There are countless books and resources to help people develop good leadership skills, but not many people or institutions seem to focus on developing good followership. The military is one exception. Today on the show, we are joined by Trier Bryant, CEO and Co-Founder of Just Work who shares insight from her career leading teams in the Air Force, at Goldman Sachs, and at Twitter. Trier co-founded Just Work with Kim Scott, the New York Times Bestselling Author of Radical Candor, and the author of another more recent book also titled Just Work. Apart from blowing our minds with her perspectives on followership and the critical need for organizations to take better care of their people, Trier also sheds light on workplace injustice and how to go about rooting out bias. To discover what it means to be a good follower, what the three root causes of workplace injustice are, and a practical framework to help you challenge and overcome injustice in your workplace, tune in today! Key Points From This Episode:An introduction to Trier Bryant, her company Just Work, and the book of the same name written by her co-founder.The critical need for organizations to take care of their people.The moment where Trier first identified this need in the corporate world and how her experience in the military informed this.Other ways the military and the corporate world treat their people differently. What the military does really well: they teach people about leadership as well as followership. What it means to be a good follower.Thoughts on how a good leader wants to be challenged. How the military teaches good followership and the value of good questions from both sides. Examples of good followership and insight into the different types of followers. Barak Obama and Jack Dorsey as examples of followers that Trier admires. Why Trier was underwhelmed by the transition from banking to tech. The three root causes of workplace injustice.How the Just Work Framework helps companies overcome injustice to get things done fast and fair.An example of a situation where one of Just Work’s principles led to a game-changing moment. Resources or strategies to help listeners move ahead in applying the framework discussed in this podcast.What compelled Trier to co-found Just Work with Kim Scott and become its CEO and what she wishes she had done differently.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Trier Bryant on LinkedInJust WorkKim Scott on LinkedInRadical CandorJust Work: How to Root Out Bias, Prejudice, and Bullying to Build a Kick-Ass Culture of InclusivityChiefTED: How to reduce bias in your workplaceD HibbertJeremy Utley on LinkedInMarcus Hollinger on LinkedIn

Today, we are joined by Founder and CEO of Bossy Cosmetics Inc., Aishetu Fatima Dozie. After 20 years in investment banking, Aishe took a sharp turn and directed her focus toward discovering her purpose and her passion. Thus, the mission-driven women's empowerment company masquerading as a beauty brand, Bossy Cosmetics, was born. In this episode, we hear about Aishe’s inspiring journey and why she considers her identity to be her journey. We discuss the painful process of having to divorce yourself from what you think the solution is when in actual fact, what the customer wants is all that counts. Aishe fills us in on the power of wording in design, the importance of communicating with your customers, and how Bossy Cosmetics uses language to connect with and empower their customers. We also touch on the crucial topic of inspiration and how to defend the time you need to fill your cup. Tune in to discover the power of confidence in transforming your life, how to navigate failure, and which Bossy Cosmetics products are Oprah Winfrey’s personal favorites!Key Points From This Episode:Aishetu Fatima Dozie’s transformational experience at the Stanford Design School.A painful lesson she has learned in her business, Bossy Cosmetics Inc.A real-life example of Aishe’s customers’ wants not matching the solution she designed.How to navigate instances when your product doesn’t hit the mark with customers.The genesis of Bossy Cosmetics.How confidence can transform your life.The intersection of purpose and passion.Aishe defines “founder market fit”.The role her identity has played in her journey.How Aishe came to identify her purpose.The importance of talking to and connecting with your customers. Which Bossy Cosmetics products Aishe feels hit the mark.The importance of wording in design.The four Bossy Cosmetics lipstick colors Oprah Winfrey picked.How Bossy Cosmetics Inc. conveys its messaging to customers.The color that recently resonated with Aishe and the bestselling product she created with it!What analogous exploration is and how Aishe fills her cup of inspiration.The importance of defending time to fill your cup.Aishe’s advice for those who have not been raised with privilege.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Aishetu Fatima DozieAishetu Fatima Dozie on LinkedInAishetu Fatima Dozie on TwitterAishetu Fatima Dozie on InstagramBossy Cosmetics Inc.Musée BleuBossy Cosmetics Inc. on InstagramBossy Cosmetics Inc. on TwitterBossy Cosmetics Inc. on TikTokBossy Cosmetics Inc. on YouTubeJeremy Utley Marcus Hollinger

There’s a sense of freedom and a chance of learning a new perspective when traveling between, or living in different countries. Who better to learn about this than from Julian Jordan: polyglot, design enthusiast, and adventurer who has lived on three different continents! Today, we find out what Julian means when he talks about the “spidey sense” he feels when moving somewhere new, and how he defines what it means to be fluent in a language (so much more than simple syntax!). He tells us how the “spidey sense” opened his eyes and broadened the lens through which he sees the world, and why he feels it’s almost a high. We find out how he first felt this high when traveling for football, and what a mentor meant when he told Julian about the Fireman Theory. Find out the importance of curiosity in life, and how Julian keeps travel and adventure exciting when the scaffolding of life starts to rise. We hear three excellent ideas to get to know the place you are living, and a funny anecdote of how things can get lost in translation. Tune in to find out how the histories of different countries affect people's identity and some sage advice on why friends from different areas of interest or cultures are great for your worldview. We look forward to you joining us on this adventure!Key Points From This Episode:An introduction to Julian Jordan, design enthusiast, polyglot, and adventurer. Where Jeremy and Marcus met, and the benefits of being curious. The difference between being fluent and being competent in a language.Why Julian chose to live in Brazil. How experiencing new countries and cultures gives you a high like a spidey sense. What Julian means by this spidey sense, and how it’s a result of your perception shifting. How Julian got hooked by travel, and what he means by the Fireman theory. Keeping a sense of adventure when the scaffolding of life starts rising.Tips from Julian on how to truly experience a new place: walk aimlessly, get up and out before sunrise, and find underground jazz clubs. Anecdotes of when things got lost in translation. Reframing your view of yourself based on different histories between countries. The advice Julian gave to his brother: have a friend from each area of interest in life to widen your lens.Jeremy’s book recommendations to immerse yourself in other cultures.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Julian Jordan on LinkedInThe Tim Ferriss Show: Chris Dixon and Naval Ravikant — The Wonders of Web3 And Much MoreDancing Wu Li MastersAKQAMy Name Is RedA Fine BalanceMaximum CityJeremy Utley Marcus Hollinger

The majority of the world’s coffee is made in areas inhabited by people with black and brown skin. However, coffee culture globally has cropped this out. Addressing this issue through pouring a new narrative in the coffee industry is today's guest, co-founder, and CEO of Portrait Coffee, Aaron Fender. Aaron is driving the conversation around the origins of coffee through his unique brand, where each product is a portrait of an inspirational person with ties to the flavor of the coffee within. We dive into where Aaron found the inspiration for the brand, and how the Barry was created. Find out how curiosity drives Portrait’s mission, and Jeremy’s brilliant idea around marketing to initiate the conversation! We also learn where Aaron’s passion for coffee started, and how he came to realize the rich history of coffee being overlooked by the industry. Uncover the wealth of experience that lead Aaron to becoming an entrepreneur to solve the problem he’d identified, and where he finds his inspiration. From submitting an NBA salary caps article alongside his compensation table, to why brewing coffee is similar to a barbecue, Aaron’s outlook is wonderfully unique, a driving force in the success behind Portrait Coffee. So, grab your cup of coffee and tune in to uncover a world of passion and progress in this exciting episode!Key Points From This Episode:Welcome to today’s guest, Aaron Fender, co-founder and CEO of Portrait CoffeeWhat Aaron would love this conversation to contain: a learning opportunity!The creative accomplishment Aaron is most proud of (creating the coffee named Barry).Why Portrait Coffee is so unique, and how it pours a new narrative into the coffee industry. How curiosity drives Portrait’s mission.The origin of the Barry coffee, and the translation from black skin under moonlight to a coffee flavor.How Aaron was drawn to coffee: from hospitality to sparking a conversation. A great idea from Jeremy on how to get Portrait customers to engage in the conversation.The story behind Aaron identifying the lack of representation of people of color in coffee consumption.The moment Aaron realized he needed to seize the opportunity before it was too late!Where you can find out more about Aaron and Portrait Coffee. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Portrait CoffeeAaron Fender on LinkedInPortrait Coffee on InstagramMoonlightAdam Grant on LinkedInProfit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making MachineRange: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized WorldThe Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American InnovationJeremy Utley Marcus Hollinger

The COVID-19 pandemic was devastating for a huge swath of the global population. This is especially true for families and individuals living from paycheck to paycheck. One major component that can make a difference in how people grow their wealth and manage their money, is financial literacy. This week on the show we sit down with JR Kanu, Founder and CEO of REACH, a technology company based in Lagos, Nigeria, to talk about how he turned his back on a great opportunity in America to build a legacy in Nigeria and what he’s learned about himself, entrepreneurship, and tech, over the course of his journey. JR expands on why it was so important for him to return to Nigeria after studying and working in America, as well as why the impact of other successful entrepreneurs in Africa was so inspiring to him. Tuning in, you’ll hear JR expand on the founding of the company, how it started as a credit scoring algorithm, and why they made an important shift to helping Africans across the continent better manage their finances. He also shares how his faith helped him to not make decisions based on fear, and how his wife helped him stay the course when he doubted the important work he was doing. Tune in to learn more about JR’s journey, the importance of investing in Africa, and how REACH has helped thousands of individuals improve their financial lives!Key Points From This Episode:Introducing JR Kanu, the Founder and CEO of REACH.How long REACH has been running and the scale of their audience.How REACH started as a credit scoring algorithm, and how they’ve changed.How REACH realized it had a responsibility to the people whose data they were using.Why REACH has put a pause on lending and how they are prioritizing financial literacy.The concept of Black Tax and how it affects generational wealth and wealth accumulation.The questions posed by REACH’s audience and the cumulative process of answering them.How to find the balance between focus and being adaptive as an entrepreneur.JR’s connections to America and Africa and how he felt compelled to serve African consumers.Why JR declined a very appealing offer from Amazon to continue his work with REACH.JR’s relationship with his wife and her enduring support of REACH’s mission.How JR’s faith has helped him not make decisions based on fear.JR’s hopes for a broader conversation around Africa and the positive associations he wants to build and impart when it comes to the African continent.What it means to have a good relationship with your homeland and what JR observed about families who had built their business at home.Some of the long-term benefits that JR hopes to see for users of his product.How Afua Osei, a fellow business school graduate, helped JR get an important new perspective on his business.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:JR Kanu on LinkedInREACHAfua OseiAfua Osei on InstagramJeremy Utley Marcus Hollinger

While many brands spend lots of time and money trying to present themselves in a way that is culturally relevant, today’s guest Gavin Guidry learned a powerful lesson while working as a content creator. He suggests that the best way for a brand to get its message across is not through cultural relevance but actually through community relevance. Despite being a Black man who never went to portfolio school, Gavin now works as one of R/GA Advertising’s creative directors. Apart from blowing our minds with this revelation, in this conversation, Gavin also talks about the need to cultivate a base set of knowledge before seeking to break a paradigm. He sheds light on the fact that the popular quote by Malcolm X, “By any means necessary,” may actually have a lot more to do with preparation than we may think. Tuning in you’ll hear about the value of social media to harness the power of authentic community, the value of community relevance in the current social and political climate, and Gavin’s tools for building community relevance. To finish off the show, Gavin reads us a profound quote by Tyler Mitchell that has fueled a lot of his thinking over the past several months. For all this and more, don’t miss this episode!  Key Points From This Episode:How Jeremy learned the value of being deliberate about his own blind spots through this podcast. Gavin’s belief that everything that's good develops organically.How being a content creator led Gavin to become a creative director in the advertising space.How he realized he was an in-house advertising agency and a breakdown of all that his job as a content creator entailed. Gavin’s most profound revelation as a content creator: It's all about community relevance over cultural relevance. The story of how Gavin came to this realization. The value of social media to hear from and harness the power of authentic community. How Gavin distinguishes the difference between community relevance and cultural relevance. The value of community relevance in the current social and political climate. Gavin’s tools for building community relevance.The challenges faced by young Black creators to break into the advertising industry.Why Gavin believes you need to learn from a landscape before you disrupt it.  How Gavin processes the energy that says that cultivating takes too long and it's time to tear down the old structures for the sake of equality. How Gavin takes self-awareness precursory work and connects it to the work of community relevance.  How Gavin protects the discipline of inspiration and makes time to be inspired. A quote by Black photographer Tyler Mitchell that has fueled a lot of Gavin’s thinking over the past several months.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Gavin Guidry Gavin Guidry on LinkedInR/GAWish AtlantaHypebeast ComplexIn the Plex Culture MakingJeremy Utley Marcus Hollinger

Today’s guest never set out to become an entrepreneur, he just wanted to make a really big impact. He followed his love of basketball and policy, as well as his unique ability to connect the dots, into the business world. Now Mustafa Abdul-Hamid is the co-founder of My90 and the founder of Boost. In this episode, he shares his journey with us in an amazingly inspiring conversation. Tuning in you’ll hear about the impact having kids has had on his life and how he maintains his focus on the ‘North Star’, personally and professionally, through the practice of ruthless prioritization. He chats about the two companies he founded or co-founded, the different contexts of each, and how they both overlap and feed each other. He explains how his unique skill set and perspective led him into the world of entrepreneurship, how Boost greatly evolved from what it started out as, how Mustafa knew when to pivot the company’s direction, and what he will do differently the next time he starts a company. We’re sure you'll enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with an incredible entrepreneur, so tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:The impact of having kids on Mustafa’s life as a founder.The value of ruthless prioritization and how this plays out in his business.How choosing a co-founder is very similar to choosing a life partner.  How ruthless prioritization plays into consensus-building and the importance of clear direction.  An example of a recent output Mustafa and his wife/co-founder Kona achieved as a result of having a clear direction.  Insight into the two different contexts Mustafa draws upon and is responsible for as a founder of two companies and how they feed each other. How Mustafa came to see this common thread in these two contexts. Mustafa’s love of policy, his ability to connect dots, and his desire to make a big impact.How he came to use his unique skill set and perspective in entrepreneurship.What Boost did when it first started and how it has evolved into data-driven story-telling.How Mustafa knew when to pivot in the evolution of Boost.How to reduce the risk when founding a company and what Mustafa will do differently next time. The magic that happens when you do enough to inspire a potential customer to see your potential and ask you to do something.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Mustafa Abdul-Hamid My90 Boost Jeremy UtleyMarcus Hollinger

The mark of a successful entrepreneur is the ability to identify and serve a need in the marketplace and, with the rise of the pandemic, the need for door-to-door healthcare delivery became critical. Today we're talking to Derrick Miles, Founder and CEO of CourMed, who not only provides such deliveries and services to your door but are revolutionizing healthcare by putting encouragement at the center of the patient experience! In this conversation, he talks us through the turning point that drew him to leave a six-figure salary to start this venture and critical inflection points that have allowed them to keep growing. We dive into his intentionality in creating generational wealth for his sons, and his personal philosophy of remembering the value of real relationships. Listen in to discover Derrick's innovative tactics for securing world-class talent, and what it takes to bring a board of directors' strategic vision to create value in the market. You'll also hear stories of the clandestine meetings that set him on the path to his hard-won success, as well as an outline of how his leadership principle of encouragement filters through to every level of the company. To hear Derrick’s top advice for other entrepreneurs thinking of taking the plunge, tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: Derrick Miles introduces CourMed and how it has revolutionized healthcare delivery.Hear the inflection points that allowed the company to grow and build.Reflections on how margin is the biggest influence in any pivoting decisions. Strategically choosing the board of directors in order to leverage their expertise.The life-changing advice he received early on that saved CourMed time and time again. An innovative approach to staffing and how he's built a team of A-players.Derrick shares his top leadership principle: the power of encouragement.The hugely positive feedback that's letting them know the customers feel encouraged.How they've also used encouragement to build revenue for community pharmacies. Some great advice for anyone considering leaving stability to become an entrepreneur.Hear some stories of meetings with people who changed the course of his life. The story of growing up in a low-income area and deciding he wanted more for himself.Derrick shares the importance of family to him and a great book recommendation! Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Derrick Miles on LinkedInCourMedCourMed on TwitterMcKessonAmerisourceBergenCardinal HealthUniversity of AlabamaUniversity of FloridaAdvocate Health CareVizientHenry ScheinUCLA HealthAbbottPeter DanielsKneeland YoungbloodJeremy UtleyMar HershensonReach RecordsPortrait CoffeeStandford d.school

Jonathan Azu is an inspirational individual who has always followed his passion and taken risks, and it has paid off in many ways, even driving positive change in greater society. Today, the Founder and CEO of Culture Collective joins us to reflect on how his life has come full circle in a number of ways throughout his career. He describes how his first success in organizing a George Clinton concert while in his sophomore year at college, led him into a successful career in artist management. Apart from sharing many of his successes, you’ll also hear about his habit of scheduling meetings regularly with folks who he looks up to, and the importance of doing things with purpose. Jonathan talks about how being one of three executives of color in a room at a prestigious event, none of whom owned their own businesses, led him to start his own management company, and how the events of the last two years have allowed him the opportunity to be in the epicenter of the conversation around diversity in the industry. To hear about Jonathan’s belief in the concept of the high-performance zone which exists right between danger and comfort, and his advice on risk-taking, tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:The accomplishment that Jonathan is most proud of: Producing his first concert in his sophomore year at university. How Jonathan realized what his life’s calling was. Jonathan’s goal of doing a Dave Matthews concert and how he achieved this early on. What led Jonathan to work in radio. How Jonathan’s life came full circle when he started working for Red Light Management (Dave Matthews’ management company).Jonathan’s drive to figure things out and how he asks for advice about every two weeks. What led Jonathon to establish Culture Collective. The need for more diversity in the industry and how Jonathon is making a difference. Some of his wins from the past year in business and in driving initiatives to make a change.How the George Floyd murder allowed Culture Collective the opportunity to be in the epicenter of the conversation around diversity in the industry. Jeremy talks about the Masters of Creativity program at Stanford.Jonathan explains the importance of doing things with purpose. How Jonathan tries to foster understanding when it comes to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.A resource that Jonathon recommends to anyone on a similar journey to his own.  The concept of the high-performance zone between danger and comfort, and Jonathon’s advice on taking risks.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Jonathan Azu on LinkedInCulture CollectiveDrake UniversityGeorge Clinton  Chuck DDave Matthews CBS Radio Red Light Management The Masters of Creativity program at Stanford The New York Times The Wall Street Journal The Tim Ferriss Show Jeremy Utley Marcus Hollinger

Today’s guest, Ise Lyfe, believes that emotional intelligence goes hand-in-hand with the success of a company. Ise is the CEO of Lyfe Productives, a product development company dedicated to making health and education provocative for hard-to-reach audiences. He is known for creating many positive impacts on society through his business and is most proud of one particular deal where he partnered with the FDA and a local food distributor to bring healthy food to an urban community that he believed to be surrounded by bio-chemical warfare. In this episode, he explains what it means to institutionalize emotional intelligence in a company, how he creates a loving work environment that accommodates factors beyond his control, and the importance of creating a margin for error to help employees feel secure. Tuning in you’ll discover Ise’s management tips for how to cultivate an environment where people want to show up to work, resources that he recommends, and the power of pro-tips and the application of knowledge in the workplace. To hear all this as well as Ise’s recommended exercise for anyone wanting to start a business, tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:The growth of Ise’s business and the point when realized he could no longer manage it alone. How delegation was less about the bottom line and more about emotional intelligence. How delegation resulted in the company becoming much more profitable.What it meant to Ise to institutionalize emotional intelligence.  Why Ise believes that arousal, plus a label, equals an emotion and how this plays out in business.  How Ise creates a loving work environment that accommodates factors beyond his control. The importance of creating margin for error to help employees feel secure. How and why his company tries to maintain awareness of the cognitive map.How the leadership team continues to curate and cultivate this space. The constant value the company places on pro tips and shared learning experiences.How a recent pro-tip led the company to acquire a nursery instead of building one. How Ise distinguishes between a recoverable failure and a performance issue.Ise’s company’s greatest creative accomplishment in light of his mission to make healthcare and education provocative for hard-to-reach audiences.Resources that Ise recommends to anyone who wants to enhance their creative practice, create value in the world, or push their learning to the next level.And an exercise that Ise recommends to anyone wanting to start a business.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ise Lyfe  Lyfe ProductivesIse Lyfe on LinkedInIse Lyfe on TwitterThe Four AgreementsBusiness WarsJeremy Utley Marcus Hollinger