Stephen Hart: Trailblazers.FM Stephen is the host of the podcast Trailblazers.FM, helping entrepreneurs and leaders build amazing personal brands that are impactful, relatable and profitable. He features the stories of brilliant Black men and women – to help teach actionable strategies, valuable tactics and innovative tools that they can use on the journey to becoming transformative trailblazers. He’s also the creator of Brand in Demand which helps busy, heart-centered entrepreneurs and leaders through a proven step by step process to build an amazing personal brand that is authentic, impactful and profitable. Use coupon code CFL200 if you decide to dive in on Stephen’s course. In this conversation, Stephen and I go beyond creating a LinkedIn profile and discuss how to be more proactive on LinkedIn. By writing articles, creating short videos, or even streaming, you can gain organic attention on LinkedIn that isn’t always as accessible on other social media platforms. We discuss some of the key strategies to start and sustain a presence on LinkedIn. Key Points Articles can be used effectively to create content if you’re not yet ready for video, but still interested in building your personal brand. Consider a series of articles or other content that highlight your personal brand and speak to your leadership credibility. Use short videos (3-5 minutes) to tell a story that leads to a call to action. LinkedIn videos typically get more organic views than other social platforms. Live videos or steaming engage real-time conversations to have dialogue that invites relationships to go further. Resources Mentioned Brand in Demand (use coupon code CFL200 for $200 off) Related Episodes How to Write a Killer LinkedIn Profile, with Brenda Bernstein (episode 285) Permission to Be Yourself, with Bar Schwartz (episode 414) Find Your Leadership Voice, with Johanna Nalau (episode 420) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed Bonni Stachowiak is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, a professor of business and management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, Bonni was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. She is the author of The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide*. Listener Questions Liz wondered how a manager can empathize with an employee while continuing to uphold the businesses needs. Chris asked about fostering innovation while maintaining business efficiency. Colette wanted to know what activity was most helpful for us to decide the next direction of our careers. Dave and Bonni asked each other about what is giving life right now, and what is taking life away. Resources Mentioned 7 Habits of Highly Effective People* by Stephen Covey Design Thinking Methods: Affinity Diagrams by Matthew Weprin Related Episodes How to Lead Part-Time Staff, with Chris Deferio (episode 289) How to Work With an Executive Recruiter, with Becky deSouza (episode 406) How to Build an Invincible Company, with Alex Osterwalder (episode 470) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Jason Weeman: Upwork Jason Weeman works to build meaningful relationships by creating experiences that are inspiring and transformational. He has worked for some of the top brands in the world, including Apple, LinkedIn, and Upwork. Today, he is the head of corporate learning and development at Upwork. One of the key areas of focus for his team and him is building a coaching culture. In this conversation, Jason and I discuss how his team was a catalyst for coaching culture at Upwork. We discuss what worked to influence culture in this way, what didn’t work, and the lessons they learned along the way. Key Points Be lazy, be curious, be often. -Michael Bungay Stanier Organizations are trying to create a culture for coaching, but not giving the feedback. The stronger that we develop a sense of common language on feedback, the better we get on quality. People sometimes don’t believe it should be so simple…so they try to make coaching development too complicated. Resist the urge to focus too much on data and tracking. Significant buy-in from executive leadership is critical for the success of a coaching program like this. Also, having a culture of “we” being in this together makes all the difference. Resources Mentioned Life at Upwork The Coaching Habit workshop The Last Feedback Workshop You’ll Ever Need Related Episodes These Coaching Questions Get Results, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 237) How to Get the Ideal Team Player, with Patrick Lencioni (episode 301) How to Create an Unstoppable Culture, with Ginger Hardage (episode 350) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Mikaila Ulmer: Bee Fearless Mikaila Ulmer is a 15-year-old social entrepreneur, bee ambassador, educator and student. She founded her Me & the Bees Lemonade business when she was just four years old, and over the past decade has sold over 1 million bottles across 1,500 stores in the United States. Her appearance on Shark Tank at age nine scored a $60,000 investment from Daymond John. Mikaila has established herself as a voice of guidance for others, appearing on Good Morning America, The Today Show, 20/20, ABC World News Tonight, and many other venues. She was selected as one of Time magazine’s 30 Most Influential Teens and for Ebony Magazine’s Ebony Power100 #Black Excellence. She is the author of the new book, Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid*. In this conversation, Mikaila discuss what inspired her to start her business and the importance of a larger mission behind work. She talks about the importance of passion, balancing her work with her schooling, and how to support kids in doing great things. Plus, she shares what she’s learned along the way on turning a dream into reality. Key Points Turn adversity into advantage. It’s more enjoyable to build a business when you not only have hands-on experience and know-how, but passion. Big news needs to be approached with careful consideration. Aim to be good and kind in running a business. Resources Mentioned Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid* by Mikaila Ulmer Related Episodes How to Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, with Mark Barden (episode 207) How Leaders Build, with Guy Raz (episode 491) If You Build It, They Will Come (Dave’s Journal) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Guy Raz, creator and host of popular podcasts, discusses insightful stories from his new book and dispels common myths about entrepreneurship. Topics include distinguishing between dangerous and scary risks, the importance of having a fallback plan and a supportive co-founder, the role of skill and luck in success, and the connection between entrepreneurship and leadership.

Joseph Getuno Joseph is a finance director based in Mauritius. He’s a longtime listener from the show and a member of the Coaching for Leaders Academy. In this conversation, Joseph and I discuss how he captures ideas from audio podcasts and motivates himself to implement what he’s discovered. We also highlight the value in establishing team guidelines, zeroing in on self-awareness, and the power of consistency. Plus, he highlights the work of key experts that have sharped his own leadership development. Key Points Listen to an audio podcast one time through. Then, review a second time at higher speed to capture the key ideas from the conversation. Insights and ideas are a starting point, but of little value without action. Find a way to support daily action in your development. Establishing team guidelines can change the entire dynamic of culture in the organization. Consistency isn’t a flashy word, but it’s a key factor in how much movement you’re able to create as a leader. Related Episodes How to Create Team Guidelines, with Susan Gerke (episode 192) How to Build Psychological Safety, with Amy Edmondson (episode 404) The Way to Be More Self-Aware, with Tasha Eurich (episode 442) The Value of Being Uncomfortable, with Neil Pasricha (episode 448) How to Motivate Leaders, with John Maxwell (episode 452) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed Bonni Stachowiak is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, a professor of business and management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, Bonni was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. She is the author of The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide*. Listener Questions Dustin asked us about how to handle going through a merger or acquisition. Melanie wondered what our biggest learning curve was when we were new managers. Taryn wanted to know the best ways to track goals and progress when doing internal coaching. Resources Mentioned Difficult Conversations by Seth Godin (Akimbo podcast) Productivity Tools by Bonni Stachowiak Monday.com OmniFocus Related Episodes The Path of Humble Leadership, with Edgar Schein and Peter Schein (episode 363) How to Build Psychological Safety, with Amy Edmondson (episode 404) Appeal to the Nobler Motive (Dave’s Journal) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Keith Ferrazzi: Leading Without Authority Keith Ferrazzi is the founder and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, a management consulting and team coaching company that works with many of the world’s biggest corporations. A graduate of Harvard Business School, Keith rose to become the youngest CMO of a Fortune 500 company during his career at Deloitte, and later became CMO of Starwood Hotels. Keith is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fortune and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who’s Got Your Back* and Never Eat Alone*. He’s the author of the new book, Leading Without Authority: How the New Power of Co-Elevation Can Break Down Silos, Transform Teams, and Reinvent Collaboration*. In this conversation, Keith and I discuss the importance of co-elevation in leadership. We also explore the six deadly sins that leaders should avoid — and discuss why it’s all on you, especially at the start. Key Points Six deadly excuses leaders should avoid: Ignorance: there’s no excuse to sit back and do nothing. Laziness: do not abdicate your responsibility to lead. Deference: beware hiding the truth just to defer to the organizational chart. Playing the victim: avoid running away or resigning to self-pity. Cowardice: if someone scares you, it’s probably an opportunity to grow. Indulgence: stop indulging resentments as they often hold back your career and limit personal and professional success. Resentment leaves us blind and powerless; it’s been compared to drinking poison and hoping the other person will die. Book Notes Download my highlights from Leading Without Authority in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Choice for Compassion, with Edith Eger (episode 336) How to Motivate Leaders, with John Maxwell (episode 452) How to Create Great Relationships, with Colleen Bordeaux (episode 455) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Elizabeth Cousens: UN Foundation Elizabeth is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Nations Foundation, leading the Foundation’s next generation of work to support the United Nations. She is a diplomat and thought leader who has worked on the frontlines of peace processes, played an influential role in UN policy innovations from peacebuilding to the Sustainable Development Goals, and helped build public-private partnerships to solve global challenges at scale. Before joining the Foundation, Elizabeth served for several years at the U.S. Mission to the UN in New York. She was Principal Policy Advisor and Counselor to the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations and later served as the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Economic and Social Council and Alternate Representative to the UN General Assembly. In this conversation, Elizabeth and I discuss the short and long term goals of the UN Foundation. In addition, we explore how Elizabeth’s team raised $200 million in the face of COVID-19, how she works with impatient optimists, and the importance of leading with kindness. Key Points The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund has raised over $200 million for relief efforts. Leaders should work to lead with kindness in every sector. Many high-performing leaders are natural impatient optimists, always pushing for change. COVID-19 is front of mind for most of us, but we cannot let it override our organization’s strategic goals. Resources Mentioned COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO Elizabeth Cousens Has Raised Over $200 Million for the World Health Organization (Mostly) in Her Pajamas Related Episodes Leadership in the Midst of Chaos, with Jim Mattis (episode 440) How to be Diplomatic, with Susan Rice (episode 456) How Great Teams Find Purpose, with David Burkus (episode 481) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

David Hutchens: The Storytelling Leader David Hutchens help leaders find and tell their stories. Stephen M.R. Covey says, “David has the ability to convey key messages in a way that is both simple and profound.” He has taught the Storytelling Leader program all over the world at some of the most influential organizations — and he’s written many books, including most recently the Circle of the 9 Muses* and The Leadership Story Deck*. He is the co-creator with Susan Gerke of the GO Team program. In this conversation, David and I explore the importance of storytelling, especially during uncertain times. David teaches us the framework of the kinds of stories leaders can tell for continuity, novelty, and transition. Leaders can use one of all of these frameworks to help connect and inspire during difficult times. Key Points The continuity story highlights identity, values, and founding principles — things that will never change. Example: What’s a time we held our values, even though it came with a cost? The novelty story shows what is new and focuses attention on innovation and possibility. Example: What’s a time you saw something valuable that we don’t have here? But imagine if we did. The transition story dives in on change and learning — and illuminates a journey of shared progress. Examples: What’s a time you saw someone make a personally courageous decision to change? We tried something, it didn’t work, and we learned something valuable. Here’s a time we solved a tough problem. Resources Mentioned GO Team program Leadership Story Deck* by David Hutchens Circle of the 9 Muses: A Storytelling Field Guide for Innovators and Meaning Makers* by David Hutchens David’s email: David@DavidHutchens.com Related Episodes How Storytelling Helps You Lead, with Sandie Morgan (episode 51) The Four Critical Stories Leaders Need For Influence, with David Hutchens (episode 148) Practical Storytelling That Isn’t Awkward, with David Hutchens (episode 228) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.