In the rapidly changing business landscape, transformation is not just a buzzword; it's a necessity. As we've seen in our own organization, adapting to new market conditions, technological advancements, and evolving customer needs is crucial. Why is it important for leaders to lead well through transformation? And how can they do it better? Let's explore. The Importance of Effective Leadership in Transformation The ability to steer the organization towards its goals while navigating the complexities of change is paramount. Leaders set the tone, pace, and direction of change. They are responsible for aligning the organization's vision with the transformative steps and ensuring that the team is not just aboard but also committed to the journey. Why Leading Transformation Is Challenging Leading transformation is inherently difficult for several reasons. First, it involves changing established systems and processes, which can be met with resistance. People generally prefer the familiar

Jeremy Osterberger is all about learning the leadership lessons life teaches along the way. Jeremy is the President and Chief Operating Officer of BIC Alliance and its subsidiaries (BIC Magazine, BIC Recruiting and IVS Investment Banking). For more than 20 years, Jeremy has built relationships with leading minds in the heavy industrial market, business owners, trade show producers, industry publications, vendors, including private equity groups focused on acquiring industrial service companies within the refining and petrochemical, tanks and terminals, pipeline, construction, and oil and gas sectors. Jeremy also influences the energy and heavy manufacturing conversation from live interviews to videos and podcasts. Additionally, Jeremy has volunteered and served on the board of several downstream oil and gas and industrial association committees, including the Association of Builders and Contractors of Houston, East Harris County Manufactures Association, Texas Chemical Council, Loui

Last week, my 10-year-old son Jack, and I discussed an incident in school. After listening to his story, I asked, "Why do you take what he said personally? He paused and rather than answering, he asked, "Why don't you ever seem bothered by what people say or do?" This caught me off guard, but it made me reflect. He had unwittingly touched upon a crucial trait that every leader should cultivate: the ability not to take things personally. Why Leaders Need to Let Things Slide Off Their Backs: Foster Objectivity: A leader's role requires making decisions based on facts, and the best interests of the organization. Emotional reactions can cloud judgment, leading to choices based on ego rather than what's best for the team. Maintain Credibility: Leaders who react emotionally to every critique can appear insecure or unstable. Build a Positive Culture: Leaders who take everything to heart can create a tense environment where team members are afraid to voice concerns and feedback. Leaders who

Chantell Preston tells it like it is: when you empower yourself and your team, you build your life and leadership for impact. Chantell is the CEO and founder of Facilities Management Group (FMG), a management and consulting group based in Houston, Texas. FMG specializes in Freestanding Emergency Room, Hospital, and Ambulatory Surgical healthcare. Before FMG, Chantell built and sold her own company, Mentis Neuro Rehabilitation, which provided cognitive and physical rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury patients across the United States. Chantell also coaches, advises and speaks to high-powered women to equip them in personal, professional, and corporate growth. She provides a combination of unique mental coaching and accountability to successfully expedite real results and exponential growth with her clients personally and professionally. Episode in a Tweet: When you empower your team and help them unlock their full potential, you not only drive corporate growth but also build a c

What do you do when you need to reduce your anxiety now? During this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, I share a story about a recent bout with anxiety and how I dealt with it. We all feel anxiety and these days, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by it. The good news is that there are steps you can take to get immediate relief. Now for the story… A few weeks ago, I thought I had a panic attack. I was stuck in traffic, and I was pissed off. I was late to pick up my son from golf practice. He gets nervous when I am late. I was still reeling from the horrifying images of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, my to-do list was weighing on me. “I really should be working instead of fighting traffic,” my brain said. I had even Googled “how do you know when civilization is ending?” I sat at my desk, trying to work, and I felt disoriented and upset. When feeling anxious, you teach the body that living under constant stress is okay. We all know that constant stress isn’t okay; it wreaks ha

Don Finley makes a compelling case for working with friends. Don is the transformative force behind FINdustries, a leading product development agency that's made a monumental impact on the tech and financial sectors, shaping the product development landscape with unparalleled innovation. With a remarkable career spanning two decades, Don's expertise in fusing science, art, and technology has propelled his agency to the forefront of the industry. However, Don's journey extends beyond the conventional realms of a CEO. He embraces a visionary perspective, firmly believing that the foundation of business success lies in genuine friendship and shared values. Rooted in transformative experiences like conquering Kilimanjaro and immersing himself in Peru's vibrant culture, Don's personal growth has redefined his approach to work and life. The seeds sown during these adventures gave rise to FINdustries ten years ago, a company with a mission that transcends mere profits. Bolstered by a global

In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, we dive into the secret strength of patience. I love this quote by Joyce Meyer: “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” If you are like me, you can relate. I recently found myself, fingers drumming on the table, glancing at my watch every few seconds, waiting for someone running late. Frustration bubbled. Thoughts raced. Yet, amid the impatience, an epiphany struck: I am late for many things. Shouldn’t I be more empathetic? I don’t even know why this person is running late. Maybe I shouldn’t make grumpy assumptions? As leaders, our ability to influence is shaped by our decisions AND patience. I understand; you might be wondering, “Why should I prioritize patience, especially if it doesn’t come naturally? Shouldn’t I drive for results and hold people accountable?” The answer to the above question is “yes and.” You can be patient while driving results and hold people accountable. In my e

Robert (Bob) Tomaka has been a co-owner at Meier Supply for over 16 years and is engaged in all aspects of the ESOP. In addition to being the company’s CFO, he is a member of the Meier ESOP Advisory Council and Strategic Planning Committee. He has been a presenter at several ESOP conferences, including The National Center for Employee Ownership and is President of the NY/NJ chapter of The ESOP Association. Founded in 1957, Meier Supply is an employee-owned wholesale distributor of HVAC and refrigeration products with a rich history and family culture. With over 100 employees and 17 locations in New York and Pennsylvania, its core values (Excellence, Trust, People, and Respect) align strongly with its Mission Statement, “Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed.” As an ESOP, Meier Supply values the contribution of every employee, providing an environment conducive to exceptional customer service, productivity and personal growth. The company is currently managed by the third generation of t

With my book launch coming up next week, I’ve been asked about the power of the ownership mindset and why I wrote the book. So, in this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice from a CEO, I share why it’s so powerful and how to help your employees embrace ownership thinking. Why I Wrote “The Ownership Mindset” I learned the power of the ownership mindset as I rebuilt my life after hitting rock bottom 17 years ago. Back then, I definitely wasn’t owning it. But to change my life, I had to take responsibility for how I got myself in such a bad situation. When I decided to take full responsibility for everything that happened in my life, I empowered myself to change my life. When I went to work for StoneAge, an employee-owned company, the founders taught me how to think and act like an owner. Soon, I found I was so engaged in my job that my personal and professional success skyrocketed. I wrote the book based on my almost two decades of cultivating the ownership mindset within myself an

Melissa Glick’s total transformation is remarkable. She is a business coach, serial entrepreneur, former CEO, non-profit founder, writer, speaker, advisor, and real estate investor, now living a life by design. But that is not how it always was for Melissa. She draws on her 20+ years of experience building businesses and a successful multimillion-dollar tech exit to bring valuable insights that can help her audience unlock their full potential. After overcoming severe burnout, she shares tools that gave her the new skills to lead herself and others and creates an environment that fosters growth, learning, and innovation. She aims to help turn the audiences’ talents and ideas into their ultimate competitive advantage. Melissa’s achievements as a leader, business owner, and advocate for women have been widely recognized. She received the Morley Ballantine Leadership Award from the Durango Chamber of Commerce. She has received many industry awards, including the Top Women of the Channel,

Many times I've found myself at a crossroads, a situation where the future of my life, team, and company hinged on one tough choice. You've likely been there, too: a moment where your decision will ripple across the business, the team, and maybe even the industry. Every leader and CEO faces such moments that test your mettle, judgment, and foresight. Types of Tough Decisions Leaders Grapple With: Strategic Shifts: I remember pivoting my company's core business model. It was daunting. Do you stick with a known quantity or venture into the unknown for greater rewards? Leaders frequently find themselves evaluating the risk vs. reward of significant shifts. Personnel Changes: Have you ever had to let someone go? It's heart-wrenching, especially when it's a valued team member. But at times, such decisions are imperative for the organization's greater good. Financial Allocations: Think back to a time you had to cut costs or allocate funds between departments. It's like choosing between tw

Chellie Phillips understands that building an irresistible brand is what you need whether you're looking to land the perfect job or attract the most talented employees. Chellie is a sweet tea-sipping, sassy Southern passionate about helping dynamic, career-minded professionals stand out for all the right reasons. She's a coach, corporate trainer, motivational speaker, and author of three books. Her recent book, "Culture Secrets," teaches leaders how to build a values-based culture. Chellie is also the host of the Culture Secrets podcast. Chellie's "Successfully Ever After" formula is designed to help leaders create an irresistible culture. She loves helping leaders and job seekers build their brands so they can build successful, thriving lives. Chellie is on a mission to help others tune into what makes them great, package it properly, and use their existing skillsets to find the path to their highest potential. Episode in a Tweet: Your brand is what people say about you when you

Episode in a Tweet: True leadership isn’t about putting up a facade of perfection. It's about being genuine and relatable. Authentic leaders, those who aren’t afraid to showcase their strengths and acknowledge their weaknesses, foster a culture of trust and collaboration. In today's rapidly changing business landscape, a fresh perspective on leadership has emerged—one where authenticity and vulnerability take center stage. Brené Brown, a renowned researcher, captured it best: "Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage." In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, we'll uncover why vulnerability is paramount for contemporary leaders and offer practical steps to integrate it into your leadership style. The Power of Authenticity in Leadership True leadership isn’t about putting up a facade of perfection. It's about being genuine and relatable. Authentic leaders, those who aren’t afraid to showcase their strengths and acknowledge their weaknesses, foster a cul

J. Scott knows it's never just business; it's about people. J. considers himself a talentless, real-life anti-hero who doesn't just talk; he walks the walk. Growing up in the streets of Los Angeles with less-than-ideal parents, J. learned early on that actions speak louder than words. After dropping out of high school at 17, J. joined the Navy and learned firsthand that grit and courage could overcome any lack of talent. He embraced every opportunity to learn and eventually became a Naval Rescue Swimmer, jumping out of helicopters to save lives. Rewind: two decades ago, J. founded 120VC to help people, leaders, and teams get things done that really matter. He's uncovered some universal truths along the way: organizations are optimized for their results, and to get different results, humans need to perform their jobs differently. J. Scott is the epitome of the anti-thought leader, proving that leadership isn't about being the team's most talented or successful person. It's about helpi

In the vast, intricate landscape of modern business, it's no longer enough to simply manage employees or direct them towards predefined tasks. Today’s leaders face a more complex challenge. Every person in your company embodies a wealth of untapped capability, a blend of innate skills, unique perspectives, and raw ambition. Harnessing this potential is neither a luxury nor a secondary objective; it's a prerequisite for sustained success. Visionary leadership goes beyond immediate results—it seeks to identify, nurture, and elevate these capacities, positioning both the individual and the organization for long-term growth and innovation. In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I discuss strategies for unleashing your team’s full potential. The Power of Mindset One of the foundational elements in people development is nurturing the right mindset. A growth mindset, to be specific. Leaders who instill in their teams the belief that their abilities can be honed and de

Corey Rosen is the founder and an active staff member of the National Center for Employee Ownership, a private, nonprofit membership, information, and research organization. The NCEO is widely considered to be the authoritative source on broad-based employee ownership plans. He cofounded the NCEO in 1981 after working five years as a professional staff member in the U.S. Senate, where he helped draft legislation on employee ownership plans. Prior to that, he taught political science at Ripon College. He is the author or co-author of over 100 articles and numerous books on employee ownership, and co-author (with John Case and Martin Staubus) of Equity: Why Employee Ownership is Good for Business (Harvard Business School Press, 2005) and (with Hohn Case), Ownership: Reinventing Companies, Capitalism, and Who Owns What (Berrett-Kohler, 2022). He has lectured on employee ownership on six continents. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Cornell University. He previously served on the B

A few weeks ago, I saw Taylor Swift perform, and I was blown away. I am not a huge fan; I like her music on the radio, but I’ve never bought or downloaded and album. I only know the songs on the radio, but it was the most inspiring performance I’ve ever seen. Not just because she’s a great entertainer. Her storytelling and unapologetically authentic love for what she does made me want to be better at what I do. And I wanted to go for it! She makes people believe in themselves, and that’s what I want to do, too. So, in this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I share the Taylor Swift experience and why we should all feel empowered to go after our dreams and create the life we want for ourselves. Many people are afraid to go after their dreams. Why? Simple. Fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of judgment. We live in a society where the norm is often mistaken as the ‘right way.’ Deviating from it, chasing something unconventional can invite criticism, un

Sally Loftis is Managing Director at Loftis Partners, a 100% woman-owned human resources consulting firm located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Loftis Partners specializes in strategy, people, facilitation, and pay justice. Since launching in August 2020, Sally and her firm have worked with 54 clients across three continents. Sally serves as a faculty member for the Center of Trauma-Resilient Communities and lead consultant for two justice-driven consulting firms, Wayfinding Partners (Washington, DC) and Brook Graham (London, England). She is also a certified Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator. Episode in a Tweet: Leaders must listen to their employees and hear what they say. They must implement the things their teams are looking for. This is how you build a culture where people want to stay. Background: Sally started her firm in August 2020 after years of dreaming. She always thought being an external HR consultant would be amazing but lacked the confidence to move fr

Battling workplace boredom takes effort and commitment from both employees and their leaders. In a survey by Udemy in 2018, 43% of respondents reported experiencing boredom at work. This startling statistic prompts us to explore effective strategies for employees trapped in the mires of monotony and leaders yearning to create more stimulating environments. And this is what we talk about in this week’s episode on Reflect Forward. For the Undaunted but Bored Employee: Are you battling workplace boredom? Before anything else, self-reflection is paramount. Unearth the cause behind your lack of engagement. Continuous Learning: Diversify your skills and broaden your knowledge beyond the boundaries of your current job description. You can bring fresh perspectives to your role and find avenues to quell the boredom monster. Seek Mentorship: Establish strong and meaningful relationships with seasoned industry veterans or like-minded peers who provide valuable guidance, constructive feedback

How do you become a more persuasive leader? Persuasion is an essential skill for any leader, and you must be able to share a compelling vision and inspire people to change – all without them feeling coerced or manipulated. So, persuasion is what we talk about in this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO. Here are the highlights: 1. Use positive language 2. Know what you are talking about 3. Listen carefully 4. Ask questions 5. Be willing to compromise: 6. Give people space 7. Follow up To be an effective, high-impact leader, you must hone your powers of persuasion and use them for good – to move your team and company forward. When done well, persuasion can be a leader's most powerful tool. Question of the Week This week's question comes from a friend who said, "I made a huge mistake at work and feel terrible. It's causing me deep anxiety. How should I manage this situation?" It's undeniable that everyone encounters moments of stumbling or blundering at some point

Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Acceleration Partners, a global partner marketing agency. He is the recipient of numerous industry and company culture awards, including Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards two years in a row. He is the author of the inspirational newsletter Friday Forward, the #1 Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the internationally bestselling author of five books: Elevate, Friday Forward, How to Thrive in The Virtual Workplace, Moving To Outcomes and Performance Partnerships. He is a sought-after speaker by companies and organizations worldwide and hosts The Elevate Podcast. Episode in a Tweet: People want their companies to provide a consistent vision and clear values and goals that align with their personal values and goals. Not every company is suitable for every employee, and that’s okay. The goal is to find the people who value your culture and do everything you can to keep them. Background: I first became familiar with Bob Glazer

Gina Schaefer knows a thing or two about building a business in non-traditional ways. Gina is the founder and Co-CEO of a chain of Ace Hardware stores located in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, Montgomery County and Northern VA. She is a passionate entrepreneur who grew her company from one to 13 stores in only 14 years and now leads a multimillion-dollar business that employs more than 300 people. She is dedicated to maintaining a strong corporate culture and is selling her company to her teammates through an ESOP. Gina’s big passion is developing urban markets, supporting small businesses, and helping women succeed in all aspects of the hardware industry. She has tirelessly focused on the “Return to Main Street” movement in her city of Washington, D.C., to promote Shop Local campaigns and community revitalization in urban areas. Gina has received numerous accolades for her many accomplishments, including being the recipient of the Women Who Mean Business award from the Washington

In any workplace, it’s not uncommon for employees to face performance issues at some point. Whether it’s difficulty meeting targets, struggling with new responsibilities, or feeling overwhelmed by the workload, as a colleague or manager, you have the power to support and empower them. By listening, seeking to understand, and offering practical solutions, you can help struggling employees overcome their performance challenges and thrive. In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, we explore some practical strategies to assist an employee in need and why leaders must prioritize compassion and understanding. Why Leaders Need to Listen, Seek to Understand, and Be Compassionate Leadership isn’t just about delegating tasks and expecting results. It involves fostering a culture of empathy and support. By actively listening to struggling employees, seeking to understand their perspectives, and showing compassion, leaders can build trust, improve communication, and create an environment wher

Guest: Jessica Billingsley has learned many leadership lessons from extreme rock climbing. Currently, as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Akerna (Nasdaq: KERN), a Software as a Service ag-tech company serving the cannabis, hemp, and CBD industry, Jessica has successfully taken the company public, completed multiple accretive acquisitions, and maintained market leadership for over a decade. Before Akerna, she founded and led Zoco, a technology services firm with a diverse nationwide client base. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Titan 100 CEO, Outstanding Women in Business, Inc. Top 100 Female Founder, and Fortune's Most Promising Woman Entrepreneur. Her thought leadership has been featured in prominent media outlets, including Business Insider, Bloomberg, CNN, Cheddar, Fortune, and Forbes, in addition to her contributions to Entrepreneur and Rolling Stone publications. Episode in a Tweet: At the end of the day, climbing, like business, is a mental game. It's

You know that feeling when you’ve hit the wall, and the thought of going to work drains you of every ounce of energy? Burnout is a real struggle that can sneak up on even the most dedicated employees. In this episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, we’ll explore the causes of burnout, practical steps you can take to address it, and how leaders can lend a helping hand. Here are a few common causes: Excessive workload: When you feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, it’s no surprise burnout might be lurking around the corner. Unrealistic deadlines, constant overtime, and a never-ending to-do list can all contribute to burnout. Lack of control: Feeling you have no say in decision-making can be incredibly demoralizing. Burnout can creep in when you cannot influence your work environment or have a sense of autonomy. Lack of recognition and reward: When employees consistently go above and beyond without receiving acknowledgment or appropriate rewards

Velveth Schmitz knows better than anyone that leadership is a journey. Recently named CEO of Hire Better, an award-winning strategic talent partner for entrepreneurial, growth-minded, middle-market companies, Velveth is on a mission to grow herself and others. Velveth builds partnerships with leaders of high-growth, entrepreneurial organizations by delivering end-to-end solutions that put the right people and strategies in place to build strong corporate cultures and ensure positive financial results. This includes helping founders and CEOs find the right team members to grow their businesses. Velveth also served as Mayor for Rolling Hills Estates in 2020 and continues to serve as Councilmember. She is involved in various 501(c)3 and county boards where she serves as chair or vice-chair. Velveth is a proud alum of the University of California, Berkeley, where she remains involved in various roles. Episode in a Tweet: Lead with love. At the end of the day, we are all doing the best w

In this week's episode of Reflect Forward, we discuss the most common employee complaints and what managers can address to improve employee morale and productivity. By improving communication, treating employees fairly, addressing workload concerns, providing recognition, offering adequate resources, improving management practices, and creating a positive workplace culture, managers can help ensure their employees feel valued and supported. One of the most common employee complaints is poor communication. Employees often feel left in the dark about important decisions, changes, or updates within the company. To address this, managers can implement regular check-ins with their employees to keep them updated and informed. One-on-one meetings, team meetings, or even email updates can all be effective ways to improve communication and keep employees in the loop. Another common complaint is unfair treatment. Employees want to feel like they are being treated equally and fairly compared to t

Dr. Benjamin Ritter, founder of Live for Yourself Consulting, is passionate about helping people achieve their goals. Ben is a leadership and career coach, Talent Development Executive, values geek, international speaker, and podcaster passionate about guiding leaders to be the leader of their own career and create a career they love. With over ten years of experience working with clients from companies such as Amazon, Coursera, Doordash, Google, Fiserv, Northwestern, Pinterest, and Yelp, Ben understands how to navigate any career path you decide you want to travel. Since launching his coaching practice, he has guided hundreds of professionals toward creating the career they love and has impacted thousands through his events and media content. Ben received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, focusing on value congruence and job satisfaction, and earned an MBA in entrepreneurial management and an MPH in health policy administration. Episode in a Tweet: People don’t start

Throughout my teens and twenties, I let other people’s opinions dictate much of my life. I was constantly worried that people wouldn’t like me, and I compared my success to others. Caring deeply about what others thought of me led me to a dark, destructive place. As I matured, I realized that I spent far too much energy caring about opinions that really didn’t matter. Over time, with practice and much self-reflection, I learned to relinquish the need for so much external validation. Doing so opened my eyes to what’s possible. I finally started going after my dreams and creating the life I wanted. I became a more confident leader who wasn’t afraid to admit mistakes, pivot away from poor decisions, and ultimately make bold moves that transformed our company and industry. And that’s what this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO is about. How to let go of the need for external validation. How to stop letting other people’s opinions dictate your life. This doesn’t mean yo

Joel Trammell is the founder and CEO of American CEO and Khorus Systems, a business management system that empowers CEOs to lead high performance organizations, and the owner of Texas CEO Magazine, which reaches more than 10,000 CEOs across the state. A successful entrepreneur and CEO with 30 years of experience, Joel is a pioneer in CEO education. After decades as a CEO – a field in which the average shelf life is only five years – Joel identified a pervasive problem: many of his fellow business leaders seriously lacked the fundamental tools and education to make their companies genuinely great. He launched The American CEO to provide the support and guidance his peers lacked. He also wrote a book titled The CEO Tightrope, a comprehensive guide featuring proven techniques and approaches for overcoming the unique challenges of being a CEO. Episode in a Tweet: Being a CEO is demanding and there’s no one way to do it well, but the best CEOs embody the three Cs: credibility, competence

In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, I share why people are change resistant and what you can do to help your employees embrace change. Change is a natural part of life, and it’s no different in the workplace. But let’s face it; not everyone is excited about the idea of change, and many people are hesitant or even resistant to change in the workplace. To help their employees embrace change, leaders must understand why their team members resist change and know how to address it. Why are people afraid of change? • Fear of the unknown: When people don’t know what’s going to happen or how a change will affect their job, it can be scary. They may worry that they won’t be able to perform their duties or that their job will become obsolete. • Comfort with status quo: People may have gotten used to the current system and may not see the need for change. Why change if the present method is working well enough? • Loss of control: People get frustrated and resentful when they feel th

As a leader, navigating complexity and uncertainty can feel like trying to sail a ship through a stormy sea without a map or compass. In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, we discuss navigating complexity and uncertainty. In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, complexity and uncertainty are becoming the norm rather than the exception. Leaders must be able to navigate these challenges if they want to succeed and thrive. So, how do you navigate complexity and uncertainty as a leader? Embrace the chaos: Instead of fighting or controlling the complexity and uncertainty around you, try embracing it. Recognize that it’s a natural part of the business world and that you can learn and grow from it. Develop a growth mindset: Approach complexity and uncertainty as opportunities to learn and grow rather than obstacles to overcome. Be open to new ideas, feedback, and perspectives and be willing to adapt and change as needed. Build a strong network: Surround your

Rajeev Kapur believes that now is the time to lead forward and chase greatness. Rajeev is a seasoned high-tech and media executive with broad global experience leading and driving innovation. Rajeev is the CEO of 1105 Media, a leading provider of business-to-business marketing, events, and media services. In 2021 and 2022, he was a finalist for Entrepreneur and Innovator of The Year from the Orange County Business Journal and was named one of the Top 500 Leaders in Orange County. Rajeev has been a YPO (Young President’s Organization) member for over 15 years and has been a guest contributor to CNBC. In November 2021, he became a bestselling author when he launched his new leadership book – Chase Greatness: Enlightened Leadership for The Next Generation of Disruption. The book was the most downloaded leadership book on Amazon. He is an accomplished keynote speaker and executive coach for companies like ATT, Google, Amazon and Hugo Boss about the future of leadership. He is also an ac

Paula Allen is the Global Leader, Research and Total Wellbeing and a Senior Vice-President at Telus Health. In this role, she manages the research agenda for Telus, which includes primary research conducted by LifeWorks, exploratory data science, research collaborations and meta-analyses. Given her focus on industry-leading research, Paula also leads LifeWorks thought leadership and co-chairs the organization’s product and innovation strategy. Paula is also a well-recognized expert in all areas of workplace mental health, learning strategies, disability management and drug plan management. She designed and led the most comprehensive employer response to the H1N1 pandemic and is LifeWorks’s business response and resource lead for the COVID-19 pandemic. She also works directly with many of Canada’s leading organizations. Paula is a sought-after speaker by organizations, national media and conferences for her knowledge and expertise in current issues and the future direction of health,

In the volatile world we live in; it’s hard to remain calm under pressure. But it’s a required trait of great leaders. And that’s what we discuss in this week’s episode of Reflect Forward – how to stay calm under pressure. Staying calm under pressure is key to surviving these turbulent times. Responding thoughtfully rather than emotionally will help you create a more intentional outcome. Intentional outcomes can lead to lower stress, better relationships, and higher productivity. In short, staying cool, calm, and collected when you want to freak out will improve the overall quality of your life. Wikipedia defines calmness as “the mental state of peace of mind is free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance. It also refers to being in a state of serenity, tranquility, or peace.” Doesn’t this sound wonderful? Even better, when you make high stake decisions or respond to a high-stress situation from a state of calmness, the quality of the outcome tends to be better. Who doesn’t want

Naketa Ren Thigpen is on a to help leaders thrive. She says you’ve got to know yourself, love yourself to be able to lead yourself and others well. Naketa’s the #1 Balance (and) Relationship Advisor in the World, activating power couples and potent humans ready to recalibrate and own their right to be intentionally selfish to amplify relationship intimacy as they grow to live in the space of (and) fully. Utilizing her distinct experiential, intuitive and highly energetic style, Naketa hosts the Balance Boldly Podcast and International Best Selling Author of the book Selfish: Permission to Pause, Live, Love, and Laugh Your Way to Joy. A highly sought-after Transformative Empowerment Speaker and CEO of ThigPro Balance (and) Relationship Management Institute, Naketa is revolutionizing work/life balance and how to love yourself fully. Episode in a Tweet: Perfectionism is a form of bondage that anchors you down and stops you from producing anything until it’s perfect. You’ve got to rel

In this week's episode of Reflect Forward, we talk about the difference between responsibility and accountability. Responsibility and accountability are terms often used interchangeably, but they're not quite the same. While they're both important for success in life and work, understanding their differences can help you navigate situations more clearly and confidently. Let's start with responsibility. When we talk about responsibility, we're talking about what we're expected to do or our obligations to ourselves and others. It's about fulfilling our duties and being reliable. When we take on responsibility, we promise ourselves or others that we'll follow through. Sometimes people feel burdened by responsibility. But being responsible can be empowering. It's about choosing to choose. And when you take full responsibility for everything that happens in your life, you can change your situation, rectify a mistake, grow and learn, and live a more fulfilling life. For example, I am re

Sam Jacobs believes leading with kindness is the only way to lead. He is the Founder & CEO of Pavilion, a community-powered learning platform for go-to-market leaders and teams. Sam launched Pavilion as Revenue Collective in 2016 and bootstrapped the company to $10M in ARR before taking on a $25M growth financing round in early 2021, led by Elephant Ventures and GTM Fund. Pavilion is powered by an international community of more than 10,000 sales, marketing, RevOps, and successful leaders from the world’s fastest-growing companies. Everyone at Pavillion teaches new skills, forges meaningful connections, and helps companies grow. Pavilion University leverages a proprietary Immersive Learning Framework™ to fuse structured training with ongoing social learning and just-in-time resources that drive results. Prior to Pavilion, Sam spent 15 years as a senior revenue leader at VC-backed companies in the New York area, including Gerson Lehrman Group, Axial, Livestream/Vimeo, The Muse, and Be

Mindfulness is important in the workplace. It helps leaders and employees to be more present, aware and focused. I’ve experienced benefits such as: • Improved decision-making: Mindfulness can help leaders better manage their emotions and reactions, leading to more thoughtful and considerate decision-making. • Increased creativity: It can help to open up new perspectives and ideas, leading to more creativity and innovation. • Better communication: It can help improve listening and empathy, leading to better communication and stronger relationships with colleagues and clients. • Reduced stress: It can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can lead to better health, well-being, and improved job performance. • Improved time management: It can help increase focus, leading to better time management and productivity. • Increased job satisfaction: It can help increase job satisfaction and engagement as employees better manage their emotions and are more focused on their work. It can help

Guest: Chaz Wolfe is truly a servant leader. His motto is “always serve others because it’s the right thing to do.” He is a high-performing, serial entrepreneur who has built, purchased and sold multiple seven-figure franchising, real estate and consulting ventures. Chaz is a studied and accomplished professional who values discipline and integrity. He’s an operations and process maximizer and an award-winning sales and business mind. Chaz is known to push the limits of work ethic, mindset and results. As a dynamic leader, consultant and speaker, he has helped domestic and international organizations achieve massive growth and success. Chaz is also the founder of The Gathering of Kings, a peer-to-peer learning organization whose mission is to ignite successful entrepreneurs with genuine connection points that intentionally develop a lifestyle of leveraging time, resources, and key relationships. His podcast, also called The Gathering of Kings, brings together entrepreneurs who can lea

We discuss purpose in this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO. Not just personal purpose by your company’s purpose. A company’s higher purpose is a crucial component of its success, as it provides a clear direction and meaning for all stakeholders, including employees, customers, shareholders, and the wider community. A higher purpose can help a company attract and retain top talent, build a loyal customer base, make strategic decisions, and create positive social and environmental impact. Leaders need to prioritize purpose and help their employees embrace it. Leaders can help employees embrace purpose by communicating it clearly, making it part of the company culture, providing opportunities for employee input and development, leading by example, measuring and rewarding progress, and encouraging volunteerism and community service. These steps will help employees understand and align with the company’s purpose and be more motivated and engaged in their work. When a

Guest: Jeffrey is passionate about using conscious leadership to maximize impact. He is a nationally recognized thought leader and award-winning author on the next evolution of leadership: Conscious Leadership. His recently published book: “Developing the Conscious Leadership Mindset for the 21st Century” won a total of four national and international Stevie Awards® and is an Amazon best seller in the Occupational and Organizational Psychology category. Jeffrey’s background is one of a serial entrepreneur who bootstrapped two multi-million dollar companies, several non-profits and multiple political organizations. Since 2005 he has been a leadership and organizational performance consultant and leadership coach. He’s helped scores of clients grow by strengthening their leadership teams and helping them uncover and mobilize the hidden human capital that drives performance and profits in the 21st century. Jeffrey is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and regularly publishes on the

In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I discuss what to do when you embarrass yourself at work. We’ve all experienced embarrassment at work, and I share two very visceral experiences during the episode. In both instances, I was so upset with myself and mortified beyond belief. If you find yourself in a situation where you have embarrassed yourself at work, there are a few things you can do to try and mitigate the situation: • Breathe and practice self-compassion • Take responsibility and apologize • Learn from the experience • Let go and move on Pro tip: Communicate with your supervisor or HR if the situation is problematic to the organization. Don’t allow your manager to be blindsided by learning about the situation from someone else. I also discuss what to do as a leader when an employee is upset and embarrassed over a mistake such as showing empathy and compassion. It’s never easy to talk about screw-ups, and you must create an environment where it is s

Guest: Ron Carson is living his life by design, but he wasn’t always this way. Ron is the Founder and CEO of Carson Group, which serves financial advisors and investors through its businesses, including Carson Wealth, Carson Coaching, and Carson Partners. Founded in 1983, Carson Wealth has grown to become one of the largest wealth management firms in the country, offering portfolio management and wealth planning services to high-net-worth clients. Established in 1993, Carson Coaching has grown to become one of the leading advisor coaching programs in the country, empowering advisors to overcome key business challenges through personalized coaching, proven strategies, marketing services and a passionate community of thousands of advisors. Carson Partners empowers advisors to improve client service, efficiently run their practice, grow their business and build a legacy through a turnkey integrated partnership. All three organizations are headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska but serve a broad

During this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, we talk about why it’s important to ask for help at work, including how it helps you save time, increases productivity, and provides learning and skill development opportunities. It’s rarely easy to ask for help at work. Some see asking for help as a sign of weakness. “I should be able to handle everything independently,” they think. Or maybe they are worried about being judged or viewed negatively by their colleagues or manager. Some people may feel uncomfortable revealing they don’t know what to do next or are over their heads. And let’s face it, some workplace cultures may not promote or support asking for help, and it can be hard to find someone willing to offer help – which is unfortunate. I also share ideas on overcoming your fear of asking for help at work, such as identifying the root cause of your fear, reframing your thinking, and practicing asking for help by starting small. Most importantly, I share why y

Matt Tenney is an expert on developing highly effective leaders. He is the author of the highly acclaimed book Serve To Be Great: Leadership Lessons from a Prison, a Monastery, and a Boardroom. Over the last nine years, Matt has delivered keynotes and training programs that help improve employee engagement and retention to hundreds of clients, including companies like Salesforce, T. Rowe Price, Roche, Marriott, Keller Williams, L’ Oreal, and many others. Matt is an active CEO working to build the best workplace culture in the world, hoping to inspire you to do the same. Background: Matt Tenney helps leaders to achieve better business outcomes while simultaneously becoming happier, kinder, more generous, and more compassionate. He is passionate about inspiring people to become servant leaders. He focuses on applying mindfulness training to improve business acumen, increase emotional intelligence, enhance creativity and innovation, improve the ability to manage change, and develop extra

Transparent leadership matters. Why? Because it helps to build trust and create a positive work culture. When leaders are transparent, they are open and honest about their actions and decisions, which helps to foster transparency among team members and throughout the organization. In this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, we talk about transparent leadership and I share tips on being more transparent and avoiding common pitfalls. When there is more transparency among team members, they tend to have better communication, collaboration, decision-making, and a greater sense of accountability and responsibility. Additionally, transparency can help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts and create a more positive and inclusive work environment. So how can leaders be more transparent? There are several ways that leaders can be more transparent in the workplace: Communicate openly and honestly: Leaders should be open and honest about their actions and decisions and

Guest: Wanda Toro Turini, also known as Dr. Wanda or THE Nerdy Girl Entrepreneur, is a dynamic entrepreneur, inventor and the host of the Rock-It Fuel Podcast. As Founder of Bull's Eye Innovations (BEI), Wanda's mission is to incubate innovative ideas and transform them into profitable and sustainable businesses. Wanda's most recent focus is launching Ketchwords.com, powered by her proprietary texting platform, ecoFiles. Ketchwords enable experts to finally connect with "Anonymous Fans" that are sitting in their audiences and nurture them into happy Clients. Background: During this episode, Wanda shares how she has evolved as an entrepreneur, learning to let go of the need to do everything. You can't scale if the business revolves around you! She gives great advice on planning your year with your significant other, both personally and professionally. We talk about the need for boundaries and why it's important to say no more often. Wanda also shares the story of how she came up with

During this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I discuss what to do when an employee opens up about mental health. As a people leader, you will occasionally have to help people work through emotional trauma, personal situations and past baggage. And let’s face it, with mental health being such a significant issue in today’s society, we can’t expect our employees, teammates, and colleagues to leave their personal lives at home. How we behave at work is influenced by happenings at home and our mental health, and we want to show up as our whole selves. And while engaging in these talks might be difficult and uncomfortable, I have found that you can help your employees by leaning into these conversations. During the episode, I share how I mentally prepare for emotional conversations on mental health and personal issues. You should also familiarize yourself with options the employee might have, such as paid time off, the use of an Employee Assistance Program, etc. I als

Guest: Emma Giles emulates self-aware, authentic leadership. Emma is one of the founders of SoWork, a product that helps digital-first teams do great work, no matter when they work or where they work from. Emma leads product development and works directly with SoWork customers who are leaders of organizations trying to navigate the digital-first work shift. Prior to founding SoWork, she dropped out of a PhD from Harvard/MIT in computational neuroscience to build a business, spent a year at Khan Academy creating free medical content for medical students, and scaled data initiatives for the WHO. Emma has a unique perspective on how the landscape of work is evolving, what leaders and their teams are struggling with, and how to solve the most pressing challenges with technology. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband (also a SoWork co-founder), where she spends time hiking and running ultramarathon. Episode in a Tweet: Leadership is such a privilege because you get to sit in a

We should never underestimate the importance of reflection and introspection. Self-reflection is a powerful tool for personal growth and development. When done often, you create a much more intentional and powerful life. But many of us only do it annually, as we approach the new year and think about what went well and what didn’t…in essence, Reflecting Forward. 😊 In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, I discuss how I came up with the name of my podcast, Reflect Forward, and why frequent self-reflection can help you to better understand yourself and your thoughts and feelings, which can lead to improved self-awareness and self-esteem. Frequent reflection and introspection can also help you to identify areas in your life where you may want to make changes or improvements. This can be especially helpful if you are feeling stuck or unfulfilled in some aspect of your life. Additionally, self-reflection can help you to better understand other people and improve your relationships with

Do you involve employees in strategic planning? Most people think that strategy is a leader's responsibility and not everyone else’s. An employee once told me, “CEOs do strategy; we do the everyday work.” This mindset couldn’t be further from the truth, but it’s prevalent. When you involve employees in strategic planning, good things happen. First, people begin to understand that strategy is something they do every day and execute it in their daily tasks and project work. Second, they become more engaged in the process because they can ask questions and have a voice. In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I share how we involved our employees in strategic planning this year and the results. Hint: outstanding. We tried something new so every employee could weigh in before we finalized the strategic plan and the feedback was fantastic. We received some excellent ideas to integrate, and everyone appreciated being part of the process. I also offer tips on thinki

Gustavo Razzetti is the CEO and founder of Fearless Culture, a culture design consultancy that helps teams do the best work of their lives. For more than 20 years, Razzetti has helped leaders from Fortune 500s, startups, nonprofits, and everything in between on every continent but Antarctica. Gustavo is also the creator of the Culture Design Canvas, a framework that thousands of teams and organizations worldwide use to map, assess, and design their culture. In addition to his consulting work with clients, Gustavo regularly speaks with leaders and teams about culture change, teamwork, and hybrid workplaces. His coaching and tools have helped countless executives and teams develop work environments where people collaborate to accelerate individual and collective performance. A prolific writer and author of four books on culture change, Gustavo’s insights have been featured in The New York Times, Psychology Today, Forbes, BBC, and Fortune, among others. Background: Most organizations d

Who doesn’t hate pointless meetings with awful agendas and no clear purpose? I know I do. And if you’re like us at StoneAge, you have too many meetings. We work hard to ensure our meetings are an effective and good use of everyone’s time – even if we still are in too many meetings. In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I talk about how I think about my meetings and set up agendas that drive the outcome I am looking for from the meeting. Here are some things to consider when setting the agenda. What is the purpose of the meeting? What do you want to accomplish? Specifically state this on the agenda What topics do you need to cover? What information or context do you need to provide before the meeting so everyone is prepared? What questions can you ask that will help people prepare for the meeting? Put these questions on this agenda. Pro tip: don’t have too many questions; doing so bogs people down and prolongs the meeting. Who should be at the meeting?

Guest: Lisa Morton understands the power of a values-based company. Lisa is the CEO and founder of Roland Dransfield, one of Manchester, England's most established communications agencies. For the last 24 years, Lisa has worked to forge meaningful, lasting business relationships that create both business growth and social impact alongside her team of award-winning strategists, journalists, creatives, digital, and social media specialists. Now with a London office and a partnership with an LA-based agency, of which the founder is a former Roland Dransfield team member, Lisa is continuing to expand Roland Dransfield and explore new paths for growth. Lisa's commitment to purpose-driven work is exemplified by Roland Dransfield's "We Built This City" podcast. This podcast series hears from Mancunians, born, bred and adopted, who put their heart into Greater Manchester. The podcast has been nominated for Best Business Podcast by the prestigious British Podcast Awards. It celebrates stories

Leadership comes with great responsibility. And if you want to be a transformational leader, you must embody your values, walking the walk, not just talking the talk. That’s why it’s important for you to understand your values. Research backs the idea that great leaders set a powerful example. As written the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, researchers wanted to determine how much a leader’s opinions, beliefs, and behaviors could influence their followers. According to the study, “Leaders, whose behavior is visible to followers, are in a particularly powerful position to influence their followers’ beliefs.” In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I share how I once modified my values because I felt shame that “Family” wasn’t at the top. “How can I be a good mother if it’s not my top value?” I questioned myself. But as I matured, I realized that the only way to live an authentic life is to understand your values and make sure that they are indeed yours

Guest: Paul Epstein has spent nearly 15 years as a professional sports executive for multiple NFL and NBA teams, a global sports agency, and the NFL league office, where he has broken every premium revenue metric in Super Bowl history, opened a billion-dollar stadium and founded the San Francisco 49ers Talent Academy, where he became known as the “Why Coach.” Paul has since continued his leadership journey, coaching and consulting Fortune 500 executives, founders, CEOs, MBAs and professional athletes - earning accolades as a top leader that gets results from Success Magazine. When he’s not on stage as a global keynote speaker, Paul puts his insights into daily practice, serving as chief impact officer for PurposePoint and senior advisor for the Why Institute. He is also the best-selling author of The Power of Playing Offense and host of the podcast Playmakers: ON PURPOSE. Episode in a Tweet: Strong self-leadership is the key to a successful life. Find your why, live your purpose, an

How many times have you forgone what you really wanted because you were too afraid to ask? In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice Form a CEO, I encourage you to just go for it. Ask for what you want. So what if you get a “no” in response? If you don’t ask, you’ve already told yourself “no” anyway. Look, I get that there are many convincing reasons why you shouldn’t ask for what you want. You don’t want to seem pushy, needy, or high maintenance. You fear rejection; you’ll be embarrassed if you get a no. You don’t want to make your boss/spouse/coworker uncomfortable or, even worse, mad. You feel like what you want is obvious and that you shouldn’t HAVE to ask. Or maybe you don’t think you deserve to get what you really desire. There are a million excuses not to ask for what you want, but they are just that: EXCUSES. So stop making them and start asking. Easier said than done, right? Here’s how to ask for what you want. 1. Get Clear on What You Want The more clarity you can

Guest: Alicia Long is the Co-Founder & CEO of Nutr, a plant-based milk machine. The Nutr Machine makes plant-based milks at the push of a button. Alicia is a Chinese immigrant who graduated from Ohio State University with a Marketing Degree. Before founding Nutr with her husband, she worked at Google, Amazon and several tech start-ups. After moving to the U.S. in 2009 following her father's passing, she made it her life's mission to fulfill his last wish and become a college graduate. Now, as an entrepreneur, she strives to provide families across the globe with a healthy way to make plant-based milks and make the world a better place with each and every pour. Episode in a Tweet: Don't hold on to resentment when you go through a tough time. Instead, be grateful for what you learned and use the challenge as building blocks for who you want to become. Background: Alicia Long is resilient. In her 20s, she was a door-to-door salesperson who learned how to overcome "doors slammed in yo

The only way to live a fulfilling life is to own who you are. In this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice from a CEO, I tell a story about my son feeling like he needed to be more competitive than he really is and how peer pressure drove him to care about things he didn't care about. During this powerful conversation, we explore why it's important to own who you are rather than try to live your life for someone else. I encourage you to live your life and let go of your attachment to what other people think of you. Life is so much more fulfilling when you own who you are. Listen to the episode to be inspired by a 9-year-old. Lol. Question of the Week This week's question comes from an audience member at a keynote speech I gave, and she asked me, "How do you manage stress?" As you already know, I am a huge believer in self-care; through disciplined self-care, I manage stress and show up consistently as my best self. Weekly massages, daily exercise, box breathing, and mindse

Guest: Dane Espegard is a culture consultant who teaches, assists and executes the implementation of a Culture centered around Dream Achieving. The system is bottom-up and emphasizes the development and personal lives of the team member. Dane works with companies very simply to get the culture started and leaves them with some very easy-to-implement steps. Dane brings a successful people-oriented method to market in his latest book, The Dream Machine. Episode in a Tweet: Dreaming isn't just a fun hobby. Workplaces, and the world at large, need dreamers. They need people who think big and chase their wild, inspired ideas. Why? Because positive movement happens when people work with purpose. Background: During this fun conversation, Dane and I talk about the power of chasing your dreams and why companies should not only encourage their employees to go after their dream but set up a system that helps to make their dreams happen. We discuss his new book, "The Dream Machine," which is a

We all work with challenging people; sometimes, you have to find common ground with someone you don’t like. And it’s easy to focus on why we don’t like them or how we are different from them. But work will always be better when you can find common ground. In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice from a CEO, I share some ways you can find common ground with challenging colleagues and find ways to appreciate those coworkers you don’t like all that much. My last tip is the best tip: change your mindset. You can’t change other people, but you can change yourself. I have found that the best way to move past dealing with people I don’t like is to accept who they are. Question of the Week This week’s question comes from a person on LinkedIn who said, “I get defensive every time I get feedback. What can I do to receive it better?” I love this question! Feedback indeed can be a gift if you can wrap your mind around how to accept it gracefully. During the episode, I share my tips

Guest: Justin Skinner is a farm-raised entrepreneur, author, speaker and performance coach. He is the author of the book “Professional Failure” and the host of the Professional Failure Podcast, where he and his guests share lessons learned from past mistakes. Justin played collegiate baseball, and when Major League Baseball didn’t draft him, he had to reinvent himself. Justin is passionate about sharing why failure helped him become a better person, leader and entrepreneur. Episode in a Tweet: What if we normalized failure and even learned to embrace it? Could it be possible that our failures might be the very things that connect us with others and leads us to success? Background: Through personal and professional experience, Justin has discovered that failures are good and can be used to improve your life and benefit those around you. After having success in college and university baseball, even being inducted into the Missouri Hall of Fame, Justin was fired from his job. This pro

What is quiet quitting and what can you do about it? Quieting quitting is a broadly used and mostly misunderstood term for “not quitting your job but quitting the idea of going above and beyond.” Quiet quitting is a term that might scare the bejesus out of you if you are a business owner or leader looking to grow your company, beat the competition, and increase your efficiency and productivity. But frankly, it’s just a trendy term for something that’s been happening for a long time: low engagement at work. People are burned out right now, working long hours at jobs that don’t give them meaning, and they are quitting what some call “the hustle culture.” In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I discuss quiet quitting and advise on how you can address it by creating a culture where people find purpose and meaning in their work and head off burnout before it sets in. I also share my thoughts on why you shouldn’t quiet quit your job and instead use it to fuel you

Guest: Moshe Popack is a third-generation entrepreneur and the owner and president of YMP Real Estate Management LLC. The company has a market presence in seven states, owns several multifamily properties, office buildings, and assisted living facilities, and has numerous industrial and hotel assets. Moshe is also proud to host the Common Denominator podcast, which is a forum for optimism, positivity, and human development. Each week Moshe chats with thought leaders, innovators, and pioneers across various fields and – through critical thinking and spirited debate - encourages his audience to find common ground on everyday issues that are current and top of mind. Additionally, Moshe is a board member of the Florida Development Finance Corporation, the Florida Assisted Living Association, an official member of the South Florida Business Journal Leadership Trust, and a member of the Young Presidents' Association (YPO). Above all, Moshe is a dedicated family man deeply anchored in his s

Have you ever disagreed with an employee in a meeting? How did it go? Did it shut things down, or did it spark debate and dialog? The best leaders know how to engage in debate in meetings and know how to push back in meetings skillfully. To get the most out of your team, you must build a culture where it's safe to disagree and debate in meetings. If you don't, important things will go unsaid, and you'll miss opportunities for insightful dialog and shared decision-making. How you disagree with your employees in meetings will set the tone. In this week's episode of Reflect Forward, I share a process I use to debate ideas in meetings. It includes the importance of building connections and trust within your team, having awareness about how you are showing up, what your tone sounds like and what messages your body language is sending. I discuss the importance of engaging all team members in the dialog, especially when you disagree with an individual, and then follow up with the employee a

Guest: Julie Broad is the founder of the self-publishing service firm Book Launchers and Amazon's Overall #1 Best Selling Author. Julie knows what it takes to be a successful self-published author. Through Book Launchers and her popular YouTube channel, BookLaunchers.TV, she helps subject matter experts write, publish, and promote nonfiction books that will boost their business. Julie's titles include More than Cashflow, which topped Amazon, and The New Brand You, winner of the Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Sales book. Her latest book, Self-Publish & Succeed, captures her leading tactics to write, publish and market a nonfiction book. Her advice for authors and investors has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, Yahoo! Business, CTV, the Toronto Sun, Medium.com and many local and national TV shows. Episode in a Tweet: If you feel compelled to make an impact with your unique and special message, you have the potential for a book inside you! Background: Julie Broad is on a mis

Persuasion is an essential skill for any leader. You must be able to share a compelling vision and inspire people to change. All without them feeling coerced or manipulated. In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I discuss how to become a more persuasive leader with these five tips, plus some bonus advice! 1. Use positive language: positive language is more inclusive and inspiring than negative language. 2. Know what you are talking about: credibility matters, and if you want to persuade people to see something your way or make a change, you better know what you are asking them to do. 3. Listen carefully: the power of persuasion isn’t only about convincing. It’s about listening, too. People are more likely to be persuaded when they feel seen and heard. 4. Ask questions: when you ask questions, you gain a deeper understanding of peoples’ perceptions, concerns and resistance, which you can then address. 5. Be willing to compromise: give and always take m

Guest: Eleanor Beaton is the founder of SafiMedia, an education & coaching company for women entrepreneurs. Everyone at SafiMedia is committed to advancing global gender equity through women's entrepreneurship. They are on a mission to double the number of women entrepreneurs who scale past $1M in revenue by 2030. As the host of the Power + Presence + Position podcast, Eleanor has reached millions of women worldwide, helping them unlock their leadership and entrepreneurial potential. Her work has been published or quoted in publications including The Globe & Mail, The Atlantic, CBC, Chatelaine and more. She has spoken on women's leadership, entrepreneurship and gender equity at conferences throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Episode in a Tweet: Economically empowered women entrepreneurs are vital in driving gender equity globally and boosting the economy for everyone. Background: Many women entrepreneurs struggle to scale their service businesses because they are st

We all experience the worry cycle. According to a Psychology Today article, “at least one in four Americans – about 65 million of us—will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder at some point in our lifetime. Even those individuals whose lives are going well may occasionally worry excessively.” In our best moments, worry can take us down a spiral of fear where our minds play out dramas that leave us feeling powerless, vulnerable, and afraid. In our worst moments, worry can be paralyzing and health-diminishing. Excessive worrying can lead to poor decision-making and deter us from taking life-improving risks. The crazy-making part of the worry cycle is that 99.9% of the time, the things we fret about never happen. Worry is a timewaster, an energy suck, a diminisher of life quality. Engaging in it rarely changes anything. Unfortunately, it’s hard to stop worrying. Good news, though; there are ways to get out of your brain-spinning story of fear and worry. During this week’s episode of

Guest: Dr. Santor Nishizaki is the founder and CEO of Mulholland Consulting Group, whose mission is to help organizations increase generational awareness and create a happier workplace. His work on Millennials and Gen Z in the workplace has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, the Boston Globe, Yahoo Finance, MSN.com, CNN.com, SHRM Blog, College Recruiter, and elsewhere. He also serves as a Ph.D. professor of Global Leadership and Change at Pepperdine University and several universities in Southern California, where he has instructed hundreds of Gen Zers in leadership, diversity in the workplace, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. His experience in the corporate world includes project management for Walt Disney Imagineering and supply chain management at a NASA center. Episode in a Tweet: Working with Gen Z will allow you to keep the competitive advantage in shaping the future of “work” for the newest set of top talent in the twenty-first century. Bac

As I've developed the StoneAge employee-owned culture and grown our company, I've learned that the best kind of culture is one where employees share an ownership mindset. And that's what we will talk about during this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO When you build a culture of ownership, you will drive results. Why? Because when people know that they have a say in their daily work and the company's direction, they feel more empowered to do great work and be more invested in your organization's success. Here are five ways to cultivate an ownership mindset 1. Exhibit the Ownership Mindset Yourself Leaders can't expect their employees to show up with an ownership mindset if they themselves aren't. You must own all your actions, decisions, mistakes, attitude, and behaviors. 2. Teach People How to Give and Receive Feedback Cultures that exhibit ownership thinking are also cultures of feedback. Teach people how to give direct, helpful feedback. Model feedback skill

Guest: Barbara Gormally is a professional life coach based in Durango, CO. After a long career in HR and Training and Development, Barbara attended several coaching schools to retool her line of work. She created Studio Me Unlimited x9, LLC and has worked in the field of life coaching for 18 years to support self-mastery exploration by individuals or workplace organizations. Several personal experiences led Barbara to understand that an authentic and vibrant relationship with yourself first will allow for more grounded experiences during the ease and chaos of life and work. The profound yet practical self-development architecture that guided Barbara is The Enneagram, which she uses as the foundational tool in her coaching practice. For individuals or businesses, the long career Barbara had in related fields under the large umbrella of Training and Development allows her to bring depth and breadth to her coaching clients, thus their opportunity to receive sustainable coaching results.

How do you get good at doing hard things? How do you master doing hard things? We as leaders always have to do hard things. We have tough decisions to make. We have difficult conversations. To have, we have to set a vision, a bold vision of where our teams or companies are going, and that isn’t easy. And as I like to say, the only way to get good at doing hard things is to do hard things, and you can do it even if it means taking a little bit of a risk, getting a little bit vulnerable, failing, even that is how we get good at doing hard things. And the better we get at doing hard things, the more resilient we’ll be and the more successful we’ll find because most people don’t take risks. They don’t put themselves out there to do big things, make a big impact, or see what’s possible. And so they’ll never live up to their full potential as leaders because they’re too busy playing it safe. They want to make sure that everything is just smooth sailing. If you want to be an impactful leade

Guest: Frankie Russo is all about fully achieving not just success but authentic success. According to Frankie, sometimes, we have to shatter something in order to rebuild it. And he knows a thing or two about shattering – his business and himself. Frankie has developed a portfolio of companies across multiple industries through his Russo Capital firm, including technology, advertising, marketing, automotive, music, agriculture, publishing, and finance. The beneficiaries of his investments have offices in the United States and India and serve 128 US markets. Frankie and his team have led two of his companies to become some of America’s fastest-growing, privately-owned organizations for eight years. The Art of WHY (2016), Frankie’s first book, was on Amazon’s best-seller list in the self-help category and has been readapted and expanded into the rules-defying Breaking WHY. Frankie’s highest calling is his family, and he happily lives with his wife and six children in Louisiana. Episod

How do you inspire your team in the face of uncertainty and at risk of burnout? We will talk about that in today’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO. People are feeling overwhelmed. There’s so much noise and conflict in the world. Managing inflation, workloads, childcare, and other life’s demands – on top of the conflict of political polarization and war – sometimes it’s just too much to take. Your employees are at risk of burnout. But as a leader, not only do you have to manage these tense times yourself, but you also must keep your team motivated and moving forward. You have to support them tough these touch times to encourage their well-being. That’s why I share my five tips on leading through uncertainty to keep your team motivated and reduce the chance that they will experience frequent burnout. Manage yourself: No matter how turbulent you feel on the inside, you must remind cool, calm and collected. Remember, you set the tone, and your team will be stressed out if

Guest: Jocelyne has been called an "architect of success," possessing an "impressive understanding of business." In a career that took her from public service to entrepreneur to CEO of a software company, Jocelyne has found a passion for impactful leadership, sustainable growth and business agility. Jocelyne has led teams of 40+ members, managed operations through crises and transformation, redesigned recruiting processes and overhauled business financials, leading to profitability and measured growth. Through her company, Loxentus Inc., Jocelyne teaches entrepreneurs and leaders targeted recruiting, impactful leadership and operational optimization leading to growth. Jocelyne is also the Chair of the Forbes Business Council's Employee Empowerment group and a member of the Women Executives and Public Speaking groups. Episode in a Tweet: When you deepen your self-knowledge and understanding of others, you'll become a better leader and more able to build people-centric companies. Ba

If you're listening to this podcast, I must assume that you are interested in leadership development and becoming a high-impact leader. But the path to high impact can be confusing, and no journey is the same. And with all the advice and leadership books out there, it can be overwhelming. This week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO highlights the top four areas you should focus on to be a high-impact leader. Develop Other Leaders The most important thing a leader can do is develop other leaders. You must be good at building a team, giving feedback, and helping people do their best work. Great companies and great teams are filled with great people, and no leader is successful on their own. Embody Company Values To be a high-impact leader, you must embody your company's values and principles, even if they don't serve your self-interest at the moment. Your people are watching you, and if you don't walk the walk, all the company values are is a list of words on a wall post

Guest: Kelli Thompson is a women’s leadership coach and speaker who helps women advance to the rooms where decisions are made. She has coached and trained hundreds of women to trust themselves, lead with more confidence, and create a career they love. She is the founder of the Clarity & Confidence Women's Leadership Program, and a Stevie Award winner for Women in Business—Coach of the Year. She is the author of “Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck,” releasing the fall of 2022. Episode in a Tweet: We all have self-doubt and sometimes even imposter syndrome. But we all deserve a seat at the table. That’s why it’s important to push through these feelings and claim your power. Background: Kelli Thompson is on a mission to help women advance to, and make an impact in, the rooms where decisions are made. During our fun and enlightening conversation, Kelli shares that oftentimes, we label self-doubt as imposter syndrome and how that label can feel o

When we think of corporate communication, we consider how we talk to our customers or handle PR. But what matters most, especially if you are building a people-centric organization, is internal communication. How you communicate to your employees and teams will make or break you as a leader. In this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I give seven tips you can use today to create effective internal communication. 1. Vision and Values: everyone needs to understand where you are going as a team or company. Communicating vision and values increases the chance your employees all pull in the same direction and understand what's important to the company. 2. Set Expectations: If people don't know what's expected of them, they probably are going to fall short. 3. Listen: most people think that internal communication is just about sharing information, but equally important is listening. Communication is a two-way street, and you need to pause and hear what your employee

Guest: Dermot O'Shea is an entrepreneur that has jointly founded and run Taoglas for over 18 years and grown it to more than 425 workers with ten global locations and over $100M revenue in sales per year. Dermot is a recognized thought leader in the IoT industry and is also accredited with creating "The best IoT party" and networking event every year at MWC Americas. When not selling Taoglas, Dermot enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with his wife and three sons. Dermot also serves on the board of Alpha Antennas and the Board of Trustees of La Jolla Country Day School. Dermot and his wife Ciara set up unityforukraine.net, a nonprofit to help protect Ukraine civilians in the war. So far, Unityforukraine.net have sent over $100,000 worth of essential equipment to help their friends and colleagues - civilians - in Ukraine. Episode in a Tweet: Being a CEO is not about you; sometimes, it's about taking the backseat and letting others lead. Quick Background: Dermot O'Shea lea

News stories of people quitting their jobs are everywhere, reporting that people are leaving for better opportunities or working for themselves. In fact, 44 percent of employees are looking for new jobs, according to Willis Towers Watson's 2022 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey. On the flip side, the news reports stories of unfilled positions and the impact of the labor shortage as companies scramble to find employees. But workers across the globe are putting their collective foot down, telling leaders loud and clear that they want better working conditions, pay and work-life balance. And with 11 million unfilled jobs in the United States alone, it's evident that companies aren't creating careers that people want. So what's going on? Why are people leaving jobs? Why are they putting their collective foot down? We talk about why people re quitting in this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO. The situation is complex, and it's difficult to pinpoint a single issue, but

Guest: Bob Arciniaga is the Founder and Chief Board Architect of Advisory Board Architects, LLC. Founded in 2005, ABA builds, maintains, and manages “High Impact” advisory boards and boards of directors. ABA provides a proprietary methodology and process so organizations can maximize the impact of their boards. ABA works with private and publicly traded companies from $20mm in revenues to $22bil in fourteen different countries. Bob also founded Boardology in 2019. Boardology provides a proprietary technology platform that allows organizations to quantitatively analyze and benchmark the level of impact, effectiveness, and engagement of their boards. Boardology’s technology provides organizations with the science and data of their High Impact Boards. Bob is a recognized thought leader in maximizing Board Engagement and Impact. He has conducted High Impact Board Training for 100s of Board Leaders around the globe. He has been a featured speaker at many global conferences, including even

What exactly is a digital employee experience? It's how your employees engage with or use online software and apps. Examples of digital employee experiences include: • HR systems that include self-service access to policies, compensation, PTO, performance management information, etc. • Communication and collaboration such as email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and easy to use phone systems • Productivity and Workflow such as project management, document storage, and collaboration tools • Education and training such for professional and personal development The best teams and companies will have high levels of engagement and use the tools to be more productive. It's 2022, and I get that most companies now use software like Asana for project management and Zoom for communication. Still, the issue is integration and where creating a digital employee experience comes into play. No one wants to use 15 programs to get their jobs done. I'll give you an example of what we did at S

Guest: In 2003, Jimmy Peck joined MPW Industrial Services in the role of Management Trainee, learning the business of industrial cleaning through hands-on, in-the-field experience for two years. Jimmy has held many different positions from Branch Manager, District Manager, General Counsel, and President of Environmental Services. In 2006, Jimmy originated MPW's legal department before being promoted in 2008 to his current role — General Manager for the Industrial Cleaning Group. Before joining MPW, Jimmy worked for the Ohio Attorney General's office in the Charitable Law Section. Jimmy graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor's degree in Business and from the Michael E. Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University with a J.D. Jimmy received his license to practice law in 2004. Jimmy is an active member of numerous legal and industrial groups, including the WJTA-IMCA Board of Directors, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and the Columbus Bar Association (CBA). Jimmy e

What makes a robust and effective team? How do you rally everyone around the same vision and goals? How do you ensure that everyone exhibits the company's values and meets expectations around how to communicate and behave on the team? To answer these questions and more, you need to draft "Team Operating Principles." Developing team operating principles is the topic of this week's episode on Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO. I was inspired to draft them after I read the CEO Test: Master the Challenges That Make or Break Leaders by Adam Bryant and Kevin Sharer. The CEO Test is part manual, part experiencing sharing. The authors line out seven tests that examine what makes CEOs excel and what traps they can fall into that cause failure. The tests involve developing a simple strategic plan, creating culture, building teams, leading transformation, developing listening skills, handling a crisis, and managing the conflicting demands placed on and within leaders. My favorite section of

Guest: Roger Zalneraitis has learned how to be a CEO through "trial by fire." And what's gotten him through tough challenges is being nimble. Roger is the CEO of MODSTREET, a manufacturing company that build outdoor parklets for restaurants and city municipalities. Before joining MODSTREET, he spent over 15 years in community and economic development. Roger utilizes his economic development experience to help MODSTREET's clients shape their communities, making them more outdoor-friendly. Roger holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame and a Master's degree in Urban Planning from Virginia Tech. Episode in a Tweet: One of the biggest challenges of being a first-time CEO is scaling your expectations and skills as the company grows and matures. Quick Background: Roger Zalneraitis is a first-time CEO determined to build his company and become a leader worth following. After joining MODSTREET in early 2021, he's learned just how hard yet rewarding it is

How does your intuition play into decision making and how do you leverage it to make better decisions? We talk about this and more in this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO. Psychologists define intuition as "immediate understanding, knowledge, or awareness, derived neither from perception nor reasoning." It's an automatic, effortless feeling that quickly motivates you to act. We all know there are two parts to the mind, conscious and subconscious. The conscious mind is where we make rational decisions, and intuition is all about your subconscious. When you make intuitive decisions, you are relying on your subconscious experiences. Our brains are powerful information processing machines. As we go through life, we store information in our subconscious, just in case we need it for future decision-making. To access this information when needed the most, the brain files is as pattern schemes that make it easier to make sense of our thoughts. Then the brain compares wh

Guest: Jessica Matlock is LaPlata Electric Association’s (LPEA) first female CEO in the co-op’s 80-year history. Before this role, Matlock served as a member of the executive leadership team for 13 years at the nation’s 11th largest public utility (Snohomish Public Utility District). In her last role – Assistant General Manager of Customer, Energy Services, and External Relations – she directed customer engagement, legislative and policy strategy, and the development and implementation of the utility’s solar, electric vehicle, and demand response programs. Prior to this, Jessica worked as an energy expert for the U.S. Senate and held numerous positions with the Bonneville Power Administration. She has served in various board and leadership positions with the Large Public Power Council, National Hydropower Association, American Public Power Association, the Alliance to Save Energy, Washington State Clean Technology Alliance, and GridForward. Episode in a Tweet: Leadership is abou

In this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, we talk about the pitfalls of complacency and how to jumpstart yourself so you don't allow for mediocrity. If you allow yourself to be complacent or mediocre you won't drive success. Being mediocre won't build trust and respect. If you are complacent, you'll be left behind. You have to want and expect more from yourself and your team. Try new things, hold yourself accountable, ask for feedback, and don't drink your own Kool-Aid. Question of the week comes from a follower on LinkedIn who said, "I've been told that I come across as aggressive in meetings and that people are afraid to speak up. I don't think I am being aggressive. People are just too sensitive. What should I do" I love this question! Be sure to tune in to find out what I told him!

Guest: Brenda Jacobsen, President of Mindful Communications, is an accomplished business leader in the health, wellness, and healthcare spaces, with deep expertise in scaling, multi-state business operations, and M&A. The former CEO of Lakeside Medical Centers and Life Cross Training, Brenda’s career has focused on improving the health and wellness of workforces globally, focusing first on physical wellness and now on wellbeing. Brenda is a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader on leadership, mindfulness, and building resilience. Brenda serves on the board of directors for LifeXT and Mindful Communications. She has previously served on the board of the Homeless Empowerment Project, the National Association of Occupational Health Professionals, and the Friends of the Art Museum of the Americas. She currently serves as the Network Chair for the Young President’s Organization’s (YPO) Women’s Business Network, an organization dedicated to elevating the global profile of female l

"Inclusivity means not 'just we're allowed to be there,' but we are valued. I've always said: smart teams will do amazing things, but truly diverse teams will do impossible things." ~ Claudia Brind-Woody – Executive at IBM I love this quote from Claudia Brind-Woody. If you want to build an exceptional team and company, you must create an environment where everyone feels included, valued, and as they belong. Because diverse and inclusive teams go on to do impossible things. But what does belonging actually mean? And how do you create a team that is inclusive and encourages belonging? Nobody wants to feel like an outsider on a team, but unfortunately, many do. I can promise that you have people on your team who don't feel like they belong — who absolutely feel like outsiders. Leaders need to address belonging to create a much more inclusive, safe space for everyone on their team. In this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I discuss why it's important to create a s

Guest: Gabrielle Dolan is a master storyteller and teaches executives how to use stories to connect with customers, partners, and employees. She is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, educator and author, Gabrielle’s extensive client list includes Telstra, EY, Accenture, VISA, Australia Post, National Australia Bank, Amazon, Vodafone and the Obama Foundation. She holds a master’s degree in management and leadership from Swinburne University, an associate diploma in education and training from the University of Melbourne and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education. Gabrielle is also the bestselling author of Real Communication: How to Be You and Lead True, a finalist in the Australian Business Leadership Book Awards for 2019. Her most recent book is called Magnetic Stories: Connect with Customers and Engage with Employees with Brand Storytelling. Episode in a Tweet: The ability to share your ideas or instructions in an impactful way is vital for leade

Have you ever wondered how some leaders breeze through tough situations, never appearing stressed? It all comes down to being emotionally strong. All leaders must deal with stress, but the very best leaders handle the ups and downs with ease, letting things slide off their backs with resiliency, grace, and grit. How do these leaders get to the place where stress doesn’t consume them day in and day out? That’s the topic of this week’s Advice from a CEO on Reflect Forward. Because if you want to be an executive leader, especially in the C-Suite, you’ve got to be able to manage stress well. During the episode, I share my top tips, which include: Prioritize Yourself I know this is a foreign concept to so many people, and it may sound selfish, but it is not. If you are not taking care of yourself, you cannot care for other people. If you want to be an exceptional leader, you can’t just push and push yourself. Constant pushing leads to burnout and stress and increases the chance of re

Guest: Kara Goldin is the Founder of Hint, Inc., best known for its award-winning Hint water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. She has received numerous accolades, including being named EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Northern California and one of InStyle’s 2019 Badass 50. Previously, Kara was VP of Shopping Partnerships at America Online. She hosts the podcast The Kara Goldin Show. Her first book, Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters, was released October 2020 and is now a WSJ and Amazon Best Seller. Kara lives in the Bay Area with her family. Episode in a Tweet: Work for an idea that you believe in. Overcome your doubts and doubters. Build a company that changes lives. Quick Background: In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, Kara Goldin, Founder of Hint, talks about what it was like to build Hint, taking it from an idea in her kitchen to the superstar, mission driven brand that it is today. Kara shares how she overcame adversity and figured out how to compete

Write Up Form Staying Calm In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, we’re talking about how to stay calm when you receive challenging information — perhaps something you didn’t want to hear or deal with — or feedback that is uncomfortable. It’s not easy to absorb hard to hear news at the moment. But how we handle ourselves in these situations will either make it safe for the person to speak up or shut down. During a recent speaking event on having candid, courageous conversations, a woman brought up a situation where having conversations about compensation with your employees triggered her. She had always been on the side of self-advocation, but now that she’s in a leadership role, her team members are asking her for raises, and she’s not always comfortable with what to do or say in the moment. I gave her this advice: 1. Say thank you. It’s hard for people to have candid conversations, and you should always commend bravery, even if it triggers you. 2. Don’t feel l

Guest: Ari Galper is the World’s #1 Authority on Trust-Based Selling and the Creator of Unlock the Game®, a new sales mindset and approach that overturns the notion of selling as we know it today. With a master’s degree in Instructional Design and over a decade of experience creating breakthrough sales strategies for global companies such as UPS and QUALCOMM, Ari discovered the missing link that people who sell have been seeking for years. His profound discovery of shifting one’s mindset to a place of complete integrity, based on new words and phrases grounded in sincerity, has earned him distinction as the world’s leading authority on how to build trust in the world of selling. Ari’s deep understanding of human communication and how it can be maximized in the sales process has led him to discover the solution to the most dreaded selling experience of all: personal rejection. He has completely redefined how to connect with people over the phone. In his corporate training sessions, Ar

Why do leaders fail? Leading is hard. In today's volatile world, the pressure to perform and execute has never been greater. Some days, things go right, and on other days, it feels like the organization is crumbling. Imposter syndrome sets in, causing leaders to question, "Do even I have what it takes to lead?" For me, leadership is a little bit of science, but mostly art. The list of attributes leaders need to possess is long yet uniquely individual. Vision, communication style, empathy, self-awareness, and listening ability blend with experiences, personality style, and ego. These combinations make each leader's journey an individual one. And for every successful leader, dozens have failed. Being in an executive position for fifteen years now, I have avoided catastrophic failure, but I have witnessed quite a bit of it. I hired executives I believed would succeed, helping me take the company to the next level, only to watch them struggle, deny, blame, and then flame out. Over the

Guest: Sean is a seasoned international business executive specializing in scaling professional services firms. He contributes 30 years of experience to CEOs, entrepreneurs, and founders to create realizable enterprise value. He is widely known for leading YPO as Global President and COO for more than seven years. In his new role as President of CEO Coaching International, Sean will build the company’s global footprint, enhance the community platform among clients, coaches, and strategic partners, and help lead the firm’s growth. Episode in a Tweet: Surround yourself with successful people to become more successful yourself. And one of those people should be a coach who is dedicated to helping you grow as a leader and person. Quick Background: During our conversation, CEO Coaching International’s President Sean Magennis shares what it was like to be an insider at YPO, leading the world’s most prestigious peer-to-peer learning and networking space. While at YPO, Sean Magennis led a g

Happy New Year! I am thrilled to be entering year two of producing Reflect Forward. I am excited for what the new year will bring, even though I understand there are still many challenges ahead. I am confident that life will throw us some curveballs. But we humans are afraid of curveballs, and we don’t like change or surprises. We fear the unknown, and that’s what this week’s episode of Reflect Forward: Advice Form a CEO is all about: fear. And I am encouraging you to make fear your friend in 2022. Even though many great things will happen in 2022, there will be challenges that may cause fear. I would argue that fear isn’t a bad thing – we all have it. There’s no doubt that fear can be a pretty nasty companion, and it can make us feel anxious and self-doubt. What we do with that fear either propels us forward or holds us back. This new year, I would like to encourage you to make fear your friend. Stop saying, “I’m trying to get rid of my fears or overcome my fears.” Instead, embr

Guest: Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco is the Co-Founder of Blooprinted, best-selling Author of ROCKET FUEL Convert Setbacks. Become Unstoppable and the powerhouse behind the “What Are You Made Of?” podcast. He is a performance coach, author, dynamic public speaker, visionary and thought leader. He has been featured by Yahoo! Finance as one of the Top Business Leaders to Follow in 2020 and is on a mission to build people. He is driven to inspire others, and he measures his success based on his ability to help others achieve greatness. C-Roc had a fire lit in him at an early age, and that fire has ignited him with a fierce desire to compel people to see the greatness inside themselves using past life events to fuel their fire. Episode in a Tweet: We all face setbacks in life, and what separates those how bounce forward and those who may only bounce back is how they use adversity as rocket fuel to propel them forward into greatness. Quick Background: Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco had a rough childho

What kind of leader will be the most successful in the years to come? The ambidextrous leader. But what does that mean? According to Wiki, “Ambidextrous leadership is a recently introduced term by scholars to characterize a special approach to leadership that is mostly used in organizations. It refers to the simultaneous use of explorative and exploitative activities by leaders. Exploration refers to search, risk-taking, experimentation, and innovation in organizations, whereas exploitation has to do with refinement, efficiency, implementation, and execution. Successful ambidextrous leaders must be able to achieve the appropriate mix of explorative and exploitative activities, unique for each organization, that will lead them to high firm performance outcomes.” I love this leadership framework because, let’s face it -- everything, everywhere, is constantly changing. But the statement, “you’ve got to embrace change,” is overused and challenging for many people to do. Instead, what

Guest: Sarah has worked for twenty years in the luxury sector with many of the top European luxury houses, including Lalique, Cartier, DeBeers, Valmont, McLaren Automotive, The Italian Government, Hotel Santa Caterina, Villa René Lalique, Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Nobu Hotels, Puiforcat, Jean-Louis Coquet, Philippe Deshoulières, Robert Haviland & C. Parlon, Rossano Ferretti, Nathalie Jean fine jewelry, John Hardy, Vertu, Armand de Brignac champagnes, Agent Provacateur, RISD Museum, One Drop Foundation and Luxury Education Foundation, among others. Sarah has received first-hand experience in the factories and headquarters for each brand, observing the craftsmanship and know-how of the artisans and workers, passed on from generation to generation. She has developed a passion for handcrafted, service-oriented luxury brands through this invaluable training. This love and appreciation of the sector have driven Sarah to specialize and focus her efforts on promoting and educating luxury b

One of the most important attributes to becoming successful is self-discipline. It’s almost impossible to achieve excellence without it. Self-discipline helps you stay focused; it gives you the grit to stick with something even when it’s difficult. It helps you choose to win the long game over short-term gratification. Self-discipline allows you to overcome obstacles and deal with the discomfort of pushing yourself to new heights. With enough self-discipline, you can form life-long, positive habits; once you create a habit, it no longer requires discipline, and you propel yourself towards success because it’s what you do day in and day out. What is self-discipline? Essentially, it’s the ability to control your impulses, emotions, reactions, and behaviors. It’s the ability to forego short-term gratification in favor of long-term satisfaction and gain. It’s basically saying no when you really want to say yes. The word self-discipline makes most people shudder just uttering it but being

Guest: Adam Mendler is the Chief Executive Officer of The Veloz Group, where he co-founded and oversees ventures across a wide variety of industries such as Beverly Hills Chairs, a leading office furniture e-tailer; Custom Tobacco, a one-of-a-kind cigar customization e-commerce platform; and Veloz Solutions, a technology consulting and software development practice. Adam is also the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he regularly elicits insights from America’s top CEOs, founders, athletes, celebrities, and political and military leaders. Adam has written extensively on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, marketing and sales, authoring over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost. Adam’s Lessons in Leadership series in Thrive Global and other media projects total more than 500 one-on-one interviews with America’s top leaders. Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and

It’s Thanksgiving week here in the U.S., and that time of year when we pause to give thanks. But gratitude is much more powerful when practiced regularly. I am not the kind of person who writes in a gratitude journal. I don’t wake up every morning and run through the list of things I am grateful for. As my good friend Chris Schembra, the “Gratitude Guru” says, gratitude journals are bullshit.” Instead, I practice gratitude in the moment. Like when I am climbing mountains and racing down them on my mountain bike, feeling overwhelmed by the scenery, my awesome bike, and my body can do such things. I feel gratitude in the moment when my son, Jack, cuddles with me, and we laugh and tease each other. I feel gratitude when my dog Johnnie puts his head on my shoulder in Shavasana after my yoga practice. But what I am most grateful for are the hard things in life. I know that may sound odd, but truly, I am. There are so many gifts in difficult situations; you gain insight, solve proble

Guest: Based in Singapore, Maulik Parekh is an avid entrepreneur, highly sought-after keynote speaker, and bestselling author of Futureproof Your Career and Company. Over the years, with his popular leadership seminars and workshops, he has inspired over 10,000 leaders and prepared them for the increasingly disruptive future. Prior to his entrepreneurial and literary ventures, Maulik was an award-winning CEO of global companies such as Inspiro and SPi Global. Under his leadership, these companies won over 100 awards, including Best Company of the Year, Best Employer of the Year, and Best Leadership Team of the Year. He was recognized as the ICT CEO of the Year. Maulik holds an International MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. When he is not busy futureproofing leaders, he is busy childproofing his home for his two young daughters. Episode in a Tweet: AI is going to change the way we work. Learn how to futureproof your career and company. Quick Background: Mauli

In this week's episode, I talk about the power of positive intelligence and a new program I am going through aimed at helping you understand your inner critic, your inner saboteurs, and how to know when those judgmental voices in your head are highjacking you. The Positive Intelligence (PQ) program was developed by Shirzad Chamine, the author of the New York Times bestselling "Positive Intelligence." He has been the CEO of the largest coach training organization globally, having trained faculty at Stanford and Yale business schools. The premise of PQ is mental fitness: how do you handle the curveballs life throws at you. Activating your inner Sage, the voice that is calm, rational, and full of discernment, is so important today because who isn't getting curve balls thrown at them. All leaders have faced so many challenges over the past few years, and if you're like me, you've certainly second-guessed yourself. You've had self-doubt. You've tried to control things. You've gotten upset

Guest: Amy Parsons is the CEO and co-founder of Mozzafiato, an e-commerce DTC business that imports Italian luxury brands in beauty and men’s grooming and sells at retail in the US. Amy launched Mozzafiato during the middle of the pandemic in 2020, leaving a 20-year career as an attorney and university executive to focus exclusively on starting up the company. Today, one year into running Mozzafiato, the company represents 20 different heritage brands, selling approximately 1,000 products on its site and has been featured in Vogue, Travel & Leisure, the Robb Report, among others, and is working to quickly scale to be an industry leader in the beauty and grooming industry. Amy is also a member of YPO (Young President’s Organization). Episode in a Tweet: Starting a new career is never easy. How this CEO left the safety a job as a university exec to launch a fiercely authentic luxury Italian beauty brand. Quick Background: Amy Parsons has never been a risk-taker. She built her caree

In this week’s episode, I talk about setting boundaries around your work, not just for you but your team as well. Two weeks ago, I held a planning and team-building session with my executive management team. We all read Berne Brown’s book “Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts” and had an enlightening conversation about Armored Leadership vs. Daring Leadership. Berne covers two models of leadership. The first she labels “Armored Leadership,” a style of leadership defined by characteristics such as driving perfectionism and fostering fear, working from scarcity and squandering opportunities for joy and recognition, and being a knower and being right. These have a profoundly negative effect in the workplace, creating fear, uncertainly, and disengagement. Alternatively, leaders can embrace daring leadership, which is essentially the opposite of armored leadership. Examples include Modeling and encouraging healthy striving, empathy, and self-compassion, practicin

Guest: Adam Bryant is a respected and noted expert on executive leadership, whose work includes 525 Corner Office columns for the New York Times. He joined The ExCo Group as Managing Director and Partner after a distinguished career as an editor and journalist. Adam has a proven ability to distill real-world lessons and insights from his hundreds of interviews and turn them into practical tools, presentations and exercises to help The ExCo Group clients deepen their leadership benches and strengthen their teams. He works with executive leadership teams and organizations to foster a culture of innovation, based on a best-practices framework he developed for his widely praised book, "The CEO Test: Master the Challenges That Make or Break All Leaders." Before joining The ExCo Group, Adam worked for 30 years as a journalist, including 18 years as a reporter, editor and columnist at The New York Times. He interviewed more than 500 CEOs for "Corner Office," a weekly series on leadership and

In this week’s episode of Advice From a CEO on Reflect Forward, I talk about trust. We each look at trust uniquely. Trust is a complex word with many meanings. For me, the fastest way to break trust is to lie to me. I have been burned many times by people I’ve given second chances only to find out that they’ve lied to me. For others, it might look like not following through on commitments. Or relentless teasing. Or publicly criticizing. I share a story about recently asking a question about trust on our quarterly performance conversations: “when has your manager broken your trust?” This question caused quite a stir and got the intended result: deeper conversations about what trust means to each of us at StoneAge. Listen in to hear how it turned out and listen to some tips on creating trust as given by Nan Russell on Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/trust-the-new-workplace-currency/201206/10-behaviors-demonstrate-trust Question of the Episode This week’

Guest: David Meltzer is the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing and formerly served as CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire. Considered one of the top sports entrepreneurs and investors, David is also a three-time international best-selling author, a Top 100 Business Coach, and host of the top entrepreneur podcast, The Playbook. David is the Executive Producer of the Bloomberg and Amazon television series 2 Minute Drill and Office Hours. He is also the executive producer of Entrepreneur’s #1 digital business show, Elevator Pitch. David is featured in many books, movies, and TV shows such as World’s Greatest Motivators, Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy and Beyond the Secret, airing on Netflix. Additionally, Variety Magazine has recognized him as their Sports Humanitarian of the Year and awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Episode in a Tweet: What do you do when your wife says she’s leaving you and you lose a

Burnout is real and we are experiencing it like never before. It's the main factor in why people are leaving jobs at record-setting paces. In this week's episode of Reflect Forward, I share my feelings of burnout and how by modeling self-care, listening to employees, helping them offload work, and showing that you care, you can help them avoid burnout, too. Some interesting tidbits on burnout: According to Gallup's recent report, Employee Burnout: Causes and Cures, "76% of employees experience burnout on the job at least sometimes, and 28% say they are burned out "very often" or "always" at work." Here is an interesting fact from Gallup's extensive polling: People are disengaging faster than ever and therefore quitting their jobs more quickly than ever. But it's not pay, for the most part, that's making them leave. It's engagement. In fact, people who feel engaged at work are no more likely to leave their jobs now than they were pre-pandemic. Data shows that engagement is key –

Guest: Shelley Zalis is an internationally renowned thought leader, movement maker, and champion of equality. She is a pioneer for online research, becoming the first female chief executive ranked in the research industry’s top 25. She has devoted her career to elevating women, connecting leaders for change, and advancing equality across industries. Today, as CEO of The Female Quotient, Zalis works with Fortune 500 companies and impact organizations to advance equality in the workplace. She has fostered a multi-generational, international community of women rising to catalyze change. Through The Female Quotient’s signature pop-up experience, the Equality Lounge®, Shelley creates a “home of equality” at conferences worldwide, such as the World Economic Forum, Cannes Lions, and SXSW. She also leads initiatives within corporations, creating tools for equality and activating solutions for change. Shelley is an admired speaker and member of the Washington Speakers Bureau and a skilled mod

What is your purpose? How do you find meaning in what you do so that you can make a lasting impact? In this episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I talk about how to go about finding your person. In my opinion, you can combine a few things to develop purpose: being of service to others, trying new things, stretching myself around my strengths and weaknesses, and being good at what I do. Doing these things is how you bring value to the world. Aligning your work with personal purpose is an integral part of being fulfilled at work. I’m sure you’ve heard, “do what you love; turn your passion into your work!” Despite its feel-good intent, it’s not great counsel. “Passion is not something you follow,” says Cal Newport, author of “So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Search for Work You Love." “Passion is something that will follow you as you put in the hard work to become valuable to the world.” Most highly skilled people are that way because they wo

Guest: Kizzy Parks is the Founder of GovCon Winners and KPC, Inc. As a kid, she would clean golf balls located in an alley behind a friend's house and resell them through a fence to golfers, and then used the money to buy candy bars. Kizzy always knew she’d become an entrepreneur. She also knew she wanted to earn an advanced degree in psychology. Her entrepreneurial spirit meshed well with her inquisitive nature and after earning a Ph. D, she founded KCP, Inc. a consulting firm focused on serving the needs of Federal agencies that now manages over $50M in government contracts. KCP was so successful at navigating the complex world of government contract that Kizzy started GovCon Winners, a firm that helps service-based small business owners learn how to win profitable federal government contracts and grow their bottom line. Episode in a Tweet: How hustling as a kid led this entrepreneur to create her own business navigating the world of government contracting and creating a machine t

In this week's episode of Advice From a CEO on Reflect Forward, I share a story about an email exchange between two BMX moms that made me reflect on my own advice about speaking up, keeping it real, and being invested in relationships and outcomes with people I don't know. And I helped my son learn a profound lesson on why it's important to own your actions, and not manipulate people. Then I dive into not believing everything you think, Have you ever stopped to question your thoughts? Where did this thought come from? Why do I think this way? Is this thought even true? It’s a powerful moment when you wake up and realize that the way you think might not be the truth. In fact, it’s probably not THE truth. Questioning your thoughts is extremely powerful and brings more accurate self-awareness. Yes, it can create discomfort, especially when challenging your belief systems, but eye-opening and life-changing. Not believing that your thoughts are true, that your way is the only way, can

Guest: Daphna Horowitz is a sought-after CEO Coach and trusted business advisor who works with clients around the globe to create the extraordinary and build future leaders in their business. Working as an actuary in a large consulting firm, she learned the importance of developing a leadership mindset that takes you from an expert top-performer to an extraordinary leader. She has a deep understanding of what it takes to lead a business and teams in a complex, ever-changing environment and provides a practical approach to leadership. She is the author of "Courage to Lead" and "Weekly Habits for Extraordinary Leaders," both essential reading for leaders and aspiring leaders. When she's not helping leaders master their mindset and elevate their business, she's doing what she loves most - hosting her podcast, Leadership Live, writing articles for various publications, and raising three kids with her loving husband. Episode in a Tweet: Create powerful habits to shrink your leadership

I began speaking and writing about employee ownership and being the kind of leader who inspires ownership thinking. I am passionate about creating a company that gives back to its employees and the world. I believe that leaders need to take a stand and amplify their message of good. My ‘message of good’ is simple: create meaningful, dignified jobs that allow people to work with purpose. Compensate them well, offer flexibility, and share in the success of the company. Be a leader who is worth following. I started my blog in 2015 after a long trail run on a cool fall day. I was pondering my purpose and thinking about how to become a better speaker. I remembered a line out of a random book I had read about going back to what you loved to do as an adolescent. I loved to write but stopped when I went to engineering school. It was crystal clear to me at that moment - start writing again. To amplify my message, I have to have a message. To speak on my message, I have to be known for being a

Guest: Brett is the visionary President of Integris Performance Advisors, a professional development firm he co-founded to help leaders create healthier organizations and dynamic, inclusive cultures. Brett is a frequent speaker on topics related to Team Dynamics, Leadership, and Operational Excellence. He is also the co-author of “Solving the People Problem: Essential Skills You Need to Lead and Succeed in Today’s Workplace.” Outside of his role at Integris, Brett dedicates time to serving others in need. He is a volunteer coordinator for the East Bay Stand Down and Stand Down on the Delta, two non-profit organizations serving the needs of San Francisco’s homeless Veteran population. He is also a board member for Partners in Sustainable Learning, whose mission is to bring early childhood education to marginalized communities in the developing world (current projects are underway in Nepal). Episode in a Tweet: The key to optimizing relationships is understanding yourself and others b

"Management is nothing more than motivating other people," said Lee Iacocca, who served as CEO of Chrysler Corp. in the 1980s. Sounds easy, right? Hardly. There is nothing easy about managing others. Lee is correct, though; great managers have an uncanny ability to tap into the motivations of others and use persuasive communication techniques to influence winning outcomes and high performance. Unfortunately, too many managers have no idea how to motivate their teams effectively. So, where do well-intentioned but ineffective managers go wrong? Mistake 1: Telling employees how to do their work. Mistake 2: Talking too much, listening too little. Mistake 3: Not holding regular tag-ups. Mistake 4: Failing to share the “why.” Mistake 5: Not recognizing contributions. Mistake 6: Failing to deal with issues in the workplace. Mistake 7: Not creating growth opportunities. By avoiding these mistakes, you will increase motivation within your team, and everyone will reap the benefits. With m

Guest: Whitney Johnson is the CEO of WLJ Advisors and one of the 50 leading business thinkers in the world, as named by Thinkers50. She is an expert in helping high-growth organizations develop high-growth individuals. Whitney is an award-winning author, world-class keynote speaker, frequent lecturer for Harvard Business School's Corporate Learning, and an executive coach and advisor to CEOs. She is a popular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, has 1.7 million followers on LinkedIn, and was selected as a Top Voice in 2018. Her course on Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship has been viewed more than 1 million times. In 2019, she was ranked #3 on the Global Gurus' Top 30 Organizational Culture Professionals. In 2017, she was selected from more than 16,000 candidates as a "Top 15 Coach" by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith. Episode in a Tweet: Dare to disrupt yourself by mastering change, speeding up your learning curve, and creating a better life. Quick Background: I met Whitney at a YPO Col

Human beings are messy, emotional creatures. We all feel anxiety, anger, fear, and defensiveness at points in our lives and often, we give in to these strong emotions. It gets even messier when we have emotional outbursts in the workplace, which can happen quite often. At some point in your management career, you will have to handle a situation where an employee is angry or upset. How you deal with this emotional outburst is crucial to maintaining a positive working environment and, if done right, can positively change the trajectory of the employee's experience. But let's face it, it can be overwhelming to work through an emotionally charged situation with an employee and it's easy to make things worse. The stakes are high, and a negative interaction could cause the employee to feel unheard or uncared about, decreasing overall satisfaction and could result in the person leaving the company. Appropriately connecting and communicating with an upset employee is essential to turn the s

Guest: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser was sworn in as the State’s 39th Attorney General on January 8, 2019. As the State’s chief legal officer, Phil is committed to protecting the people of Colorado and building an innovative and collaborative organization that will address a range of statewide challenges. Phil has dedicated his life to the law, justice, and public service. Before running for office, Weiser served as the Hatfield Professor of Law and Dean of the University of Colorado Law School. He founded the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. Phil also served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations and as a law clerk to Justices Byron R. White and Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the United States Supreme Court. Episode in a Tweet: When we build alignment around values and people have an opportunity to be heard, we can impact positive change in politics, business, and life. Quick Background: I met Phil through my good friend and attorney, Todd

I have been giving talks to corporate leadership teams, including my own, on how to make it safe for people on their teams to speak up. Leaders are often in a position of power, and it's hard for employees to speak their minds in fear of the fallout. In one of my recent leadership talks, a person asked me, "How do you go about speaking up if you truly are scared of the outcome." This is a tricky question to answer. But it's such a good question. The reason it's hard to answer is that it depends on the situation. I wanted to answer the question carefully; I didn't know this woman's situation, and I didn't want to give her bad advice. Listen to find out my tips. Ok, the question of the episode comes from a listener of Reflect Forward and he asks, "Kerry, I know you use an executive coach. Do you also get coaches for your employees?" YES! YES! YES! Many of my employees have coaches and it's the best investment I have made in terms of people development. I hire coaches to help high pe

Guest: Melody Wilding, LMSW is an executive coach, human behavior expert, and author of “Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work.” She has coached hundreds of private clients, from CEOs and Fortune 500 executives to leaders from the US Department of Education, the Federal Reserve, and the United Nations. She teaches graduate-level human behavior and psychology at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in New York. Her writing is regularly featured on Medium and in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, Business Insider, and Quartz. Her advice has been featured in the New York Times, The Cut, Oprah Magazine, NBC News, US News and World Report, and more Episode in a Tweet: Melody Wilding turns the conventional approach to finding personal and professional fulfillment on its head, arguing that sensitivity is not a hindrance but a superpower—if managed correctly. Quick Background: Melody Wilding is the author of “Trust Yourse

Want to be an exceptional leader? Be an exceptional SELF-leader. Self-leadership is the way you lead yourself. It's taking full ownership of your attitude, effort, communication, and wellbeing. In this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, I share a few stories to demonstrate self-leadership in action and some painful experiences I went through to learn how to be a strong self-leader. As I have matured aka gotten older, I've realized how profound these experiences were. Throughout my life, I have learned the power of facing conflict head-on, advocating for myself, and taking feedback even when it was really hard to hear. I’ve learned how being accountable for my actions and engaging in hard conversations empowers me to make different choices in my life. I’ve learned not to be a victim of my circumstance; instead, I know how to change my circumstances to make my life better. I share these stories during the episode in hopes that you can see yourself in them. We all

Guest: Brandon Webb is a combat–decorated Navy SEAL sniper turned entrepreneur who has built two brands into an eight-figure business. As a US Navy Chief, he was head instructor at the Navy SEAL sniper school, which produced some of America's most legendary snipers. As an entrepreneur, Brandon crashed and burned his first start-up in 2009 and lost everything. After this experience, he created SOFREP Media, which he continues to run as CEO. He is also an author of several books, including his latest thriller, Steel Fear, and several nonfiction books such as "Total Focus: Make Better Decisions Under Pressure" and "Masting Fear: A Navy SEAL's Guide." Over his navy career, he completed four deployments to the Middle East and one to Afghanistan. He redeployed to Iraq in 2006 as a contractor in support of the US intelligence community. An accomplished and proven leader, Brandon was meritoriously promoted to First Class Petty Officer, ranked #1 in the Command, while an instructor at sniper ce

This week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice from a CEO is about the importance of making it safe for your employees and teammates to speak up. Being an employee-owned company, we at StoneAge encourage people to speak up…keeping it real is what we call it, and it's part of our Own It Mindset, which is our set of values and leadership principles. I believe we do a pretty good job of creating a safe space for people to voice their opinions and concerns, but no matter what we do, not everybody feels comfortable. Most of this fear is unwarranted, but we certainly have made mistakes, intentionally or unintentionally shutting people down or minimizing their comments. Another mistake we have made is overemphasizing the delivery of the message. I'll be the first to admit that I have been guilty of putting too much emphasis on the delivery. Now, the delivery of a message is important; the world is about influence, and everybody wants to be seen, heard, and valued, wishing to see their i

Guest: Chris Schembra is the bestselling author of "Gratitude and Pasta: The Secret Sauce for Human Connection." Forbes ranks his book as the #2 book of 2020 to create Human Connection; USA Today calls him their "Gratitude Guru," and he's a Founding Member of Rolling Stone's Culture Council. He is the founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience — an evidence-based framework used to strengthen client and team relationships in profound ways. He's used the principles of gratitude to spark over 500,000 relationships around the dinner table, serving Fortune 50 CEOs, Olympians, Academy Award Winners, Grammy Award Winning #1 Recording Artists, Super Bowl Champions, and more. He's been selected #5 on the "10 Motivational Speakers that will Rock your next event" by Marketing Insider Group. He was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Smart Hustle Magazine and "People of 2017" by Clientele Luxury Magazine. Recently, he was honored alongside Michael Phelps, Chris Evans, Kid Cudi, and several others

I once was told that taking things personally is one of the most selfish things a person could do. This statement stuck with me, and I found myself sharing it often. Not wanting to be a hypocrite (or selfish), I decided I had better start paying more attention to whether or not I regularly took things personally. To my dismay, I realized that I did…far more often than I wanted to admit. I also found that when I did, I felt bad about myself. I felt bad about other people. I felt bad about the situation. I felt bad about everything. Yuck. After suffering a bit longer, I decided it was time to stop taking things so damn personally. I want to encourage you, too, to stop taking things so personally. You will not only improve your life, but you will also improve the lives of everyone around you. You will be happier. And you being happier makes the world happier. And we all know that the world could use more happiness. Here are five things you can do to stop taking everything personally:

Guest: Sid Mohasseb is known as The Entrepreneur Philosopher. He is a published author, serial entrepreneur, venture investor, university professor, innovation leader, business thought provoker, and public speaker. At 16, he migrated from Iran to the US without his family. At 21, he started and later sold his first company, and at 25, he taught comparative Eastern and Western philosophy. Before the age of 30, he became the youngest partner of a national management consulting. Over the following two decades, he supported large-scale acquisitions and acted as a principal investor in middle-market companies leading company turnarounds. He also founded and led several early-stage and hyper-growth companies from inception to acquisition. His latest book is “You Are Not Them: An Authentic Entrepreneur’s Way,” where he shares how he approaches entrepreneurship as a master craftsman: an iterative lifestyle rather than a final destination. Episode in a Tweet: You are already an entrepreneur;

In this episode, I tell a story about a conversation with a direct report and he said something interesting. He believed that a person's desire to be liked would lead him or her down the path to inauthenticity. He questioned, "If you have such a strong desire to be liked, how can you make the tough decisions, have the hard conversations, and be authentic in the face of a storm? How do you overcome the need to be liked and make hard decisions that might make some people NOT like you?" After thinking long and hard about this, I believe that being liked, authentic, and respected plays a significant part in exceptional leadership. Let's first establish that to be a good leader, you do not have to be liked. To be a good leader, you must be well respected and credible, which you gain by making good decisions, admitting mistakes, being honest, genuine and self-aware, communicating regularly and clearly, and living and breathing your purpose. These traits describe authenticity, and bein

Guest: Mike Arzt is the founder of The Public Works and has been a force of the winter sports industry for over nineteen years, helping shape an industry close to his heart. Mike grew up snowboarding the mountains of Vermont, where he decided to take his passion for the mountains, the snow and the sport and turn it into a career. Today, thanks to many years at some of the top names in the industry, Mike has an in-depth business knowledge of branding, development, athletes, and imagery that helped form The Public Works. Not to mention several passport stamps in search of the world's best snow. The Public Works is a full-service project management firm with expertise from industrial design, engineering, and fabrication, through creative and marketing deliverables. The power of strong relationships built on integrity and soul and shared passion for brand stimulation makes The Public Works one of a kind. Their Colorado facility, which is solar-powered, heated from downed beetle-kill wood

Welcome to my first solo episode in my new Reflect Forward Series: Advice From a CEO. Beginning this week, I am going to a new format where one week, I will be posting my interviews with exceptional leaders. Then in the other weeks, I will be answering questions and talking about leadership…solo! This week, I discuss soliciting feedback from your direct reports and six ways to be a better manager. I recently had a conversation with an amazing woman trying to figure out how to be a better CEO. We talked about all kinds of interesting things, the most relevant being feedback and the importance of soliciting feedback from your direct reports and creating a safe place for them to do so. I shared our process at StoneAge, which includes managers get formal, direct feedback from each of their direct reports as part of our quarterly performance conversations. I share a story about feedback that I recently received from one of my direct reports via this formal process that was insightful, help

Rawi Abdelal is a Herbert F. Johnson Professor of International Management at the Harvard School of Business. He's also the director of HBS's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, faculty co-chair of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, and the faculty chair of the HBS/YPO President's program, which is where I met him. During his 20 years on the HBS faculty, Professor Abdelal has served in many leadership roles and has twice earned the Greenhill award for service to the Harvard Business School. Professor Abdelal is an expert on globalization, geopolitics, and political economy. Widely published, he has written about the global financial system, international politics, the influence of multinational firms on world politics, and the transformation of energy markets. He is currently at work on two projects. One project, The Fragile State of the World, explores the interrelated challenges that undermined the first era of globalization and that threaten to destroy th

Guest: Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator, and founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy firm focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships. Susan has almost three decades of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry conferences and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and has received numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company, and Elle Magazine. She resides in Brooklyn. Quick Background: Even before the pandemic gripped the world, we had become a society engulfed in loneliness. People have hundreds of “fr

Paul Rees is now the Director of Professional Services at Financial Force, the leading provider of ERP and Services Automation solutions on the Salesforce platform, based in San Francisco. Before this role, he was the co-founder of VFP Consulting, a fast-growing Salesforce and FinancialForce professional services firm based in Sacramento, California. Putting his business's growth in front of his family and personal health, Paul was forced to look at his excessive drinking and absentee life when he had a debilitating breakdown due to burnout. In the end, he made the difficult choice to leave his company and focus on his health and rebuilding his family. Paul has a fascinating story. Being deeply introverted and shy, he learned how to cope with chronic childhood illnesses and always being the new kid by creating personas through acting and music. When Paul started his career, he was miserable, always feeling exhausted at the end of the day because his job played to his weaknesses rather

Steve Burrows CBE is an experienced executive and a professional engineer. He has worked on some of the world’s most high-profile buildings and structures, such as Allianz Arena in Munich, the City of Manchester Stadium, the Beijing Olympics’ Birds Nest stadium (now called the National Stadium), and the Apple Campus. But he is not your typical engineer. His curiosity about the ancient past and how we should approach the future make him one of the most interesting people I’ve interviewed. He is a host on the show Time Scanners and produced the critically acclaimed and award-winning iMax movie Dream Big: Engineering Our World. He now owns a firm actively developing and advising developers of technology to disrupt the construction industry. And finally, I would be remiss if I left out that Steve was made a Commander of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen in 2009. Steve and I discuss how to build deep and meaningful connections with others, why developing a team is critical to suc

Jamie Gorrono is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and a bluntly put, an awesome human being. Through her coaching, she supports women going through life transitions who may feel unworthy, fearful, or lacking connection with themselves and others. Overcoming debilitating anxiety and depression herself, she has developed a unique ability to help others address their pain through the identification of Destructive Core Beliefs and change negative thought patterns. During her “Empowerment Experience”, her clients reinvent the direction of their lives and take charge of their happiness and self-fulfillment. Jamie and host Kerry Siggins talk about how to look at Destructive Core Beliefs, overcome fear, and change negative thoughts into positive ones to set your life in a new direction. This is a fun and engaging interview that all listeners will learn from, not just women!

Yosh Eisbart is a serial entrepreneur and a mindfulness practitioner. His most recent startup, Fulfilld, is and end-to-end intelligent warehouse management platform. In his 20+ years of leading, mentoring, and serving startup ventures, Yosh has come to learn the potency of blending Mindfulness Traditions and Startup Grit. He regularly authors and posts “The Startup Sutras” to capture and share the key lessons he’s learned over the years in an effort to help others avoid making the same mistakes he did, while hopefully being entertained. Yosh and host Kerry Siggins discuss the allure of startups, the value of being more mindful, and how to be a better leader.

Gabor George Burt is a leading expert of Blue Ocean Strategy, one of the most influential business strategy approaches taken by businesses around the world. He contributed case study material to this worldwide bestselling book and originated the most popular blog on Blue Ocean Strategy. He continues to be the global authority on re-imagining boundaries and author of the book “Slingshot: Re-imagine Your Business, Re-imagine Your Life.” He is a mastermind of innovation, creativity, and strategy. Gabor also writes for Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Harvard Business Review and his clients range from Fortune 100 companies to startups. Gabor and host Kerry Siggins discuss how to use creativity and curiosity to propel your business to the next level and how to create a brand your customers love and can’t live without.

Ahad Ghadimi is Managing Director of Core Work Capital, an international advisory firm that helps companies transition to employee-ownership. Ahad is also the founder of Forums@Work whose mission is to democratize the Forum experience, a peer-to-peer intimate ‘experience sharing and support’ platform used by organizations such as YPO and EO. He has built his career around leading turnarounds of bankrupt businesses and family-owned enterprises transitioning to employee-ownership. Most recently, Ahad authored and published the book “Turnaround Artists,” a business fable based on his family’s business that guides readers on how to transform company culture through creating connections and sharing experiences. Kerry and Ahad talk about building a culture based on an ownership mindset, the value of employee ownership, and why Forums are a powerful way to improve work relationships and take your team to the next level.

Howard Shore has established himself as one of the most sought-out business speakers in the country with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations across all industries achieve record breaking results. From his personal experience owning multiple companies and working with some of the most successful organizations in the world, he has discovered how to truly manage and grow businesses. Howard has also authored two bestselling books, “Your Business is a Leaky Bucket” and “the Leader Launchpad.” In this episode of Reflect Forward, Howard and I discuss the importance of creating a balanced team with a broad range of talent and working styles, why leaders need to play to win instead of play not to lose, and the importance of developing a true strategy (rather than an operational plan) that leads to faster growth and higher profitability. Howard gives so much great advice in this podcast; you don’t want to miss it!

Andy Petranek is a life and leadership coach. He works with successful executives, leaders, and entrepreneurs who are stuck - in a life situation, body, relationship, marriage, family, job, or career that's no longer bringing them the satisfaction, joy, energy, confidence, or passion it once did. As a leader, Andy has embraced change regularly throughout his life as a musician, U.S. Marine, sales rep, professional athlete, personal trainer, gym owner, global movement leader (CrossFit), entrepreneur, and social health game/platform founder (Whole Life Challenge). In this episode, Andy shares how diverse experiences, a difficult relationship with his father (an accomplished viola player in the National Gallery Orchestra), and the support of his family shaped him as a coach and leader in his journey to create a life he loves…which we can all relate to.

Ben Wright is the founder of Velocity Global, a global employment solutions firm based in Denver, Colorado. Velocity Global is a full-service international business expansion firm, specializing in global talent acquisition and international PEO (Professional Employer Organization), global payroll, and immigration services. It’s one of Colorado’s fastest-growing companies, winning dozens of awards for its leadership, culture, and growth. Ben founded Velocity Global as a first-time entrepreneur in 2014 and shares the lessons and insights he’s gained along the way. He is one of the most humble and authentic leaders I know. We share lots of laughs in this podcast and I know you will love it as much as I do. And you don’t want to miss my introduction of Ben as I share a story of the Master’s golf tournament, Billy Horschel, and a Velocity Global hat. And stick around till the end where I discuss my top three tips on how to build an exceptional team.

Heather Monahan is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and a highly sought after keynote speaker. She is the Founder of Boss in Heels and her new book, Confidence Creator, shot to #1 on Amazon’s Business Biographies and Business Motivation lists in the first week it debuted. Heather shares her inspiring story with host Kerry Siggins where they discuss standing ovations at Ted Talks, how to write and publish a book in 8 months, and creating the confidence to ask for what you want. You don’t want to miss this episode of Reflect Forward…it’s fun and filled with all kinds of great advice. And be sure to stick around to the end where Kerry gives her tips on how to create even more success.

Chris and host Kerry Siggins explore how the best of the best build teams, smash through self-imposed roadblocks and develop themselves to be at the top of their game.

Host Kerry Siggins introduces her new leadership podcast, Reflect Forward. This is not your everyday leadership podcast; you don’t want to miss and episode.