Make Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Srikanth Seshadri. Srikanth is originally from India, moved to the US for school and work, married a US diplomat, and now lives in the Washington DC area.  But I’ll let Sri tell you more about his story and journey in a minute! Sri holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and an MBA.  He’s a graduate of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program and Harvard Kennedy School’s Art and Practice of Leadership Development program.  Before Sri began his coaching business he worked in senior commercial, finance, and strategy roles in Fortune 100 companies including GE and Capital One.  He’s led teams of up to 50 staff, managed budgets of over 600 million USD, and advised C-suite leaders on a range of management topics.   He currently focuses on working with CEOs of small to mid-size companies, helping them scale their companies and accelerate performance. Sri and I first met through the Georgetown coaching program’s mentorship program.  I was serving as mentor after moving to the Philippines on our first assignment with the Foreign Service.  The organizers of the mentorship program reached out and said, we think we have the perfect match for you!  One of the current program participants is also married to a diplomat and is living in Bangkok, Thailand!  I almost didn’t believe it was possible, but it was.   There are certain elements of developing a career and business that are uniquely challenging while simultaneously moving around the world in support of a spouse’s career and something that has made my journey with this a little less difficult is the connections with Sri and other who are on the journey right alongside of me.  I always feel grateful if any of my experiences, mistakes, or discoveries can support others as well. Sri, thank you so much for sharing these pieces of your story with us.  Your wisdom and insights are thought provoking and move me to want to take action in my own life!  Find the alignment and live into an agile approach to life, leadership, and relationships.Connect with Sri:Agile Growth Partners websiteLinkedInMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Michael Koehler.Michael is the CEO and co-founder of Konu, a leadership development organization focused on helping businesses and leaders manage complexity and take responsibility for change, with offices in the US, Germany, and Israel. Michael is an executive leadership coach, a former national champion in rock ‘n’ roll acrobatic dance, a first generation immigrant to the US from Germany, a podcast host, and many many more things.Michael's experiential methods he uses with his clients build from pedagogical training at the University of Marburg, where he obtained a Master's in Education, and at Georgetown University, where he obtained a Certificate in Leadership Coaching.Michael has experienced first-hand the frustrations of generating change within multi-stakeholder systems. He founded bilingual K-12 charter schools and has a long list of his own leadership failures from attempting to generate changes in the German education system. He reflected deeply on these failures during his studies at Harvard for the Master's in Public Administration degree and zeroed in on the importance of leadership development in creating systems change.I first connected with Michael through listening to his podcast, On the Balcony.  It’s excellent and I highly recommend listening (as soon as you are finished listening to this one, of course!).  What stood out so significantly, was that Michael himself is coached during several episodes.  This is a vulnerable thing to do and I immediately wanted to get to know Michael and learn more about him and his work. Michael, thank you for the work you do, for the wisdom you offer, for your willingness to share pieces of your own journey, both as a leader and as a human.  I’m so grateful for this conversation.  I have many reflections from our conversation and know our listeners will as well.Connect with Michael:On the Balcony PodcastKONU, Growing and Provoking LeadershipKONU on LinkedInMichael on LinkedInMake Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Ana Cristina Lapera.Ana is a successful executive coach with over 30 years of experience working with teams, individuals, and organizations.  She helps them clarify their vision and establish a plan of action to achieve business and personal results.Ana was born in Venezuela and has spent her professional career in the United States, working initially in Information Technology and over time evolving to Finance.  Throughout her years in IT and finance she realized people are core to everything.This led her to pursue becoming a leadership development coach in 2008.  In this capacity Ana has worked with a wide range of organizations from Fortune 500 companies to non-profits.  She brings her multicultural experience, a deep empathy for clients, and beautiful practicality to all her work.Ana’s current focus is on women leaders who want to create a diverse and inclusive world through personal and professional transformation.  She’s recently moved to Florida with her husband and their dog, Boira.I believe the first time Ana and met was through a virtual book discussion, then later through several workshops on story.  It’s taken us quite a few months to align our calendars for this conversation and I’m so pleased to get to share this with you today.Ana has an amazing and fascinating story, deep wisdom, and a gentle humility.   Ana – thank you for sharing these pieces of your story and journey.  Thank you for inviting us into your wise insights.  I’m so grateful for this conversation with you and look forward to more conversations and stories in the future.  Connect with Ana: LinkedInResources mentioned:Riding the Waves of Culture - Understanding Diversity in Global Business by Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner (book)Podcast: Anthrobiology by Gaby Lapera Make Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Dr. Eric de Nijs.Eric is an executive coach with over 30 years of experience helping people and organizations achieve improved performance and capability.  His background includes experience in diverse industries such as food, consumer products, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, defense, military, energy, and county and federal government agencies. He has worked with individuals and teams at all levels in Western and Eastern Europe, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Central and South America, Indonesia, South Korea, and Australia.Eric holds a doctorate in Human Resources Development and two master’s degrees and is designated as a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation.Eric has written the book Playing in a Bigger Space: Transformational Relationships for Powerful Results, with its accompanying workbook, and is a contributing author to “Excellence in Leadership Coaching.” Eric is a part-time instructor and co-program director of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching program and an adjunct faculty member of the Center for Creative Leadership. Eric volunteers with a recovery program for recently released offenders in Richmond, Virginia.I first met Eric in 2011, when I entered the Georgetown University Coaching program.  Eric was my cohort’s co-direction and also my learning circle advisor.  He was an influential person in my life as I began my career shift into coaching.  Some of the questions Eric asked me during our conversations have stayed with me over the past decade and have been foundational questions that I’ve in turned asked many clients.I’m so grateful to have Eric on the podcast today to share about his GRACE at work model.  GRACE is an acronym for Goodwill, Results, Authenticity, Connection, Empowerment.  This model and framework has so many brilliant perspectives that truly can transform our relationships – both at awork and at home – and give us a bigger space to work in, metaphorically speaking. Eric, thank you for your generosity and enthusiasm.  Thank you for sharing your wisdom and growth with us.  Thank you for being someone who embodies this framework of GRACE at work, and for helping us find a bigger space in which to live our lives and make a positive impact in our worlds.Learn more about G.R.A.C.E. at Work:WebsiteLinkedInPlaying in a Bigger Space (book)G.R.A.C.E. at Work Handbook Make Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Emily Cornell.I’m grateful to have Emily back for another conversation.  She first shared pieces of her journey on Episode 54 and I highly recommend listening to that if you haven’t.Emily and I connected through the network of the Foreign Service, in which we are both spouses of US Diplomats.  Our paths also overlap at coaches and business owners finding creative ways to build our professional lives while moving around the world.Emily is a strategist + coach who helps women really show up authentically and unapologetically.Emily embodies this courageous work of showing up authentically, bravely sharing her stories to encourage others and help them know they are not alone.Today we delve further into the challenges of addiction, sobriety, and being in recovery.  We explore what it means to show up authentically in various situations, simultaneously being authentic to ourselves and attentive to the environment and those we’re interacting with.  Ultimately, authenticity isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all experience. Emily is also in the midst of transitioning to a new home, living now for months with just a few suitcases of the family’s belongings, finding new connections, continuing to grow a business from a new time zone, and all the other adventures (and occasional irritations) that accompany this experience of life in the Foreign Service!Her strategies for living into these changes and transitions are both practical and wise and relevant to all sorts of life changes we all might experience.Emily, thank you, for coming back on the podcast, for sharing more about your journey, your growth, your authenticity.  You shared in our first conversation how Stories saved your life and I’m so grateful to your commitment to sharing your stories so additional lives may be saved!Connect with Emily:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramMake Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Rebecca de Reht.Rebecca designs and facilitates coaching and learning solutions that adapt organisational, systemic, team and national cultures. She has more than 20 years experience, has worked in more than 55 countries; and is a mentor, accreditor and trainer of other coaches and facilitators. Rebecca began her corporate career in IT, holding a variety of global roles and managing large teams. Rebecca is passionate about the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion space and trains Facilitators for a global roll-out whose aim is to touch more 190,000 employees over 210 countries. She loves Customer Experience Journey design and looks forward to integrating customer journeys with environmentally conscious strategy in a post COVID world. Rebecca has worked for McKinsey & Company as a coach and facilitator, internally and with clients. She has worked in all major industries and sectors and has deep experience in the IT; financial; telco; hospitality & tourism; oil & gas sectors.I had the pleasure of working with Rebecca on virtual workshops initially, she in Sydney, Australia, and me in Sri Lanka.  Her energy, her authenticity, her forthrightness, all stood out to me and I felt an immediate connection with her even though we didn’t have a lot of one on one interaction.  A couple months ago, we had the opportunity to work in person together and the connection grew Rebecca has so many interesting parts of her life and we truly on begin to touch on the very beginning in this conversation.  During our conversation today we explore Rebecca’s journey to understanding that she’s on the Autism Spectrum, what that means, and how it has helped explain so many nuances about her life and relationships.  More and more is being discovered about what is termed “neurodivergence” and it is often misunderstood or under identified in women.  Neurodivergence can manifest in a variety of ways, but in general the neurodivergent brain processes information differently than the general population.  Sensory information may be disorganized and difficult to sort through, emotional information might have a deep intensity to it, and focusing could be a challenge.  Rebecca, thank you for your willingness to share these pieces of your journey and story.  Your willingness to share and describe who you are and what you have learned and continue to learn is both inspiring and also incredibly helpful to others who may experience similarities but have not yet added the context of neurodiversity.Without further delay, please enjoy my conversation with Rebecca de Reht.Make Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Baktash Ahadi.Baktash is a communications strategist, executive leadership & transformational coach, facilitator, and multidisciplinary storyteller who helps leaders, companies, and organizations solve their most complex human-centric problems.He specializes in strategic communication, leadership development, narrative storytelling, conflict resolution, and cultural diversity to help leaders make a positive impact in their organization and on society.The recipient of numerous awards for public service and documentary storytelling, Baktash has worked on race relations in communities across the United States and on the peace process in Afghanistan. Baktash is particularly drawn to stories around issues of forced migration, refugees, and vulnerable and underrepresented communities. Baktash is also a certified Executive Leadership Coach, a Master Facilitator, and host of the chart-topping Stories of Transformation podcast. He is currently at work writing a memoir about his service as a combat interpreter in Afghanistan and directing a film about the lives of refugees in America.I had the privilege of meeting Baktash in May of 2022, and found every conversation with him deeply engaging from the very beginning.  I immediately knew I wanted to have him on the podcast.  This conversation is so meaningful and also leaves so much yet to be explored!  Consider this an introduction to who Baktash is and his work in the world, AND, expect to see him back here for more conversations as we didn’t even get to the stories around his work as a combat interpreter, his work as a documentarian and more!Baktash, thank you for this conversation.  Thank you for the stories you share that both inspire and challenge us.  I’m deeply appreciative of your wisdom, thoughtfulness, and presence.Please check out Baktash’s website where you’ll find more about his work, films, and upcoming memoir:WebsiteLinkedIn Make Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

Explore David Achata's journey from chaos to stability and growth in personal and professional life. Delve into topics like meaningful connections, setting boundaries, empowering through challenges, conflict training, finding peace in nature, upcoming book releases, and embracing authenticity for personal growth.

My guest today is Rebecca Scott.Rebecca is a leadership coach who is passionate about helping people living with chronic conditions live full, purposeful, and joyous lives. She believes in the transformational power of meaningful conversation, celebrating all your victories, and feeling all your feelings. She also believes in kindness, including to oneself... which is much easier said than done.I first connected with Rebecca after I saw she was facilitating a workshop on Self-Compassion.  This is a topic that is near and dear to me (listen to Episode 11 if you want to hear a bit how self-compassion has changed my lifeRebecca’s initial reaction to the title of the website, Make Life Less Difficult, was to share with me that her tag line for coaching is Make Work Suck Less.  We immediately knew we would hit it off and have a great conversation!Rebecca also shared that she has Multiple Sclerosis, a degenerative neurologic disease, and she’s been blogging about her experiences for years because there’s very little out there in the world about the nitty gritty challenges that are often associated with MS.Word of caution… we talk candidly about bodily functions and sex.  If these things are uncomfortable to you, I ask that you take care of yourself first and foremost, even if that means not listening.  There’s also a splattering of adult language, so if you are listening around kids, you may want to pop in the headphones.Rebecca, I’m so delighted that we’ve connected and feel honored to host you on the podcast.  Thank you for sharing so candidly and with such beautiful humor.  You are an inspiration and I’m so grateful for your willingness to dig deep into the tough realities of life.  Book Reference: Humor, Seriously by Jennifer Aaker & Naomi Bagdonas Connect with Rebecca:email: rebecca@cultivatingleadership.comTwitter: @scorebeccablog: https://stumblr.blog/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-scott-coach/sex tape: https://youtu.be/JVYZtirbTHwMake Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Nicholas Jefferson.Nick is my youngest nephew and the second of my nieces and nephews to be a guest on the podcast!  Shout out to Sarah Cole, my niece, who was on Episode 40, where we had a beautiful conversation about the challenges and benefits of conflict.When I was visiting at Nick’s house a couple months ago, he and I had some interesting conversations and I said, Hey Nick, would you be interested in coming on my podcast?  He bravely accepted the invitation and said he’d be happy to!I want to take a moment to highlight Nick’s courage and bravery.  Nick is 16 (actually turning 17 about the time of this release) and is a junior in high school.  Many adults I invite hesitate to be on the podcast.  It’s a vulnerable and potentially intimidating prospect, to share thoughts and stories and ideas where you don’t know who will listen.  So I was super impressed with Nick’s openness to the idea and his willingness to step into a conversation that is fairly unstructured, and just explore with me.Nick shares his thoughts around how we can contribute to making the world a better place (by kindness to each other) while simultaneously questioning the best way to do that on a grander scale, as it can seem difficult to do when we look at the world as a whole.  But we come back to our own circles of influence and starting there.I think there’s so much wisdom in this approach.  By the end of our conversation Nick shares his ideas of around how we can start close in with the groups we already connect with but then also expand our circles of influence and invite others to do so as well.I’m convinced that each of us can make a positive difference in our worlds with this approach.  I know it can get overwhelming when we see all the needs around the world (and often the negativity and meanness, even, expressed between humans), but truly if each of us start with the places we already have connections and influence and slowly grow those circles, we can make a significant difference.Nick, thank you for your courage and bravery in being on the podcast!  I really enjoyed this conversation with you and look forward to more in the future!  Keep making a difference in your world!!With that, I invite you to enjoy this chat with Nick, and be inspired to make a difference in your own world!   Make Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra