practical advice on how we can engage more, be allies at work, and care about people personally while challenging them directly.   Key Takeaways: [7:13] Radical Candor is about treating others with respect and compassion and challenging them directly at the same time. A common misconception is that a boss is not being “nice” or “kind” by giving an employee criticism but often times people are shocked when they are let go and they feel blindsided that no one had helped them grow. [9:14] When we solicit feedback, we come at it with a growth mindset. When we feel as though it’s b

Kevin Kruse is a New York Times bestselling author and entrepreneur who has a mission of reaching over 100 million leaders. He joins me on the show this week to talk about his new book, Great Leaders Have No Rules, adapting a leadership strategy in modern society and creating conversations that lead to deeper clarity and understanding about values.   Key Takeaways: [4:47] As a graduate of Rutgers University, Kevin was the first in his family to go to college. He is originally from Orange County but his family moved out to the East Coast in his teenage years. [12:02] In using baseball as an analogy for business, shortening the season may have benefits, but it’s important to keep sight on how revenue would continue to be generated. [12:50] In this fast-paced and ever-changing society, great organizations learn to modify and adjust how they do business and engage with their customers. [14:20] The stronger the connection is internally between leaders and their team, the greater the customer experience will be. [1

Marc Lesser is someone who sits right at the crux of what has become a huge moment in the business world, bringing mindfulness into work. He shares how a book about baking bread ended up leading him to a Zen Monastery in San Francisco and forever changed his life. He also talks about his Executive Coaching and Leadership Development work, the Search Inside Yourself Program and his work with Google, and why more businesses are now mixing the practical and the mystic. He also gives us some great information from his new book Seven Principles of a Mindful Leader and how work gives us a great opportunity to practice mindfulness and awareness.   Key Takeaways: [7:04] Marc jumped fully into the mindfulness world when he was quite young. What he thought would be a one year break from Rutgers University in the early 1970s, instead ended up with his living at a Zen Center in San Francisco. [10:19] One of the things that came as a surprise to Marc while in Tassajara was the realization of how important work was. He fou