Jerry Colonna, an executive coach and founder of Reboot.io, dives into the significance of ancestral reconnection. He touches on how understanding our heritage fosters empathy and challenges societal norms, particularly the myth of meritocracy. The conversation highlights the impact of disconnection from history on feelings of belonging and safety. Colonna also addresses the stigma surrounding homelessness and addiction, calling for collective empathy. Ultimately, he emphasizes that personal transformation and leadership start with understanding our roots.
01:00:43
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Ancestral Disconnect Fuels Othering
Cutting ourselves off from our ancestors deepens our tendency to cut off other people and justify dehumanization.
Reconnecting with lineage can create an empathetic bridge toward migrants and those we label as "other."
question_answer ANECDOTE
Grave Visit That Changed His View
Jerry describes discovering his paternal grandmother was Irish and how that shifted his feelings about his father and family history.
Visiting her grave and imagining her youth transformed his anger into empathy and rewired his relationship with his father.
insights INSIGHT
Remembering As Rootedness Practice
Joy Harjo's poem 'Remember' models how sensing environment and ancestors restores rootedness.
Re-membering binds separated parts of self and culture to restore belonging.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Jerry Colonna is an executive coach, author, and former venture capitalist who has been called "the CEO Whisperer." As the founder of Reboot.io, he works with leaders to foster both professional success and personal wholeness through the practice of radical self-inquiry.
In this conversation, we explore Jerry's latest book "Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong," which examines how reconnecting with our ancestral past can help us build a more compassionate future.
Expect to learn:
— How disconnection from our ancestral lineage contributes to our ability to "other" people in society today
— Why understanding your own heritage creates an empathetic bridge to those different from you
— Why letting go of the myth of meritocracy can be liberating for leaders
— The relationship between feeling worthy of love, safety, and belonging and our ability to extend those gifts to others
And more.
You can learn more about Jerry's work, books, and coaching practice at https://www.reboot.io
---
Jerry Colonna is a coach, writer, and speaker who focuses on leadership, business, and the practice of radical self-inquiry. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Reboot.io, a company born from the rallying cry that work does not have to destroy us. Work can be the way in which we achieve our fullest self. A graduate of Queens College, Jerry helps people lead with humanity and equanimity. His unique blend of Buddhism, Jungian therapy, and entrepreneurial know-how has made him a sought-after coach and leader, working with some of the largest firms in the country.
In his work as a coach, he draws on his experience in Venture Capital (VC) as Co-founder of Flatiron Partners, one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs. Later, he was a partner with J.P. Morgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of J.P. Morgan Chase.
Along with a strong commitment to the nonprofit sector, Jerry is the author of two books: REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up (2019) and REUNION: Leadership and the Longing to Belong. Reboot was met with critical acclaim, stirring up a big question in the hearts and minds of people: “How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don’t want?” Jerry’s second book builds on this question, asking us what benefit we get from the conditions we say we don’t want.
Jerry is astounded by the fact that he lives on a farm outside of Boulder, CO near the foothills of the Rockies, and far from the streets of Brooklyn where he was born and raised. He is the father of three amazing humans, each of whom cares deeply about the love, safety, and belonging of others.
---
Interview Links:
— Jerry’s website: https://www.reboot.io
— Jerry’s books: https://amzn.to/3Hw4gpV