Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

What does it take to prepare college and university students to be effective leaders when they graduate? My guest Tom Kolditz knows exactly what’s required…and he’s making it happen as Executive Director of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University—the most comprehensive, evidence‐based, university‐wide leader development program in the world. Tom was hand-picked by billionaire John Doerr to create this program. What Tom and his team have achieved in the past 6 years is ground-breaking and highly effective. Tom is extremely well-qualified for this role. He’s a retired Brigadier General, and for 12 years at West Point he led the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership. Then for 4 years he was the founding director of the Leader Development Program at the Yale School of Management. He's the co-author with my good friend Libby Gill of the book that explains all the components of the Doerr program: Leadership Reckoning: Can Higher Education Develop the Leaders We Need? You’ll discover: The 4 Principles of the Doerr Institute that drive all their program decisionsThe shortfalls in most college/university student leadership development programsWhy Tom’s focus of leadership development is on colleges/universities only and not high schoolsWhy HR executives compete to hire participants of the Doerr InstituteHow Tom has partnered with the Carnegie Foundation to co-create a classification system that every college and university in the U.S. can apply forCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Want to have a truly inspired and inspiring life? You’ll love what my guest Tony Martignetti has to say about this! Tony is a master at guiding his clients to explore their pasts and uncover themes in their life that help them identify the future they’d like to create. During our conversation, Tony describes what he does to be fully present so his clients feel safe opening up to him. Just listening to him is a gift that will help you discover how you can be in the moment and live a more inspired life.Tony is the Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer at Inspired Purpose Coaching. His mission is to elevate leaders and equip them with the tools to navigate through change and unlock their true potential. He loves guiding people to find clarity in their lives so they are energized, fully present, and unstoppable. He has 25 years of business and management experience, including the fields of life sciences and high tech. Tony is the host of The Virtual Campfire Podcast and the author of Climbing the Right Mountain: Navigating the Journey to An Inspired Life. You’ll discover: The moment Tony realized that, “To change the room, I had to leave the room.”Why Tony calls his coaching methodology Inside Out CoachingWhat the best leaders do to inspire others to do their bestWhat causes many leaders to feel unfulfilled…and how Tony helps them create their own definition of successWhy Tony advocates using “employee enrichment” instead of “employee engagement”Check out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Want to create a new perspective about the younger generation in the workplace? You must listen to my conversation with Evan Hackel! Evan is on fire about the value these young people bring to work. You’ll discover why he says, “Millennials are the best workers who have ever entered the workforce, and Generation Z will only be better.” Evan also describes the detailed process his company uses to interview and hire new employees…and the excellent results they’ve achieved. Evan is the CEO of Tortal Training, a leading training development company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tortal is on the cutting edge when it comes to the creation of mobile training platforms for organizations with distributed workforces. Evan is also Founder and Principal of Ingage Consulting, a management and leadership consulting firm located in Woburn, Massachusetts. And he’s the author of a wonderful book, Ingaging Leadership Meets the Younger Generation. You’ll discover: The distinction Evan makes between Ingagement and EngagementThe unique strengths that younger workers can bring to your organizationWays that Millennials and Gen Z generations are differentWhat type of training young people respond best toHow to onboard new hires so they become part of your culture fasterCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

If you’ve tried different time management systems and still feel overwhelmed and stressed, this episode is for you. My guest Mark Silverman shares key points from his excellent book (and my favorite on this topic), Only 10s 2.0 - Confront Your To-do List, Transform Your Life. Mark has created a simple system that’s easy to adopt and stick with. You will love the passion and energy he brings to our conversation around valuing your time, uncovering the real reasons why you don’t do the things that will achieve your goals, and the power of self-inquiry.When working for fast-growing tech startups, Mark generated more than $90,000,000 in sales. He achieved this by bringing together teams of executives and technical leaders to close complex multimillion-dollar sales. Mark has experienced, first hand, the pressure of the 'hustle and grind' culture along with the unique challenges of the "C-Suite." This experience, together with his years of training as a coach and facilitator, helps his coaching clients create sustainable and lasting success in all areas of their lives.Mark is the author of and the host of the Mastering Midlife Podcast.You’ll discover: How to identify the 10s that are your true top prioritiesWhy 7s, 8s and 9s can be so attractive and derail your focusThe one-word question Mark keeps asking his clients until they get to the real reason or root causeWhy self-inquiry is a key step in discovering the truth about your procrastinationHow to find the “gold” in any crisisCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Have you had trouble establishing a work-out routine and sticking with it? My guest Carl Ficks has helpful solutions to that challenge! Even if you have minimal time available, Carl describes how to create a plan that will work for you. He shares how his routine enables him to be more creative and come up with great ideas for his business. You’ll love Carl’s passion for the topic and the practical tips he shares!Carl is Founder of No Surrender, LLC, and his passion is helping busy professionals reclaim their wellness. His Ficks System is a proven road map for endurance athletes and weekend warriors alike. His weekly LinkedIn posts and bi-weekly newspaper columns, both titled “The Friday Ficks,” provide strategies, tools and inspiration to stay resourceful and resilient.You’ll discover: How being fit helped Carl during his years as an attorneyThe 2 big obstacles that prevent people from getting startedThe first step you can take to put a fitness program in placeWhy accountability is a key element of staying on track with your fitness goalsHow you can get fit with zero equipmentCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Want encouragement about the future of our youth? My guest Asheesh Advani, President and CEO of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide, describes all the ways JA is preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship. As one of the world's largest NGOs, JA is in more than 100 countries and reach 12 million students each year. Asheesh is a visionary and inspiring leader. You’ll love hearing the passion in his voice as he describes the impact JA is having on the lives of students around the globe. And he’s equally committed to developing his own team so they can serve their constituents in the most powerful way possible. Asheesh also describes how you can get involved as a volunteer in JA in your area.You’ll discover: The impact on career choice of high school students who shadow someone in a work settingHow AI lets students experiment with different career experiencesWhy it’s so important for non-profits to do impact tracking for their programsWhat Asheesh does to invest in the development of his leadership teamThe benefits Asheesh gained from getting 360 feedback and working with a coachCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Do you procrastinate about business development? My guest Janine Bolon knows how you feel. In this lively conversation, Janine explains how she learned to block time for four all-important activities and what you can do to make them enjoyable and fun. She describes the actual messages she leaves with people and why she has so many calls afterwards. If you’re committed to building strong relationships that lead to clients working with you, get ready to take notes and apply Janine’s ideas!  Janine has been a serial solopreneur since the age of 10. She is owner of The8Gates, LLC, which produces 4 podcasts, 15 online coaching classes and markets her 10 books. She is also a mom of 4 rambunctious human beings who continue to keep her need for structure in check. Janine’s programs and classes are all designed for one purpose: to help you have abundant cash flow while enjoying the family and friends who surround you. You’ll discover: The 4 elements in Janine’s system that should be on your calendar every weekHow to create audio messages that are authentic and compelling…and result in people wanting to talk to youThe low-tech, automated solution Janine uses to stay in touch and follow upWhy it’s critical to set aside time each week for your own educationCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Want to learn ways to take better care of your brain so you think and perform at higher levels? My guest Cindy Shaw has answers! Cindy explains the roles that food (what to eat and what to avoid), sleep and stress management play in optimizing the function of your brain. We had a fascinating discussion, and I’m certain you’ll have some ah-ha’s as you take in her insights and advice on this vital organ.Cindy is the founder of The Better Brain Academy. She’s a Certified Brain Health Coach with Amen University, and she uses her expertise as a brain health and mental performance trainer to help people transform their lives. By blending leading-edge neuroscience, brain health and self-improvement strategies, Cindy helps others naturally improve their moods, boost their performance, supercharge their energy and focus, and optimize their well-being. You’ll discover: Why brain health is critical to overall healthThe 5 brain centers that can be over or under active5 foods to add to your diet to help you optimize brain health…and the ones to avoidHow to incorporate SHIDDs – Small Habits I Do Daily – into your daily routineThe impact of proper amounts of sleep and probiotics on your brain functioningCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Do you feel stress or anxiety on a regular basis? That was the situation my guest Joe Perrone found himself in several years ago. As a small business owner, he had achieved greater financial success than he’d ever imagined, but he was not happy or at peace with himself. In this interview, Joe shares the various ah-ha’s he’s had in his journey to greater joy in every part of his life.Joe is the owner of 2 businesses in New Haven Connecticut – New England Collision and Astro Auto Repair. He’s learned how it work ON his business instead of IN it. You’ll be amazed to hear that Joe spends just 15-20 hours each week on site. Today he works with other business owners who’d like to have more free time, energy and money. His ebook, “5 Keys to Time Freedom” has excellent tips for creating days that are fulfilling and anxiety-free.You’ll discover: What Joe did to recover from the anxiety and panic attacks he experienced from allowing his business to run himWhy Joe is so committed to lifelong learning How Joe made the transition from working IN his business to working ON itThe impact that thinking of himself as a “business owner” had on Joe’s behaviorThe habits Joe has put in place to focus on giving and delivering value to othersCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Do you have any people who are “tornado magnets” in your life? If you find yourself consumed with too many thoughts about someone who’s creating issues for you, this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Roger Hall shares how to deal with these individuals…along with an amazing number of other ideas that you can use immediately to remove your negative, fearful thoughts and replace them with positive, more helpful ones. Roger is the author of Staying Happy, Being Productive: The Big 10 Things Successful People Do. He is a Business Psychologist with clients all over the country, and he trains leaders to monitor and manage their thinking. You’ll discover: The underlying fears that people often get paralyzed byHow to do an “airtime test” to find out what’s causing you concern or worryWhat one executive does to make sure he doesn’t “infect” others with his bad moodWhy Roger considers worry as malignant advanced planning and how to shift to seeking a positive solutionThe advantage of focusing on the right process rather than the result Why it’s so important to have people around you who will tell you the truthCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro