Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

Did you know that 91% of employees report that their manager doesn’t listen to them? Janine Hamner Holman shares this startling statistic along with many others in a conversation that will convince you why listening should be the #1 skill that’s taught, practiced, and mastered in the workplace.Janine is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and expert on conscious leadership, DE&I, organizational development, neurobiology, and what it takes to attract and retain world-class talent. As CEO of the J&J Consulting Group, she brings more than 30 years’ experience to her work with purpose driven CEOs and executive teams to help them create courageous, high-performance organizations. Janine is also the host of an outstanding podcast, The Cost of Not Paying Attention.You’ll discover: How Janine helps clients integrate DEI into their culture so it’s not viewed or experienced as a “program”The shared challenges that all organizations face, no matter what the sizeWhat Janine has learned about brain science…and ways she applies that knowledge in her work with clientsThe top 3 reasons people give for leaving their employerAdvice for attracting and retaining superior talentCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What if you could reduce turnover to 5% or less? My guest Jaime Jay has done that in his own company because he makes sure he hires the right people. Jaime is the founder and managing director of Bottleneck Distant Assistants. Since 2006 his company has been sourcing Distant Assistants from the Philippines. They support entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, C-level executives, founders, and other professionals who are doing the wrong things so they can focus on their best work instead.Jaime is a U.S. Army veteran and the author of the book, Quit Repeating Yourself. His life has been quite the adventure, and you’ll be inspired by the values he’s built into his company and that he and his team live by every day.You’ll discover: How Jaime went from being homeless 3 times to running a successful multi-million dollar businessThe #1 question Jaime asks a candidate and why he does itThe 4 questions Jaime asks people on his team that prepare them to make sound decisionsThe one word Jaime’s team is studying this year…and what they’re doing to make it part of their cultureWhy Jaime likes to create a Ripple EffectCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Did you know that women lost 36 years of progress in 2020 alone? That’s a startling statistic from the World Economic Forum, and Jane Finette is committed to reversing that trend.Jane is the Founder and Executive Director of The Coaching Fellowship, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of young women leaders in social and environmental change. Jane has dedicated her life to achieving equality for women — empowering them to create impact and build the world of tomorrow, today. She’s the author of Unlocked: How Empowered Women Empower Women, which is a must-read to understand the challenges women around the world have faced and are still facing today.You’ll discover: Why Jane founded The Coaching Fellowship and what she wants to achieve with itWhy women lost 36 years of progress in 2020—what happened and what was lostWhy people should care about gender equalitySpecific steps women can take individually to support other womenWhat men can do to support equality for womenCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What would your life look like if you were guided by these three leadership principles: Be present, stay conscious, act compassionately? My guest Teresa Roche lives those principles every day and guides others to do the same. You’ll love the important insights Teresa shares about her key learnings in her own journey as a leader…and as a human being.Teresa is the leader of the Human Resources team for the City of Fort Collins, and she has more than thirty years of experience working as an executive in various high-tech companies. Teresa has a deep passion for collaboration and learning because she’s interested in how individuals and organizations develop the capability to interpret an evolving and complex environment in order to take effective action. You’ll discover: Why Teresa changed her title from Chief Human Resources Officer to Human Resources ExecutiveHow Teresa has used the Enneagram over the past 40 years for her own growth and for the growth of those she works withWhy Teresa makes no distinction between work self and home selfHow she defines “radical candor” and uses it to wake people up to their potentialCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What if you could turn your performance review process into a real development opportunity? Angela Stopper, Ph.D., describes exactly what she and her team at UC Berkeley did to accomplish this amazing transformation.Angela is the Chief Learning Officer and Director of People and Organization Development at the University of California, Berkeley. She is responsible for the team that creates and delivers campus-wide learning initiatives supporting supervisory, management, functional, and technical learning efforts for the campus's 9,000 staff and faculty administrators.You’ll discover: The You-Me-We Learning Model that forms the basis for all their development programsWhy the entire learning operation at UC Berkeley is branded as GROWWhat they’ve done to empower learners to be self-drivenHow coaching has been incorporated into their performance review systemWhat “Achieve Together” conversations between managers and employees sound likeCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What does powerful leadership in healthcare look and sound like? My guest Liz Bruno describes the qualities and behaviors that matter most when creating a culture where everyone thrives. You’ll want to catch every minute of this interview because Liz drops wisdom bombs throughout our entire conversation. Liz is the Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at Baptist Health System in Jacksonville, Florida. She’s an advanced practice psychiatric nurse who’s held leadership positions in learning and development for a number of health systems in the Southeast. Since joining Baptist Health in 2015, Liz and her team have designed and implemented innovative programs in both the clinical and leadership development arenas. You’ll discover: The distinction Liz makes between empathy and compassionThe negative impact that fatigue has on a leader’s behaviorWhy self-awareness is a critical component of effective leaderWhy Liz says everyone needs a coachHow Baptist Health helps employees connect with each other and with patientsCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Did you know that only 23% of people think their leaders lead well? How did we get to the point that employees have such low confidence in their leaders? Alain Hunkins understands what people are looking for, and why the approach of previous generations of leaders is not the answer. He talks in a compelling way about the three C’s that are required—Connection, Communication, and Collaboration. They form the basis of his excellent book, Cracking the Leadership Code.Alain is CEO of Hunkins Leadership Group, where he helps high achieving people become high achieving leaders.  Over his twenty-year career, Alain has worked with thousands of groups of leaders in 25 countries. Clients include Wal-Mart, Pfizer, General Electric, IBM, and Microsoft.You’ll discover: The impact on Alain of growing up with two Holocaust survivors (mother and grandmother)What younger workers are looking for—but not getting—from most leadersWhy leading with empathy is essential…and the benefits of doing soWhat gets in the way of leaders communicating wellHow to identify and acknowledge peak moments to create a positive workplaceCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What does it take to create a workplace where civility is a core value that’s lived every day? Sejal Thakkar tackles this topic head-on with clients, based on her experience as a former employment law attorney for corporations and as a human being who’s been on the receiving end of uncivil behavior. Sejal is on a mission to educate and empower people to create a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. She’s a 2x TEDx speaker shedding light on two vital topics: “The Pain, Power, and Paradox of Bias” and “How to Harness the Power of Exclusion and Go from Longing to Belonging.” Sejal is the Founder and Chief Civility Officer at TrainXtra, where she helps leaders create positive, safe, and respectful workplaces through customized training and coaching.She’s also responsible for cultivating a people-first culture at Nobody Studios.You’ll discover: The distinction Sejal makes between “civility” and “respect”How a company can make civility a core value and bring it to lifeWhy it’s important to become aware of your own unconscious biases The HAT strategy that encourages people to examine their biasesSubtle micro-aggression words and behaviors that undermine inclusionCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Can you imagine what it’s like to grow up in a home with a famous father and travel the world meeting celebrities and leaders of other countries? As the son of Hall of Fame boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, Ray Leonard Jr. doesn’t have to imagine it. He lived it.  Ray Jr lives by a four-word creed taught to him by his grandfather: “Know better. Be better.” And he practices this every day as he strives to be 1% better than the day before. You’ll love the simple routine he follows each evening to assess his day and reinforce the positive things he’s done.Ray Jr is a top motivational keynote speaker, radio host, actor, and award-winning business executive. He’s also a serial entrepreneur with experience in starting and running multiple businesses. He’s the CEO of Ovationz, a start-up company focused on matching virtual event planners with speakers who can serve their audiences.You’ll discover: Life lessons Ray Jr learned from his father and still applies todayWhat he’s committed to teaching kids in his role as a youth sports coachA sports figure Ray Jr has admired his entire lifeInsights that can help you become a more effective leader at work and at homeCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

How would you describe your attitude about money…and how well you’re taking care of the people who matter in your life? Get ready for some radical ideas about these topics from my guests, husband-and-wife team Dr. Shawn Dill and Dr. Lacey Book.  Chiropractors by profession, Shawn and Lacey are founders of The Black Diamond Club, a community of 600+ service professionals who have a desire to reach more people and make a bigger impact while creating the lifestyle they dream of. You’ll discover: The very different mindsets about money that Lacey and Shawn each brought to their relationship and businessHow to reframe “rejection” so you see it as a positiveThe #1 book Lacey recommends to clients to help them get past limiting beliefs about moneyHow to use an Abundance Timer to rewire your brain for AbundanceWhy Shawn recommends hiring the right person before defining the specific position they’ll fill in the companyCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro