Do Good To Lead Well with Craig Dowden

John Sicard is the president and CEO of Kinaxis, a supply chain management software that helps with sales and operations planning. Though he has been working for the company for almost two decades, John started as CEO in 2016 and has been a vital force in the revitalization of their supply chain management solutions and company architecture. He is a strong advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the workplace with a special interest in making things accessible for people on the autism spectrum. On the side, John has a passion for creating and producing music. Craig speaks with John about his career path as well as how he is staying motivated during COVID. They speak about the tough work environment that COVID has presented, and the growing importance of creating a positive and joyful work environment. They discuss the important role of a CEO in properly managing tough situations, and techniques of leadership that prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of all of your employees. What You Will Learn: 1. How to stay physically motivated when staying fit 2. Tips for managing tough situations 3. Techniques to create a positive culture 4. Advice for growing a company 5. Necessity of pursuit of joy 6. The team you lead vs the team you’re on 7. Value of being responsibility for wellbeing 8. Importance of mental health awareness 9. Evolution of supply chain management

Dr. Graham Sher is the CEO of Canadian Blood Services, Canada’s premiere blood, plasma, stem cells, organ and tissues donation service. He has led the company on an amazing multi-year transformational journey. He spearheaded a comprehensive design model redesign to ensure safety, accuracy and modernization of systems. Trained as a physician, Graham has spent the past 23 years in senior administration with a commitment to heart-centered business improvement, especially in the healthcare sector. Outside of his groundbreaking profession, Graham is also a photographer and father. Craig speaks with Graham about the importance of creating a safe environment, especially those working during the unpredictable times of COVID. They go into depth about the necessity of evolving with time and necessity, as well as how to be a leader that considers your employees happiness and safety first. What You Will Learn: 1. How Canadian Blood Services navigated COVID 2. Importance of creating a safe environment 3. Value of having conversations on uncertainty 4. Leadership style changes when in crisis 5. Leading with heart and mind 6. Impact of challenging circumstances on workplace 7. Importance of always being willing to accept advice

Michael Garrity is a 15-year veteran of the financial technology industry and the CEO of Financeit, a platform that enables small businesses to offer consumer-financing anytime. It is becoming one of the fastest growing sales finance platforms in North America. As a Goldman Sachs backed leader in the POS industry, Michael is devoted to driving growth in business-innovating services. Craig and Michael speak about Michael’s path in the industry, how to develop a strong work culture and how to create a supportive and mental health positive community within a post-COVID office. What You Will Learn: 1. Michael’s path to founding Financeit 2. How Financeit was acquired 3. Tips for working within a culture of transparency 4. Variety of beliefs in cameras on/off in work meetings 5. Benefit of prioritizing people’s health and safety 6. How to handle the resignation wave 7. Impact of government money and social support in resignations 8. Tips for thoughtful leadership

This week's featured author interview is with the world's premier expert on women's leadership as cited by Forbes, Sally Helgeson. Sally's work has brought the conversation of inclusion to the business space. This conversation dives into the habits and behaviors that are most likely to get in the way of women progressing in their career, unpacking your unconscious bias, and behaviors leaders can implement to create a more inclusive environment. Sally Helgesen is an internationally best-selling author, speaker and leadership coach. She has been named by Thinker’s 50 as one of the world’s top 20 coaches and ranked number 6 among the world’s thought leaders by Global Gurus. Sally’s most recent book, How Women Rise, co-authored with legendary executive coach Marshall Goldsmith, examines the behaviors most likely to get in the way of successful women. Mentions: https://sallyhelgesen.com

This week Doug Contant joins Craig on the Do Good To Lead Well podcast. The two talk through the qualities that make up a resilient leader to build a strong foundation for success in times of crisis. Douglas R. Conant is an internationally renowned business leader, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, and social media influencer with over 40 years of leadership experience at world-class global companies. For the past 20 years of his leadership journey, he has honed his leadership craft at the most senior levels. In 2011, he founded ConantLeadership: a mission-driven community of leaders and learners who are championing leadership that works in the 21st century. What You Will Learn: 1. How empathy plays into resilient leadership 2. Tips for building connection and camaraderie into your business's culture 3. How to cocreate a sense of purpose 4. Leading by listening Mentions: https://conantleadership.com/about/doug-conant/

Unlock the secrets to effective leadership with insights from Adam Bryant, author of "The Leap to Leader" and "The CEO Test." Gain invaluable wisdom on making the critical internal mindset shift that sets great leaders apart. Discover how to prepare mentally for leadership roles and master the art of navigating complex conversations without a fixed playbook. With over 650 CEO interviews under his belt, Adam brings rich, practical strategies to elevate your leadership journey. In this episode, we dive deep into the realm of self-awareness and the fundamental motivations behind effective leadership. Adam articulates that true leadership is driven by a desire to serve the organization and its people, rather than solely pursuing power or wealth. We also examine the pressures that come with higher leadership positions and the necessity of understanding your 'why' to navigate these challenges effectively. Our discussion further explores the art of delegation and its pivotal role in leadership, particularly during turbulent times. Adam shares insights on balancing micromanagement with delegation to foster team growth and development. We address the critical importance of relationship-building, both with peers and within a matrix organization, and the unparalleled significance of listening. By the end of our conversation, you'll walk away with practical strategies and heartfelt advice to elevate your leadership journey, ensuring you lead with positivity and lasting impact. What You’ll Learn: • Understand the critical internal mindset shift that sets great leaders apart. • Discover why true leadership is driven by the desire to serve others rather than serve yourself. • Learn how to balance micromanagement with empowering your team, especially in turbulent times. • Gain insights on handling career stagnation and making informed, balanced career decisions. • Learn the importance of assertiveness, clear communication, and building peer relationships for career advancement. • Discover how improving your listening skills can exponentially enhance your leadership effectiveness. Podcast Timestamps: (00:00) – Lessons Learned From Over 650 CEO Interviews (12:20) – The Crucial Role of Self-Awareness in Maximizing Our Leadership Impact (25:17) - The Importance of Delegation (28:45) - Empowering Leadership Through Delegation and Coaching (34:02) - Navigating Career Challenges with Insight (46:27) – Why You Need to Build Better Relationships with Your Peers? (49:36) - The Power of Listening Key Topics Discussed: Positive Leadership, Leadership Excellence, Self-Awareness, Delegation, Coaching, Building Relationships, Effective Communication, Active Listening, Talent Development, Career Management, Career Mobility, Assertiveness, Job Interviews, Matrix Organization, Gratitude, Continuous Learning, Joy of Leading, CEO Success More of Do Good to Lead Well: Website: https://craigdowden.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdowden/

Ozan Varol is a rocket scientist turned award-winning professor and author dedicated to helping people reimagine the status quo. Rocket scientists have a specifically unique mindset and worldview that helps them succeed and Ozan's experience sparked the realization in him that with the right tools, the everyday person could leverage this way of thinking to take giant leaps. Ozan has been called a “true original” by Adam Grant and dubbed a “superhero” by Dan Pink. His work has been described as “must read” by Susan Cain and featured in the Wall Street Journal, Time, BBC, CNN, Fast Company, Washington Post, and more. Giant leaps in recent years are often attributed to the triumph of technology, but really the triumph is within the mindset that the impossible is possible. This week's episode discusses in depth the mindset changes needed to improve your problem solving, decision making, approaches to failure and more. Craig Dowden invites Ozan Varol to share what it means to think like a rocket scientist and practical ways to put this into use. What You Will Learn: 1. What is Ozan's Scientific Method Mindset? 2. Living life as a series of hypothesis and trials 3. The importance of bringing an outsider into the conversation 4. Lean into uncertainty 5. All breakthroughs happen in uncertain times 6. Learn fast Mentions: https://ozanvarol.com

Mental health has been at the forefront of the workplace culture discussion the last few years and managing anxiety and stress is a top priority among the generation entering the workforce. The more we talk about it the more we can find solutions. Chester Elton joins Do Good To Lead Well this week to share his perspective on mental health practices and to ultimately normalize the conversation in the workplace. When you're in that dark place by yourself, it is dangerous. Reach out and find an ally. You are never alone. Chester Elton is the #4 leadership expert in the world and #2 among the world's top organizational culture experts. He brings world-class energy, insight, and passion to the conversation while maintaining a mindset of empathy and gratitude. Chester Elton has spent two decades helping clients engage their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values. In his provocative and inspiring speeches, the #1 bestselling leadership author provides real solutions to leaders looking to manage change, drive innovation, and lead a multi-generational workforce. Elton’s work is supported by research with more than 1 million working adults, revealing the proven secrets behind high-performance cultures and teams. What You Will Learn: 1. Empathy is the foundational piece to leadership 2. How to work together as a team to lift each other up 3. Over $60B in productivity is lost in America alone if anxiety and mental health is not discussed in the workplace 4. Navigating and protecting a strong culture in a remote work environment and how to improve if needed 5. How do we exhibit positive leadership and positive organizations 6. Leading with gratitude Mentions: https://chesterelton.com

How can you foster curiosity in your workplace and community? How can curiosity improve your relationships? In this episode, Francesca Gino answers these questions and more. What You’ll Learn: How mistakes can be turned into successes through curiosity. Why it pays to break the rules. How to keep curiosity high over time. The importance of broadening your perspective by asking more questions. Why you need to start engaging with ideas that make you uncomfortable. How to foster conversational receptiveness. Who is Francesca? Dr. Gino is an award-winning researcher from Harvard Business School. She focuses on why people make the decisions they do and how people can have more productive, creative, and fulfilling lives. Her book, Rebel Talent: Why it Pays to Break the Rules highlights how curiosity can change the workplace for the better. Francesca has been honored as one of the world's top 40 business professors under 40, and as one of the world's 50 most influential management thinkers by Thinkers 50. She's been featured in The Economist, the New York Times, Newsweek, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and NPR. Mentions: Conversational Receptiveness: Expressing Engagement with Opposing Views - Article - Faculty & Research - Harvard Business School https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=58026  Follow Francesca: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francescagino/ More of Do Good to Lead Well: Website: https://craigdowden.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdowden/