Tom Chiarella is the CEO and Founder of Resonance AI, an organization that identifies the building blocks of their clients’ content and tells them, simply, what worked. Tom has had a lifelong passion for technology, great product design and for building innovative businesses. Tom was also the co-founder and Chief Executive of Questra. He has since been involved with eight venture-backed startups as investor, advisor and/or board member. Before that, he led projects at companies like General Electric and Xerox. In this episode, Tom and Aviv engage in a rich discussion on Tom’s entrepreneurial journey, artificial intelligence and lessons in leadership. Tom speaks to the incredible work he’s doing at Resonance AI and the mentors who have been critical along the way. They talk about the complex functionalities that AI is attempting and close to solving. Tom lists some of the critical insights he has gleaned as a leader, provides advice for his younger self and details the insights he values above all else. 00:48 – Aviv introduces today’s guest, Tom Chiarella who shares what he enjoys the most about his work and why and the problems that Resonance AI is trying to solve 11:34 – Who are Resonance AI’s customers? 13:41 – The three ‘Power’ scores: Drawing, Holding and Staying 16:21 – Complex functionalities that AI is close to solving 21:34 – Tom speaks to the incredible work they’re doing at Resonance AI 25:41 – Tom’s entrepreneurial origin journey 31:22 – Mentors who have impacted Tom throughout his career 35:45 – The road to co-founding a company 38:38 – Key lessons Tom learned from his time at Questra 42:49 – Critical insights Tom has gleaned as a leader 50:48 – Advice Tom would give to his twenty-five year old self 52:15 – The two insights Tom values above all else 53:27 – Final words of wisdom from Tom FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf113

Create New Futures | How Leaders Produce Breakthroughs and Transform the World through Conversation

113 Tom Chiarella - Resonating as a Leader

Aaron Hurst is the CEO and co-founder of Imperative, a peer-coaching platform that unlocks the power of peers to support and help each other become increasingly more effective and fulfilled. Aaron is an expert on the science of purpose at work and the author of The Purpose Economy. As the founder of the Taproot Foundation, Aaron catalyzed the $15 billion pro bono service market. He has written for or been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg TV, Fast Company and was named a LinkedIn Influencer In this episode, Aaron and Aviv engage in a dialogue on the inquiry of purpose. Aaron breaks down the different distinctions between purpose, meaning and fulfillment and shares best practices for cultivating a purpose mindset. Aviv and Aaron examine the idea that learning and thriving at work is contingent on engaging in meaningful dialogue and fostering robust relationships. Finally, Aaron speculates on the future of work and how it will change in the coming decades to give workers more autonomy and more connection opportunities. 00:51 – Aviv introduces today’s guest, Aaron Hurst who shares what he enjoys the most about his work and why and the inspiration to launch the Taproot Foundation 08:50 – The insight that catalyzed Imperative 12:09 – Core principles of Purpose Inquiry and Discovery 15:08 – Purpose, meaning and fulfillment and the significance of happiness and joy 20:26 – Cultivating a purpose mindset and the religious and spiritual aspects of purpose 23:04 – The peer coaching process explained 29:12 – Imperative’s business model 31:53 – Promoting and encouraging authenticity 33:01 – Aaron speaks to how he’s been changed through the experience of launching Imperative 34:49 – Aaron’s entrepreneurial origin journey 39:51 – Aaron’s creative process  44:11 – Aaron speculates on how the world of work will change in the coming decade 46:35 – How to address gaps in purpose and connection 56:08 – Advice Aaron would give to his twenty-five-year-old self 56:58 – The two insights Aaron values above all else 57:58 – Final words of wisdom from Aaron FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf112

112 Aaron Hurst - The Science of Purpose at Work

Strategic planning is an oxymoronic term. While vision and strategy are back from the future inquiry, planning is the endeavor to move from today to the future. Though we need both approaches, they are not the same activity and they each require a different mindset. In many companies, strategic effort is not strategic at all. Rather, it is a financial-led, bottom-up planning exercise. In this episode, Aviv analyzes eight inquiries to evaluate your strategic innovation opportunities. Such inquiries explore a range of factors, including differentiated value, sustainability, exciting the imagination of your workforce and aligning with values and brand experience. Finally, Aviv provides actionable advice on how listeners can reflect on their strategic growth opportunities holistically to create the future of their business and unlock the future to which they aspire. 00:50 – Aviv introduces today’s topic, 8 Key Questions for Evaluating Your Strategic Innovation Opportunities 02:16 – Aviv provides best practices for engendering true strategic explorations   04:36 – Aviv lists and analyzes the eight key questions for evaluating your strategic innovation opportunities 08:45 – The Ford Taurus example 10:12 – Now it’s your turn, reflect on your strategic growth opportunities holistically to create the future of your business, apply the eight inquiry framework to discover which options are optimal and determine the priority investments that will unlock the future to which you aspire FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf111

111 - 8 Key Questions for Evaluating Your Strategic Innovation Opportunities

Adam Wray is the founder and CEO of AstrumU, a Seattle-based data science startup that translates educational experiences into economic opportunity. Adam held a variety of senior leadership and founding roles at data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud, and machine learning-focused companies. He was one of the founders and the CEO of Tier 3, a public sector cloud services provider acquired by CenturyLink, one of the largest U.S. enterprise telecommunications companies. In this episode, Adam and Aviv dive deep, explore the power of building an exceptional culture and, specifically, insights that emerged out of Adam’s experience as CEO. Adam describes his entrepreneurial journey and what inspired him to focus on education. He then reflects on the most impactful lessons he’s learned throughout his career. Finally, Adam outlines what he values above all other ideas and insights and provides sage advice to the audience on leadership and starting a business. 00:44 – Aviv introduces today’s guest, Adam Wray who shares his background in the humanities and what he enjoys the most about his work 04:10 – The problem Adam is striving to solve at AstrumU and the Four Buckets of Universal Skills 08:22 – Adam shares his perspective on how the ability to focus has been impacted by the recent technological boon 14:33 – The inspiration to get involved in education and three key trends that are reshaping the space 22:41 – Other significant trends Adam has observed in education 26:36 – Adam’s entrepreneurial origin journey 29:22 – Critical lessons Adam has learned on building highly effective teams and culture 32:18 – The seven values Adam fosters in his organization 39:30 – Adam’s experience working at Amazon 41:28 – Adam speaks to the final two values he fosters in his organization 46:06 – How Adam reinvests in himself to become a better CEO 48:55 – Adam reflects on a moment in his past where he expressed courage in leadership 54:09 – Advice Adam would give to his twenty-five-year-old self 54:52 – The two insights Adam values above all else 56:14 – Final words of wisdom from Adam FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf110

110 Adam Wray - Changing the Perception of Education

Jon Herlocker is the Founder and CEO of Tignis, a company that provides a physics-driven software solution for managing industrial assets, processes, and operations. Jon is a technology entrepreneur, an experienced executive with a long leadership history in big data analytics and artificial intelligence. Before building his company, he was CTO of VMware’s Cloud Management, and CTO of EMC’s Cloud Services division. Jon is a former tenured professor of Computer Science at Oregon State University. In this episode, Jon and Aviv engage in a deep conversation about entrepreneurship, the power of setting big, hairy, audacious goals and the future of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Jon speaks to his unique ability to enable others to achieve extraordinary breakthroughs and how this trait has been a critical tool for him as a leader and CEO. Finally, Jon shares the importance of being a lifelong learner and the one insight he values above all else. 00:39 – Aviv introduces today’s guest, Jon Herlocker who speaks to what he enjoys the most about his work and his experience enabling others to achieve extraordinary breakthroughs 11:12 – Jon tells the story of where his fascination with giving people vision started 15:38 – Jon shares the origin story of Tignis, the initial problem he set out to solve when he launched and how Tignis has evolved since then 25:35 – Jon speculates on when we might have fully autonomous industrial plants 27:53 – Jon explains Industry 4.0 30:36 – How Jon addresses concerns that automated plants will lead to social challenges such as job loss 32:54 – Aviv and Jon discuss the Overshoot Undershoot Syndrome and Jon provides an interesting Control Systems analogy 36:50 – Jon expounds on common misconceptions that people have about machine learning and artificial intelligence 41:25 – Jon speaks to his entrepreneurial origin story 46:26 – Jon shares the top lessons he’s learned throughout his career 50:36 – Core management practices that Jon established in his company 53:29 – Aviv breaks down The Four Stages of Adult Learning 55:38 – How Jon continues to learn and evolve as a CEO and a leader 58:05 – Advice Jon would give to his twenty-five year old self 1:00:31 – The one insight Jon values above all else 1:01:40 – Final words of wisdom from Jon FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf109

109 Jon Herlocker - Setting High-Level Goals & Becoming a Lifelong Learner

What are the insights that propel the Create New Futures methodology? This was the framing question Aviv recently asked a Silicon Valley leadership team. Today, Aviv shares and reflects on two great insights that shaped his approach to creating new futures. Aviv dives deep into organizational potential energy and expounds on the concept of currency of leadership. Finally, Aviv provides the actionable advice he shared with the leadership team he worked with. He stresses that in order to unlock the greatest creativity and inspiration, it is critical to engage people in creating and shaping their own future. And to apply the currency of leadership, you must initiate a series of inquiry-based conversations designed to mobilize actions that produce results. 00:46 – Aviv introduces today’s topic, The Physics of Creating a New Organizational Future 01:22 – Aviv reflects on a recent project he worked on for a VP of a Silicon Valley organization 03:35 – Aviv recalls the framing questions he posed during this endeavor 05:07 – Aviv defines organizational potential energy 06:53 – Aviv expounds on the concept of the currency of leadership 09:04 – Aviv asserts three game changing points about leadership 10:48 – Aviv concludes by sharing the insights he communicated to the Silicon Valley VP about unlocking creativity and inspiration and applying the currency of leadership 12:14 – Now it’s your turn, use these insights to build the potential and kinetic energy of your team and create a new organizational future Full show notes: http://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf108

108 - The Physics of Creating a New Organizational Future

Have you been as provocative in your future explorations as you can? Today, Aviv reflects on this question and recalls the story of a three-day virtual workshop that inspired this discussion on creating slow, fast, deep work. In this episode, Aviv expounds on the Zone of Deep Work and outlines best practices that can be applied to create slow, fast, deep work. He provides examples of how the teams he worked with throughout this workshop produced three new compelling prototypes of the future and describes why this was such a game-changer. Finally, Aviv provides advice on how to imagine and bring to life a daringly novel future. 00:50 – Aviv introduces today’s topic, Creating Slow Fast Deep Work 01:28 – Aviv speaks to the transformative and result-produced virtual events that he’s recently produced 05:01 – Aviv recalls a pivotal moment from this workshop process 07:54 – Aviv expounds on the Zone of Deep Work 08:45 – Aviv lists the three elements that enable breakthroughs 11:38 – Now it’s your turn, invite the collective creativity and genius of your team, create a safe space for deep work and ask your team to imagine a daringly novel future and challenge them to describe how they will bring that future to life Full show notes: http://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf107

107 - Creating Slow Fast Deep Work

Meditative practices have helped guide Aviv through challenging events in his life. By developing these practices, Aviv hopes that listeners can discover the profound impact of these techniques and experience the many blessings and new doors of possibilities that can open for them as a result. In this Part Three, Aviv addresses the fourth and fifth meditative practices that have helped him navigate both his personal and professional experiences. Aviv expounds on the power of prayer, repetition of affirmations and contemplative inquiries and showcases how he’s integrated these techniques in his everyday life. 00:41 – Aviv introduces today’s topic, The Five Meditations – Part 3 02:30 – Aviv reviews the first three meditative techniques before delving into the final two of this series 05:44 – Aviv expounds on the fourth meditative technique he practices 10:32 – Aviv speaks to the fifth and final meditative technique he practices 14:57 – Aviv poses two final thoughts to stimulate listeners’ contemplation 16:03 – Now it’s your turn, discover the meditation practices that work best for you Full show notes: http://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf106

106 - The Five Meditations – Part 3

Last month, Aviv dove into the Window of Opportunity concept and explained that how you respond to those windows determines your capacity to lead and shape outcomes. Today, this episode brings into focus a complementary idea that has helped some of Aviv’s clients unlock the awesome potential of their opportunities. Aviv poses the reflection question, ‘What is the most difficult feat in the world,’ and provides three key elements that must be present in order to accomplish these feats. By adapting and applying this idea, you will bring an advantageous urgency to your efforts. 00:43 – Aviv introduces today’s topic, The Most Difficult Feat in the World 01:45 – Aviv asks listeners to take a moment to reflect on the question, ‘What is the most difficult feat in the world?’ 04:11 – Aviv shares the answer he looks for when he poses this reflection question to his clients and others 05:07 – Aviv expounds on the importance of having the three conditions: the right ingredients, the right place and the right time 07:15 – Aviv explains that these three conditions are often out of your control and provides best practices for being prepared when the opportunity presents itself. 08:04 – Now it’s your turn, identify where you are endeavoring to bring together the right ingredients, the right place and the right time, reflect on the dedication, courage and resilience this effort needs Full show notes: http://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf105

105 - The Most Difficult Feat in the World

Historians likely will look at 2020 as the year that initiated a multi-decade long transformation. As the effects of the global pandemic continue to be felt, many wonder when life will return to pre-pandemic ‘normal.’ However, most people recognize that there is no ‘back-to-normal’ path. Instead, there are opportunities to shape and create a new and thriving normalcy. In this episode, Aviv revisits the Window of Opportunity concept and urges listeners to consider the opportunities that are in front of them. Aviv expounds on the three components of the Opportunity Window Arc and speaks to what capabilities must be cultivated to respond in full when a window of opportunity opens. 00:39 – Aviv introduces today’s topic, The Window of Opportunity 02:17 – Aviv expounds on the definition of resilience and the Bounce Back and Bounce Forward mental models 04:40 – How Aviv discovered the Window of Opportunity insight and its game changing power 08:42 – Aviv shares how this realization shaped his approach to the development of his consulting practice  09:58 – Aviv provides best practices for listeners to reflect on their own opportunity windows 11:10 – Aviv analyzes the three components of the Opportunity Window Arc 14:15 – Now it’s your turn, identify and embrace opportunities to allow yourself to grow and build your new futures Full show notes: http://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf104

104 - The Window of Opportunity Updated

Consider three ‘edge of the envelope’ scenarios: A Black Swan, A Perfect Storm and A Lethal Jackpot. A Black Swan is an unpredictable event that unleashes severe consequences. A Perfect Storm occurs when a rare combination of circumstances drastically and negatively aggravates an event. What is a Lethal Jackpot? It’s a convergence pattern of several conditions and irregularities that together develop into an inescapable, devastating consequence. In this episode, Aviv opens up about this surprising discovery and how it became a game-changer that saved his life on several occasions. Aviv provides best practices for identifying these Lethal Jackpot scenarios, both in life and business, in order to actively step in to stop these patterns of irregularities and risk. 00:45 – Aviv introduces today’s topic, The Lethal Jackpot Updated, and recalls two tragic events from his time as a fighter pilot in the Air Force 06:28 – Aviv speaks to a meta-pattern he discovered and the realization he gleaned from this pattern 09:02 – Aviv provides best practices for avoiding the Lethal Jackpot by intercepting irregular factors 11:42 – Aviv applies the Lethal Jackpot insight to business and life 16:33 – Now it’s your turn, identify where a Lethal Jackpot may be emerging in your life or business, remember that most situations you have the power and responsibility to interrupt, intercept and avoid irrecoverable disasters Full show notes: http://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf103

103 - The Lethal Jackpot Updated

Personal and organizational resilience and anti-fragile readiness have been a feature of many of Aviv’s senior leadership strategy workshops over the last decade. In this episode, Aviv outlines the five elements and capacities of resilient self-authorship. Aviv reflects on the concept of personal sovereignty as well as the reasons that organizations encourage and, in some cases, even require their members to have high levels of personal resilience. Finally, Aviv provides an evaluation tool you can utilize to reflect on your own personal resilient self-authorship. 00:57 – Aviv introduces today’s topic, Resilient Self-Authorship: A Master Meta-Skill 03:37 – Aviv speaks to the characteristics of resilient organizations 05:23 – Aviv analyzes five elements and capacities that outline resilient self-authorship 09:33 – Aviv provides an evaluation tool that listeners can use to reflect on their own resilient self-authorship 12:17 – Now it’s your turn, build your sense of resilient self-authoring by cultivating these five capacities, encourage open dialogue and make yourself a coaching source for others Full show notes: http://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf102

102 - Resilient Self-Authorship

With a Ph.D. in organizational leadership, Dr. Doug Gray specializes in outcome-based leader development. As CEO of Action Learning Associates, Dr. Gray has worked with over ten thousand leaders in almost every business category and market. His latest book, Objectives and Key Results (OKR) Leadership, was written to help clients apply what works in the best companies in Silicon Valley. Dr. Gray is also a former adventure racer. In this episode, Doug and Aviv share a deep and meaningful conversation about the value of practicing Objectives and Key Results Leadership as individuals, small businesses and large corporations. They address the conundrum of why people are both aspirational and yet confused simultaneously. Finally, Dr. Gray speaks to the importance of positive psychology and always striving to be extraordinary. 00:49 – Aviv introduces today’s guest, Doug Gray who defines OKR Leadership, the value OKR Leadership brings to organizations and when it is most critical to practice OKR 11:06 – Dr. Gray dives deeper into objectives and key results 13:54 – Dr. Gray discusses why OKR leadership, at its core, is a practice 19:11 – The OKR Leadership model and how OKRs differ from the small business space to larger organizations 24:01 – How to ensure OKR doesn’t become another machine-like view of humans 27:24 – Dr. Gray speaks to the concept of stretching for amazing 31:12 – Differentiating between aspirational and operational objectives 32:31 – Dr. Gray reflects on how individuals can apply OKR to their careers 34:20 – Dr. Gray speaks to his passion for positive psychology 37:38 – A personal objective Dr. Gray is currently working on 40:21 – Final words of wisdom from Dr. Gray FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf101

101 Doug Gray - Objectives & Key Results (OKR) Leadership

In this episode, Aviv analyzes the four generally recognized paths to leadership development and proposes a fifth approach. This approach was fashioned initially during a conversation with one of Aviv’s clients when they were five months into their trusted advisory work. Aviv reflects on this collaboration and delves deep into the four leadership development approaches, from skills and situations to outcomes and qualities. It is Aviv’s sincerest hope that you can unleash your potential by integrating these four modalities to create the fifth approach to leadership development. 00:41 – Aviv introduces today’s topic, Leadership Development – The Fifth Approach 01:02 – Aviv reflects on a trusted advisory collaboration he recently took part in with his client, Eric 07:32 – The First Leadership Development Approach: Skills 09:05 – The Second Leadership Development Approach: Situations 11:07 – The Third Leadership Development Approach: Outcomes 13:13 – The Fourth Leadership Development Approach: Qualities 15:53 – Aviv proposes a Fifth Leadership Development Approach 17:19 – Aviv poses a number of questions to reflect on 19:10 – Now it’s your turn, focus on designing your leadership development path Full show notes: http://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf100

100 - Leadership Development – The Fifth Approach

Kerry Wekelo is the Chief Operating Officer at Actualize Consulting, a firm that specializes in optimizing financial services. Kerry is also a coach, keynote speaker, and author of the books, Culture Infusion and Gratitude Infusion, which provide practical advice on how to build a thriving organizational culture. In this episode, Aviv and Kerry explore the concepts of Culture Infusion and Gratitude Infusion. They delve deep into the importance of self-awareness, honesty, and empathy within organizations. Finally, Aviv and Kerry share best practices on how individuals and businesses can practice gratitude to foster personal and professional growth. 00:40 – Aviv introduces today’s guest, Kerry Wekelo who speaks to what she enjoys most about the work she does at Actualize Consulting 05:56 – Kerry expounds on how she coaches Intentional Leadership and shares the Pause, Pivot Strategy she has curated 09:18 – The importance of self-awareness 13:17 – Kerry defines and elaborates on the practice of Gratitude Infusion 18:45 – Advice Kerry would give to those struggling to find ways to practice gratitude 22:35 – Why gratitude is so critical to ensure a thriving organizational culture and best practices for integrating gratitude into parenting 28:04 – Two learnings Kerry values above all others and parting words of wisdom from Kerry FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.avivconsulting.com/cnf99

099 Kerry Wekelo - The Practice of Gratitude

Welcome to Create New Futures. Every episode, best-selling author and host Aviv Shahar will explore ideas and insights that can awaken and inspire you to the opportunities you have to create new futures for you, your family, your teams, and for your business. Life is too short to not be engaged in fascinating conversations that open, inspire and unleash new ways of thinking and seeing possibilities and beauty. Through Create New Futures, Aviv will engage in conversation with leaders and experts to explore practices that you can use to create and shape the future. With his guests, Aviv will put a magnifying glass on strategies and frameworks that he has applied to help senior executives and their teams achieve significant breakthroughs that lead to game changing results. Ideas, strategies, breakthroughs and practices that you can apply. With his innovative ideas and frameworks, Aviv walks you through what you need to lead and transform an organization, and redesign your life to achieve new goals. Together with his guests, Aviv will explore how to develop strategy, how to lead to enable teams to unleash their brilliance and what is the inside work leaders must engage in to develop executive presence and charisma. More than ever, humanity now needs people who are open and prepared to imagine, create, and sustain new futures. This is a time of great transformative and disruptive change. It demands our best imagination, courage, and creativity. Through this podcast, Aviv will inspire you to be tomorrow's agent by creating conversations that birth new possibilities for you and for the people in your life.

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Create New Futures | How Leaders Produce Breakthroughs and T...

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