Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Rahsaan Bernard. Rahsaan Bernard serves as the President of Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR). This nonprofit organization built and now manages the 16.5 acres of Townhall Health Education Arts Recreation Campus known as THEARC in Washington, DC. BBAR is also building the first elevated park in Washington, the 11 Street Bridge Park Project. In the conversation, Rahsaan Bernard shared the impact of his upbringing in Jamaica, critical parts of his leadership journey, and his focus on impact through Building Bridges Across the River. In addition, Rahsaan Bernard shared historical factors impacting the greater need of residents in D.C.'s Ward 8 and the need for the services provided. Rahsaan Bernard also shared how BBAR has involved the community in planning for the 11th Street Bridge Park Project and how that level of engagement can serve as a model for all leaders.  Some Highlights:-Rahsaan Bernard on his upbringing in Jamaica and why his family moved to the U.S. -What fascinated Rahsaan with bodybuilding and fitness-Rahsaan Bernard on meeting his wife and starting a business focused on fitness-Why Rahsaan Bernard chose to take on the role of President of Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) and the goal of the organization-Historical reasons why there has been very little investment in D.C.'s Ward eight, resulting in food deserts, as well as socioeconomic and medical challenges, -Why do resident's on the East side of the river live an average of 13 years less than those on the west side of the river-The thinking behind the 11th Street Bridge Park and the process Rahsaan Bernard used to get involvement and buy-in from the community-Recognition of BBAR by Highline network as the best-in-class approach to building and investing in communities-Why Rahsaan Bernard chose to join the National Board of Feeding America-Leadership practices and resources Rahsaan Bernard has used to lead his team and engage more effectively with the communityConnect with Rahsaan Bernard:Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) Rahsaan Bernard on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMahan Tavakoli on LinkedInMore information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Richard Hua, Global Head of EPIC Leadership and Chief EQ Evangelist at Amazon Web Services. In the conversation, Richard Hua shared his origin story, why he became interested in the power of emotional intelligence, the importance of emotional intelligence to individual and organizational success, and how we can all develop our emotional intelligence EQ. Finally, Richard Hua shared leadership practices for leading with greater emotional intelligence.    Some highlights:- Richard Hua on growing up in a challenging environment - How the people around us affect our happiness, as well as our emotional and spiritual wellbeing- Richard Hua on transitioning from being a missionary to a role in high tech - The main elements of emotional intelligence- Richard Hua’s thoughts on the importance of seeking advice and the role it plays in greater self-awareness- How and why Richard Hua started an EQ movement in Amazon- Richard Hua on the value of training in developing greater emotional intelligence - The role emotional intelligence plays in organizational leadership and how to do it wellMentioned:John Rossman (Listen to John Rossman’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional IntelligenceBill George, author of Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting ValueCarol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success Connect with Richard Hua:Richard Hua WebsiteRichard Hua on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Rebecca Linder, founder, and CEO of Linder Global Events. Rebecca Linder shares her leadership journey and the joys and challenges of entrepreneurship. Rebecca Linder also shares her thoughts on the impact of the pandemic on the events industry and how technology is reshaping gatherings. Finally, Rebecca shares why expectations for all kinds of meetings have changed and how leaders can rethink gatherings for greater engagement and impact. Some highlights:- The importance of appreciating diverse cultures and continually reinventing yourself- Rebecca Linder's on the challenges of starting a business at 26 - Rebecca Linder on discovering herself and becoming more purpose-driven as a result- The pandemic's impact on the events industry- Rebecca Linder's thoughts on how gatherings have changed as a result of the pandemic- The future of events and how to do a better job when conventing, whether for events, meetings, or other gatherings - Rebecca Linder's thoughts on how to better handle the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and leadership Mentioned:Vanessa Bohns (Listen to Vanessa Bohns’ episode on Partnering Leadership here)Connect with Rebecca LinderLINDER Global Events WebsiteRebecca Linder on TwitterRebecca Linder on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Brad Federman, Leadership and Culture Expert, Speaker, Coach, and Author of Cultivating Culture: 101 Ways to Foster Engagement in 15 Minutes or Less. Brad Federman shares how leaders can cultivate a company culture that will help them succeed in creating a two-way dialogue and improving teamwork. Brad Federman also highlighted the eight key focus areas that will amplify values at work to achieve a healthy and productive organization. Finally, Brad Federman outlines how cultivating culture brings your team together and keeps them committed to the company's core values. Some highlights:- Brad Federman's upbringing, personal influences, and how that impacted his perspective in life- The importance of understanding the culture of an organization and how it contributes to making better decisions- The reason behind organizations struggling to keep good people- Brad Federman on the definition of organizational culture- How leaders can build better and more robust cultures - What leaders must do to foster better relationships with customers - Brad Federman on the pandemic's impact on organizational culture - Best practices and recommendations for leaders on how to cultivate culture and collaborative decision makingMentioned:Greg Satell (Listen to  Greg Satell’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)Books Mentioned: The Trusted Advisor by David MaisterAt the Heart of Leadership: How to Get Results with Emotional Intelligenceby Joshua Freedman, Peter SaloveyEmotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry,  Jean Greaves, Patrick Lencioni Connect with Brad Federman:Performance Point WebsiteCultivating Culture: 101 Ways to Foster Engagement in 15 Minutes or Less on AmazonBrad Federman on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.com More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli first acknowledges the 200th episode of the podcast. Mahan then shares his thoughts on the three practices that can help us stay aligned with our purpose: feeling and expressing genuine gratitude, focusing on the gain and not just the gap, and living life in crescendo.Some highlights:- Celebrating 200 episodes of Partnering Leadership, a journey of learning and growth for purpose-driven leaders with a growth mindset- The importance of internally focused gratitude and expressing genuine gratitude to others- Why do we focus more on the gap rather than the gain in our lives, and how a shift in focus helps us achieve our purpose- Keeping the spirit of living in crescendo: our best work is ahead of us!Mentioned:-Cynthia Covey Haller (Listen to Partnering Leadership conversation on living life in crescendo: https://www.partneringleadership.com/how-to-live-life-in-crescendo-inspiring-lessons-from-legendary-leadership-expert-stephen-r-coveys-powerful-final-book-with-co-author-cynthia-covey-haller-partnering-leadership-global-thought-leader/-Dr. Benjamin Hardy & Dan Sullivan's book: The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and SuccessConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:https://mahantavakoli.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:https://www.partneringleadership.com/Ask a question or post an update…Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Cynthia Covey Haller, a teacher, speaker, an active participant in her community and co-author Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work is Always Ahead of You. Cynthia Covey Haller shares what it means to live life with a crescendo and how to face challenges and opportunities in the middle to later stages of life. Cynthia Covey Haller also tells inspiring stories on how we can enrich the lives of people around us, the community, and the world. Finally, Cynthia Covey Haller discusses how to be a better leader, to communicate worth and potential to people and the legacy we leave behind.  Some highlights:- The importance of setting leadership examples and living its values- Cynthia Covey Haller shares childhood stories with her dad - The story behind “Live Life With Crescendo”- Cynthia Covey Haller on “Live Life With Crescendo” and how it relates to leading our lives- How can we approach our lives viewing it as a mission - The secret to staying focus to your life mission amidst technology and social media- Cynthia Covey Haller on fulfilling the most important roles in your life- Love for service and how it plays a role in living life in crescendo- How hardships can serve as a moment when we are living life in crescendo- Cynthia Covey Haller shares practices and resources to a more effective leadershipMentioned:Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleSteven M.R. Covey (Listen to Steven M.R. Covey episode on Partnering Leadership)Ken Blanchard (Listen to Ken Blanchard’s episode with Randy Conley on Partnering Leadership here) Books Mentioned:Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others by by Stephen M.R. Covey The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray HintonEssentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most by Greg McKeown The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda GatesConnect with Cynthia Covey Haller:Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work Is Always Ahead of You (The Covey Habits Series) on AmazonCynthia Covey Haller on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.com More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Steve Polo, the Managing Partner at OPX, a design consultancy with a mission to help good companies work better. In addition to his leadership journey, Steve Polo shares his unique perspective on how to lead with authenticity and think about the future of the workplace enabling greater human connection and collaboration.   In the episode, Steve Polo also talks about leading OPX through the pandemic and leaders' role in employee engagement. Finally, Steve Polo shared leadership practices for becoming a better team and organizational leader.   Some highlights:- Growing up in a multicultural household and how it developed Steve Polo's ability to connect with people- Steve Polo on the significant impact of leadership mentors - The opportunities and challenges as a new leader at OPX, looking to lead the turnaround of the organization- Steve Polo on the challenges of leading OPX during the pandemic  - The importance of connecting with team members and how to do it well- Steve Polo on the importance of continually improving leadership skills Mentioned:Dr. Vanessa Bohns (Listen to Dr. Vanessa Bohns’ episode on Partnering Leadership here)Azeem Azhar (Listen to Azeem Azhar’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)John Hunter: Teaching with the World Peace Game Connect Steve PoloOPX WebsiteSteve Polo on TwitterSteve Polo on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Gustavo Razzetti, CEO and Founder of Fearless Culture, creator of the Culture Design Canvas, and author of Remote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace. In the conversation, Gustavo Razzetti talked about the critical barriers to designing a great organizational culture and shared tools and approaches to intentionally design a great organizational culture.   Gustavo Razzetti also shared the challenge of maintaining organizational culture in a hybrid environment and the opportunity the greater flexibility of work provides for organizations to rethink how they approach culture and design a culture that helps individuals and teams thrive. Finally, Gustavo Razetti offers a framework for leaders to facilitate greater collaboration through shifting workplace dynamics.   Some highlights:- Gustavo Razzetti on the key influences on organizational culture - How to tackle the most significant organizational culture challenges- The discipline and structure needed to make hybrid work environments succeed  - The importance of rituals to culture and what kind of rituals to avoid - Gustavo Razzetti on how to build greater psychological safety in teams and its importance to organizational culture- Gustavo Razzetti on the importance of collective feedback- When and how to use asynchronous communication- Gustavo Razzetti’s on the most critical elements of a thriving organizational culture- The future of hybrid work and the opportunity for leaders to be intentional in designing their team and organizational culture Connect with Gustavo RazzettiFearless Culture Website Gustavo Razzetti WebsiteRemote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace on AmazonGustavo Razzetti on TwitterGustavo Razzetti on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:https://mahantavakoli.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/ More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: https://www.partneringleadership.com/Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Monica Goldson, Chief Executive Officer of Prince George's County Public Schools. In the conversation, Dr. Monica Goldson shared the source of her love for education and why she decided not to pursue accounting and become an educator. Monica Goldson also shared the many challenges in leading the school system during the pandemic and the role the school system had to play in supporting families throughout the pandemic. Finally, Dr. Goldson also shared her thoughts on the school system's role in supporting families and preparing young adults for the next stage of their lives.   Some highlights:-Monica Goldson's upbringing and what led her to choose to study actuarial science-The significant impact that teachers can have on students' lives -The real reason why Monica Goldsons committed to becoming an educator-Finding the balance between being an educator and a parent-Dealing with the challenges of the pandemic one day at a time-Dr. Monica Goldson on the important role of communication to keep all stakeholders engaged with the school system-The fundamental problems that the school system needs to address-Dr. Monica Goldson's thoughts on career opportunities and education post-high school-What leaders and principals must do to be able to lead their teams and organizationsConnect with Dr. Monica Goldson:Prince George's County Public Schools Monica Goldson on TwitterMonica Goldson on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:https://mahantavakoli.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/ More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: https://www.partneringleadership.com/Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Maja Zelihic, Dean at the Forbes School of Business and Technology at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Dr. Maja Zelihic is coauthor along with Dr. Diane Hamilton of The Power of Perception: Eliminating Boundaries to Create Successful Global Leaders. In this conversation, Dr. Maja Zelihic talks about the power of perception, its influence on the working environment, and perception's role in leadership. Maja Zelihic also shared factors affecting our perceptions and how perception affects our behaviors. Finally, Dr. Maja Zelihic shared practical ideas on how leaders can better account for perceptions to communicate better and lead their teams more effectively. Some highlights:-Maja Zelihic's upbringing, becoming a refugee, and the importance of a healthy support system-How kind words can influence a person's perspective and life journey-Maja Zelihic on why perceptions matter-Critical factors that can impact our perceptions in a corporate setting-What leaders need to do to understand their own perceptions -Maja Zelihic on how empathy plays a role in predicting and understanding perceptions-The impact of hybrid work on perceptions of organizational leaders and colleagues Mentioned:Dr. Maja Zelihic's Tedx talk: Perception is an E.P.I.C. realityDr. Diane Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Tonerra, co-author of The Power of PerceptionLarry Robertson, author of Rebel Leadership  (Listen to Larry Robertson’s episode on Partnering Leadership here) Connect with Maja Zelihic:Maja Zelihic WebsiteThe Power of Perception on AmazonMaja Zelihic on TwitterMaja Zelihic on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:https://mahantavakoli.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:https://www.partneringleadership.com/Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website