It Starts with Joy, with Sheryl Raphael Whitaker

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie welcomes Sheryl Raphael Whitaker, author of 'It Starts With Joy.' Sheryl is a TEDx organizer, artist, and joy creator. She shares her insights on finding and embracing joy, drawing from her Caribbean roots and personal journey. Sheryl emphasizes the importance of being your authentic self and discusses her book, which aims to help leaders uncover and cultivate joy. The conversation touches on dealing with past negative experiences and how to protect your joy. Sheryl also talks about her inner critic, 'Beatrice,' and her goals for the future, including a challenge to give 100 talks in 2026.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:04 Sheryl's Background and Achievements

01:03 The Magnetic Personality

02:14 Embracing Authenticity

04:23 The Journey to Writing a Book

06:58 Challenges and Lessons Learned

08:02 Dealing with Difficult Leaders

14:10 Finding and Protecting Joy

14:25 Defining Productive Joy

16:20 Finding Joy in Leadership

16:40 Creating Joy in the Workplace

17:27 The Importance of Individual Joy

18:07 Leadership Responsibilities and Impact

18:42 Connecting with Sheryl

19:12 Services Offered by Elite Talent Solutions

20:16 The Role of Joy in Leadership

21:14 Human-Centered Leadership and AI

23:32 Embracing Your Inner Critic

26:41 Rapid Fire Questions

28:16 Final Thoughts on Joy

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