Arizona Originals

In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp.  If you haven’t already listened to that episode, I encourage you to do so. This week we spend a few moments with David on the topic of empowering and engaging employees.  We touch on several issues including accountability, transparency, delegation, and tolerance for failure. Also check out David's discussion about Demystifying Millennials from last season.

This week our guest is Mark Jacobs, the dean of Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University.  He came to ASU in the fall of 2003 from Swarthmore College, where he had held an endowed chair in biology and had been both chair of the Biology Department and associate provost of the College. He received his B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard in biology and earned his Ph.D. at Stanford University in biological sciences. During his tenure at Barrett Honors College, Dean Jacobs has overseen tremendous growth, and during our conversation, he shares his story, the influences in his life, and his approach to leading and learning which influence the way he approaches his job and the students and culture at Barrett. You will also want to be sure you have listened to our episode with  Ambassador Barbara Barrett! SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST 1491

This week our guest is Greg Peterson, founder of the Urban Farm in Phoenix.  His mission is inspire people to embrace their own greenness,which he does daily by living what he speaks. He received his master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning (MUEP) in December 2006 from Arizona State University. His academic training has been augmented by 34 years of real world self-study, ownership of multiple businesses and a rich background in entrepreneurship, computer training, software development and management. Our conversation covers everything from nurturing curiosity, finding passion, building community, engaging in lifelong learning, and creating a long-lasting impact in our communities.  Greg's story engages and his enthusiasm inspires. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Urban Farm Podcast Ocean Robbins John Lee Dumas Scott Murray GrowPHX Diet For A New America Ishmael

This week our guest is Jonathan Keyser - the founder of Keyser…a commercial real estate firm in Scottsdale, AZ.  Jonathan’s enthusiasm is unmistakable and you’ll benefit from hearing how this son of missionaries was driven to pursue success, but more importantly, how his views of success and wealth have evolved.   Jonathan discusses topics ranging from his views on: Developing a long-term, sustainable and successful business thru helping others, Developing resilience and patience, Identifying what gets in the way of living out our values, Pursuing intentional imbalance in your life. And he also provides some insights into mindset and offers some great tools including the 30-day Positivity Challengeand the Everything Is A Gift Challenge. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Disruptive Mindset The Way of Mastery Please follow the Arizona Originals podcast on these social media platforms: Instagram, Twitterand Facebook.  And thanks to Beth Lewallen at Italicized Consulting for all her help getting our social media up and running…and be sure to follow her on Twitter!   

This week our guest is Sharon Orlopp - formerly the SVP of Human Resources and Global Chief Diversity Officer for WalMart.  Today, she is an author and continues her work as a leader in human resources for Core Scientific and Orangetheory Fitness.  We cover a range of issues from mentoring, to the role of diversity in innovation, to proactive goal setting, to the lessons she learned from her parents and how her experiences as a child set her on a path to leadership within one of the largest retailers in the world. She recently released "Standing Up After Saigon" which she co-wrote with Thuhang Tran.  The book tells Tran's story of resilience, courage and survival as she faced polio and life in Saigon after its fall in the Vietnam War...and Sharon shares more detail about the book and how it came about in our conversation. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Standing Up After Saigon Granite Mountain Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park Blockchain Revolution The Story of Blockchain Truth Machine

This week our guest is John Jennings - formerly the CEO of Safeguard Security, CEO of CQR Technologies and founder of QuickPass.  A native Arizonan, John shares his story which took him from the early days of the security business to growing one of the larger businesses in the industry.  He also discusses some important lessons learned from Jim Collins and how some counter-intuitive strategies led to tremendous growth for his company. Additionally, John discusses the lessons learned transitioning a family business from one generation to the next, the value of making mistakes, the lessons learned from his work with Hospice of the Valley, and the difference between leadership and management.  He covers that and so much more. Please follow the Arizona Originals podcast on these social media platforms: Instagram, Twitterand Facebook.  And thanks to Beth Lewallen at Italicized Consulting for all her help getting our social media up and running...and be sure to follow her on Twitter!  SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Jim Collins James Patterson's Michael Bennett books Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp books Homeland Start-up Nation

This week our guest is Joshua Becker- bestselling author, blogger and popular speaker on the topic of minimalism.  You won’t want to miss his story and his thoughts on everything from building a platform, navigating career change, determining what your "first filter" is, dealing with online trolls and haters, to building a team around you to make you your best. He takes us on his journey from studying banking and finance, to attending seminary and becoming a minister, to a particular Saturday speaking with a neighbor who would be a catalyst for where Joshua is today.  And if you have never thought about the topic of minimalism, this conversation will not only be a solid introduction, but will also be thought provoking. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST The Hope Effect Simplify Magazine Simple Money Magazine The 80/20 Principle Journey Church The Good Place - NBC The More of Less Clutterfree with Kids The Minimalist Home    

This week our guest is Park Howell - founder of the Business of Story…and you also might know him from the ad agency he founded, Park & Co.  This conversation is packed with great stories and very practical advice about how you can tell better stories to help you grow your business and your personal platform.   SELECT LINKS FROM THE SHOW: The Business of Story Park Howell's website Save the Cat The Hero With 1,000 Faces Save the Cat Goes to the Movies Origin Story: A Big History of Everything The Business of Story podcast What My TEDx Talk Taught Me About Storytelling Park's TEDx talk

Ron Robertson is the co-founder and CEO of Picmonic, a revolutionary visual learning platform proven to help students master critical information and retain it longer. Ron grew up in Show Low, Arizona and his journey takes him from the cool pines of Arizona to the beaches of San Diego, and then back to the University of Arizona for medical school.  During his preparation for the US Medical Licensing Exam, his life took an interesting turn...and he tells that story which led to the founding of Picmonic. In our conversation, Ron covers a variety of topics of interest to students, lifetime learners, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in improving yourself.  He also makes a good case that everyone could benefit from knowing a great tattoo artist! SELECT LINKS The Hard Thing About Hard Things Moonwalking with Einstein Galvanize Phoenix Campus

Olympic gold medalist Misty Hyman won a stunning upset victory at the 2000 Sydney games when she came from behind to break the American record and win the 200-meter butterfly. Recognized as a pioneer in the sport for her innovative underwater dolphin kick, she won 13 U.S. and five NCAA national titles. Hyman is recognized as one of the most inspirational athletes of our time. Her knowledge of the sport, gained from two decades of competitive swimming for two of America’s top swim coaches, coupled with her friendly and encouraging personality, have made her one of the country’s leading swim instructors. She is the former Senior Assistant Coach for the Arizona State University swimming program and offers personalized and private coaching at The Sanctuary Resort in Paradise Valley, AZ. She also hosts clinics and camps throughout the United States. As a motivational speaker, Hyman helps athletes, students, and corporations alike set and reach seemingly unattainable goals. In this episode, Misty shares her story and discusses topics ranging from facing challenges, to finding balance, to surrendering to imperfection, and how she evaluates life and success.