The Leadership Podcast

Hubert Joly is the former Chairman and CEO of Best Buy. He has been recognized as one of the one hundred "Best-Performing CEOs in the World" by Harvard Business Review, one of the top thirty CEOs in the world by Barron's, and one of the top ten CEOs in the United States in Glassdoor's annual Employees' Choice Awards. Hubert discusses his latest book, The Heart of Business, which dives into breaking old leadership paradigms, leading with purpose and humanity, and how we can use this to reinvent capitalism so that it contributes to a more sustainable future. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [3:40] The model of the leader is a superhero, who seems to know it all. However, no one wants to follow these guys anymore. [5:20] The most important decision we make in business is who we put in power. [7:00] Before you begin to lead others, you first need to define your purpose and what you're hoping to achieve. [8:15] If a leader doesn't know, then it's okay to admit that. That's how you begin to connect with your team. [9:10] In times of crisis, leaders can still show authenticity and regulate their emotions. Hubert shares an example of a crisis he faced at Best Buy. [12:50] Reflecting back, Hubert can identify some key mistakes he has made throughout his career. One of these being with hyper-growth. [14:35] When it came to reopening certain stores during COVID-19, Best Buy's current CEO, Corie Barry, decided to create a list of principles. [15:10] These principles allowed for critical teams to be empowered and to take action without waiting for permission. [17:25] In Hubert's latest book, the heart of the business needs to be more than a revenue machine, it needs to pursue a noble purpose. [20:00] Leaders are very focused on being in the weeds of the business when they actually need to focus on the center of the business: the people. [21:35] Best Buy was able to align its people on a noble purpose. Hubert shares a story of how he was able to connect selling electronics to a bigger mission. [25:35] Don't just use your brain. Use your heart, your soul, and your guts. [28:45] Hubert was trained to create a plan, define the KPIs, measure it, and then put incentives in place. Guess what, people don't like that too much! People do not like being told what to do. [35:10] A lesson Hubert has learned in life is: A decision gets made by the decision-makers. You have to focus on what you can control. The good news is, there's a lot you can control! [38:50] Good leadership journey starts with reflection and the type of legacy we want to leave behind. [41:55] When it comes to bringing more women to the table, if a leader says she's not ready for the next big leap, we need to help change that outcome and bring more support to her. [43:45] In Hubert's book he has a call to action: It's our job to create a better future. We each have a part to play. Quotable Quotes "Our role is to create an environment in which others can be successful." "The first principle is we are going to care about the safety of our employees and customers." "Instead of talking about the what, we talked about the why." "We are a company that focuses on enriching lives through technology by addressing key human needs." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty Connect with Michael: Hubertjoly.org and Hubert on LinkedIn Hubert's book: The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism Aligned: Connecting Your True Self with the Leader You're Meant to Be, by Hortense le Gentil

Michael Heller is one of the world's leading authorities on ownership. He is the Lawrence A. Wien Professor of Real Estate Law at Columbia Law School where he has served as the Vice Dean for Intellectual Life. Michael's latest book, Mine!: How the Hidden Rules of Ownership Control Our Lives, shows how people navigate, dispute, and resolve ownership issues. Listen in as Michael discusses airplane seating, custody of children, and the astounding South Dakota laws. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [4:40] Michael dives right in and shares a common story about ownership a lot can relate to: when someone pushes their seat back on an airplane. [5:30] "I had it first." There are six story arcs we tell ourselves when it comes to ownership. [7:10] As it relates to the airplane example and as people get more territorial about their space, there's actually more conflict happening than there was 20 years ago on airplanes. [8:10] If you want to resolve interpersonal conflict with your seatmate, buy him or her a snack. [9:50] Michael discusses the difference between need vs. ownership. [11:20] As kids, we know right away what possession means. [12:55] Online retailers understand human psychology. They understand we have a deep desire for physical possessions. [15:00] The United States actually has two legal systems. One for the people and one for the ultra-rich. [16:20] South Dakota has been a tax haven for the ultra, ultra-rich. [20:55] As a professor, Michael really wants to teach his students what it means to be a grownup. [22:50] Any decision you make reveals your deepest values. [29:15] Children's lives have been torn apart by badly crafted or non-existent estate plans. Parents can ease this burden by being specific. [30:45] The news thinks that we're going to have an end to ownership, especially when it comes to cars, houses, and other possessions. Michael disagrees. [37:00] Business leaders tend to overestimate the importance of law, especially intellectual property law. [42:10] Michael shares how ownership might differ in different countries. [44:35] Listener challenge: Take time to understand the six simple stories of ownership. Quotable Quotes "The feeling of community is very effective at resolving interpersonal conflict." "The law is overrated." "South Dakota was creating the conditions for an aristocracy of inherited wealth." "The bottom line: Possession + time, more or less, = ownership. Is that right? Is it just? In many cases, the answer is no." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty Connect with Michael: Law.columbia.edu and Michael on LinkedIn Michael's book: Mine!: How the Hidden Rules of Ownership Control Our Lives Disunited Nations: The Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned World, by Peter Zeihan

Ed Schein and Peter Schein, father and son duo, are well-known in the organizational development space and co-founders of the Organizational Culture and Leadership Institute. They've written several books together, including two in the Humble Leadership series. In this discussion, Ed and Peter share their thoughts on what leaders need to prepare for in order to build a more resilient culture, future, and organization. The truth is, your organization is always vulnerable, but you can build a more resilient culture. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [5:40] The "I alone" leadership model is obsolete. [8:15] When there's market disruption, the "I alone" static leadership will fail you. [8:55] Organizations today need to look more like a human organism and not like a well-oiled machine. [13:00] Leadership has become a moving target. Leaders used to be well-defined in projects. Now, as you bring in different departments to collaborate, it's not as clear. [14:15] Back in the day, Jim had different work, family, and life personas. Now, people realize that you can't truly be "one persona." [17:50] When discovering what exactly you have to do as a leader in an organization, it almost always means you have to talk to your direct reports, gather information, and act accordingly. [22:50] You can't redesign culture. You need to use your culture to aid a new change, but it does not work the other way around. [24:50] In a young company, leadership creates culture. In an old company, culture creates leadership. [25:45] Culture is a pattern of shared assumptions. You have culture from the type of history you've built. [30:55] When it comes to culture, you have to break it down to see where the disconnects are. [33:45] Ed expands on his statement that questions are a gentle art of asking, instead of telling. [38:15] Peter shares how you can create a humble inquiry within your team. [41:15] The truth is, your organization is always vulnerable. However, you can embrace this and turn it into a power. [45:30] Peter shares an example of what humble inquiry looks like. [47:45] The leader of the future needs to have a much broader perspective of cultures and the world. Quotable Quotes "I suddenly could look at culture and leadership from an inner generational point of view, which was all new to me." "The heroic leader model, the 'I alone' model, might have worked when scaling industrial corporations and the product was simpler." "You can design within the boundaries of your culture or you can destroy the whole organization and start anew, but you can't redesign culture." "What's really going on with the people I work with? Context over content." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty Connect with Ed and Peter: Scheinocli.org, Ed on LinkedIn & Peter on LinkedIn Ed's books: Humble Leadership, Organizational Culture and Leadership, and Humble Inquiry

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator and the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships. Networking is often considered a necessary evil for all working professionals. Even with social media platforms at our disposal, these connections often feel transactional, agenda-driven, and dehumanizing, leaving all of us feeling burnt out and stressed out. Susan shows how we can connect on a human level and build authentic relationships beyond securing a new job or a new investor for your next big idea. To build real and meaningful networking contacts, we need to go back to basics, remembering that technology is just a tool. We need to tap into our humanity and learn to be more intentional and authentic. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [4:45] Susan had good parental role models who were deeply connected to their communities. [7:50] Susan shares why some people might have a bit of hesitation when it comes to reaching out to other people. [11:50] There's such a lost art to being a better listener. People are notoriously horrible listeners. [13:20] As all of us know deep down, the amount of likes and followers is not an indicator of how connected you are to others. [17:10] Curiosity is a hard thing to teach. Susan shares how you can develop a deeper sense of curiosity in others. [22:25] By having a best friend at work, engagement increases drastically. However, so many people just want to do the work and go home. This is an opportunity for leadership to shine. [25:00] Susan has been incredibly lonely during this pandemic. She shared it with her team, and it allowed for them to share their personal struggles as well. [26:45] Susan shares how she reached out to her community in times of isolation and offers tips on how leaders can do the same. [28:20] When it comes to connecting, people fall apart the most in the follow-up. [31:00] There's nothing worse than receiving a follow-up email after you meet someone, nine months later! [34:20] Leaders are busy! Susan offers advice on how to connect with others when you've got so much going on. [38:10] Susan shares a story behind the power of connecting with others. [42:10] Listener challenge: What's the community you want to build around yourself? Quotable Quotes People are worthy of curiosity. We have become dependent to the clicks and likes and the follows as a means to measure how well we were connecting with others. "Carve out 15 minutes a week to reach out to a few people you haven't talked to in a year." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty Connect with Susan: Mcpstrategies.com & Susan on LinkedIn Susan's book: The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships Julian Treasure on Listening

Carole Robin is a leadership coach with over 35 years of experience. She is the Co-Founder of Leaders in Tech and taught at Stanford Graduate School of Business for 17 years. Out with a new book, Carole is the co-author of Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues, which is based on Stanford Business School's legendary Interpersonal Dynamics ("Touchy Feely") Course. Carole discusses how we can build deeper connections in the online world, why communication is the cornerstone for all interpersonal conflict, and how we can repair and strengthen existing relationships. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [2:25] Carole has had six different careers over her professional life. [7:10] There are a lot of opportunities in relationships. [8:30] Words are powerful, but they can also lose their meeting if we don't back them up with action. [9:45] People can say words, and they have every intention to make them "sound good," but you never truly know how your words have landed on someone else. [13:40] Carole shares how communication differs when you're in a virtual setting. [15:15] The power of starting a meeting off with, "If you really knew me…" [17:00] Carole shares her concerns about the hybrid work model. [19:15] A leader's job is to ensure the best answer is found. There's a lot of talk of trying to make the hybrid work model fair, but few have the solution. This is where a leader can thrive. [21:35] With so much communication on Slack, people are afraid their colleagues are saying things behind their back or being left out in important meetings. [23:25] Set the baseline in your company. When people understand what the standard looks like, there's less fear, uncertainty, and doubt. [25:20] So many people give feedback poorly. Here's how you don't fall into the same trap. [29:00] When done right, feedback is just data! [32:35] Children are conditioned to not express their emotions freely. Now as adults, think about the impact it has when we are trying to give them "feedback." [35:00] Carole shares why she co-founded her company, Leaders in Tech. [39:15] Carole shares how involved a CEO must be if they wish to conduct change within an organization. [41:25] Be prepared to do what you're asking everyone else to do. [43:20] You have to have a learner's mindset if you want to succeed. [44:10] Listener challenge: What worked five years ago, might not work today. Take the time to test it out again. Break it, refine it, grow from it. [45:15] Leaders develop these preconceived notions of what they "should be" long before they've become leaders. Carole had it, she believed she had to leave her emotions at the parking lot. Quotable Quotes "Language creates reality." "It's often a trap for a leader to think they have to come up with the answer." "Feedback is a skill and most people don't know how to do it well." "We socialize the ability to express emotions out of kids." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty Connect with Carole: Leadersintech.org & Carole on LinkedIn Carole's book: Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues

Adam Bryant is the Managing Director of Merryck & Co., a senior leadership development and executive mentoring firm. Prior to joining Merryck, Adam worked for 30 years as a journalist, including 18 years as a reporter, editor, and columnist at The New York Times. Adam cites the most common pitfall leaders face. "In terms of leader challenges, the biggest one is the gap between how clear something is in their own head versus how clear it is to everybody else." Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [5:25] Adam shares what inspired him to write his book, The CEO Test. [7:10] This book is not just for CEOs! This is a book for leaders. [9:10] The simplest questions are often the hardest to answer. [10:15] A lot of leaders think they understand strategy, but actually, we each define strategy completely differently and it's not so clear what it really means. [11:35] A leader's job is often to just explain to people where they're headed. Almost like answering questions the way little children have in the backseat of a long car ride. [12:15] Your strategy might seem clear to you, but to your team, it's not. It's important to constantly check in and double-check that everyone understands where we're headed. [13:15] We love simple answers to complex problems, but that rarely works the way we need it to. [15:00] New leaders are confused. They don't know how to be. [17:15] Leadership looks so simple on paper, but the moment you're in the field and practicing it on real people, the results really do vary. [19:40] Leadership has gotten harder. Adam explains why. [24:15] Adam recommends some of the best ways leaders should be thinking about strategy. [25:15] Here's a quick one-page exercise you can do to really narrow your focus and get everyone centered on strategy. [27:35] We're losing the beauty of writing. Everything seems to be so quick and bullet-pointed. [32:00] In Adam's experience, a lot of leadership teams are simply too close to their business and are not able to see their own downfalls because they view themselves as the "expert." [35:45] Leaders really need to take some priority and time off just to think about the big picture. They need to step away from being in the business. [38:25] Adam wonders why CEO tenures are so short. [41:35] Leaders are often good at solving problems, but it doesn't appear that many are rewarded for preventing problems from occurring in the first place. [43:35] Adam talks about "the art of the good dumb question." [46:35] Listener challenge: Who is the best listener you know? Listening well is a lost art and a very underrated leadership skill. Quotable Quotes "There are challenges that all leaders face that are similar regardless of their rank." "We tend to focus on really simple questions, but what I've come to understand about business and leadership, the simplest questions are the hardest." "In terms of the challenges people have, the biggest one for leaders is very often there is a gap between how clear something is in their own head vs. how clear it is to everybody else." "Leadership is so dynamic and this is part of the trap of leadership. In these theoretical frameworks, it makes a lot of sense, but 30 seconds later you encounter human beings." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Connect with Adam & his new book, The CEO Test: Master the Challenges that Make or Break All Leaders Adambryantbooks.com & Adam on LinkedIn TV show: Ted Lasso Dinesh Paliwal

Bo Brabo is the Founder of Hail Media Group & The Brabo Center of Excellence. He is a retired U.S. Army Chief of HR Operations and served in the White House as the Presidential Communications Officer under President Bush and President Obama. He shares his thoughts on uphill challenges for leaders, and why it's hard to break through the next phase in one's career. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [4:55] A lot of HR representatives are not making it to the executive seat. Bo explains why. [8:45] If you're an HR representative, Bo urges you to go into organizational development. You have got to understand what makes your business hum. [9:10] HR professionals have to take their own personal development into their own hands. [10:00] If you can speak the CFO's language, your relationship with the CFO would drastically change. [13:45] Bo talks about his experience as an HR professional at the White House. [17:15] When the President shows up to speak, he needs to be ready to go without fail. The only way you can do this in a timely manner is by empowering your people to make good decisions. [21:35] Bo explains why people come up short when it comes to leading others. [26:50] The best leaders have a battle rhythm to their routine. They keep doing that one thing that will make them successful, no matter how challenging or defeating the day prior was. [29:25] Bo shares some of the common traits of a good battle rhythm. [33:10] It's one thing to have values in your organization. It's another thing to really break down what those behaviors look like. [38:15] Bo discusses the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and why it's such a great place. [42:10] Bo shares why building his expertise around business, and the multiple ways it works, has helped him excel as a person and a leader. [43:00] Listener challenge: Don't wait for someone to offer you professional development. Quotable Quotes "Yes, you are confident, great. You might have the ability to be a great leader, but you've got to fill in the team behind you to actually support all the things you don't know how to do." The theme that came out of season one of our podcast was battle rhythm. Our guests had, even when they had downtimes and they weren't getting what they wanted to achieve, what brought them out of it was a battle rhythm." "A successful battle rhythm. All the leaders had physical fitness in their life, they're up early, they're getting after it not just five days a week, but seven days a week. They have mentors/coaches that are helping them." "Don't wait for someone to offer you professional development or wait for your company to back you in an endeavor." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Connect with Bo: Robertbrado.com & Bo on LinkedIn

Dr. Beverly Kaye is recognized internationally as a professional dedicated to helping leaders understand the practical "how-to" principles of employee development, engagement, and retention. She is the author of five books, all of which have stood the test of time and are applicable to today's leaders. Bev shares her insights into why love is a powerful word for a leader, but how to frame it so that it doesn't get misconstrued as "unconditional" love. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [3:25] Most issues leaders encounter are actually very common problems! [4:35] Leaders have been missing the boat when it comes to human connection. We need to slow down and really get to know our staff. [5:40] People are sick of meetings. They miss the watercooler chitchat. Well, guess what, you can do that in a virtual meeting too! [7:15] It seems so simple to just ask how someone is doing, on an intentional and conscious level, yet we tend to make things way more complicated than it needs to be. Not everything needs to be a warm-up exercise or procedure! [8:40] For leaders who aren't "raised" in the human resource world, it's a lot harder to take natural human cues and run with them and tune into them. [9:40] Everyone these days has a personal brand, and no one was talking about this 20‒30 years ago. The self-importance of the individual has skyrocketed. [11:00] You have to put your ego aside and say occasionally that you don't know or even extend the question and ask your employees how'd they handle a situation. [11:45] Dr. Bev shares her thoughts on leadership development and whether you should keep this in-house with your staff or extend these trainings to contractors or partners. [14:10] Words like "love" and "family" used in a business setting seem to be a bit disjointed. A business is to make a profit at the end of the day, but there must be a way to incorporate a sense of community in the organization. Dr. Bev breaks down why love is important. [18:35] Every work culture is so different. It can almost feel like a landmine to walk into a diverse organization and call the team a family. [21:10] Perhaps family and love are too strong for your organization, but Dr. Bev offers suggestions on how these can show up in a different way. [24:40] Content is lonely without context. [26:20] Sometimes people cannot concentrate on what you're trying to teach them until they get their griefs aired and out in the open. COVID-19 has hit us all hard; it's important to use empathy and understanding to get the most out of your people. Don't let them bottle up their emotions. [28:15] Practice mentoring in the moment and see how it shows up for your team. Maybe you don't need a full day of training when you can teach key concepts on the fly. [30:40] Dr. Bev is hearing from all of her clients and colleagues right now that they're overwhelmed. This is your opportunity to shine as a leader and help ease the burden. [32:30] Dr. Bev shares an important values exercise to see whether the company culture fits your needs. [33:40] You don't figure out your values by being busy. You have to sit in silence. [33:50] Listener challenge: Look around you; have you complimented your colleagues and/or staff recently? Take this time to practice a bit of appreciation for your people. Don't take them for granted. Quotable Quotes "We have to get off of our pontificating about, 'the things leaders should do' and feed them ideas." "There's this thing called ego that gets in the way so easily, and it gets in the way more and more as people move up that ladder." "What derails leaders? Ego is at the top of the list. Like, 'I don't need anybody else, I know what to do, I know who I am.'" "Before I close the door on an employee, I want to check out where should the love go. 'When I hired you, it looked like a great match, what happened?'" Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Connect with Dr. Bev: Bevkaye.com & Bev on LinkedIn Dr. Bev's book: Love 'Em or Lose 'Em, Sixth Edition: Getting Good People to Stay

Suzanne Nance is a world-class record holder, professional speaker, and executive coach. Having climbed to the top of the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents, and skiing the Last Degree (100 miles) to both the North and South Poles, Suzanne is the first American woman to accomplish the Explorer's Grand Slam. Suzanne shares her unique experiences and dives into the things she's learned about leadership when summiting some of the toughest mountains in the world. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [3:15] Suzanne's climbing adventure all got started when she experienced an injury. She had to focus on the small steps that she could do. [5:25] Despite Suzanne being in these very remote mountain tops and locations, she was still parenting her children and telling them to go to the dentist! [8:50] At one point, Suzanne thought she was going to lose her toes. Things were dire. [11:45] When it comes to bringing out your duct tape to save toes, every leader goes through these moments where they've had to plan ahead in case of an emergency. [15:05] It can be maddening trying to tackle small tasks when you're at such a high altitude and have very little oxygen available to you. Leaders are always under pressure, but if you take a step back and just recognize your mental state, that goes a long way in making calculated, and calm, decisions. [17:35] There are three things Suzanne likes to focus on when she's climbing a mountain with a team. [19:25] We all have conflict, but it's important to remember the big picture. You need these people just as much as they need you. [21:55] At one point, Suzanne wanted to turn back, but she didn't because she knew that it meant that it would rob another team member of their opportunity to summit. [23:00] The biggest adversary is often yourself. Suzanne shares how to conquer your mind. [29:45] We are all on our own little journey to get to the top. [32:45] Suzanne doesn't have any regrets. She's made mistakes, but they've been excellent learning opportunities. [34:00] Listener challenge: Take your opportunity to climb your own Everest. Quotable Quotes "Something is going to happen, I am guaranteeing it. So how are you preparing?" "Everyone has an impact on each other on these small teams. We all carry gear." "We all have something to offer and we all support each other, and without one of us, we could be jeopardizing the team." "We are leaders. We can reach the pinnacle of many things, and after climbing, that's what I really took home." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Connect with Suzanne: Leadfromthetop.com & Suzanne on LinkedIn

Stephen Bailey is the Founder and CEO of ExecOnline, a leading provider of B2B leadership development solutions through partnerships with the world's top business schools. He brings a passion for helping leaders and their organizations solve their most pressing strategic challenges. Join us as we dive into the topics of diversity and inclusion, and cultivating talent in smarter ways. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [4:00] Leaders need to be thinking about conscious ways to include a wide range of ethnicities in the conversation so that it's embedded in the DNA of the organization. [5:45] The good news is, companies are stepping up to the challenge and taking on this new level of commitment to ending systemic racism. [8:15] Before, we were living in a world that had a limited number of seats or "opportunities," but because the world has opened up and we are now embracing more online options, the candidate has more power to choose an option that fits them. [11:00] Have a talent gap? The traditional approach is to invest more in talent acquisition. However, that's not the best approach when it comes to cultivating diverse talent. [13:35] Stephen shares the three components of development equity in an organization. [17:05] Corporate America only has a limited amount of seats to fill. Stephen shares some of the best ways to structure incentive programs so that they are inclusive of everyone. [21:55] We all have an unconscious bias. An exercise that leaders can do is to map your decision-making network and see what gaps and perspectives are being left out. [25:45] Stephen defines what he means by "equality" in the context of corporate America. [28:15] Our current way of onboarding talent is a bit backward. We should have a strong emphasis on cultivating internal talent to fill in new roles. [32:45] Women leaders have a different set of challenges in the workforce that they have to overcome. [35:45] Stephen shares how you can use empathy in a virtual setting to still check in with your employees' wellbeing. [39:45] Efficiency is the enemy when it comes to wanting to take on a more collaborative approach. [42:10] In order for organizations to leverage their talent, you need to put the right systems in place. The current model is broken. [44:25] Listener Challenge: Map your decision-making network and see where it leads you. Quotable Quotes "How do we leverage new opportunities to create meaningful change as opposed to making a big splash and then reverting back to the status quo." "Business is changing so rapidly that the best organizations have to constantly update their standards for success." "If a female leader completes a really high-quality project in one of our programs. It is harder for her to get her manager to listen to that project than a male counterpart." "It has to be a systems-level approach. The traditional approach has been purely toward the individual. You identify your unconscious biases. You do something about them." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Connect with Stephen: Execonline.com & Stephen on LinkedIn