Dr. Nguyen “Tom” Griggs Accentuates the Connection Between Leadership & Martial Arts

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The 'S' in ESG relates to the people elements impacting organizations --including employee relations, organizational health, people culture, DEI, and community outreach. In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Dr. Nguyen "Tom" Griggs, MBA, Ed.D., and Founder of Lead Connect Grow LLC. Tom is an instructor in Verbal Judo and has certificates in Advanced Negotiations and Conflict Resolution from Notre Dame's Mendoza School of Business. He is a Les Brown Platinum Speaker and a contributing author to Les Brown's bestselling book, Fight For Your Dreams. Tom is also a John Maxwell certified Success Coach member of Maxwell's prestigious Founders Circle. Growing up in a Vietnamese and African American multicultural home and rough neighborhoods was challenging. Traditional martial arts became a way of life for Tom as he learned the importance of individualism and teamwork. Tom, now known as "Sensei Tom," holds black belts in Japanese Jujitsu and karate. He teaches verbal and nonverbal communication skills to improve teamwork, morale, performance, and serenity.

Amanda and Tom met at an Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects (I-LinCP) Sustainability Conference. (The power of networking is real!) Listen as they highlight important leadership tenants and discuss Black Belt Leadership, a fusion of leadership and martial arts. Amanda also reminds us of effective leadership's importance in retaining talent and engaging the workforce. This is an excellent episode for the year's first month, as many individuals resolve to become more impactful leaders. Consider sharing this episode with those in your extended network, including younger professionals and students. Learning to hone in on your unique, authentic leadership style is an asset at any age. Learn more about Tom's work here: NTG - Building Black Belt Teams (ntgriggs.com).

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