Hear how great execution is most often the key to growth At times I have the pleasure of meeting interesting people who bring their breadth of experiences to share with our audience. Jim Cornehlsen is just that type of person. We met through a networking group and found our interests so overlapping that we kept our conversations going. What did we talk about? Everything. It was a splendid conversation about how helping others achieve their goals through innovative ideas and expert execution is a life well-lived. Come join in the conversation and share your journey. Watch and listen to our conversation here In this podcast, our job is to help you “see, feel and think” in new ways so you can get “Off the Brink!” What might that mean? Jim and I talk at length about his own personal journey while working in a variety of different industries. In P&L sales and marketing roles, he gained valuable experience in entrepreneurial development. At GE, he participated in a joint venture with Time Inc that became General Learning Corporation. At McGraw-Hill, he was part of a new media development group and was responsible for building subsidiary companies in Mexico, Spain and Canada. At CBS, he was head of international sales and part of a joint venture with CBS, IBM and AT&T that became Prodigy. He was also CEO of Las Americas, a Spanish-owned media company, and a director at Heidrick & Struggles, building a global media and information services group.  Now as a certified executive coach, Jim works with corporate leaders and sales teams, helping them succeed at proposals, relationships and alliances. He is also a professional facilitator with EOS, helping leadership teams improve alignment and drive growth, and a chair at Chief Executive Networks, working with peer-to-peer CEO groups as a facilitator and coach. You can connect with Jim on LinkedIn. Want growth, need growth? Here's a great place to start  Blog: How Do You Grow A Business In A Fast-Changing Market? Blog: Easy-to-Use Anthropology Toolkit to Grow Your Business Podcast: Michelle Turman—Positive Changes Needed To Keep Your Business Growing Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

On the Brink with Andi Simon

287: Jim Cornehlsen—Are You Passionate About Helping Leaders Release Their Inner Entrepreneur?

Hear how even bad times can open the door to success Melody Watts has an amazing story to share with you, but it was hardly a straight line. Rather, nine years ago she had a tsunami of tragedies confront her, pushing her in entirely new personal and professional directions. She was diagnosed with Lyme disease, was newly divorced, and lost her mother in a tragic car accident. Then something strange happened. While looking for a solution to her son’s chronic cough, she discovered doTERRA essential oils. The oils helped her son and equally important, opened her up to a new business. She joined doTERRA in 2013 and two years later was in the top 1% in sales. Talk about lemons into lemonade. Listen in and learn! Watch and listen to our conversation here Turning her story into a way to help others In our interview, Melody will tell you more about what she has learned and how she turned her challenges into opportunities, not just to build her own sales but those of thousands of other business owners. She will also describe how she helps entrepreneurs have purpose-driven businesses designed to bring the benefits of holistic healthcare to others. There are so many lessons here for all of us. Enjoy. Meet Melody Watts Health mentor, business strategist, alternative wellness expert and leadership speaker, Melody Watts is an independent wellness advocate for doTERRA essential oils. Working with men and women business owners across the world, she guides those who want a vibrant, higher quality of life so they can live their highest calling. You can connect with Melody on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, the doTERRA website, her personal website and blog, or Melody@melodywatts.net. Got a big idea you want to get off the ground? Here's a good place to start Blog: How To Find The Capital That Will Fuel Your Big Idea Blog: Crushing It: Women Entrepreneurs Show You How To Build a Better Business Podcast: Nigel Parker—How To Turn A Great Idea Into A Successful Business Podcast: Amanda Zuckerman—How To Turn A Big Idea Into A Huge Blue Ocean Success! Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

286: Melody Watts—How To Turn Adversity Into Opportunities

Hear what can take your idea from good to great! Listen in today to a woman who had a client searching for an unmet need and who then helped him open up a new market, literally Blue Ocean Strategy® in action. Jennifer Brazer, my podcast guest, has a new book out that you really should read because it's a “how-to” guide for building a great business, Blue Ocean-style. (It actually happened to be her own business.) She explains how she went from a cubicle to a multi-million dollar bookkeeping service on the cloud, serving accounting firms across the country. And it all started when a client asked her how to manage the bookkeeping for his companies at an affordable price.  Watch and listen to our conversation here From servicing local clients to running a huge business for companies everywhere What Jennifer will tell you, however, is that her path to success taught her that there is no straight line from an idea to a business, much less to a successful one. As you listen to our conversation, think about your own business. Is it growing like you dreamed it could? Are you able to find new clients in this economically challenging time? Is it time to Rethink you and your business? If you are On the Brink, maybe listening to this podcast can help you get off the brink and “soar” again! Meet Jennifer Brazer Founder and CEO of Complete Controller, a leading national business services firm, Jennifer Brazer believes that all business operators should have access to the best, most up-to-date financial data to guide their critical decisions. Fueled by this kind of thinking, Complete Controller has become the turnkey Client Accounting Services (CAS) department for CPA firms across the country. An avid supporter of entrepreneurs, especially women in business, Jennifer has built an 82,000-plus social media following for Complete Controller, and she is a frequent guest speaker to incubators, students and associations. She has served two terms on the Orange County Chapter Executive Board of the National Association of Women Business Owners and she also serves on the ADP Accountant National Advisory Board. Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud: How to Start and Scale a Virtual Professional Service Business, published in January of this year. To learn more about the tools used in her book or to get started with building your own cloud-based business model, check out her website series. You can connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn, Twitter or her company website Complete Controller. Ready to find your Blue Ocean Strategy? To start, we recommend these three Blog: How To Survive These Scary Times: Blue Ocean Strategy® Blog: Blue Ocean Strategy® Can Create a New and Uncontested Market Space Podcast: Amanda Zuckerman—How To Turn A Big Idea Into A Huge Blue Ocean Success! Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

285: Jennifer Brazer—How To Turn An Idea Into A Big Innovation?

Hear how to grow your big idea into a big success  Please meet Gina Paoloni. Gina found me through her search for speakers for her upcoming virtual summit, “The Untethered Entrepreneur.” She herself is an exciting entrepreneur who is building her business to help others grow theirs. Entrepreneurs, as you know, have an amazing way of seeing what is possible and then making it happen. Is that you? Do you have a clever idea to solve a problem in a new way? As Gina describes herself, she is often the lifeguard at the side of the pool watching her clients thrashing around trying to find a way out of a conundrum — and splashing each other at the same time. Over time, she has found an approach to help them, and you, reframe the problem and see solutions that might have been there all along. Do listen in! Watch and listen to our conversation here Tune in to Gina's virtual 21-day Summit beginning Sept. 15th The title of Gina's FREE 3-week business-building coaching series gives you a good idea of what it's all about: The Untethered Entrepreneur: How to Develop the Mindset, Leadership Strategies and Toolsto Shatter Plateaus and Create the Business and Life Of Your Dreams! The video of each day's speaker will run all that day and will also be available for 48 hours afterward so you can join in at your convenience. My presentation is October 6th which you can access here. Get to know Gina Paoloni Gina Paoloni is the founder and CEO of Gina Paoloni Group, a consultancy which helps entrepreneurs and business leaders grow their companies through strategic planning, business development and executive coaching practices. Gina works with clients to discover their company’s unique vision and mission, then helps them unleash the full potential of their teams to drive extraordinary performance and results. You can connect with Gina on LinkedIn or her website Gina Paoloni Group. Got a big idea but need a little help getting it off the ground? Start here: Blog: How to Convert a Great Idea into a Successful Innovation Blog: Crushing It: Women Entrepreneurs Show You How To Build a Better Business Podcast: Kim Shepherd: Finding The "Holes in the Cheese" To Build A Successful Business Here's your opportunity to change the future of women in business It starts TOMORROW! But you can still sign up now. Please join me at the Women Business Collaborative (WBC) Summit: Empowering Through Gender and Diversity, Sept. 21st and 22nd. A powerhouse lineup from the WBC Community will discuss topics ranging from building equity and diversity to increasing the number of women-led institutional funds, share how men are aligning with women to support the changing workplace, and demonstrate how women are succeeding in the technology sector. Details and registration here. Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

284: Gina Paoloni—Is Your Clever Business Idea Ready To Become An Innovation?

Hear how you can become a transformational leader! In this week's podcast, I bring you Tony Martignetti: leadership coach, change agent and entrepreneur. In our conversation, Tony shares with us his approach to helping people and their organizations change. You can guess why we connected from the get-go. As a fellow culture change expert, I also help people and organizations change, either in the midst of a crisis or in order to avoid one. To find out where you are along your own leadership journey, try taking Tony's Leadership Assessment quiz. The answers might just surprise you! Enjoy. Helping people live a life of inspired purpose Tony loves helping people find clarity in their lives so that they can be energized, fully present and unstoppable. He believes that when leaders unlock their potential and lead from a place of inspired purpose, they impact and inspire everyone around them. Listen in, learn and share! Meet Tony Martignetti Before he became a Professional Certified Coach, Tony was a finance and strategy professional working with some of the world’s leading life sciences companies. Along his journey, he also managed small businesses and ran a financial consulting company. His passion for helping people was the catalyst for him to found Inspired Purpose Coaching which specializes in guiding leaders by clarifying their focus and equipping them and their teams with the tools to navigate through change. You can connect with Tony on LinkedIn, Twitter or his website, or you can email him at tony@inspiredpurposecoach.com.  Need or want to change but not sure where to start? Start here then give us a call Blog: Can People And Businesses Really, Truly Change? Yes! Here's How Blog: How To Thrive In Today's Crazy World? Make Change Your Friend Podcast: Valerio Pascotto and Amit Raikar—Yes Change Is Painful But It's Necessary! Join the movement to change the future of women in business Registrations are filling up fast, don't miss out! Please join me at the Women Business Collaborative (WBC) Summit: Empowering Through Gender and Diversity, Sept. 21st and 22nd. A powerhouse lineup from the WBC Community will discuss topics ranging from building equity and diversity to increasing the number of women-led institutional funds, share how men are aligning with women to support the changing workplace, and demonstrate how women are succeeding in the technology sector. Details and register here.  Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

283: Tony Martignetti—Are You Ready To Live A Life Of Inspired Purpose?

Hear how to make time for strategic thinking and strategic growth  Richard Medcalf describes himself as "what you get if you were to put a McKinsey consultant, a slightly unorthodox pastor and an entrepreneur into a blender." Richard is an executive coach and leadership consultant to CEOs and their leadership teams. What we hope you'll take away from our discussion is how to build your own career and amplify your story. Sometimes you need a mentor or a coach, and sometimes you are the coach. Both are hard. (I know; I currently have six mentees and it is hard.) For solutions, Richard has a number of big ideas to help you sharpen your listening skills and do things now, not just someday. Listen in, not a minute to waste! Watch and listen to our conversation here Richard really REALLY wanted to be on our podcast So much so that he sent me an email so full of reasons why that it was impossible to say no. You might try me and send along your story as well: info@andisimon.com.  Richard's reasons, in his own words: #1. I'm a fan. You had Nadia Bilchik on the show in February and I particularly enjoyed that episode. Nadia's point on being a "Go-giver just as much as a Go-getter" and her concrete tips were really interesting. Before going further I'd like to thank you for the time and energy you invest in putting this out into the world. #2. Your audience will find value in the topic I have in mind. Many of your listeners will be leading teams or businesses and hitting the "ceiling of complexity" as daily operational demands suck all their time, leaving no space for strategic thinking. I deal with this issue all the time. There are four specific shifts leaders must make to overcome this issue, and they're not the usual recommendations. I'm sure we'd have a fun and insightful discussion with practical application for your listeners. #3. You'll have a credible and engaging speaker. I'm the Founder of Xquadrant and I coach some of the world's top tech-sector CEOs and their executive teams.  Laughing with me? It worked. I was curious and from his email came a great podcast to share with you. Enjoy.  More about Richard Medcalf  Richard's clients are elite performers who have already achieved incredible things but still have the ambition to boost their impact and influence and achieve something that seems impossible right now.  After earning a Masters Degree at Oxford University, Richard started his career in a premier strategy consultancy where he rose to become the youngest-ever partner. He then spent 11 years at tech giant Cisco, eventually being selected for an elite team to catalyse strategic partnerships and new business models. After qualifying as a senior leadership consultant and executive coach, he founded Xquadrant in 2017.  Richard has dual citizenship in the UK and France, lives near Paris, is married and is the proud father of two. He is also a licensed lay minister in the Anglican Church. You can connect with Richard on LinkedIn, Twitter, his website xquadrant.com or his podcast. To book Richard to speak, click here. Could you use some help with strategic thinking? Start with these, then contact us Blog: Will You Adapt Or Die? How Cultural Anthropology Can Transform Your Business Strategy Podcast: Tony Guarnaccia—Can A Better Strategy Really Help Your Business Thrive? Podcast: Kim Bohr—Assessing Your Company’s Organization To Sustain Growth In Changing Times Don't miss this opportunity to help change the future of women in business Registrations are filling up fast, don't miss out! Please join me at the Women Business Collaborative (WBC) Summit: Empowering Through Gender and Diversity, Sept. 21st and 22nd. A powerhouse lineup from the WBC Community will discuss topics ranging from building equity and diversity to increasing the number of women-led institutional funds, share how men are aligning with women to support the changing workplace, and demonstrate how women are succeeding in the technology sector. Details and registration here. 

282: Richard Medcalf—How To Amplify Your Story To Achieve Great Results

Hear how to embrace change so you can soar! As I have been working with women thought leaders and innovators, I've been struck by the number of them who are moving mountains during this pandemic and setting up new ways of life and work as we try to emerge from it. Kim Snyder and I met at Peter Winick’s Tuesday Thought Leader gatherings and enjoyed our off-line conversations. They were deep and she was full of fresh perspectives on what people are doing and how they are going to have to change as this new world we are in is changing, faster and faster. I know you will enjoy Kim as much as I do! Watch and listen to our conversation here Not afraid of change, Kim helps clients not be afraid of it either As you know, I believe the stories shared by our speakers about their own life journeys shed amazing insights into how people adapt to new opportunities, avoid boredom and continue to grow in non-linear directions. This certainly applies to Kim. Along these lines, three areas of particular interest to Kim and myself are: Why do smart people keep doing some of the same things over and over, even if this is not working for them? Why is the brain/mind so resistant to learning new ways to do things? Can a coach be of help? Or is it really just a nudge that we need? Enjoy Kim’s talk. Then ask yourself three important questions: Am I stuck or stalled in my professional or personal life? Why? How can I see things in new ways and change? If you are frustrated by your answers, you might want to contact us and see how we can help you make change your friend. You may know it already but our email is info@andisimon.com. Could you use a hand to get “off the brink” and “soar” like Kim Snyder has? Let's talk.  More about Kim Snyder  A former corporate executive turned entrepreneur, Kim D. Snyder is a business strategy expert and thought leader. As the founder of Online Marketing In A Box, Kim created the proprietary Grow M.O.R.E. Business Strategy to give business owners, leaders and executives the results they want and deserve in Marketing, Operations, Revenue and Efficiency. She is a certified virtual speaker, soon-to-be author and podcast host. Before becoming a business owner, Kim spent 25+ years working with international Fortune 500 executives on business growth, strategy and transformation, from United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom to Finland, Singapore and Malaysia. You can connect with Kim on LinkedIn, Twitter, her website KimDSnyder.com or email her at kim@kimdsnyder.com. Need or want to change? Start here, then give us a call Blog: Now That You Have Your Crisis, What Do You Change? Blog: How To Thrive In Today's Crazy World? Make Change Your Friend Podcast: Rita McGrath—Don't Run From Change, Embrace It! You can have a hand in changing the future of women in business Don't miss it! Make plans to attend the Women Business Collaborative (WBC) third Annual Summit: Empowering Through Gender and Diversity, Sept. 21st and 22nd. A powerhouse lineup from the WBC Community will discuss topics ranging from building equity and diversity to increasing the number of women-led institutional funds, share how men are aligning with women to support the changing workplace, and demonstrate how women are succeeding in the technology sector. Details and register here.  Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

281: Kim Snyder—Can A Great Coach Help You Achieve Your Goals?

Hear how we can all have a positive impact on the world  We often find that as we move through our lives, we come upon people who instantly become our friends, although we have little understanding of why or how this happened. Denise Meagles, Indrani de Silva and Angelia Allen are just these kinds of friends. Denise and Indrani were introduced to me by Todd Cherches, whom I met through a thought leadership group. At a virtual meeting with Todd, he suggested they read my new book, Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business. They were so excited about the book that they put together gift boxes of Wax Buffalo candles and other goodies and sent them to a dozen women entrepreneurs, encouraging them to keep growing their businesses and seeking a great purpose. Then Angelia Allen joined them and they became a threesome, with all types of interesting ideas and careers. I feel lucky to have met them and even luckier to call them friends. I think you will too. Enjoy. Watch and listen to our conversation here Three amazing women, three amazing stories As you listen to Denise, Indrani and Angelia tell their stories, you are going to learn more about the way in which our lives are broadening today, through virtual friendships and unfamiliar experiences. I was in awe of what each of them are doing and how this could be of help to you, our audience. Our conversation was in part about each of their personal journeys. As you know, the stories we share about ourselves are always very revealing about how we see that journey unfolding. I can give you some idea about their paths, but as you listen you will hear how women everywhere are working through mazes and over obstacles, moving toward their passion and purpose, trying to find the right jobs and careers to help them live the kind of lives that are important to them. Each of these women is doing something meaningful today. We spoke at length about how they have discovered new areas for their focus and why they are so excited about the future and the possibilities that await them. They are three incredible women, full of energy and positivity, and it is contagious. Denise is developing new businesses for entrepreneurs and helping them monetize their small ventures. She is also a sustainability guru and is finding ways to save our planet as she helps others build their dreams. Indrani is a sustainability specialist and is working with a team at the UN to create standardization for sustainability worldwide. Angelia has moved from the media world into diversity, equity and inclusion to help people work better together. Listen in and think about how your own life’s journey is evolving and how the people you meet along the way are creating experiences that make you a far better person than you were before. About Denise Meagles   Denise is a Supply Chain Strategist with more than 20 years' experience developing and implementing responsible sourcing supply chain programs which ensure operational efficiency, promote radical transparency, and achieve sustainable supply chain solutions in partnership with brands, retailers and manufacturers. Working with a diverse portfolio of buyers, suppliers and retailers, Denise leverages cutting-edge technology, Kaizen and Six Sigma methods, and sustainable manufacturing principles to shift mindsets and shape behaviors for positive impact. My favorite quote from Denise: "If the Golden Rule is to treat people as you want to be treated, the Platinum Rule is to treat people as they want to be treated. If you're truly a global citizen, you have to practice the Platinum Rule." Her point is that we all need to engage with others by seeing things from their perspective, not ours. You can contact Denise on LinkedIn or email her at dameagles@aol.com. About Indrani da Silva  Indrani believes in the power of human potential. As a sustainability leader, she brings a systems thinking approach to strategic planning at the intersection of business and human rights. This enables her to build meaningful multi-stakeholder partnerships and community engagement initiatives that support systems that create positive change. With over 15 years’ experience in social sustainability, partnership development and human rights due diligence, Indrani is an expert in, among other things: Designing and implementing strategic partnerships across the supply chain for major companies such as Patagonia, Target, Eileen Fisher, The Children’s Place and West Elm. Evaluating social compliance against international standards with a focus on labor, human rights and responsible sourcing. You can contact Indrani on LinkedIn, Twitter or email her at indrani.san@gmail.com. About Angelia Allen Angelia is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at Mering Global, responsible for developing company-wide diversity and inclusion programs, working with recruiting to develop talent pipelines, maximizing diversity metrics, and overseeing training and development programs.  In addition, she is Co-Chief Executive Officer at D.I.M.E. (Diversity and Inclusion Manufacturing Excellence) which focuses on sustainability and support of minority-owned businesses. She also started the thriving podcast “Greenwood The Podcast.” You can contact Angelia on LinkedIn or email her at angeliaallen19@gmail.com. Want more stories from women doing great things? Here are three Blog: How Brilliant Fearless Women Are Rewriting The Script In Hollywood Blog: No Women Coaches In The NBA? Yeah, Becky Hammon Changed That. Podcast: Johanna Zeilstra—Let's All Build Companies That Make Gender Fair You can help change the future of women in business I invite you to make plans to attend the Women Business Collaborative (WBC) third Annual Summit: Empowering Through Gender and Diversity, Sept. 21st and 22nd. A powerhouse lineup from the WBC Community will discuss topics ranging from building equity and diversity to increasing the number of women-led institutional funds, share how men are aligning with women to support the changing workplace, and demonstrate how women are succeeding in the technology sector. Details here. Register now by clicking here. Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

280: Denise Meagles, Indrani de Silva and Angelia Allen—How to Build a Better World Through Conversations, Collaboration and Caring

Hear how to develop better leaders and better followers Kris Baird and I have known each other for a long time. We have both been involved in the healthcare world for many years, and Kris has developed a new program which I am very interested in, particularly for my hospital systems clients who are realizing the need to develop their middle managers, their nurse managers, and their leaders. Plus, Kris and I direct several leadership academies for our clients. I am particularly excited to share this podcast with you because Kris has a brilliant way of developing managers and leaders, as well as those who work for them. She has so much to teach us; please listen in and then share with your teams!  “Be the Leader Nobody Wants to Leave—8 Transformational Skill-Builders for Busy Leaders” This is Kris Baird's proprietary multi-media program, designed to be experienced partly online, partly with groups, and partly with one-on-one support. It is so well grounded in the way people learn that participants quickly develop new skills and apply them, and are able to recognize the value of this type of experiential learning, even the online component. As you listen to our conversation, think about how you are developing your management and your leadership. To some degree, Kris’s program gets to the basic question of how to train and develop managers and those they manage. You'll hear how this program is a system, and that systems only work well if everybody understands what has to be done, how to be accountable to get it done, and how to keep themselves on task without managers having to use a carrot or a stick. It might sound simple but what Kris has created is very innovative. See what you think. Meet Kris Baird Kris Baird is a nationally recognized thought leader in patient experience, healthcare culture change and employee engagement. With more than 25 years' experience as a nurse and hospital executive, she is now a full-time consultant, author and speaker. As President and CEO of her firm Baird Group, her team helps transform the healthcare experience through culture assessment, mystery shopping, leadership development, employee engagement and customer service skill development. Her proprietary model, “Be the Leader Nobody Wants to Leave—8 Transformational Skill-Builders for Busy Leaders," is helping transform the healthcare experience, both for patients and the people who serve them. Feel free to contact Kris through LinkedIn, Twitter, her website Baird Group or her blog, or email her at kris@baird-group.com. Kris's books: You Make the Call–Healthcare’s Mandate for Post-discharge Follow Up Reclaiming the Passion–Stories that Celebrate the Essence of Nursing Journaling to Reclaim the Passion–A Writing Guide for Nurses Customer Service in Healthcare: A Grassroots Approach to Creating a Culture of Service Excellence  Want a deeper dive into how to develop great leaders? Start here Blog: How Women in Leadership Roles Can Finally Change The Workplace Podcast: Jamie Candee—Leading Business And You To Success Podcast: Richard Sheridan—How To Lead With Joy And Purpose! Make your voice heard as we change the future of women in business Make plans to attend the Women Business Collaborative (WBC) third Annual Summit: Empowering Through Gender and Diversity, Sept. 21st and 22nd. A powerhouse lineup from the WBC Community will discuss topics ranging from building equity and diversity to increasing the number of women-led institutional funds, share how men are aligning with women to support the changing workplace, and demonstrate how women are succeeding in the technology sector. Details here. Register now by clicking here! Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

279: Kris Baird—Yes, You Can Teach A Leader How To Lead

Hear what you can do to end hate and foster inclusivity  Deborah Levine is an amazing woman. How excited I was to share her story with our listeners. Many people today are talking about the need to build a more accepting, diverse and inclusive society, not just in their business but all around them in their communities. How do you do that? And how can you make the value of diversity become a cultural norm that is embraced? Listen to Deborah tell you about her own journey, and how that has caused her to focus on these themes in her personal and professional life. Here is your chance to learn from a true star in the growing  movement to transform our society and our culture so we can build better lives together. Watch and listen to our conversation here Some of the topics Deborah and I discuss include: WOMEN LEADERS: Lessons from a Personal Journey. Deborah is deeply involved in the movement to help women overcome the obstacles in their pathways. Hear how her efforts to increase awareness of things like unconscious bias and the invisibility factor help women and the world we live in break through the hurdles and build a better society.  How to FOSTER INCLUSION and UPEND HATE. We dig deep into ways people can counteract hate in their communities and in the workplace. Deborah suggests creating anti-hate councils that would use a 3-step sequential process to build skills that counteract hate. This process is especially relevant today, given the omnipresence of hate groups online, their ability to influence cultural norms, and their negative impact on diverse communities which are targeted by these groups. More about Deborah Levine  Founder/Editor-in-Chief of the American Diversity Report, an award-winning author of 15 books, a Forbes Magazine Diversity And Inclusion Trailblazer, and a Designer of Cognitive Diversity using emotion metrics, neuro-communication and decision-optimization, Deborah Levine has an amazing story of a life dedicated to empowering women and giving them a voice. Despite a near-death experience working in Uzbekistan, Deborah has 33 years' experience as a changemaker in challenging times. These efforts include creating a women’s sub-committee of the DuPage Interfaith Resource Network, serving on the all-female executive committee of the Oklahoma Say No to Hate Coalition, founding the Women’s Council of Diversity, and creating the Women GroundBreakers Storytelling public event for Women’s History Month. She is also highly revered for her innovative Matrix Model Management System, an interactive tool kit which increases emotional intelligence around race, ethnicity, gender, generation and religion.  A pioneer in the field of religious diversity, Deborah coordinated the 1990 National Workshop on Christians and Jews, spoke at the 100th anniversary of World Parliament of Religions, and served as consultant to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. She has also served as executive director for Jewish Federations in Illinois and Tennessee and director of community relations for the Tulsa Jewish Federation after the Oklahoma City bombing. Her published books include Religious Diversity in our Schools, Religious Diversity at Work and When Hate Groups March  Down Main Street: Engaging a Community Response.   Deborah's grandfather was one of Bermuda’s Founding 400 and she is part of the only Jewish family on the island for four generations. You can connect with Deborah through LinkedIn, Twitter, the American Diversity Report website and her website DeborahLevine.com, or you can email her at deborah@americandiversityreport.com. To learn more about achieving equity in our society, check out these podcasts: Johanna Zeilstra—Let's All Build Companies That Make Gender Fair Maureen Berkner Boyt—Diversity and Inclusion: Let’s Go Beyond Hoping and Make Inclusion Really Happen Andie Kramer and Al Harris—Bringing Gender Equity To The Workforce Want to join the movement for equity in the workplace? Plan to attend the Women Business Collaborative (WBC) third Annual Summit: Empowering Through Gender and Diversity, Sept. 21st and 22nd. A powerhouse lineup from the WBC Community will discuss topics ranging from building equity and diversity to increasing the number of women-led institutional funds, share how men are aligning with women to support the changing workplace, and demonstrate how women are succeeding in the technology sector. Details and registration here. 

278: Deborah Levine—How To Help Society Truly Become Inclusive?

Hear how gender equity is really, finally, happening  What an exciting podcast with Johanna Zeilstra. She has had a remarkable career as a business strategist and leader in start-ups and global corporations. Our talk was about her current passion: helping move the needle on gender equity in organizations through her platform, Gender Fair. Take a look at its website to understand the full scope of the movement which she is pushing forward. Gender Fair, of which Johanna is CEO, uses data analytics to determine an organization’s progress toward gender equality and diversity. Johanna and I are both active on the Women Business Collaborative, whose mission is to make gender equity a permanent reality in business and in society. Do enjoy this podcast. Watch and listen to our conversation here How fair is your company? Can you change it? On the Brink is designed to help our listeners “see, feel and think” in new ways. Have you thought about the companies you buy from or work in and how “gender fair” they are? Could you press them to change in order to reach the equity that women, women of color, and women of different backgrounds and sexual orientations deserve? You too can become an advocate for gender fairness. Listen in and let us know your thoughts. Meet Johanna Zeilstra Johanna is an established business strategist and an accomplished leader for both start-ups and global corporations. Over the past two decades, she has worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers, JPMorgan Chase, Delta Airlines, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Philips, Lucent, Disney, Bank of America and Occidental Petroleum. She is a coach to senior executive board members and high level teams, and has a passion for supporting and advancing professional women.  Prior to her involvement with Gender Fair, Johanna co-founded the Give Back Foundation, an innovative organization that makes it easy for individuals to contribute to the causes they care about most, and for companies to build authentic and impactful cause marketing, workplace giving and other social responsibility initiatives.  Johanna is originally from the Netherlands and was educated in Canada where she earned an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a Masters degree in Business Administration. She lives in Westchester, NY, where she runs the Women Entrepreneurs Network and serves on several boards, including CEO Forum, Harbor Island Conservancy, and Princeton Faith & Work Initiative. You can connect with Johanna on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and the website Gender Fair, or email her at j.zeilstra@genderfair.com. Want to play a role in creating equal position, pay and power for all business women? Plan to attend the Women Business Collaborative (WBC) third Annual Summit: Empowering Through Gender and Diversity. Join us Sept. 21st and 22nd for a powerhouse lineup of engaging speakers and high profile guests discussing how best to create equal position, pay and power for all business women. Leaders from the WBC Community will discuss topics ranging from building equity and diversity to increasing the number of women-led institutional funds, share how men are aligning with women to support the changing workplace, and demonstrate how women are succeeding in the technology sector. Details here. Register now here! For more on gender equity and how to achieve it, start with these: Blog: How Women in Leadership Roles Can Finally Change The Workplace Blog: It's Time to Change Workplace Culture So Women and Businesses Can Thrive Podcast: Maureen Berkner Boyt—Diversity and Inclusion: Let’s Go Beyond Hoping and Make Inclusion Really Happen Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

277: Johanna Zeilstra—Let's All Build Companies That Make Gender Fair

Hear how to understand your customers' needs, then fulfill them  It is always so enlightening to learn from other consultants how they do their jobs and how I could enhance my own consulting practice—as well as help you do the same. I was interviewed by Michael Zipursky on his podcast and thought it important to reciprocate and bring his ideas to you, our listeners. Michael speaks about his own journey, and it is a journey. At times he was in foreign lands and unable to speak the language, but somehow figured out how to break through the communication barriers to engage with others and help them grow their businesses. You will enjoy his personal and his professional stories, as they are closely interwoven. Listen and share! Watch and listen to our conversation here Some of the things we talked about: Michael's company, Consulting Success, is the worldwide leader in coaching and training for entrepreneurial consultants. How Michael and his cousin Sam Zipursky, also known as the “Zipursky Cousins,” are entrepreneurs, consultants, authors and strategic coaches. Together, over the past 20 years they have helped thousands of clients around the globe increase their impact, earn a higher income, enjoy more freedom and flexibility, and live a lifestyle they love and are proud of. Why "becoming" is more important than arriving or “being.” How helping others is a purposeful mission that inspires you to do good while doing well for yourself. Michael's life as a consultant, as I know so well, can teach us all a great deal about: The loneliness, and at times despair, of working hard every single day on building a new business with little financial results to show for the time and effort you're putting in. Feeling like an outsider, and not always knowing what to do next, as you “knock on doors” to grow your business. Imposter syndrome and second-guessing the value of your own expertise. Dealing with rejection while trying to keep a smile on your face. Neglecting family, friends and even personal health at times for the sake of the business. And yet, loving every minute of what you are doing. It is not about the destination. It is about the journey. How Michael grew his own business and then applied this to his clients: He and Sam hired mentors and consultants to help them with their consulting business, and what they discovered help them reinvent themselves. Things started to click and now they apply the best practices, systems, strategies and principles of success which they learned from those coaches and mentors. This fueled their success and has led to massive growth in business. Listen in and learn from Michael and me about how to really understand your customers' needs. It is not what you are selling them. It is what they need from you. Then check out Michael’s website, Consulting Success, and take a look at many of his consultant teammates. You can connect with Michael on LinkedIn, Twitter or his website. For a deeper dive into understanding customer needs, we recommend these: Blog: Entrepreneurs: Focus On Unmet Needs Through Visual Exploration Blog: Time to Make the Competition Irrelevant, Blue Ocean® Style! Podcast: Finding The "Holes in the Cheese" To Build A Successful Business Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

276: Michael Zipursky—How Can Your Life's Journey Take You To Great Heights?

Learn how to craft a strategy that delivers the results you want Remember, my job is to help you get off the brink. How do I do that? By helping you see, feel and think in new ways. As a corporate anthropologist, I go looking for people who can help you do just that: see in new ways the things you may have done the same old way for a long time. Carol Poore is one of those people. We met through our publisher, Greenleaf Book Group, and I learned that she has a new book coming out on business strategy. Since I’m a Blue Ocean Strategist, I was particularly interested in understanding her perspective and how it could add new meaning to the way we at SAMC approach strategy, and how you do too. How do you approach your strategy, both your personal one and your business one? It’s important to understand that in order to get to your destination, whatever your goal might be. Do take a listen! Watch and listen to our conversation here What will you learn during this podcast? A whole lot about how to customize your strategic planning process so that it turns into an extraordinary execution that delivers the results you anticipated. Carol's book, Strategic Impact : A Leader’s Three-Step Framework for the Customized Vital Strategic Plan, presents her proprietary method for customizing your organization’s strategic planning program. The key is her 3-step framework, applicable to any organization regardless of size, scale or structure, which enables you to: •Declutter the typically complicated strategic planning process. •Plan and lead a leadership workshop culminating in strategic goals. •Craft a compelling written strategic plan which can be digitized and communicated through social media. •Implement an effective tracking and communication system to monitor progress and ensure accountability. •Engage employees, customers and key audiences in celebrating your organization’s strategic impact. As you listen to this podcast, keep in mind that a strategy is really a simple story. It’s a way to organize the data in your mind and in your organization into a simple approach to getting to a destination. I emphasize that it needs to be simple and easy to implement, otherwise it's just a concept that goes nowhere. About Carol Poore President of Poore & Associates Strategic Planning, Carol Poore  delivers effective leadership and transformational results for a unique range of organizations and clients.  Her expertise and accomplishments include helping senior executives, emerging leaders and consultants develop a Vital Strategic Plan; expanding the internal capacity of large companies, small businesses, nonprofits and government organizations through her 3-step program; launching and growing a subsidiary company for Salt River Project, achieving $500 million in sales revenue within three years; developing the Parsons Center for Health and Wellness, a nonprofit community health center, raising more than $23 million in private and government grant funding; and tripling donations for Arizona State University’s West Campus. You can connect with Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and her website, or email her at cpoore5@cox.net. Want to learn more about effective strategy? We recommend these: Blog: Will You Adapt Or Die? How Cultural Anthropology Can Transform Your Business Strategy Blog: Is Everyone Winning But You? Time For A Blue Ocean Strategy®! Podcast: Tony Guarnaccia—Can A Better Strategy Really Help Your Business Thrive? Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   {{cta('20db9f83-fb49-4483-b118-61d915909275','justifyleft')}} 

275: Carol Poore—Impactful Strategies Come In Three Parts. Ready To Try Yours?

Hear how to get diverse employees to value their differences It was a great pleasure to interview Laura Kriska for our podcast, On the Brink. Laura is an internationally recognizedexpert in cross-cultural relations. She and I have a lot in common. As a corporate anthropologist, I too often work with organizations where the old culture and the new are in conflict, where Boomers and Millennials speak different dialects of English and have distinctly different habits, beliefs and ways of doing things. Add in the business environment around them, and today's companies have too little knowledge about how to “see, feel and think” in new ways and most importantly, how to use those differences to build better companies. Laura's wisdom is so needed right now — I know you will learn so much from her! Watch and listen to our conversation here Some of the topics we discussed: While business leaders are all for diversity, inclusion and equity, actually doing those three things is harder than they thought. Understanding why that is so difficult is challenging in its own right. The biggest problem every leader faces is developing approaches to enable his/her employees to embrace differences and not allow their brains to shun them. There is hope! Laura’s new book, The Business of We: The Proven Three-Step Process for Closing the Gap Between Us and Them in Your Workplace, is an excellent approach to doing just that — bridging the cultural and generational gap and enabling people to better understand each other. Her book will tell you more about: How to effectively repair division without spending a dime. How to recognize warning signs of Us vs. Them gaps, from derogatory comments about a specific group to unspoken divisions reflected by where people sit or hang out. How to proactively create opportunities for individuals to discover existing common factors and sponsor experiences that bring together diverse employees and create unity within organizations. About Laura Kriska Laura is an internationally recognized expert and leading consultant on cross-cultural relations with more than 30 years' experience bridging gaps in diverse workplaces. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies on four continents, helping thousands of business leaders and professionals build trust across Us vs. Them differences based on nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age or any factor of identity. Born in Tokyo to missionary parents, Laura grew up with a fascination for different cultures and a strong attachment to Japan. After receiving her BA in Japanese Studies from Denison University, she began her career in Japan as the first American woman to work in Honda Motor Company’s Tokyo headquarters, as an assistant to a senior executive. This experience is the basis of her first book, The Accidental Office Lady. A sought-out lecturer and a TEDx speaker, Laura is widely considered an authority on inclusion and cultural integration. She regularly speaks to professional and educational groups, and conducts bilingual and cross- cultural training sessions for a wide array of clients. In addition, Laura earned a brown belt in judo from the Kodokan Institute in Tokyo. You can connect with Laura on LinkedIn, Twitter or her website, We-Building. Need to bring people together in your organization? Here's a start Blog: Need To Change Your Organization's Culture? 6 Best Ways To Do It. Blog: Developing a Positive Culture Where People and Performance Thrive Podcast: Maureen Berkner Boyt—Diversity and Inclusion: Let’s Go Beyond Hoping and Make Inclusion Really Happen Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

274: Laura Kriska—What If Co-Workers Could Learn To Embrace Their Differences Instead Of Shunning Them?

Hear why brand storytelling is the key to business success This was a totally fantastic interview with Lisa Staff and Deevo Tindall. I had been on their podcast, Mind, Body, Business, and so enjoyed myself that I wanted to share them with you, our listeners. Lisa and Deevo are two terrific individuals who focus on connecting and collaborating. They also want to help you better deliver your messaging to build your brand with the right mix of imagery and copy. I think they are amazing, and I know you will too. Watch and listen to our conversation here Bringing their creative genius to their clients, Lisa and Deevo help them see things through that fresh lens we always talk about In our podcast, we discuss everything from their personal journeys to their launching their business, Sprout Connectors, whose mission is to help small companies and entrepreneurs brand their businesses. We also talked about how they too as entrepreneurs had to bootstrap their fledgling company until they turned it into a success, having sold two earlier businesses for six figures. Repeatedly named the Top 3 Visual Storytellers in the South, Lisa and Deevo tell you a great story that is as much a joy to watch as it is to listen to. You might want to engage them as speakers at your next event! About Lisa Staff A highly in-demand fashion, lifestyle and wedding photographer, Lisa Staff is also content creator extraordinaire. Based in Hilton Head Island, SC, she is widely known for capturing the magical beauty of simplicity and authenticity. Contact Lisa, see her portfolio and learn more about her philosophy and techniques on her website LisaStaffPhoto.com, her blog and Instagram. About Deevo Tindall Although he was at one time a corporate Project Manager, Deevo Tindall is now owner of Fusion Photography & Video, one of the premier photography studios in Charlotte, NC. What sets him apart is an innate ability to connect with his subjects and draw out their true personality with his lens. You can connect with Deevo on LinkedIn, his website Fusion Photography & Video, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest. I also invite you to visit Lisa and Deevo's joint website Sproutconnectors.com and their podcast Mind, Body, Business. Learn more about how storytelling can dramatically build your business  Blog: How Storytelling Can Transform Your Culture And Energize Your Team Podcast: Karen Dietz—Your Story Is Your Secret to Amazing Success Podcast: Sarah Wilson—See How Great PR Can Build A Better Story For YOU Podcast: Hamilton Perkins—An Inspiring Entrepreneurial Success Story Additional resources for you My best-selling new book: "Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business" My award-winning first book: "On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights" Simon Associates Management Consultants website   

273: Lisa Staff and Deevo Tindall—Social, Video, Digital: How Can You Build A Personal Brand Today?

On The Brink is a podcast where the goal is to help you better "see, feel and think" about your business, your job, your personal life and your purpose. There will be great interviews and conversations with people who are deeply involved in change—consultants, change agents, managers transforming their teams, entrepreneurs just starting out and CEOs running well-established companies.

hubhopper

On the Brink with Andi Simon

hubhopper