The Mission Driven Leader

On this episode of The Mission Driven Leader, Ed Hoffman and Laurel Sim are joined by Nick Sonnenberg, Entrepreneur, Inc. columnist, guest lecturer at Columbia University, and the author of Come Up for Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning in Work. He is the Founder and CEO of Leverage, a leading operational efficiency consultancy that helps companies implement his CPR® Business Efficiency Framework. This is the culmination of Nick’s unique perspective on the value of time, efficiency, and automation which stems in part from the eight years he spent working as a high-frequency trader on Wall Street. The CPR (Communication, Planning, and Resources) Framework consistently results in greater output, less stress, happier employees, and the potential to gain an extra full day per week in productivity per person—just by using the right tools in the right way, at the right time. Nick and his team have worked with organizations of all sizes and across all industries, from high-growth startups to the Fortune 10. For more information about Nick's book and his company, Leverage, check out the links below! Company website - Leverage - Leaders in Optimizing Team Performance (getleverage.com) Book website - Come Up For Air Book by Nick Sonnenberg

Greg Robinson, Former Program Director, James Webb Space Telescope, discusses data and decision making at NASA. Topics include leadership training and development for engineers, effective communication and trust-building, favorite books on leadership, fostering an innovative culture, and learning from the past and embracing community.

Ed Hoffman, former Chief Knowledge officer of NASA and Laurel Sim, Partner and Vice President of Portfolio Management at Taleo are back for Season 2 of The Mission Driven Leader!  In this episode, Ed and Laurel reflect on all of the incredible guests we had in Season 1, and look forward to another exciting year of great conversation and learning.  Be sure to subscribe to The Mission Driven Leader so you never miss an episode!

On this episode Ed Hoffman and Laurel Sim are joined by CJ Gross, Founder of Ascension Worldwide, Author and TEDx Speaker.   Ascension Worldwide is a firm dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity training and consulting based in the Washington, D.C. area. CJ has 20-years of experience as an international organizational development consultant specializing in leadership development and Diversity and Inclusion. CJ is a certified Social + Emotional Intelligence coach, trainer, Keirsey Temperament professional, Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Administrator, and executive coach, with additional expertise in organizational mediation.   In addition, CJ has worked with domestic and international leaders from Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and government agencies on their Diversity and Inclusion strategies and initiatives. This training and experience enabled CJ to help clients explore impactful strategies for identity, diversity, inclusion, equity, and access from a unique vantage point.   CJ recently published a book titled, "What's Your Zip Code Story?: Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace". What’s Your Zip Code Story helps clarify the intersection of class bias and racial disparity in the workplace and arms organizations with the knowledge to not only have productive discussions, but also adopt effective solutions.    Learn more about Ascension Worldwide here: https://ascensionworldwide.com/

On this episode Ed and Laurel are joined by Laurence Prusak, Ph.D. Laurence Prusak was born in Brooklyn, NY and studied the History of Ideas in undergrad and graduate schools. After leaving academics as a career, he became interested in how organizations work and found work at several management consulting firms. Laurence was fortunate to land a job helping Ernst and Young develop a research and development office in Boston, and it was there when he met Tom Davenport and they became very interested in the role of knowledge in organizational life. Together they wrote a book called Working Knowledge which propelled the knowledge management movement. After that Laurence founded the IBM Institute for Knowledge Management and then became an advisor to NASA, the World Bank, and McKinsey and CO. Laurence has co-authored 7 books and edited 4 others, as well as having written over 60 articles and have facilitated talks and courses at over 40 universities around the world. Laurence is also the co-author of The Smart Mission: NASA’s Lessons for Managing Knowledge, People, and Projects (MIT Press, August 2022), alongside Ed Hoffman and Matthew Kohut.

On this episode, Ed and Laurel are joined by Matthew Kohut. Matthew Kohut is the managing partner of KNP Communications. He has prepared CEOs, elected officials, entrepreneurs, ambassadors, scientists, and best-selling authors for events ranging from television appearances to board meetings to TED talks. Matt has held appointments at George Washington University and Bennington College. He is the co-author of The Smart Mission (MIT Press, August 2022) and Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential, and his writing has appeared in publications ranging from Harvard Business Review to Newsweek. Social Media: @Matthew_Kohut on Twitter LinkedIn 

Laurel and Ed are joined by Heather Nedohin, Canadian and World Junior Curling Champion. Heather Nedohin grew up in Fort St. John, British Columbia as Heather Godberson is now a non-competing Canadian curler from Sherwood Park, Alberta. She is a former Canadian and World Junior Champion (1996), 3 X Scott Tournament of Hearts Champion (1998, 2012, 2021) and a 2 X World Bronze Medalist. She has competed on the Canadian tour for 20 years and has been a national training athlete/ team member. Most recently, Heather was the coach of Team Canada Women's Curling (Team Einarson) in the 2020 - 2021 season. She is married to 3 X World Champion David Nedohin. Fun Facts about Heather:  She graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Physical Education She is in her 8th year as Manager of the Sherwood Park Curling Club (1000+ members). Chair to host the GSOC Champions Cup in Sherwood Park April 2016 & U18 Canadian Junior Curling Championships April 2019. Has two daughters, ages 16 & 19, that compete in the sports of curling & varsity field lacrosse (Michigan) Loves to kayak with her dogs at the lake & do all sports behind the ski boat Enjoys Tea & pink Himalayan sea salt caramels from Purdys Find Heather on Social Media!  Twitter - @hnedohin / @shpkcurlingclub Facebook - @shpkcurlingclub Instagram - @shpkcurlingclub

On this episode Ed and Laurel are joined by Jessica Fox.    Jessica is a tv/film director, author and nerd whisperer with over 15 years of directing experience and credits that span award-winning film, theater and TV. Her memoir, “Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets” was ‘romantic memoir of the year’ (Daily Mail) and is in development with Annapurna Pictures. Her latest film, “Stella” is a historical retelling of Cinderella, and she currently creates/stars in the Youtube series “My Famous Dead Boyfriend”.    Off set, Jessica created The Open Book, Airbnb’s most popular destination in the world, and is a storytelling consultant for science organizations like NASA. Jessica is XpoNorth's film sector specialist.    Follow Jessica Here:   https://www.instagram.com/filmfoxwrite/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicafoxwriterdirector/

Laurel and Ed are joined by Olympic Silver Medalist and professional hockey player Daryl Boyle on this episode of the Mission Driven Leader Podcast.   Daryl was born and raised in Sparwood, BC. and moved with his family when he was around 12 years old to Lethbridge, AB and has continued to call Lethbridge home ever since. Daryl put on his first pair of hockey skates and stepped on the ice when he was 3 years old when his dad was coaching his older brother’s hockey team and would bring him out to all the practices.   Daryl played 4 years in the Western Hockey League and after that he started his professional hockey career and has been playing ever since. Internationally, Daryl played for the German National Team for about 5-6 years. He played at the 2016 World Hockey Championships and then at the 2018 Olympics, where he took home a silver medal. Daryl has since retired from the German National team and has shifted his focus on continuing his career with EHC Red Bull München and spending more time with his family. Daryl has been married to his lovely wife Dawn since 2018 and together they have a 2.5 year old son named Brees, who keeps them on their toes. Daryl and Dawn are expecting their second child in August.

On this episode of the Mission Driven Leader Ed and Laurel are joined by sports journalist and sports talk host on TSN 1260, Jason Gregor.   Jason is a sports talk radio host on TSN 1260 in Edmonton weekdays from 2-6 p.m. He began his radio career in 2001 after graduating with honours from NAIT’s Radio and Television Arts program, and he has hosted his own sports talk show since 2003. In 2005, he started his own broadcasting company, Just A Game Productions, and he operates every aspect of his show: on-air, sales, marketing and promotions.   In addition to his daily talk show he is the lead columnist on OilersNation.com and co-host of the DFO Rundown podcast with Frank Seravalli at www.Dailyfaceoff.com   Besides being an avid sports enthusiast, Jason is very passionate about philanthropy and community involvement. In the past decade he has raised over $2.5 million on his radio show for charities including, The MS Bike Tour, Santas Anonymous, The Christmas Bureau, Alzheimer’s Faceoff, Operation Friendship Seniors Society, Adopt-A-Teen and many more.  He founded The Gregor Foundation in 2014. The Foundation provides high school boys, who can’t afford it, a brand new suit, shirt, ties and shoes for their graduation.   Jason was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in 2014 and was named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 under 40 in 2011. Jason currently resides in St.Albert with his wife and son.  #podcast #leader #sports