The Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast

How can shifting your mindset about pricing transform your business and unlock greater value for your clients?

In this episode, John Ray dives into the challenges service providers face when it comes to pricing and value creation. They explore how a mindset shift can help professionals, from consultants to attorneys, understand and communicate their value better, avoid common pricing pitfalls, and confidently present their services. John shares insights from his book, The Generosity Mindset, explaining how generosity and value-based pricing can empower businesses to succeed. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your pricing strategies, this episode is full of actionable advice.

[00:01 - 05:29] Welcome and Introduction

Introduction to John Ray and his work with service professionals
John's expertise in pricing and business development
Highlighting his national bestseller, The Generosity Mindset

[05:30 - 10:15] Why Pricing is Often Misunderstood

The scarcity of pricing education in business schools
The common mindset issues around pricing for service providers
The emotional barriers that prevent correct pricing decisions

[10:16 - 15:48] The Generosity Mindset and Its Impact on Pricing

The "Mother Teresa syndrome" and its negative impact on business
The importance of focusing on the value to clients
Understanding and aligning client perceptions of value

[15:49 - 20:33] Redefining Value Beyond Tangible Deliverables

Differentiating between tangible and intangible value
The ripple effect of the value created for clients
Encouraging clients to dream bigger with their savings and profits

[20:34 - 26:57] Self-Confidence as a Key to Business Success

The connection between self-confidence and successful business negotiations
How to bring clients along in the pricing journey
Understanding that pricing is a marketing signal for value

Quotes:

"You create more value than you believe yourself." - John Ray

"If you price too low, you’re signaling inferiority, even if the quality of your work says otherwise." - John Ray

Connect with John:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnray1

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Generosity-Mindset-Journey-Business-Confidence-ebook/dp/B0CPJZBHC2

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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How can leaders foster innovation even in challenging economic times?

In this illuminating episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, host Natalie Born sits down with Robyn Bolton, founder and chief navigator at MileZero. Bolton shares insights from her extensive experience at companies like P&G and BCG, offering practical advice on structuring innovation within organizations and empowering employees to contribute meaningfully. The conversation touches on the importance of leadership in driving innovation, strategies for maintaining innovation during economic downturns, and the delicate balance between operational excellence and breakthrough thinking.

Robyn M. Bolton is the founder and Chief Navigator of MileZero, a consultancy dedicated to helping medium and large companies drive revenue growth through innovation. With a rich background spanning Procter & Gamble, Boston Consulting Group, and Innosight, Bolton brings a unique blend of expertise to her clients. Her approach emphasizes flexibility, focus, humility, and humor, combining proven frameworks with practical, collaborative strategies. Bolton's mission is to unlock business potential, deliver tangible results, and build lasting innovation capabilities within organizations, all while maintaining high standards of work and a commitment to impactful involvement.

[00:00:00 - 00:05:59] The Innovation Imperative: Navigating Corporate Challenges

Innovation is often a leadership problem, not an idea problem.
Short-term incentives can hinder long-term innovation efforts.
Brave leaders are needed to invest in innovation for future viability.

[00:06:00 - 00:10:59] Weathering the Storm: Innovation During Economic Uncertainty

Economic downturns can be opportunities to double down on innovation.
Focus on innovations that align with current strategies and priorities.
Engaging in innovation can boost team morale during challenging times.

[00:11:00 - 00:15:59] Ownership and Integration: Making Innovation Work

Different types of innovation require different ownership models.
Bridging the gap between innovation teams and core business is crucial.
CEO ownership of innovation is vital for organizational buy-in.

[00:16:00 - 00:20:59] From Ideation to Implementation: Structuring Innovation Processes

Provide a focus for innovation efforts tied to organizational strategy.
Require detailed rationales and plans for innovative ideas.
Always provide specific feedback on submitted ideas to encourage improvement.

[00:21:00 - 00:25:00] Looking Ahead: The Future of Corporate Innovation

Economic pressures may spark a renewed focus on innovation.
Leadership behaviors and organizational culture are critical for innovation success.
Encourage creative thinking balanced with critical analysis to unlock potential.

Quotes:

"Innovation is I always think of it as a means to an end and when you're in a company and you're innovating, that end has been defined by the company of, you know, what are its short term and long term goals." - Robyn Bolton

"Be brave. When you make mistakes, admit it, because that actually gives your team a lot of courage and comfort to make mistakes themselves." - Robyn Bolton

Connect with Robyn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynmbolton/

Website: https://www.milezero.io/about/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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How can organizations create a security-minded culture where every employee feels responsible for protecting against cyber threats?

In this episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, host Natalie Born sits down with cybersecurity expert Yosef Beck to explore the ever-evolving landscape of digital security. With over a decade of experience consulting for more than 70 clients and a background in hospitality cybersecurity, Beck shares valuable insights on protecting individuals and organizations from cyber threats. The conversation delves into recent headlines, practical tips for safeguarding against attacks, and the anatomy of a hack. Beck also discusses emerging innovations in cybersecurity and the challenges posed by new technologies like quantum computing and AI.

Yosef brings a balanced and informed perspective to managing risk, considering both global and local operations and compliance requirements. He enjoys explaining complex technical concepts in simple language to help companies understand and prepare for responding to cybersecurity events.

[00:00:00 - 00:07:00] From Tech to Security: Yosef Beck's Cybersecurity Journey

Beck's career path included internships with a three-letter agency and various security-related roles in consulting.
He transitioned from business management consulting to specialized cybersecurity roles at IHG.
Recent headlines include the development of a national data privacy law in the U.S. and a class action against Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

[00:07:00 - 00:13:00] Cybersecurity 101: Protecting Yourself and Your Organization

Stay on top of patching for all devices, including IoT devices at home.
Only connect devices to the internet when necessary to reduce vulnerabilities.
Use ad blockers to minimize exposure to potential threats through malicious ads.

[00:13:00 - 00:18:00] Anatomy of a Hack: Understanding the Attacker's Playbook

The process typically involves seven steps: reconnaissance, weaponization, delivery, exploitation, installation, command and control, and actions on objectives.
Security teams aim to make each step as difficult as possible for attackers.
The time to identify and contain breaches has decreased over the years, but attackers have adapted their strategies accordingly.

[00:18:00 - 00:21:00] The Dark Web Menu: Putting a Price on Personal Data

Personal information is being sold on the dark web, with prices varying for different types of data.
The need for stronger data privacy controls is emphasized to protect personal information.
Companies collecting data should prioritize protecting it, not just using it for profit.

[00:21:00 - 00:23:00] The Future of Cybersecurity: Innovations and Challenges

Post-quantum cryptography is becoming crucial to ensure long-term data protection.
Public cloud and SaaS security are evolving, with a shift in responsibility between providers and users.
Generative AI presents both opportunities and challenges for cybersecurity professionals.

Quotes:

"Security is not security's job. Security is the company, the organization's job. You need to have everybody bought into a security mindset." - Yosef Beck

Connect With Yosef:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yosefbeck/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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How is artificial intelligence reshaping innovation practices and what does it mean for businesses today?

In this thought-provoking episode, innovation expert Katrin Zimmermann shares insights on the evolution of innovation hubs, the transformative impact of AI, and how businesses can navigate the rapidly changing technological landscape. Drawing from her extensive experience across industries, Zimmermann offers valuable perspectives on integrating innovation into organizational structures and leveraging AI for growth and efficiency. She also explores the broader implications of AI on society and the future of innovation.

Katrin Zimmerman serves and mentors clients on business strategy, digital transformation, marketing transformation, and innovation up to the C-suite. Prior to founding TLGG USA, Katrin spent 15 years at Lufthansa, where she co-created the Innovation Hub.

[00:00:00 - 00:04:00] The Innovation Journey: From Lufthansa to New York

• Zimmermann's diverse career path always centered on innovation

• Experience launching the Lufthansa Innovation Hub

• Transition to consulting with TLGG in New York

[00:04:00 - 00:10:00] The Shifting Landscape of Innovation Hubs

• Democratization of innovation tools like AI

• Corporations reassessing dedicated innovation units

• Importance of context in deciding innovation strategies

[00:10:00 - 00:15:00] AI: The Double-Edged Sword of Progress

• Rapid emergence of AI catching many unprepared

• Polarized views on AI's potential impact

• Need to infuse innovative perspectives into AI development

[00:15:00 - 00:19:00] Navigating the AI Revolution in Business

• Organizations cautiously exploring AI applications

• AI as a transformative force comparable to the shift from horse to car

• Importance of encouraging employee engagement with AI

[00:19:00 - 00:25:00] Practical Steps for Embracing AI in Innovation

• Strategies for organizations to start leveraging AI

• Potential of AI to drive growth and minimize costs

• The evolving relationship between AI and innovation practices

Quotes:

"I think it's an interesting time for innovation in general, because... the speed of innovation and the rapidness of it coming to market and being user available has... [reached] new heights." - Katrin Zimmermann

"To me, it's almost like a trampoline of what's possible. We're not standing on the ground and trying to reach something, but we're now given a trampoline and we can jump in all types of directions and to new heights." - Katrin Zimmermann

Connect with Katrin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinzimmermann/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now atsetitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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How can mastering banking fundamentals transform the trajectory of your small to mid-sized business?

In this enlightening episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, host Natalie Born is joined by Mary Beth Coke, District Director for Regions Bank, covering Georgia and the Carolinas. Mary Beth shares her extensive background in banking and discusses the critical role that financial strategies play in supporting entrepreneurs and business owners. From starting out to planning for future growth or an exit strategy, Mary Beth provides a masterclass in leveraging banking resources to propel business success. Her insights offer a roadmap for navigating the complex financial landscape that every business owner faces, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right banking partner.

Mary Beth Coke, District Director for Regions Bank in GA/Carolinas since 2023, previously led Middle Market Banking at Truist. Her extensive experience spans various industries and leveraged finance. A Georgia Tech alum, she chairs the Georgia Council on Economic Education, enhancing financial literacy across the state.

[00:00:00-00:02:00] Introduction to Financial Mastery:

The importance of understanding banking as a business tool.
How Regions Bank supports businesses across multiple states.
Mary Beth's unique approach to banking and customer relationship.

[00:02:00-00:07:00] Banking Foundations for Entrepreneurs:

Mary Beth's journey from corporate to commercial banking.
The significance of training programs in banking careers.
How foundational skills in banking support business decision-making.

[00:07:00-00:12:00] Strategic Banking for Business Growth:

Identifying and overcoming common business challenges through banking.
The role of a bank in strategic planning and financial management.
How to use banking products to facilitate business operations and growth.

[00:12:00-00:17:00] Enhancing Business Operations Through Banking:

Practical advice for choosing the right banking services and products.
The impact of a good banking relationship on business stability.
Examples of how banks can provide comprehensive support beyond financing.

[00:17:00-00:24:00] Preparing for Future Business Transitions:

Strategies for preparing a business for future growth or sale.
The importance of integrating strategic financial advice early on.
How to leverage banking relationships to maximize business potential.

Quotes:

- "You never know when you're going to need to rely on those deal specific skills or transaction awareness." - Mary Beth Coke

- "It costs nothing to have a conversation, and it can open so many doors." - Mary Beth Coke

Connect with Mary Beth:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-beth-coke-811710b/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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How can businesses reclaim the customer-centric approach that defined early corporate success and adapt it for the 21st century?

In this enlightening episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born engages with Hunter Hastings, an economist and former corporate executive turned advisor and author. Hastings shares his rich experience spanning various roles, including CMO and CEO positions, and discusses the evolution of customer-centric business practices. He emphasizes the importance of putting the customer at the center of all business operations and innovations, drawing parallels between 19th-century entrepreneurial approaches and modern customer capitalism. Hastings provides valuable insights on removing organizational barriers, embracing self-management, and the power of empathy in understanding customer needs. This episode offers a compelling perspective on the future of management and the revival of customer-focused business strategies.

Hunter Hastings is an economist who took up a career in corporate marketing and occupied the posts of Chief Marketing Officer in a global consumer products business, Chief Executive Officer in a Silicon Valley start-up enterprise, and Senior Partner in a global consulting company. He’s been an advisor to several Fortune 500 clients in the area of customer motivation and service strategy.

[00:00:00 - 00:07:00] The Customer-Centric Journey: From P&G to Silicon Valley

Procter & Gamble's focus on understanding and serving the customer's needs
The importance of maintaining customer focus in technology companies
The shift from entrepreneurial to managerial approaches in the 20th century

[00:07:00 - 00:14:00] Breaking Down Barriers: The Path to Organizational Innovation

Identifying and removing barriers to customer information flow
The emergence of cross-functional and dynamic teams
The potential future of self-management in organizations

[00:14:00 - 00:19:00] Reimagining Implementation: Working Backwards from the Future

The importance of visualizing the end result in great detail
Working backwards to identify necessary components and steps
Balancing technology with customer needs and feelings

[00:19:00 - 00:26:00] Empathy in Engineering: Understanding the Customer's Unspoken Desires

The importance of understanding customer feelings, not just functional needs
Recognizing customer dissatisfaction as an opportunity for innovation
Balancing customer input with entrepreneurial vision

[00:26:00 - 00:30:00] The Revival of Customer Capitalism: Embracing the Future

The return of customer-centric approaches in 21st-century businesses
The power of imagination in entrepreneurship
Resources for further learning about customer-focused business strategies

Quotes:

"The future of management then is no management. It's self-management." - Hunter Hastings

"The customer does know what they want, or at least they know what they want to be better. They don't know what they can want." - Hunter Hastings

Connect with Hunter:

Website: https://hunterhastings.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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What three essential elements can empower women to embrace their leadership abilities and thrive in their careers?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, host Natalie Born engages in a captivating conversation with Tinsley English, a recognized expert in female leadership development. Tinsley shares her personal journey and the lessons she learned along the way, which inspired her to write her transformative book, "Grit, Growth, and Gumption." Throughout the discussion, Tinsley emphasizes the importance of investing in one's own growth, embracing vulnerability, and developing emotional intelligence to become an effective leader. She introduces her powerful G-Force Code system, which combines the elements of grit, growth, and gumption to help women lead themselves and others with confidence. Tinsley's insights and practical advice serve as a roadmap for aspiring female leaders, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones, take chances, and make a lasting impact in their organizations and communities.

Tinsley English is a recognized expert in female leadership development, a dynamic keynote speaker, and a best-selling author renowned for her transformative G-Force Code System.

00:00:00 - 00:10:59 | Falling into Leadership: Tinsley's Journey and the Birth of G Force Code

Tinsley's personal experience of being promoted without an instruction manual highlights the common challenges faced by new leaders.
The G Force Code, a combination of grit, growth, and gumption, serves as a practical toolkit for women to develop their leadership skills.
Grit encompasses resilience, the ability to thrive through challenging times and setbacks, drawing inspiration from Tinsley's mother's example.

00:11:00 - 00:19:59 | Embracing Gumption and Growth: Overcoming Fears and Developing Emotional Intelligence

Gumption involves strategic decision-making, weighing risks and rewards, and moving forward with confidence.
Women often struggle with taking chances and applying for positions they don't feel 100% qualified for, but it's essential to embrace gumption and "do it now."
Growth, particularly in emotional intelligence and empathy, is crucial for leaders to connect with and understand their team members.

00:20:00 - 00:32:00 | Investing in Yourself and Others: The Importance of Self-Care and Giving Back

Leaders must invest in their own growth and self-care to effectively lead others and avoid burnout.
Vulnerability and relatability are key to building trust and psychological safety within teams.
As leaders mature, it's essential to turn around and give back to the next generation, sharing lessons learned and pulling others up.

Quotes:

"Leadership is not about just you. It's about investing in the growth of yourself and others." - Tinsley English

"When you invest in something, you are giving it time and attention and diligence, like investing into the stock market." - Tinsley English

Connect with Tinsley:

Instagram:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinsleyenglish/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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Can remote work revolutionize the way we balance our personal and professional lives, leading to happier, more productive employees and a more diverse workforce?

In this episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, host Natalie Born sits down with Sean Campbell, founder of Cascade Insights, a virtual professional services firm. With over 20 years of experience running remote companies, Sean shares his insights on the benefits and challenges of remote work, as well as practical tips for managing and onboarding remote teams. From the cost savings and diversity of perspectives to the positive impact on family life and the environment, Sean passionately advocates for the advantages of remote work. He also emphasizes the importance of having a single source of truth, focusing on principles over process, and fostering a culture where employees feel comfortable asking for help when needed.

Sean Campbell has been training, mentoring, and educating all his life. An exceptionally well- regarded conference speaker and author, Sean has delivered talks for Fortune 50 companies and top-tier conferences. He has also been the author of several books on technical as well as business topics. Sean has also been the owner of a virtual professional services firm for over 20 years – long before it was cool to be virtual. His professional services experiences span consulting engagements with the Fortune 50 and successful startups, the sale of his first professional services company, and the growth of delivery, sales, marketing, and operational practices inside professional services firms.

In short, Sean brings a wealth of knowledge when it comes to surviving and thriving as a virtual professional service firm owner and as the leader of a practice area inside a larger services firm.

00:00:00 - 00:06:00 | The Journey to Remote: Sean's Entrepreneurial Path

Sean has owned two predominantly remote businesses over the past 24 years
Remote work was a huge negative in 1999, but Sean saw the benefits early on
The cost and commitment of office spaces can be a significant burden for businesses

00:06:00 - 00:13:00 | The Remote Advantage: Talent, Family, and Diversity

Remote work allows companies to draw talent from anywhere
Sean is passionate about the positive impact remote work can have on family life
Remote teams benefit from a diversity of perspectives from different regions and backgrounds

00:13:00 - 00:21:00 | The Remote Reality: Presence, Communication, and Onboarding

Managers were not trained to manage remote teams during the pandemic
Having a single source of truth and investing in it over time is crucial for remote onboarding

00:21:00 - 00:25:00 | Principles Over Process: Navigating the Remote Landscape

Principles help guide employees when processes fall short in remote work
Written communication skills and virtual public speaking skills are essential in remote companies

00:25:00 - 00:29:00 | Embracing the Remote Future: Tips and Insights

Training and support are crucial for employees transitioning from in-person to remote work
The benefits of remote work are numerous, and companies that embrace it may outperform those that don't

Quotes:

"There's nothing in our history as humans that has led us to watch ourselves while we communicate." - Sean Campbell

Connect with Sean:

Website: https://www.cascadeinsights.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancampbell/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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How can leaders approach digital transformation differently to increase their chances of success in the rapidly changing business landscape?

In this episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, host Natalie Born interviews John Rossman, a former Amazon executive and the author of four books on leadership, innovation, and transformation. Rossman also discusses the role of the aging workforce and the need for companies to automate processes and empower their employees to focus on higher-value activities.

John Rossman is the author of four books on leadership and business innovation including the best-seller The Amazon Way and Big Bet Leadership. He is an early Amazon executive who played a key role in launching the Amazon marketplace business in 2002. Today he is a leading keynote speaker on leadership for innovation and transformation. John is an operator and builder whose love is diving into business problems and customer needs designing innovative solutions and business models and creating durable enterprise value. He has served as the senior technology advisor at the Gates Foundation and senior innovation advisor at T-Mobile.

His new book, Big Bet Leadership: Your Transformation Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era, is an actionable playbook for senior leaders to succeed at complex transformations.

00:00:00 - 00:04:59 - From Amazon to Guiding Digital Transformation

John Rossman's background as an early leader at Amazon and his transition to helping companies with digital transformation
The three mega forces shaping the hyper-digital era: technology, aging workforce, and economic growth through productivity and innovation

00:05:00 - 00:10:59 - Transforming Mindsets and Approaches

The importance of senior leadership's commitment to change and making adjustments to their approach
The three habits of successful leaders in major transformations: creating clarity, maintaining velocity, and accelerating risk and value

00:11:00 - 00:17:59 - The Power of Writing and Debating Memos

The benefits of using memos instead of PowerPoint presentations for complex situations
How the Amazon way of writing and debating memos leads to better decision-making and understanding
The importance of completeness of thought and simplicity of wording in creating clear messaging

00:18:00 - 00:22:59 - Key Adjustments for Successful Digital Transformation

Creating a common definition of the problem and the hypothesized solution
Embracing the journey of experimentation and learning in strategic wandering

00:23:00 - 00:27:00 - Embracing Ambition and Aiming High

The impact of the aging workforce on digital transformation and the need for automation and empowering employees
The importance of approaching problems holistically, not just applying technology

Key Quotes:

"It truly is. I think the difference is about getting senior leadership to make a few adjustments. Not on everything they do, but on how they run these major transformations." - John Rossman

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark." - Michelangelo, as quoted by John Rossman

Connect with John:

Website: https://johnrossman.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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Is ESG compliance becoming a necessity for companies to maintain their customer base and grow their business?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, host Natalie Born sits down with Bob Woosley, a national practice leader at Fraser and Dieter, to discuss the evolving landscape of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance and its impact on mid-market companies. The conversation delves into the growing pressure from public companies and government regulations on suppliers to provide decarbonization and emission information, regardless of their stance on ESG. Woosley emphasizes the importance of preparing for these requirements to avoid losing customers and hindering business growth.

00:00:00 - 00:05:59 The Evolution of ESG Compliance

ESG started as a requirement driven by pension funds investing in private equity firms
Private equity firms initially pushed back on ESG, but some embraced it to manage risk
The focus on ESG compliance shifted from being seen as "woke" to a necessity for business growth

00:06:00 - 00:12:59 Supply Chain Compliance and Scope 3 Emissions

Mid-market companies are receiving letters from customers demanding emission and decarbonization information
California passed a law requiring companies doing business in the state to provide this information, regardless of the SEC's stance
Scope 3 emissions, which encompass indirect emissions in a company's supply chain, are a key focus for compliance

00:13:00 - 00:18:59 The Importance of Preparing for ESG Compliance

Mid-market companies are often unprepared to measure and report emissions, lacking internal expertise and tools
Ignoring ESG compliance could lead to losing customers and being unable to respond to RFPs
Companies should take steps to prepare for compliance, regardless of their political stance on the issue

00:19:00 - 00:23:59 Seeking Help for ESG Compliance

Mid-market companies should seek help from advisory firms to assess their readiness and develop a compliance plan
The demand for ESG compliance services is expected to grow as more companies become aware of the requirements
Fraser and Dieter is focusing on helping mid-market suppliers comply with ESG requirements, as larger firms focus on public companies

00:24:00 - 00:26:00 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Companies should not ignore ESG compliance, as it is becoming a real requirement for maintaining and expanding their customer base
Putting political views aside, preparing for ESG compliance is crucial for business growth
The Private Equity 360 podcast will feature an upcoming episode on how private equity firms are addressing supply chain challenges with their portfolio companies

Quotes:

"Our North Star, It's helping companies grow and create value across their life cycle. And keeping in good stead with your customer is no joke." - Bob Woosley

"Do not sleep on ESG, put your political views aside. This is real. If you don't want to keep your customer, then fine. But if you want, if you want to expand revenue and make sure that you're ready to take on any customer that might be asking for this, then this is something you need to take seriously." - Bob Woosley

Connect with Bob:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-woosley-955488/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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How can choosing the right leader, not just the job, propel your career to new heights?

In this episode, host Natalie Born engages in a discussion with Antonio Garrido, author and founder of "My Daily Leadership". Antonio shares his fascinating journey from architect to successful business leader, highlighting the profound impact that great leaders had on his career trajectory. He emphasizes the importance of shared core values between individuals and organizations, drawing parallels to the dynamics of successful marriages. Antonio also delves into the power of leadership journaling as a tool for self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and decision-making. Listeners will gain valuable insights on how to identify and work with exceptional leaders, foster a culture of learning and innovation, and unlock their own leadership potential through reflective practices.

Antonio Garrido is the author of My Daily Leadership: A Powerful Roadmap for Leadership Success, and Founder & President of My Daily Leadership, a leadership development organization with a mission to inspire one million of the world’s best leaders to reach their full potential. Antonio has over twenty-five years in senior leadership positions with world-class businesses. He is an expert in leadership transformation: shaping high-performance leaders out of highly-stressed and overworked leaders. Antonio blends his own vast commercial experience with proven techniques to embed a unique brand of leadership development.

(00:00:00 - 00:06:00) From Architect to Business Leader: Antonio's Transformative Journey

The influence of a great leader can change the course of one's career.
Shared core values are essential for long-lasting professional relationships.
Continuously seeking opportunities to learn and grow is crucial for success.

(00:06:01 - 00:12:00) Choosing a Leader, Not Just a Job

Evaluate a leader's personal and organizational core values before joining a company.
Seek leaders who aspire to be world-class and prioritize learning and development.
Assess a leader's approach to truth, trust, and innovation.

(00:12:01 - 00:18:00) Fostering a Culture of Learning, Development, and Innovation

Celebrate failures as opportunities for growth and learning.
Encourage creativity by providing employees with time to explore projects that excite them.
Create a safe environment where people feel comfortable taking risks and being innovative.

(00:18:01 - 00:24:00) The Power of Leadership Journaling

Successful leaders across various fields practice journaling.
Journaling builds self-awareness and emotional intelligence, which are crucial for effective leadership.
Regular self-evaluation through journaling leads to wisdom and better decision-making.

(00:24:01 - 00:27:00) Developing Hindsight, Insight, and Foresight Through Journaling

Hindsight: Reflect on past decisions and actions to identify areas for improvement.
Insight: Use past experiences to make better decisions in the present.
Foresight: Anticipate future challenges and opportunities based on lessons learned.

Quotes:

"The only advantage you have today over yesterday is what you've learned." - Antonio Garrido

"Innovation can only thrive in cultures, environments, and situations where people feel safe." - Antonio Garrido

Connect with Antonio:

Website: https://www.mydailyleadership.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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How can leaders foster a culture of innovation and psychological safety in their organizations?

In this episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, host Natalie Born sits down with Tim Fischer, the president of Jackson + Coker, to discuss leadership, innovation, and the importance of psychological safety in the workplace. With over 30 years of experience in the staffing industry, Tim shares his insights on how leaders can create an environment where employees feel valued, appreciated, and comfortable taking risks. He emphasizes the significance of common sense leadership, the golden rule, and the willingness to listen and be vulnerable. Tim also delves into the challenges faced by the healthcare industry and how his company is working to address the shortage of physicians and the mental health concerns among healthcare professionals.

Tim Fischer currently serves as the President of Jackson + Coker, a locum tenens company filled with individuals who share his passion for making a difference in the world. Every day, he is surrounded by colleagues who inspire him to be better, expect excellence from one another, and understand the power of teamwork, positive energy, and hard work. The company is literally saving lives on a daily basis, and Fischer's role allows him to align his personal values with the company's values, an experience he has never had before in his career and one that he thoroughly enjoys.

The Shaping of a Leader (00:00:00 - 00:05:00)Tim's upbringing and early experiences shaped his perspective on leadership. The Air Force Academy taught him the importance of being a good follower before becoming a leader. Common sense and the golden rule are essential in leadership, but often forgotten as people gain success.Fostering Psychological Safety (00:05:00 - 00:12:00)Psychological safety is crucial for innovation, as people must feel comfortable failing. Leaders should be visible, approachable, and willing to listen to their employees. Vulnerability and admitting mistakes can help build trust and psychological safety within the team.Challenges and Opportunities in the Healthcare Industry (00:12:00 - 00:21:00)The locum tenens industry helps address the shortage of physicians in underserved areas. Healthcare professionals face burnout and mental health concerns, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Partnering with locum tenens firms can provide physicians with flexibility and the opportunity to focus on patient care.The Importance of Purpose in Work (00:21:00 - 00:26:00)Many workers feel unappreciated and unhappy in their workplace, highlighting the need for purpose-driven organizations. Connecting employees' work to a greater mission can increase engagement and satisfaction. Finding one's purpose is a journey, and it's okay to take time to discover it through experimentation and failure.Becoming a Better Person in the Workplace (00:26:00 - 00:27:00)Workplaces that focus on helping employees become better people are thriving in today's world. Bringing one's full self to work and feeling appreciated are essential for employee well-being and success.Quotes:"If you're not a good follower, you can't be a good leader." - Tim Fischer"Innovation does not happen if people are not comfortable failing." - Tim FischerConnect with Tim:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfischer44/LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.coThese are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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Can the complex, interconnected challenges of our era be addressed through traditional innovation methods, or is there a more powerful approach waiting to be unleashed?

In this episode, host Natalie Born engages with Dan McClure, a visionary in the field of innovation, to explore his latest book, "Do Bigger Things." McClure delves into the necessity for a new, potent form of innovation capable of tackling today's complex, wicked problems. Through a lively discussion, the episode unfolds the concept of "Innovation Choreography," offering insights into how individuals and organizations can navigate and influence the intricate web of modern challenges. This conversation is a deep dive into reimagining the potential of innovation to create meaningful, transformative change.

Dan is an innovation choreographer, a big picture innovator whose job is to run into burning buildings looking for exceptional opportunities to reinvent the way the world works. He is a recognized thought leader in the emerging practice of ecosystem innovation and the author of the Fast Company Press book "Do Bigger Things – A practical guide to powerful innovation in a changing world". Throughout his 40 year career, he has worked with global firms facing threats of obsolescence, pioneering businesses in fast changing markets, and international organizations tackling tough challenges like climate change and pandemic response. He is excited about the future and the possibilities for pursuing bold ambitious ideas.

[00:00:17 - 00:01:22] Unveiling the Next Innovation Frontier

McClure introduces the premise of "Do Bigger Things."

Innovation must evolve to address complex challenges.
The concept of "Innovation Choreography" as a strategy.
The importance of rethinking traditional approaches.

[00:02:09 - 00:05:38] The Choreographer's Mindset in Innovation

Discussion on McClure's background and the origins of his innovative thinking.
Embracing complex problems as opportunities.
The role of a diverse skill set in driving innovation.
The significance of "playbooks" in managing complexity.

[00:06:13 - 00:09:19] Building Modular, Adaptable Organizations

How to structure organizations for flexibility and innovation.
The metaphor of innovation as building with Lego blocks.
The necessity for organizations to support innovation at all levels.
Designing organizations to be modular and adaptable.

[00:10:13 - 00:15:00] From Vision to Implementation: The Innovator's Journey

Strategies for aligning innovation with organizational vision and making it actionable.
Aligning innovation efforts with the organization's broader goals.
The importance of a holistic approach to innovation.
The role of cross-functional support and partnerships.

[00:15:55 - 00:24:40] The Role of Innovation Choreographers

Expanding on the concept and importance of innovation choreographers.
The unique skill set of an innovation choreographer.
How to identify and nurture these individuals within organizations.
The impact of innovation choreographers on industry and societal challenges.

Quotes

"We live in a world that has the problems that need us." - Dan McClure

"It's nice not to have to apologize for the talents that you've got." - Dan McClure

Connect with Dan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mccluredc

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website

innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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Have you ever considered how the simplicity of your message could be the key to breakthrough communication? Discover how to cut through the noise and connect more effectively.In this insightful episode of "Innovation Meets Leadership," host Natalie Born sits down with marketing communications expert and author Ben Guttmann to explore the power of simplicity in messaging.

Gutman shares his journey from starting a marketing agency to teaching and writing, emphasizing the critical importance of clear, concise communication in our cluttered world. Through engaging stories and practical advice, this episode uncovers the secrets to designing messages that resonate, inspire action, and stand the test of time. Dive into a conversation that will transform the way you think about marketing, leadership, and the art of communication.

Ben Guttmann is a marketing and communications expert and author of Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win — and How to Design Them. He’s an experienced marketing executive and educator on a mission to get leaders to more effectively connect by simplifying their message. Ben is former co-founder and managing partner at Digital Natives Group, an award-winning agency that worked with the NFL, I Love NY, Comcast NBCUniversal, Hachette Book Group, The Nature Conservancy, and other major clients. Currently, Ben teaches digital marketing at Baruch College in New York City and consults with a range of thought leaders, venture-backed startups, and other brands.

[00:00:00 - 00:03:00] Unveiling Simplicity in CommunicationIntroduction of Ben Gutman and the essence of simplicity in messaging.The backstory of Gutman's journey from a student to a marketing guru.The inspiration behind his book, "Simply Put."

[00:03:00 - 00:08:00] The Science of Simple MessagesHow cognitive fluency impacts message reception and action.The struggle between sender complexity and receiver preference for simplicity.The role of empathy in crafting effective communications.

[00:08:00 - 00:12:00] Design Principles for Powerful MessagingThe five design principles for simplicity in messages.The common mistakes in communication and how to avoid them.The significance of focusing on benefits over features.

[00:12:00 - 00:16:00] The Art of SimplificationPractical strategies for simplifying complex ideas.The importance of asking "So what?" to find the core benefit.How to use the "So what?" method to connect deeply with your audience.

[00:16:00 - 00:20:00] The Future of Communication: AI and BeyondGutman's nuanced view on the role of AI in communication.The potential and limitations of generative AI for content creation.How simplicity remains crucial amidst the rise of AI-generated content.

Quotes:"The messages that work... are simple." - Ben Guttmann"We are all marketers in many ways." - Ben Guttmann

Connect with Ben:Website: https://www.benguttmann.com/LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.coThese are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process.

Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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How can organizations create a more equitable pay structure and what impact does this have on innovation and business success?

In this insightful episode, host Natalie Born engages with Sally Loftis, Managing Director at Loftus Partners. They delve into the intricate relationship between human resources strategy and business innovation, focusing on the pivotal role of pay equity in fostering a thriving, innovative workplace. Sally shares her extensive expertise in human resources, emphasizing how addressing pay justice and equity can drive positive change in organizational culture and performance.

Sally Loftis is the daughter of teachers, innovators, and visionaries who taught her from a young age to deeply listen to everyone in her circle of influence. Starting with activism in high school, Sally volunteered and worked in spaces so that all people feel seen, heard, and represented in her work. Sally is the Managing Director at Loftis Partners, a 100% woman-owned human resources consulting firm located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Loftis Partners specializes in strategy, people, facilitation, and pay justice. Since launching in August 2020, Sally and her firm have worked with 54 clients across 3 continents.

(00:00 - 04:59) The Journey to HR and Business Strategy

Sally's extensive background in human resources.
The evolution of HR beyond traditional roles.
The critical role of strategic HR in business success.

(05:00 - 09:59) Unpacking Pay Equity and Justice

Definition and importance of pay equity.
Challenges in achieving pay justice.
The impact of wage stagnation and cost of living adjustments.

(10:00 - 13:59) Overcoming Systemic Barriers to Pay Equity

Strategies for addressing systemic issues in pay structures.
The role of leadership in fostering pay equity.
Insights into innovative practices in pay equity.

(14:00 - 17:59) The Relationship Between Pay and Workplace Innovation

How pay impacts employee innovation and motivation.
The connection between financial security and creative thinking.
Strategies for organizations to encourage innovation through equitable pay.

(18:00 - 21:59) Actionable Steps Towards Pay Equity

Practical steps for organizations to achieve pay equity.
The importance of transparent and fair pay practices.
Future directions and challenges in pay equity.

Quotes:

"It's hard to be innovative when you're fearful if you can pay your bills or not." - Sally Loftis

"If I take this risk with this innovative idea and it doesn't work, does that mean I'm going to have a job on the other end?" - Sally Loftis

Connect with Sally:

Website: https://www.loftispartners.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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How can leaders navigate the challenges of being 'asleep at the wheel' and transform their organizations into thriving, purpose-driven entities?

In this insightful episode, host Natalie Born engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Chris Green, a managing partner at Arch and Tower. They delve into the intricacies of leadership, the art of transforming organizations, and the significance of employee and customer experiences. Green shares his journey from a generalist background to a pivotal role in organizational development, offering valuable insights into the psychological aspects of leadership and the importance of aligning organizational strategy with human motivation.

Chris Green is a founder and Managing Partner of Arch + Tower, a Business Transformation team, operating in the Advisory Group of Frazier & Deeter. Arch + Tower focuses on serving clients who are looking to transform their organizations to achieve goals within Customer Experience, Employee Experience, Operational Excellence, or Digital Transformation...almost anything that helps an organization predictably get where they want to go.

(00:01:00 - 00:05:59) The Journey of a Generalist

The value of diverse experiences in shaping leadership skills.
Importance of adaptability and learning in different roles.
How a generalist approach can lead to innovative problem-solving.

(00:06:00 - 00:10:59) Visionary Leadership and Overcoming Fatigue

The role of vision in guiding organizational change.
Addressing and managing organizational and project fatigue.
Empowering leaders to pursue their vision amidst overwhelming priorities.

(00:11:00 - 00:15:59) Organizational Transformation Barriers

The impact of leadership styles on organizational change.
Strategies for CEOs to align their teams with transformation goals.
Understanding the psychological barriers to change.

(00:16:00 - 00:20:59) Tools for Clarity and Decision Making

Utilizing Maslow's hierarchy in organizational decision-making.
Importance of addressing foundational issues for effective change.
Techniques for leaders to gain clarity and direction.

(00:21:00 - 00:25:59) Cultivating a Purpose-Driven Life and Career

Strategies for personal and professional growth.
Balancing work, life, and personal values.
The importance of setting intentional goals for life and career.

Quotes:

"Every organization has survival and security needs just like human beings." - Chris Green

"If you don't know where you're going, how do you know how you're going to get there?" - Chris Green

Connect with Chris:

Website: https://www.archandtower.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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In a world where innovation is constantly redefining possibilities, how does one navigate the intricate balance between creativity, technology, and the human element to drive meaningful change?

In this captivating episode, host Natalie Born engages with Ian Bergman, a partner at Alchemist Accelerator, in a deep dive into the realms of innovation and corporate change. Bergman shares his unique journey, highlighting how a non-linear path led him to a profound understanding of innovation. From breaking his parents' computer networks as a child to his pivotal experiences at Microsoft and his current role in fostering startup innovation, Bergman's story is a testament to the power of embracing change. This episode offers invaluable insights into understanding customer-centric innovation, the importance of collaboration, and the dynamics of bringing groundbreaking ideas to fruition within large organizations.

Ian Bergman is a Partner at Alchemist Accelerator and head of AlchemistX, the company's corporate and government services division. As a self-described general-purpose nerd and corporate innovation agitator, Ian loves working at the intersection of emerging tech startups and the innovation needs of established organizations. Ian joined Alchemist from Microsoft, where, as head of the global Microsoft for Startups field organization, he was responsible for engaging and supporting startup ecosystems worldwide. Ian is also the host of the AlchemistX: Innovators Inside Podcast.

(00:00:00 - 00:04:59)The Unconventional Path to Innovation

Embracing non-obvious routes can lead to groundbreaking innovation.
Navigating career shifts provides diverse perspectives on technology and innovation.
Early experiences and interests can profoundly influence professional trajectories.

(00:05:00 - 00:09:59) Challenging the Status Quo at Microsoft

Adapting to changing market dynamics is crucial for innovation.
Customer-centric approaches are essential in product development.
Collaboration and vision alignment are key to realizing innovative ideas.

(00:10:00 - 00:14:59) Build, Buy, or Partner: Strategic Decision-Making

Assessing internal capabilities versus external opportunities is vital.
The 'not built here' mentality can hinder innovation.
Effective decision-making involves evaluating build, buy, or partner options.

(00:15:00 - 00:19:59) Embracing Challenges and Blockers in Innovation

Overcoming cultural and organizational hurdles is part of the innovation process.
Encouraging a culture that rewards risk-taking and learning from failures.
Navigating procurement and compliance challenges in introducing new ideas.

(00:20:00 - 00:23:59) Stakeholder Management: A Key to Successful Innovation

Building relationships and managing stakeholders is crucial for success.
Sharing credit and creating champions can amplify innovation efforts.
Transparency and communication are essential in driving organizational change.

Quotes:

"An innovator has to fall in love with the problem, not the solution." - Ian Bergman
"Confidentiality is worthless. 95% of the time. Tell people what you're doing and that's how you get credit." - Ian Bergman

Connect with Ian:

Website: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/corporate-innovators

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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How can organizations leverage customer experience as a strategic advantage in the dynamic SaaS landscape?

This episode features Bill Mahoney, the Chief Customer Officer at Comply, to unravel the intricate relationship between customer experience and business growth in the SaaS sector. He shares his expert insights on adapting customer success strategies to various business sizes, utilizing AI in customer service, and the evolution of community-driven customer engagement. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for leaders and professionals striving to align customer experience with organizational growth.

(00:00 - 05:00) Starting in Customer Experience

(05:01 - 10:30) Customer Experience and Revenue Growth

(10:31 - 00:15:16) Techniques in Customer-Based Growth

(15:17 - 20:10) Innovative Customer Education

(20:12 - 26:24) Closing Segment

Key Quotes:

"Our goal is to help people get back to doing what they're doing for their jobs more quickly and efficiently." - Bill Mahoney

"Community is really about making sure that they know that they have all the tools and resources possible at their fingertips." - Bill Mahoney

Connect with Bill:

Website: COMPLY

LinkedIn: Bill Mahoney

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE:The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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How can we shift workplace culture to empower employees and unlock their full potential?In this episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, Natalie interviews Nancy Lyons, CEO and founder of Clockwork Interactive, about her mission to "make work better." They discuss breaking down workplace hierarchies, overcoming learned helplessness and fear, and creating psychologically safe environments where all employees can thrive.Nancy, CEO and co-founder of Clockwork, is an outspoken advocate for making work better - more inclusive, flexible, and adaptable. No one does great work if they're worried or can't bring their whole self to work. She learned this the hard way: by having terrible jobs and not fitting in, experiences many of us can relate to. But how do we create workspaces that actually work for humans, with all their nuances and intricacies? It's on all of us - leaders, employees, teams - to take responsibility for fostering cultures and spaces that work for people. And in doing so, we will make better products, experiences, and work lives.Are you ready for a work revolution? Nancy is leading the charge!Her first book was Interactive Project Management: Pixels, People, and Process, taking a human-centered approach to producing digital products. Her current book, Work Like a Boss: A Kick-in-the-Pants Guide to Finding (and Using) Your Power at Work, is the field guide everyone needs to adopt the actions, attitudes, and attributes that will make work better for all.(00:02:50 - 00:05:30) Rethinking the Future of Work The pandemic fundamentally changed people and work culture; we can't just "snap back" to how things were There is too much focus on "where" people work versus "how" they work and live We need to consider how technologies like AI can improve quality of life(00:05:49 - 00:09:00) The Promise and Peril of AI AI can make lives easier if it is used ethically, but poorly trained AI creates barriers We must ensure that the data training AI represents true diversity Organizations cannot recklessly adopt AI without proper governance and workflows in place(00:09:46 - 00:15:30) Empowering the Workforce The book is aimed at giving every employee a sense of agency and challenging learned helplessness Hierarchy often displaces personal agency It outlines specific fears that hold people back from thriving at workAdvice for Leadership (00:15:45 - 00:24:30) Leaders should hire people smarter than themselves Leaders need to listen more and understand different communication styles in their teams Leaders must intentionally work to build psychologically safe spaces"The way work works was decided during the Industrial Revolution when there was a big chasm between the people that owned companies and the employers and employees." - Nancy Lyons"I employ people that are far beyond my abilities, much smarter than me." - Nancy LyonsConnect with Nancy:Website: https://www.nancylyons.com/LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.coThese are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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How can tapping into collective wisdom lead to superior outcomes than relying solely on individual insight?

In this episode, we speak with Ebenezer Ikonne, AVP of product and engineering at Cox Automotive. He shares his leadership journey, from starting as a software engineer to understanding the importance of values and mindset when transitioning into a leadership role. He talks about his experience creating an atmosphere where people can flourish and reach their full potential while allowing technology to solve business problems. He also discusses how companies should approach generative AI and chat GPT tools, as well as the tragedy of not allowing people to use their talents fully.

Tune in to hear Ebenezer's insights on how followers can make smarter choices about where they want to work, what they want to do, and why it's essential to experience ‘joy at work.’

[00:01 - 06:19] From Software Engineer to AVP of Product and Engineering

[06:20 - 12:20] Leveraging the Power of the Collective to Maximize Human Potential

[12:21 - 18:15] The Impact of Generative AI and Chat GPT

[18:16 - 24:39] Closing Segment

Key Quotes:

"I think about the workplace as a place where people can and should flourish and thrive and not a place where I just go to work because I have to pay the bills." - Eb Ikonne

"The answer from the collective is, in many cases, better than the answer from the individual." - Eb Ikonne

"As human beings, we need to do things that we find fulfilling." - Eb Ikonne

Connect with Eb:

LinkedIn: Ebenezer Ikonne

Twitter: @eikonne

Springer Link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4842-7298-5

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book, SET IT ON FIRE:The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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What works for one student won't necessarily work for another, so it's important to constantly innovate to meet their needs.

In this episode, Ashley Born explores the importance of resilience in career goals and how innovation can create effective change in education. She tackles the need to differentiate instruction for students and emphasizes how businesses need to be aware of opportunities created by change. With 10+ years in education and her experience as a coordinator for one of the largest charter schools in Georgia, Ashley offers a unique perspective on topics such as motivating teachers, building support systems, and creating engaging lessons.

Tune into this episode to hear more about how innovation meets leadership when it comes to making an impact in today's educational landscape!

[00:01 - 06:06] Using Innovation to Create Effective Change in Education

[06:07 - 11:56] Innovating for Effective Change

[11:57 - 18:28] The Need for Increased Interactivity and Engagement in Virtual Settings

[18:29 - 21:53] Closing Segment

Key Quotes:

"Using innovation in education is a must because our clients are never the same from year to year, and they change every single year." - Ashley Born

"If we don't innovate what we are doing in the classroom, if we're not engaging, if we're not becoming more interactive with our kids and meeting them where they are, then we've lost them." - Ashley Born

Connect with Ashley Born

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-born-33b083135

Email: ashley.born82@gmail.com

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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"Owning the room means you're not always the first to speak, but you're the first to listen." - Cameron Singh

In this episode, host Natalie Born interviews Cameron Singh, author of the book Navigation and Discovery. They discuss Cameron's background in the aviation industry, his journey to leadership roles at a young age, and his passion for helping others navigate their career paths and reach their potential. Cameron shares how he pursued his dream of working in aviation, starting in entry-level roles and working his way up. He talks about the importance of building relationships in the workplace and creating a culture where ideas can be voiced. Cameron also discusses key concepts from his book, like "owning the room" by listening first, as well as staying open and flexible as your passion and purpose evolve over time.

[00:02 - 00:07] Navigating a Career in Aviation

How Cameron grew up passionate about aviation and got experience in entry-level roles
Why Cameron valued a workplace culture where he could voice ideas without fear
How Cameron tried new ideas and learned from failures along the way
The importance of building relationships and credibility before voicing suggestions

[00:10 - 00:15] Owning Your Voice as a Leader

Owning the room is about listening first, then speaking with intent
The power of being the last to speak and synthesizing other perspectives
How Cameron transitioned into leadership coaching to help others find their voice

[00:15 - 00:20] Embracing the Journey of Self-Discovery

Guiding those figuring out their passion and purpose
Being flexible as calling and fulfillment evolve over time
Not letting circumstances define your trajectory

Key Quote:

"Don't let your circumstances define the trajectory of your life" - Cameron Singh

Connect with Cameron

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronsingh/

Check out his new book: https://www.cameronsingh.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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"Every company has to start to become an AI company right now. If you're not skilling up, you're going to seriously be left behind the people that are." - Matt Swalley

The rapid evolution of technology has made Artificial Intelligence a crucial player in transforming our wildest dreams into reality and pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible. On today’s episode, Natalie engages in an enlightening conversation with Matt Swalley, the Co-Founder and CEO of, as they navigate through the groundbreaking innovations in AI. They discuss how AI is transforming content creation and pioneering AI-generated video ads in the advertising sector. Matt highlights the future of personalized experiences unlocked by neural reading and emphasizes the importance of businesses and individuals aligning with these advancements.

As they explore the transformative and accelerated growth potential AI brings, they also shed light on the imperative of ethical utilization and responsible integration of AI technologies in various sectors. This episode is a revelation of the boundless possibilities and future scenarios AI is unfolding, urging us to reflect, adapt, and innovate responsibly.

Matt Swalley, Co-Founder and CBO of Omneky, drives success in AI marketing by optimizing personalized ad creatives through platforms powered by OpenAI's GPT-4, DALLE-2, and proprietary algorithms, enabling profound insights into design preferences and managing numerous AI-generated ads tailored for every customer profile to boost conversions.

[00:00 - 11:09] Revolutionizing Digital Advertising

[10:11 - 20:29] Adapt and Thrive: Navigating the Accelerating Landscape of AI

Key Quote:

“It always used to require a computer science degree to get really technical. Now a lot of the barriers are lower to entry with these new tools. Everyone can go use them and become more efficient.” – Matt Swalley

Connect with Matt

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-swalley-59249533

Check out the Omneky at: https://www.omneky.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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"Mentorship and just community around entrepreneurship is so vital... It just can't happen by yourself." - Callie Murray

From accidental entrepreneurship to mindful innovation, explore the journey of turning a quirky idea into a thriving business and the lessons learned along the way. In today’s episode, Callie Murray joins us to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, from founding The Big Fake Wedding to her current venture with Same Page HR. Callie shares her fascinating story of how she stumbled upon the idea of The Big Fake Wedding, an experiential marketing company that allowed engaged couples to see wedding vendors in action. She talks about the challenges and successes of building this unique business and how it eventually led her to the world of HR. Natalie and Callie delve into the lessons learned from both of Callie's ventures, including the importance of financial planning, the value of having a business partner, and the need for a supportive entrepreneurial community. They also discuss the significance of not tying one's identity solely to their business and the benefits of maintaining a strong work-life balance.

This episode is a great reminder that entrepreneurship involves many highs and lows. Having the right support system and mindset can make all the difference. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or navigating the challenges of business ownership, Callie's story offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Callie Murray spent her twenties building The Big Fake Wedding, a quirky experiential marketing company allowing brides-and-grooms-to-be to see wedding vendors in action. She sold The Big Fake Wedding in 2016 and has since helped dozens of other organizations with word-of-mouth marketing. She now does this as a partner in Same Page HR—a fractional HR company serving businesses with 1-100 employees. On a personal level, she loves starting side hustles with her husband and three daughters and is passionate about building community in her little town of Norcross, Ga through economic development and community engagement.

[00:00 - 13:35] A Journey of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

[13:36 - 27:46] Beyond the Business: Lessons on Innovating

Key Quote:

"You're more than your job, you're more than just the company you started or what you launched." - Callie Murray

Connect with Callie Murray

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-murray-groundsweller/

Check out the Big Fake Wedding at: https://thebigfakewedding.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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"Focus on the strengths of your partnerships, of your relationships, and then work to build this up. And while you're doing that, I promise you, you will find ways to be innovative.” - Shane Mishler

Navigating chaos, identifying unique opportunities, and igniting innovation: Shane Mishler, Chief Operating Officer of SD Tech, shares insights on transforming challenges into opportunities and creating a positive culture. In this episode, Shane reveals how his journey across diverse industries shaped his approach to leadership, allowing him to manage chaos and diverse personalities effectively. He discusses an innovative approach to identifying and addressing client pain points, exemplifying the power of empathetic listening. Shane also shares how he applies the same philosophy within his organization, fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. He highlights the importance of leveraging relationships for growth and innovation, both in personal and professional contexts. Discover how to turn challenges into strengths, focus on partnerships, and ignite innovation within your sphere of influence

Shane Mishler is the Chief Operating Officer for SD Tech. Shane oversees the daily operations of the company. He partners with the owner to design and implement business strategies, plans, and processes. Shane is actively involved in all of the company’s investments, clients, strategic franchise partners, and expansion activities. During his tenure, the company’s revenue has more than tripled, and their active client list includes over 200 companies.

What you get from this episode:

[00:00 - 12:31] From Chaos to Symphony
[12:32 - 28:05] Beyond Words: Innovating by Listening

Key Quote:

"If we can be open and honest and transparent with the individuals around us and with ourselves, then we can identify what our strengths and our opportunities are significantly quicker." - Shane Mishler

Connect with Shane Mishler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-mishler-23678327

Check out his webpage at: https://www.sd-tech.net/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Let's go transform something!

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“If you're going into freelancing as a way to escape something that you don't like with what you're doing, you may discover that that same thing is in freelancing or entrepreneurship, and it sometimes may even be more severe." - Jason Montoya

Have you ever wondered if freelancing is the future of work? Clearly, the landscape of employment is evolving, and the world of freelancing is opening up opportunities for independence and flexibility that were once unheard of. In today’s episode Natalie Born welcomes Jason Montoya, where they explore the intricacies of freelancing and its growing prominence. Jason, a freelance consultant, author, and podcast host, shares his insights on how freelancing has become a viable career path, especially in the wake of recent global changes. He delves into his journey, from transitioning out of a marketing agency to embracing the freelance lifestyle, all while managing a family of seven. Jason emphasizes the importance of being fully committed to freelancing, showcasing the achievements freelancers must accomplish for success. He unveils strategies for building a steady stream of paying clients, navigating the challenges of the freelancer-client relationship, and maintaining balance between work and personal life.

Jason Scott Montoya grows small business owners, teams, and incomes around Atlanta, Georgia as a freelance consultant (since 2014). He's also the author of two books, one for aspiring freelancers (Path of the Freelancer) and another for striving small business owners (The Jump). On his blog and the Share Life podcast — JasonScottMontoya.com — Jason shares stories and systems to live better and work smarter. He also lives with his wonderful wife and five cherished children in Atlanta, Georgia (since 2005).

What you get from this episode:

Navigating the Freelance Journey
Exploring the Future of Work: Pros, Cons, and Collaborative Dynamics

Key Quote:

“Increasingly, the state of unemployment is self-employment.” – Jason Montoya

Connect with Jason Montoya

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscottmontoya/

Check out his webpage at: https://www.jasonscottmontoya.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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“The most basic skill you need is to be able to read. And I think if you can do that, if you are willing to put in the time and the work, you can learn almost anything.” – Eli Packouz

From ideation to realization, embark on a journey of ingenuity as Eli Packouz shares the challenges, triumphs, and the ultimate success of bringing Instafloss to life! Eli, a two-time founder, shares the story of his first company that was born from his brother's musician woes and led to a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign. He delves into the challenges of product development and the importance of scientific validation for their new invention, Instafloss. The device promises painless and effective flossing in just 10 seconds using water jets. Eli highlights the significance of listening to customer feedback and how they fine-tuned their messaging based on objections. The episode offers invaluable insights into crowdfunding strategies, funding decisions, and the crucial role of collaboration in building successful ventures.

Eli Packouz is a serial inventor and two-time founder. He started his first company, Singular Sound, with his brother in 2013; they have since launched eight blockbuster products. In 2017, he partnered with Dr. Ralf Raud and Dr. Ana Mascarenhas to create the first device that automatically flosses all your teeth in only 10 seconds — Instafloss. After five years of research and development, Instafloss is ready to change the world, one tooth at a time.

What you get in this episode:

• What I Learned from Founding Two Companies

• A Solution to a Customer’s Problem

"You have to believe in your ability to learn along the way. Anything you go into; you're going to be ignorant until you're done with it." – Eli Packouz

Connect with Eli Packouz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-packouz-390701149Check out Instafloss at: https://instafloss.com/LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process.

Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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"You don't have to be a writer to be an author.” – Dave Sheets

In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born and publishing industry expert Dave Sheets delve into the transformative power of publishing. With a captivating hook, they explore the question: "Why should someone publish a book?" Dave's extensive background in the industry sets the stage as he highlights the importance of credibility and the doors that open for authors through book publication. They debunk the misconception that one must be a skilled writer to become an author, emphasizing the availability of professional services that can help bring ideas to life. The conversation navigates the traditional publishing model versus self-publishing, shedding light on factors like control, timeframes, and investment. They stress the pivotal role of a platform in reaching and engaging with readers, expanding on the various channels that enable authors to share their message. As the discussion continues, the hidden benefits of becoming an author come to light, with a focus on the sense of community among authors who support one another's journey. Natalie and Dave underline the impact of self-promotion, sharing strategies to authentically promote one's work without feeling like self-promotion.

Dave Sheets has spent more than 25 years in the publishing industry working with many of the top book publishers, distributors, and printers in the industry. He currently owns a publishing services company primarily working with independent authors

The Publishing Journey

· The Power of Books: Success and Community

Key Quotes:

"Publishing a book it's not about having an ego. The difference is about getting your message out. If you think your message is important, you have to talk about it.” – Dave Sheets

Connect with Dave

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsheets

Check out Believers Book Services at https://believersbookservices.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their business through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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" A realistic outlook will keep you moving toward your desired future. A limiting belief will prevent you from moving forward.” – Dr. Clint Ladine

In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born engages in a captivating conversation with Dr. Clint Ladine, a leadership success coach and former professional basketball player. They explore the power of coaching, emphasizing the transformative impact of active listening and reframing limiting beliefs. Dr. Ladine highlights the importance of empowering others and creating a culture of trust to unlock leadership potential. Dr. Ladine delves into the significance of belief systems, distinguishing between a realistic outlook and limiting beliefs. He underscores the lifelong journey of coaching and the value of having a coach to navigate professional challenges and achieve desired goals. Throughout the episode, Natalie and Dr. Ladine discuss the transformative power of coaching, the art of active listening, overcoming limiting beliefs, unlocking potential, and the impact on organizational success.

Dr. Clint Ladine, a former basketball player turned leadership coach, is on a mission to empower leaders through effective coaching. He distinguishes between bad and good coaches, emphasizing unlocking potential and nurturing abilities. His book, "Power Coaching," is essential for optimizing leadership skills. As the owner of Successfully Coaching, he helps leaders overcome obstacles for success. Featured on Fox, CBS, ABC, and NBC, Dr. Ladine's expertise is widely recognized. Inspired by his transformative coaching experience, he pursued a doctoral program, becoming a sought-after writer, author, and speaker on Leadership Coaching.

Key Takeaways:

Unleashing your Leadership Potential
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Cultivating Growth

Key Quote:

"When you think about it, in your life, very few times have you had somebody just listen without giving advice. Try asking questions and see people light up, saying, 'Nobody's ever asked me that before. What a great question...' "– Dr. Clint Ladine

Connect with Dr. Clint Ladine

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintladine

Check out Successfully Coaching at https://www.successfullycoaching.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their business through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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“Covid has taught me that remote workers can actually deliver great results.” - Alex Svinov

In this episode, we explore the founding story of Insquad – a platform that helps to build remote teams. Alex Spinoff discusses how remote work can help companies attract talent, increase productivity, and conserve resources. He also highlights the importance of understanding and respecting cultural norms when working with colleagues in other countries. Tune in to discover the misconceptions regarding remote work and how best to hire for remote positions.

Alex is the CEO and Co-founder of Insquad, the platform to build remote development teams. He believes that the future of work is in remote teams – and this notion will radically change the world as it will bring opportunity and talent closer to each other.

Key Takeaways:

Exploring the Pros and Cons of Remote Work
Unlocking the Power of Remote Work
Reimagining the Way We Think About Remote Work

Key Quotes:

“When you have talents that you could pick and choose from anywhere and have your team match exactly what the needs of the team are, then you can build a team that is so much more powerful than when you choose from only the guys that are available here at the office.” - Alex Svinov

“The more standardized processes you have, the more power you have to leverage the opportunities of remote work.” - Alex Svinov

Connect with Alex

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-svinov/

Website: https://insquad.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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"Fund what matters and fund it well. Innovation is not just a buzzword; it's an investment in the future of your company.” – Scott Ritzheimer

In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born dives deep into the world of scaling businesses and the crucial role of innovation. Joined by Scott Ritzheimer, CEO of Scale Architects, they explore the power of finding a profitable, sustainable market, the delicate balance between systematization and creativity, and the importance of allocating resources for innovation. With insightful discussions on fostering a culture of innovation and the significance of embracing failure, this episode provides valuable insights for leaders aiming to drive strategy that demands innovation action.

Scott Ritzheimer is the Founder and CEO of Scale Architects. He has helped start nearly 20,000 new businesses and nonprofits and with his business partner started led their multimillion-dollar business through an exceptional and extended growth phase (over 10 years of double-digit growth) all before he turned 35. He founded Scale Architects to help businesses across the country identify the right growth strategies and find the right guides to get them on the fast-track to Predictable Success and stay there as long as possible.

Key Takeaways:

Cultivating an Innovative Culture
Navigating Growth and Success

Key Quotes:

"The real irony of predictable success is that it is inherently unpredictable. Embrace the tension between risk-taking and risk mitigation to create consistent success.” – Scott Ritzheimer

Connect with Scott

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottritzheimer/

Check out Scale Architects at https://www.scalearchitects.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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"Healthcare seemed like a place where we could really make an impact because I think that was part of the goal – to have purpose to what we were doing.” – Matt McBride

In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born talks with Matt McBride, the CEO and Co-founder of MEND, an enterprise patient engagement telehealth platform designed to help healthcare organizations scale their practice and care for more patients. McBride shares how his team saw an opportunity to revolutionize healthcare delivery by reshaping patient engagement through technology. They realized that healthcare was still stagnant in phone calls, paper forms, and waiting times, while other industries were being consumed by digital mobile experiences. Thus, they set out to change this and help healthcare organizations reshape how they engage with patients through technology. The episode also discusses the grounding principles of MEND, which include prioritizing customer service and patient convenience, as well as the importance of enabling doctors with technology.

Matt McBride is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mend — an enterprise-grade patient engagement and telehealth platform designed to help healthcare organizations scale their practice and care for more patients. An experienced entrepreneur, he co-founded MEND in 2015 with his three best friends to revolutionize healthcare delivery.

Key Takeaways:

Technology at the Service of The Patient
Exploring the Horizon of Healthcare Innovation

Key Quotes:

"Healthcare has to account for everyone because everyone will be a patient at some point in their lives.” – Matt McBride

Connect with Matt

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewmcbride

Check out MEND at https://mend.com/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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"Automation is not just automation just for automation's sake. Automation has to be meaningful." – Andrew Cohen

In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born talks with Andrew Cohen, the CEO and Managing Partner of Evoke, an award-winning digital transformation company specializing in modern workplace solutions. Andrew discusses how to help small businesses scale through automation and streamlining processes. They explore the benefits of reducing application stacks, connecting technologies, and providing real-time data, as well as the importance of a unified strategy and roadmap when implementing automation in small business environments. Andrew details his career journey from being an athlete to becoming a technology entrepreneur, highlighting the strategic vision he brings to the table. They also discuss how Netsurit offers a range of services to help companies automate traditionally manual efforts such as accounts payable and receivable, HR onboarding, and sales, track their success for accurate ROI guarantees, and ensure executive buy-in for digital transformation initiatives.

Since 1997, Andrew Cohen has been the CEO and Managing Partner at EVOKE, an award-winning Digital Transformation company that partners with their clients to build modern workplace solutions for nearly every common organizational and technological challenge imaginable. In 2019, Andrew launched the EVOKE Engage division, which focuses on automation and streamlining processes. He joined Netsurit at the beginning of 2022, and this now allows Netsurit to provide their clients with guidance and solutions on using technology to maximize ROI.

Key Takeaways

Transformation and Automation
Unlocking Innovation Through Data and Collaboration

Key Quotes:

"Automation has to connect these systems together to bring those real-time insights and outcomes for these companies as they start driving their business decisions going forward.” – Andrew Cohen

Connect with Andrew

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-cohen-91945a4

Check out Netsurit Innovate at https://netsurit.com/en-za/netsurit-innovate/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

Check Natalie's new book: SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation available now at setitonfire.co

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/natalie-born/support

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"It's possible to achieve both fulfilling career and happy life, and it's what I want for people. So, go for it. You deserve it." – Randi Roberts

In this podcast episode, Innovation Meets Leadership host Natalie Born interviews executive and career life coach Randi Roberts. Randi shares her journey from corporate to coaching, emphasizing the importance of introspection and self-awareness in personal development. The conversation centers on the benefits of coaching in navigating career challenges and personal growth, with both speakers sharing personal experiences. You will gain insights into using an eight-pillar tool for self-assessment and the importance of culture, feedback, and vulnerability in personal development. The episode concludes by Randi encouraging you to seek formal and informal coaching relationships to aid their growth and achieve career satisfaction.

Randi Roberts, MBA, PCC, is an Executive and Career-Life Coach, President of Corlin Roberts Coaching, LLC, and founder of the Fulfilling Career, Happy Life community. With 30+ years of successful experience as a Pharmaceutical Executive and two businesses of her own, Randi helps people achieve their career goals while exploring new possibilities that truly fit their framework. She skillfully combines business leadership experience with exceptional coaching skills.

Key Takeaways

Unlock Your Highest Potential
Navigating Career Changes and Finding Fulfillment
The Importance of Personal Values

Key Quotes:

"Look at experiences as an opportunity to learn and grow. Mine them for all the knowledge you can, but always ask yourself: What can I do differently next time? How can I handle this situation in a bigger, better, and more productive way?” – Randi Roberts

Connect with Randi

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randirobertscrc

Check out Randi Roberts Coaching at https://www.corlinroberts.net/

Natalie’s new book is out! GET SET IT ON FIRE - THE ART OF INNOVATION today! Head over to https://setitonfire.co/ to get your copy.

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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"Experience transformation is the next frontier of digital transformation for companies." – Satyam Kantamneni

In this podcast episode, Innovation Meets Leadership host Natalie Born talks to Satyam Kantamneni, Chief Experience Officer of UX Reactor. He joins us to discuss the importance of being user-centric in business. Satyam emphasizes understanding user pain points and suggests techniques like empathy maps, persona exercises, and experience roadmaps to achieve this. He explains the role of a Chief Experience Officer and how it can improve overall user experience. The guests also discuss the importance of experience transformation and how companies can focus on user-centered practices to innovate and solve current problems.

Satyam is the Chief Experience Officer at UXReactor. In less than 7 years, UXReactor has become the fastest-growing specialized experience design firm in the US, with a team of 50+ employees spread over three continents. Satyam (_ is passionate about user-centered innovation, and he has recently released a book, User Experience Design: A Practical Playbook to Fuel Business Growth.

The Importance of User-Centered Design
The Paradox of Digital Transformation

Key Quotes:

"Every time your user should feel that somebody thought about me and solved a problem, and that's magic. And any company that can ship magic on a consistent basis is only going to win.” – Satyam Kantamneni.

Connect with Satyam

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kantamneni

Check out UXReactor at https://uxreactor.com/

Natalie’s new book is out! GET SET IT ON FIRE - THE ART OF INNOVATION today! Head over to https://setitonfire.co/ to get your copy.

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

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"Facilitation is a key leadership skill." – Marsha Acker

In this podcast episode, Innovation Meets Leadership host Natalie Born talks to Marsha Acker, a skilled facilitator can identify hidden dynamics in conversations and guide participants towards actionable outcomes. Marsha emphasizes that following good facilitation principles in meetings is crucial for success, even without a facilitator present, to avoid wasted time, lack of clarity, and missed opportunities. The conversation centers around the cost of repeated and unproductive meetings in organizations, and the speakers identify warning signs of ineffective meetings, such as impulsive eye rolls and unclear decisions. Key skills for effective facilitation are neutrality, intentional planning, clear design, engaging all voices, and knowing when to provide input. Facilitation is a skill that takes practice and maturity, and staying present and curious when things get difficult is key to successful meetings.

Marsha Acker is an executive & leadership team coach, author, speaker, facilitator, and the host of Defining Moments of Leadership Podcast. She is the author of The Art and Science of Facilitation: How to Lead Effective Collaboration with Agile Teams and Build Your Model for Leading Change, coming in early 2023. Marsha is the founder and CEO of TeamCatapult, a respected and sought-after leadership development firm that equips leaders, at all levels, to facilitate and lead sustainable behavioral change.

Key Highlights:

The Power of Facilitation
The Importance of Effective Facilitation in Meetings
Mastering the Art of Facilitation

Key Quotes:

"As a facilitator, the beauty is in standing back, looking at the lay of the land, and cutting right to the heart of what we're really trying to say. It's about bringing focus to the discussion and preventing things from going off in different directions." – Marsha Acker.

Connect with Marsha

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marsha-acker-3486a72

Defining Moments of Leadership Podcast: https://teamcatapult.com/podcast/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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"Our peace self in us knows that we are always loved, always learning. It's always a constant". – Amy Balog

Looking to unlock your true potential as an innovator or leader? In this podcast episode, Innovation Meets Leadership host Natalie Born talks to Amy Balog about the concept of 'peace over performance': how inner peace can be the catalyst for true and lasting success. Amy explains how this paradigm shift can help innovators and leaders alike by establishing a secure self-identity and understanding that failure isn't a reflection of one's worth. Through this conversation, you will gain insights into creating a feedback loop to recognize and manage risk, as well as learn practical tips on being open to learning, owning up to mistakes, and telling a powerful story. With these tools, you can harness your power and use it for innovation.

Amy Balog is a senior executive coach, facilitator, writer, and speaker. With 15 years of coaching experience, she helps global leaders discover their peaceful selves and grounding identities to achieve peak performance. Amy challenges the paradigm that peace and performance are mutually exclusive and instead advocates for their powerful duet. She developed the Peace Over Performance journey to combat self-limiting narratives and self-rejection in leaders.

Key Highlights:

Peace Over Performance and Fueling Innovation
Acknowledging the Learning Curve and Admitting Risks
Feedback Loops and The Imposter Syndrome.

Key Quotes:

"Peace is the true fuel to performance." – Amy Balog.

Connect with Amy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybalog

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com, or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let's go transform something!

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“It's not only listening to the customer. It's really taking action, being proactive to talk to your customers, inviting them for specific interviews where the agenda is really to talk about their needs. That is really important for innovation”. – Stefan Debois

In this episode of the podcast, Innovation Meets Leadership host Natalie Born invites Stefan Debois, the founder, and CEO of Pointer Pro, an assessment software platform that helps professional services companies automate their advisory processes. Together, they discuss how to optimize consulting strategies, leverage skills and outsource tasks to subcontractors, democratize knowledge and access free information on the internet, utilize an advice engine to provide relevant recommendations to clients and use a structured methodology like Jobs to be Done to understand customer needs and translate them into successful products or services. Listeners will gain insight on how to efficiently charge for outcomes instead of time in order to incentivize efficiency improvements and encourage innovation from consultants. Tune in to this engaging conversation between two real innovators as they discuss the importance of listening to customers, taking action, and asking specific questions.

Stefan Debois is the founder and CEO of Pointerpro, an assessment software platform that helps professional services companies to automate their advisory processes. Stefan is passionate about the use of technology to build professional relationships with people, at scale.

Key Highlights:

Outcome-Based Innovation
The Importance of Customer Feedback in Innovation
The Value of Structured Conversations

Key Quotes:

"Don't charge for time, charge for value.” – Stefan Debois

Connect with Stefan

LinkedIn: https://be.linkedin.com/in/stefandebois

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sde77

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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“"Don't take goal setting in your life too seriously. Goals are guideposts along the journey.” – Matteo Grassi

In this episode of the podcast, Innovation Meets Leadership host Natalie Born interviews Mateo Grassi, co-founder and CEO of the funded startup Popup. Through his remarkable journey from street performer to successful entrepreneur, Mateo shares his experience bootstrapping a business until it was ready for funding, as well as the difficulties and opportunities that come with being an entrepreneur. They discuss Mateo’s experience of scaling an e-commerce store from zero to 4 million in two weeks, only to have all profits lost due to disputes and fines from credit card providers. Additionally, they compare the pre-tech bubble landscape to today's remote work opportunities which have opened up possibilities of living and working abroad without language barriers. Finally, they speak about the importance of self-regulation when it comes to technology and social media use, setting boundaries for oneself when it comes to media consumption and finding one’s big “why” - a goal that can never be achieved - in order to stay motivated throughout life.

Matteo Grassi is co-founder of Popup, a no code eCommerce platform for the next generation, has also founded 7 direct-to-consumer brands, an NGO/DAO, and an anonymous support group for founders. Prior to this, they were a professional break-dancer and circus performer who also produced and performed music. Matteo now creates documentaries, interviews, and shows for YouTube. Known to share either a lame joke or intriguing trivia upon meeting in person.

Key Highlights

Innovating in E-Commerce
A Journey of Exploration, Not Destination
Breaking the News Cycle

Key Quotes:

"People should embark in a journey of being an entrepreneur the same way you embark in a journey where like in an adventure. And you don't go in an adventure because you necessarily want to reach a destination. You go in an adventure because you love the adventure.” – Matteo Grassi

“Sometimes you have to be pushed to the limits to realize that maybe a problem was small before it got really, really big. But then once you solve it, you solve it." – Matteo Grassi

Connect with Matteo

LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/matteowastaken

Twitter: https://twitter.com/matteowastaken

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

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“Look for the impact that you want to have, and then prioritize based on impact rather than market.” – Esther Gons

In this episode, the founder and CEO of GroundControl, Esther Gons discusses how innovation accounting can help organizations measure success when launching high-risk projects. She explore the need to start multiple ventures in order to predict success, and the importance of implementing formalized processes for innovation in order for an organization to create a culture of innovation. Esther also provides insight into how to measure performance metrics before beginning any project, fail fast and use learnings from failed experiments to inform future projects, and celebrate those who have saved the company money.

Esther Gons is the CEO and founder of GroundControl, an innovation software company that helps corporate startup teams develop new business models. The company has clients such as Euler Hermes, DHL, and ABN Amro. Gons is a speaker on corporate innovation, innovation accounting, and startups, and was named to Inside Outside's 2022 Watchlist: Women in Innovation.

Main Highlights:

Unpacking the Layers of Innovation Accounting
Examining Processes, Culture, and Habits to Achieve Success
Mitigating Risk with a Systematic Approach

Key Quotes:

" To do innovation within an organization, you need multiple teams trying to validate multiple ideas.

You need to understand if your teams are doing well and if they're moving forward.” – Esther Gons

“Look at the impact you want to make, because otherwise you're never gone make that change." – Esther Gons

Connect with Esther

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esthergons/

Website: https://estheremmelygons.nl/

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or clicking here to listen to our previous episodes.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Let’s go transform something!

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“A lot of skillsets you can teach, but the culture you can't.” - Marc Reifenrath

Is a company’s culture critical to achieving and maintaining success? In this episode, the CEO of Spinutech, Marc Reifenrath encourages leaders to invest more time in building culture and core values for better retention and growth. He breaks down key strategies for onboarding new team members, creating an environment of trust, and understanding the importance of cultural alignment between clients and employees. Tune in now to learn how culture can be used to hire and retain top talent!

Marc has seen Spinutech grow from a college start-up to one of the premier full-service digital marketing agencies in the country. He would be the first to tell you that Spinutech would not be what it is today without a team of people who are as invested in each other’s growth and success as they are in delivering the best for their clients.

Main Highlights:

10 Years of Zero Turnover
How Spinutech's First 100 Days Shape Employee and Organization Experiences
How Core Values Helped build a Successful Business

Key Quotes:

"You just gotta capitalize on every learning opportunity, whether it came from a great situation or a bad situation." - Marc Reifenrath

"Job descriptions aren't restrictions.." - Marc Reifenrath

Connect with Marc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcreifenrath/

Website: https://www.spinutech.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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“The more people you have thinking about the problem you're trying to solve, the further you're going to get as an organization.” - Sohail Abbasi

Are you adapting to digital transformation and continuous change? In this episode, Sohail Abbasi, the VP of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Hamava Innovation Factory, discusses how to overcome the not invented here syndrome - a tendency to avoid using or buying products research, or knowledge from external sources - and how organizations can leverage outside processes and resources to innovate and create value. Tune in and discover why embracing open source is essential for business growth and success!

Main Highlights:

Unlocking Innovation Through Diversity and Disruption
Exploring Open Innovation to Mitigate Risk in Large Organizations
How to Transform an Organization Through Open Innovation

Key Quotes:

"Diversity basically is one of the key things contributing to innovation." - Sohail Abbasi

"We don't transform by our own group think we transform by other ideas and other thoughts by expanding our knowledge and ability. That's how we transform." - Natalie Born

Connect with Sohail

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohailabbasi/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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“Think about some people you can pull alongside you to help you be a zero gravity thinker, to think outside the box and to look differently at problems that you're trying to solve.” - Natalie Born

What is holding back explosive growth and breakthrough ideas? In this episode, Natalie and Aaron Born disclose the importance of innovation and how to foster it in an organization. They break down the 3 principles that kill innovation and explain how innovation looks different for everyone. Natalie talks about how she enjoys doing podcasts, her experiences with podcasting, and some of their favorite conversations. Listen and enjoy!

Aaron is a father of two daughters, the husband to Natalie, and the owner of a runaway circus dog named Bear. They currently live in Sugar Hill, Georgia. When he is not with his family, he is the Lead Pastor of House Churches for Victory Church, a multi-site church made up of about 20,000 households from 142 people groups based in the Metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia.

Main Highlights:

How Psychological Safety Kills Innovation
3 Principles of Killing Innovation
Innovation Looks Different for Every Organization
The Importance of Zero Gravity Thinkers in Innovation

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Natalie

Website: https://innovationmeetsleadership.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieborn

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/innovationmeetsleadership/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/innovationmeetsleadership

Connect with Aaron

Website: https://victoryatl.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-david-born-4a66b7bb/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/born_aaron

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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“Self-ownership of issues or mistakes is huge because that's where that's where I learn and I know that's where other people learn.” - Bob Hasson

Are you ready to gain courage and clarity on how to achieve the life you dream of? In this episode, Bob Hasson stresses the importance of having a strong character be seen as an asset and a value to your company during difficult times. He discusses how a culture of love should not coexist with fear, and encourages you to work for companies where innovation is celebrated and new ideas are embraced. Let’s dive in!

Bob Hasson is a businessman, Author, Consultant, and Podcaster. He is both the Founder and CEO of HPCI, a painting subcontractor, which he founded in 1978. For over thirty years, he has been active as a consultant and board member for churches, ministries, nonprofits, and school boards.

Main Takeaways:

How to Prepare for a Disruption in Your Career
Be a Person of Character
Encouraging Team Passion Increases Productivity
Shortcuts: The Proven Path to Purpose, Excellence, and Calling

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Connect with Bob

Website: https://bobhasson.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-hasson-5a3693156/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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“Just because an idea's not original doesn't mean it's not effective.” - Michael F. Schein

Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, we are catching up with Micahel F. Schein.

Michael is the founder and president of MicroFame Media, a company that specializes in making consultants and coaches famous in their fields. Some of his clients have included eBay, Magento, The Medici Group, University of Pennsylvania, Gordon College, University of California Irvine, United Methodist Publishing House, Ricoh, LinkedIn, and Citrix. His writing has appeared in Fortune, Forbes, Inc., Psychology Today, and Huffington Post, and he is a speaker for international audiences spanning from the northeastern United States to the southeastern coast of China. His book The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Success Secrets From the World’s Greatest Propagandists, Self-Promoters, Cult Leaders, Mischief Makers, and Boundary Breakers, published by McGraw Hill, appears where books are sold.

[00:16] Building a Secret Society

Michael explains why the word hype has had negative connotations over time
Why Secret Society:
The notion that hype artists are incredibly effective at making it look like all of their success comes from the bottom up but actually rely on individuals doing work below the surface
Why the point of the secrecy is the secrecy
Why it’s the exclusivity that makes it special and fun

[13:31] Applying The Idea of a Secret Society to Our Business

How can you bring ritual and exclusivity into what you're doing
Why we should look to places outside your industry
Why we should have a very experimental mindset

[22:50] What is Core to Innovation

Emphasizing what you're calling the innovation component
Why everything is innovation
How to be comfortable with innovation

[25:23] Closing Segment

Final thoughts from Michael
Connect with Michael!

Key Quotes:

“If you create something that people would do anyway because it's an adventure. Business gets done as a side effect.” - Michael F. Schein

“So the trick is to base your stuff on psychological principles that work, but even more importantly, conduct very small experiments that just give you the data you need to know if you should go bigger and kill the losers very, very quickly.” - Michael F. Schein

Connect with Michael

Website: https://www.hypereads.com/list

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfrancisschein/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelSchein1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.schein.7

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Kathya Acuña of Change Strategy at LOCAL focuses on the human aspect of change. She discusses the importance of communication and bringing people along in the process. By effectively engaging employees, organizations can have faster adoption and establish a healthy work culture.

Kathya is the Director of Change Strategy at LOCAL, a Change Marketing™ consultancy helping some of the world's best companies make change stick by treating their employees as an audience worth winning. She is a business transformation consultant passionate about human-centered storytelling. Over the past 12 years, Kathya has worked in various roles, from helping non-profits define their vision, mission, and values to launching a brewery in Bogota, Colombia.

Main Takeaways:

A Human-Centered Approach to Change
Co-Creating Change
Handling Dissension
Success Ties Back to Adoption
Avoiding Learned Helplessness

Key Quotes:

“When it comes to change, everything comes back down to adoption, which comes back down to people. It's not so much about managing change as it is about marketing change and making sure that the change is very much human-centered.” - Kathya Acuña

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Kathya

Website: https://www.localindustries.com/, https://changemarketinguniversity.teachable.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyaacuna

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, we welcome Shea Gerhardt. Shea talks about how to develop an effective product that could compete with the bigger players in the market. She reiterates the importance of focusing on the customer needs and being a solution to a problem and that product development never stops.

Shea Gerhardt is the Founder and CEO of Buderflys Technologies, Inc. Prior to Buderflys Tech, Inc – she spent nearly two decades in executive roles in the mobile, gaming, and music industries. Having worked with major music labels, including Universal, Sony, EMI, and Warner Bros., as well as some of the world’s largest mobile wireless companies, including VZW, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Vodafone, Shea built her career on the ability to develop a clear and focused path to cutting through the noise in crowded and stale industries and growing business where user-centric products are king.

Main Takeaways:

A Brilliant Product Built Out of Need
It’s Not About What You Want, It’s About What the Customer Wants
Designing A Future-Ready Product

Key Quotes:

“I also had to find people who knew what they were doing. That took a long time. But I have an incredible team that is so much smarter than I am in that regard. And they are on this journey with me.” - Shea Gerhardt

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Connect with Shea

Website: https://buderflys.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shea-gerhardt-21a4b45

Twitter: @buderflys

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Helene Cahen talks about innovation and collaboration in organizations. She explains how fear of failure can prevent us from innovating and why it’s important to create a culture that allows for risk-taking and creativity. She also shares insights on design thinking principles and ideation, and how teams can collaborate more effectively by putting clear processes in place and being open to each other’s opinions and preferences.

Born and raised in Paris, France, Helene graduated with a business degree from the elite Sciences-Po Paris and earned a Master of Sciences degree in Creativity and Change Leadership from the State University of New York. she is an Innovation Consultant, Trainer, Facilitator, Coach, and Speaker with over 20 years of experience helping companies navigate innovation challenges. She guides Fortune 500, small businesses, and non-profits to have a better understanding of innovation and innovation processes, create new products/services, build effective teams, and support a user-centered culture. Prior to founding her consulting practice, Strategic Insights, Helene held executive and management positions in advertising, marketing research, HR, finance, and sales as well as VP of Innovation for a start-up. Most recently, she was a TedX Talk speaker at TedX Seattle and has been a speaker on Design Thinking and Creativity at various conferences including the American Creativity Association, Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI), Creativity Expert Exchange (CEE), and the Design Thinking Unconference.

Main Takeaways:

Cultivating A Culture of Innovation
Design Thinking and Creative Problem Solving
Team Improv and Co-Creation

Key Quote:

“What I'm encouraging is actually to see the value in people thinking differently and appreciating that. See others for who they are and embrace the differences in thinking.” - Helene Cahen

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Helene

Website: https://www.strategicinsights.biz/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicinsights

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, we welcome Alex Castro of M Corp. He discusses how to identify and address the root causes of failed strategic initiatives to make future attempts at execution more successful. He also shares his thoughts on recognizing and overcoming cognitive bias, utilizing data in decision-making, and being adaptive to change as an organization.

Alex Castro is an aligner of execution to strategy for digital transformation & innovation, best-selling author, and creator/founder of ReM Score™ Alex believes that the gap between ideas (strategy) and execution is a persistent problem that is sidelining too many high potential digital transformation and innovation growth opportunities.

Main Takeaways:

Bridging the Gap Between Ideas and Execution
Employees Want to Be Part of the Winning Team
Strategies for Execution Success
Avoiding Rigged Decision-Making

Key Quote:

“There's a hair's difference between the top team in a league and the bottom team. And it's really how well can they put the execution component together, right? You can have the best playbook in the world but if you don't know how to really tune that play in, it's kind of useless.” - Alex Castro

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Alex

Website: https://www.alexcastro.io/, https://the-mcorp.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Sunny Han discusses Fulcrum’s mission to transform the manufacturing industry with technology. He talks about how outdated software and processes can hinder an organization's ability to scale. However, he reminds us that newer doesn’t always mean better and there is always value to the mundane. He also digs deep into why companies should constantly evaluate their values and why they should never lose sight of their customer’s needs.

Sunny Han is the CEO and Founder of Fulcrum, a manufacturing ERP platform dedicated to helping manufacturers build a better future. He led Fulcrum to raise a $3.1M seed round of venture capital in 2020. Sunny is dedicated to delivering a connected future where frictionless manufacturing production and supply chains lead to faster and better product innovations.

Main Takeaways:

An Empathetic Leader
The Future of Manufacturing
Evolving Values

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

“I think every one of our mistakes from a product standpoint was because we didn't understand some of the simple stuff that is antiquated. If we don't replicate it and do a better job of that, the boring stuff that just works, they actually lose something. That boring stuff actually has some value.” - Sunny Han

Connect with Sunny

Website:https://fulcrumpro.com/

Email: sunny@fulcrumpro.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusunnyhan

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Payitoff Founder and CEO Bobby Matson talks about turning a problem into a business possibility. Frustrated by his own student loans, he founded a debt infrastructure company to bring more transparency to the repayment process. He details how to dig deep into a personal pain point and discover the demand for a solution on a broader scale. Bobby also gives advice to people who are looking to begin their startup journey.

University of Michigan grad obsessed with building better infrastructure for all borrowers: Bobby led engineering teams at Carbon Five, where he built technology for Groupon, Fandango, and Stitchfix and shipped software to millions of users. After managing six-figure student debt in his own life, he's working on Payitoff to create better outcomes for every borrower.

Main Takeaways:

● All Borrowers Want Clarity

● Driven by Customer Demand

● Success Breeds Passion

● Nailing Your Niche

Key Takeaways:

“There are a lot of moments in company building where you'll say to yourself, am I doing the right thing? Are we working on the right thing? Knowing the personal need that you had, in the beginning, is the anchor that helps you answer that question.” - Bobby Matson

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Bobby

Website: https://payitoff.io/

Email: bobby@payitoff.io

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bomatson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbymatson

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, William Santana Li of Knightscope discusses the importance of innovation in public safety and why robotics is the solution to crime and terrorism. ASRs provide real-time surveillance across multiple locations and are designed to help law enforcement be a lot more effective at doing their job. He also offers insights on where the technology is heading and encourages us to pursue our passions and focus on adding value to society.

William Santana Li is an American entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience and has a broad and deep range of expertise gained from several global assignments in the automotive sector and a number of startups. He is presently the Chairman and CEO of Knightscope, a developer of crime-fighting Autonomous Security Robots (ASRs).

Main Takeaways:

Combating Crime and Terrorism Through Robotics
The Technology Behind ASRs
Securing the Future

Key Quotes:

“In order to fix the problem, which is crime and terrorism, it has to be software plus hardware plus humans. You need the machines to do the monotonous and computationally-heavy stuff that no human can do, and you need the humans to do the decision-making and enforcement.” - William Santana Li

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with William

Website: https://www.knightscope.com/

Want to see the ASRs up close and personal? Check out: https://www.knightscope.com/roadshow/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wsantanali

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamsantanali

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Justin Skerbetz talks about how the healthcare industry has evolved in the last years incorporating technology and people’s demand. With a distinct focus on customers, Justin strives to always provide great his clients with the best customer experience. Justin Skerbetz is the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of Parkland Community Health Plan. He has more than 15 years of progressive leadership experience in Medicare and Medicaid and has managed multiple award-winning projects, such as websites, marketing automation programs, call centers, analytic platforms, and CRMs.

[00:20] Training Early for His Life Long Career

● Justin talks about his motivation for pursuing a career in healthcare

● Working in the customer service industry made him see how he could improve the seniors' experiences

[05:13] Innovation Meets Healthcare

● Develop new innovations driven by the need of the people ○ Parkland developed an interactive program for pregnant mothers that helped them access resources and health assets

● Achieve continuous progress by making what you do trackable

● Healthcare is evolving

● Customers are flexible if you set their expectation

[12:00] How the Pandemic Changed the Global Healthcare

● How has the pandemic changed the game for the healthcare industry? ○ Manage experience through wearables and more are utilizing Telehealth

● Justin talks about the changes in his organization's culture because of the pandemic ○ They are focused on how to work virtually and faster and integrate life, working together as one

● What innovation is for Justin

● Work-life balance amidst the healthcare demand

[20:56] Closing Segment

● Connect with Justin!

Key Quotes:

“It's very important for us that everything we're doing is trackable and tied back to how we're bettering not only that person's health but the community they're living in and the needs inside that community. And we're doing that all through just various oversights. So when you look at it, it’s insights, actions, and results in oversight.” - Justin Skerbetz

“It kind of all needs to be wrapped around this notion of effort. We need to reduce the customer need to be an expert in how the administration of healthcare works.” - Justin Skerbetz

“The ideal of what a customer experience should be an individual thing that an insurance agency any organizations should be looking up to.” - Justin Skerbetz

Connect with Justin

Website: https://parklandhealthplan.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-skerbetz-36a6096

Today's SPONSORSHIP is brought to you by Territory Global. You can connect with us on Instagram, and Twitter or visit our website territory.co Join the work forward movement! LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone empower their businesses through collaboration, innovation, and transformation by sharing this episode or click here to listen to our previous episodes.

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with me on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Bryan Clayton started by mowing his neighbor’s lawn as a side hustle and ended up founding a multimillion-dollar lawn care business. From customer-centricity to self-improvement, he joins us to share his secrets to success.

Bryan Clayton is CEO and co-founder of GreenPal, an online marketplace that connects homeowners with local lawn care professionals. GreenPal has been called the “Uber for lawn care” by Entrepreneur magazine and has over 200,000 active users completing thousands of transactions per day.

Main Takeaways:

From Lawn Mower to Building a Business with 20M a Year in Sales
Putting the Customer at the Center of the Business
Strategies to be a Successful Entrepreneur

Key Thought:

“As a founder, you're doing three things at once at all times. You're working in the business. You're trying to develop some kind of systems, processes, and routines. And then you're working on yourself.” - Bryan Clayton

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Bryan

Website: https://www.yourgreenpal.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryanmclayton

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Jay Goldman reflects on how building a bespoke tool for their company made them realize the universal need for better technologies in workplaces. Now, he and his team at Sensei Labs are committed to providing leaders with data-driven digital solutions to propel their businesses forward. He also discusses the concept of minimal viable products and how Sensei Labs goes a step further with minimal lovable products.

Jay Goldman is a Co-Founder and the CEO of Sensei Labs and New York Times best-selling author of The Decoded Company. For nearly 20 years, he has been focused on technology, design, and the art of leadership. Sensei Labs is Jay’s second tech start-up success, as he also co-founded and led Radiant Core. Additionally, he took on leadership roles as the Head of Marketing at Rypple and Managing Director at Klick Health. Jay regularly speaks with teams and companies across the globe about the Future of Work, including at TEDx, NASA, Harvard Business School, Google, and Twitter’s World Headquarters. He’s also written for publications like the Harvard Business Review and been a panelist on CBC’s The National. Now, he spends his days helping the largest enterprises in the world execute their most critical programs through Enterprise Orchestration, alongside his amazing crew of more than 80 Senseis.

Main Takeaways:

● The Story of The Decoded Company

● Transforming Workplaces Through Data-Driven Solutions

● Creating Minimal Lovable Products

Key Quotes:

“How many of our customers would be deeply disappointed if we took the product away from them? That to me is minimal lovable product. That's where you get passionate champions who are going to push this within their own companies. It's where you get to renewal rates that are really high, where it expands within those, where you get people who are happy to speak publicly about your platform and how much of a difference it's made for them.“ - Jay Goldman

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Jay

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaygoldman/

Website: https://jaygoldman.com/, https://www.senseilabs.com/

The Decoded Company by Leerom Segal, Aaron Goldstein, Jay Goldman, Rahaf Harfoush: https://www.amazon.com/Decoded-Company-Talent-Better-Customers/dp/1591847141

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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The Decoded Company: Know Your Talent Better Than You Know Your Customers

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, we share a conversation about self-discovery. Karen Hardwick, the author of The Connected Leader, joins us to talk about how leaders must first connect deeply with themselves in order to connect with others in a healthy way. We also focus on empathy, one of Karen’s 7 strategies to empower our true selves, and the power it holds in transforming relationships.

With master's degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Rutgers and decades of front row experience, Karen is a spiritually and psychologically trained leadership consultant, speaker, author, podcast host, and lover of connection. Her in-depth clinical training, along with her tenured business acumen, sets her apart and matters a great deal in a world where anyone can be a “coach”; her expertise allows her to understand, name, and address what is getting in the way of people and organizations performing at their best. Her wisdom helps her to guide individuals, teams, and entire organizations to navigate the complexities of human nature

and organizational dynamics so they can move into a culture of empowerment, inspiration, and transformation.

Main Takeaways:

Leaders Have a Human Being Crisis
Empathy is A Superpower
Finding Ourselves in Silence

Key Takeaways:

“We are not leaders having a leadership crisis. We're leaders having a human being crisis. So when we let that sink in and wash over us, what does that mean? What I believe it means is that leaders can no longer MBA their way into leadership, what we need to do is show up more fully human with the power of our stories.” - Karen Hardwick

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Karen

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenjhardwickinc/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenjhardwick/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenJHardwickInc

Website: https://karenjhardwick.com/

The Connected Leader: https://connectedleaderbook.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Leaders need to be authentic and transparent with their teams in order to create a sustainable and successful relationship and scale. In this episode of the Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast, Natalie Born and Michael King explore one piece of advice for leaders when it comes to capacity - being able to understand their team and how they're doing. They discuss understanding your team's engagement, motivation, and commitment to the mission and why that’s important for creating a healthy partnership.

Michael King, founder, and CEO of TEAMS.COACH, LLC is a highly sought-after Executive and Business Leadership Coach. He helps business leaders clarify and execute at high levels through his proprietary T.E.A.M.S. Methodology to develop measurable business growth and company-wide collaboration.

Main Takeaways:

Leadership Through the T.E.A.M.S. Methodology
Why Leaders Need to Take Culture Seriously in 2022
Types of Leadership Styles and Why It’s All About Striking a Balance

Key Thoughts:

“And the thing that we find that burns leaders out a lot is not knowing the capacity of their team and knowing when to dial that back.” - Michael King

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

Connect with Michael

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkingjr75
Website: http://www.teams.coach
Contact Number: 763-245-498

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Kevin Mills takes us behind the scenes of podcasting, the pitfalls and benefits of starting your podcast, and how you can use this powerful tool to your advantage.

Kevin Mills is a co-founder of Streamlined Podcasts, a full-scale podcast production agency. Streamlined Podcasts helps its clients edit and produce their podcasts consistently for an affordable price. With industry-leading turn-times, technologies, and teams, you'll have trouble finding a better value anywhere else. Kevin's entrepreneurial journey began in direct-to-consumer sales. He now spends his time and efforts helping podcasters focus on what they do best - producing content. He is passionate about making it as easy as possible for content creators to get their message to their audience.

Main Takeaways:

● There is No “Recipe” to Success, Just Consistent Action

● How To Avoid the Pitfalls of Podcasting

● Can I Make Money with my Podcast?

● How to Start Your Own Podcast

Key Quotes:

“If you’re not using a podcast right now to network, drive more leads into your business, and build thought leadership or brand awareness, you might regret it three years from now. Podcasting is here to stay and the exponential growth has just begun.” - Kevin Mills

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Kevin

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-mills-59a797a8/

Website - https://streamlinedpodcasts.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Thomas Watkins breaks down the ins and outs of effective design. He emphasizes the need to consider the user experience and that the process of design development must be centered around it. The key is making people’s lives easier and avoiding over-complicated systems.

Thomas Watkins is a thought leader, speaker, and industry practitioner located in Houston TX. Thomas has made it his career’s focus to combine technology with design psychology in order to drive business success. He specializes in helping his business partners bring their own brilliant ideas to life, by translating complexity into simplicity.

Main Takeaways:

● Where Apps Go Wrong and How to Address Them

● Curating a User-Friendly Design to Establish Connection

● Utilizing Psychology to Understand the Customer

Key Quotes:

“Anytime a user has to think about your software, usually, that's not a good thing… If it's something that's easy to learn and for you to operate in, that's where the win is.” - Thomas Watkins

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Connect with Thomas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watkinsthomas/

Website: https://www.3leaf.consulting/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Shaunak Roy discusses innovation in education through technology. Backed by evidence, it goes to show that active and engaged learning results in better outcomes. By being aware and taking part in the dialogue, the future of better education can become clearer and more feasible.

Shaunak Roy is the founder and CEO of Yellowdig. Yellowdig is a community-driven active learning platform adopted by over 130 colleges and universities, K12 schools, and corporate training clients. Yellowdig’s mission is to transform every classroom into an active, social and experiential learning community.

Main Takeaways:

● The Most Effective Method of Learning for Better Engagement

● The Spike of Innovation and Utilizing Technology for Education

● Create the Dialogue for Future of Education

Key Quote:

“We have to really start to question whether the time the students are spending in the classrooms, and the value they're getting out of the education system… [are] adding up… in terms of the effort that is getting into it.” - Shaunak Roy

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

Connect with Shaunak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunak-roy-65231b/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shaunak_roy

Website: https://www.yellowdig.co/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Brad Smith talks about blind spots and how we can better address these issues through self-awareness. Without recognizing our natural tendencies, we tend to refuse proper delegation and thus, lack exponential growth. By understanding ourselves and our capacities to learn, we can stay intentional with what we do.

Brad Smith is the founder and CEO of Stellar Insight Inc. a business growth consulting and coaching company. Brad has been a chemist, production plant and equipment designer, a business manager, a business consultant, and an executive coach for CEOs and business owners among other things. He pursues insight and understanding into the convergence of business success, organizational excellence, and the practical actions it takes to consistently achieve significant business growth. In his words, “Everything is a theory until you experience it and can consciously repeat the experiment.” He has coached CEOs, business owners, and legislators for organizational growth and excellence for more than twenty years.

He has worked extensively with a variety of industries. Those companies who commit to the work find the specific results rewarding and significant. His passion is working with ambitious CEOs, business owners and their teams who are committed to their company’s excellence and growth.

Main Takeaways:

● Thinking For Yourself to Get Rid of Dependence

● Recognizing Who You Are and Where You Fit

● How Organizations Can Address the Blind Spots

Key Quote:

“If you're in pain, stop, step back, look at it and say, ‘What's the purpose that I wanted to create that created this instead of what I wanted?’ There's purpose in pain.” - Brad Smith

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

Connect with Brad

Website: http://www.stellarinsightinc.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-smith-7458858/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Michael Sahota discusses what it entails to unlock the creative potential of people in the organization. He reveals the oppression behind the traditional systems and how leaders must make the daily choice of evolving. By prioritizing people over process, it is possible to create an agile space.

Michael K Sahota is a Speaker, Trainer, & Consultant on Evolutionary Leadership. He is the founder and CEO of SHIFT314 Inc - a boutique training and consulting organization that specializes in the organizational, cultural and leadership shifts needed to unlock success with Agile, Digital, Lean, etc. Michael is the co-creator of the SHIFT314 Evolutionary Leadership Framework™ (SELF) that provides practical step-by-step for the inner and outer shifts needed to unlock Business Agility, Teal and other new ways of working. Michael has trained thousands of leaders worldwide through his highly accoladed Certified Agile Leadership Training.

Main Takeaways:

● Building Engaging Frameworks in the Digital and Agile Space

● Eradicate Oppression and Make the Shift to Challenge the System

● People Over Progress - Harnessing The Power of Agility

Key Quote:

“The truth of the matter is, all those transformation programs are done with the same traditional mindset… They're actually huge acts of oppression… Wake up, stop oppressing the people.” - Michael Sahota

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Michael

Website: https://shift314.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsahota/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/shift314/

Twitter: twitter.com/MichaelSahota

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHIFT314

Instagram: instagram.com/shift314_leadership/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Rosemary Rein tackles hybrid work and how companies adapt. By effectively utilizing technology, applying positive reinforcement, and providing an avenue for collaboration, organizations can enable a better employee experience.

Rosemary is an author, consultant, and international speaker on leadership, employee engagement, and innovation. She has received the Beyonder Award for her contributions to creativity and was Vice-Chair of the Creative Problem Solving Institute. She was Head of Learning and Development for Wikipedia before moving to Ecuador, where she currently resides.

Main Takeaways:

● Mapping Out the Employee Experience for Hybrid Work

● Imprinting Positive Reinforcement for Ownership and Innovation

● The Formula to a Culture of Creativity

Key Quotes:

“Innovation really can't be put on the back burner. It has to happen today. And your employees are the key secret ingredient - employee experience with innovation.” - Rosemary Rein

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Rosemary

Website: www.innovationminds.com and https://www.rosemaryrein.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosemary-rein-b753b356/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Paula White joins us to expound the concept of music as a metaphor in leadership. She highlights the importance of recognizing the different roles and tapping into your whole self to pivot while being in the metrics-driven world of sales.

Paula White has an unwavering passion for music that she applies in order to bring new perspectives and open new possibilities for leaders. Her one-of-a-kind, forward-thinking approach starts with a foundation of heart and mind. A globally recognized sales leader, Paula has leveraged her talents to scale Inside Sales Teams into multi-million stand-alone sales channels. She has helped organizations achieve 8% - 10% yearly compounded growth, demonstrating success in a wide variety of industries to include travel and tourism, investments, veterinary, and healthcare distribution.

Main Takeaways:

● How Music Composition is Similar to Leadership

● Understanding Side A’s and B’s in the Metrics-Driven World of Sales

Key Quotes:

“When you leave a positive legacy, it's really about being real. It's being relational and helping somebody rather than demanding.” - Paula White

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

Connect with Paula

Website: https://paulaswhite.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_xkbbpzjHaNghE5e3U6x6w

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidebconsulting/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pswhite00

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/side-b-consulting/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Side-B-Consulting-111598381177818/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Sangram Vajre from Season 1 is back! He discusses what the go-to-market means and why low retention rates translate to the death of organizations. He expounds on the four leaky buckets to consider when solving the common problems businesses face.

Bestselling author Sangram Vajre co-founded Terminus in 2014 and ever since has been teaching the business of marketing with his signature frameworks. He’s an international keynote speaker, was named one of the top twenty-one B2B marketing influencers in the world, and is the host of a top-fifty business podcast called FlipMyFunnel. Bryan Brown is Chief Strategy Officer at Terminus and a SaaS visionary in the marketing and sales tech industry. From co-founder to scale with multiple exits, he has envisioned and brought to market software that has shaped the way thousands of businesses grow and communicate with their customers. All resources, templates, scorecards, and frameworks from this book can be found on www.themovebook.com.

Main Takeaways:

● Embracing our Business Journey by Exploring the Go-To-Market

● How Retention Rate Translates to the Company Valuation

● Solving the Problem by Targeting the Retention Angle

Key Quotes:

“You can't solve all of it at one go… Really get into that and say, we're gonna pick this first problem, or the second, or the third.” - Sangram Vajre

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

Connect with Sangram

Twitter: @sangramvajre

Instagram: @sangramvajre

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sangramvajre/

Terminus Website: https://terminus.com/

Move: Themovebook.com

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, we have Carol Seymour who will be differentiating sponsorship and mentorship. Throughout the times in the workforce, we have been experiencing biases and some forms may not even be obvious. As we dig into these, there came the need to heavily consider sponsorship as the way to elevate our profiles as women leaders.

Carol Seymour is a sought-after business leader and catalyst for growth. As an executive advisor to businesses and executives around the globe, she has a passion for helping leaders perform at maximum potential in their professions and lives.

Carol founded Signature Leaders in 2013 at the request of a dozen global heads of HR, and now runs multiple leadership-focused offerings FOR women, not about women, including Signature Premier, Signature Select, Strive, and Surge. Today, more than 1,600 global executives in the Fortune 1000 are part of Signature Leaders, which also partners with more than 130 market-leading companies for their selective investments, including Eastman, ADP, Ahold Delhaize, Ingersoll Rand, ServiceNow, Cardinal Health, Merck, UPS, Nestle, Southern Company, AT&T, and Cigna. She is also a top-rated speaker, named one of the Top 40 Women Keynote Speakers for 2020 by RealLeaders Magazine, spending most of her speaking time with women’s forums, industry conferences, and client leadership forums.

Main Takeaways:

● The Sobering Reality of Economic Parity for Women

● Bridging the Gap: The Critical Role of Advocates

● Inviting Opportunities for Sponsorship through Exposure

Key Quotes:

“Your direct supervisor is typically not going to be a sponsor, right? That's their job to kind of help develop you, what you want to do is get some visibility by people who actually don't know that much about you… Being part of those allows visibility into some of the other things that you're capable of.” - Carol Seymour

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Carol

Website: https://signatureleaders.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-seymour-40897614

Book: Wisdom Warriors

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.comor connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Mike Krass discusses what it takes to build a business that lasts for centuries, the considerations in this evolving society to make it happen, and the way to cultivate leadership in this values-led organization.

Mike Krass is the CEO of MKG Marketing, a digital marketing agency that gets tech and healthcare brands found online through transparent, measurable digital marketing. Over the last ten years, Mike has grown MKG Marketing into a 7 figure business not only by specializing in data and analytics but by embracing a “people first” philosophy that promotes a strong work-life balance while systematically holding employees as well as clients accountable. Mike takes this philosophy with him as he sits on the Board of Directors of the global Entrepreneur’s Organization, as well as mentoring other businesses through organizations such as Idea Village and General Assembly.

The genesis of MKG Marketing came when, at a creative agency, Mike was caught completely flat-footed by a client’s question - “How much money did we make from your campaign?” Realizing the importance of analytics, Mike and his business partner, Kerry Guard, set out to found an agency that could both perform creatively and provide hard numbers in order to quash the frustration that companies can often feel when navigating the digital marketing landscape.

Main Takeaways:

Building Businesses That Lasts for Centuries
Values Run in the Company’s DNA
The Path to Leading a 100-Year Business

Key Quote:

“It [the leadership plan] exists. It's communicated. It's communicated regularly. Those are two separate things, right? You didn't just say it once, and then put it in the drawer. It's communicated regularly, and it's understood. And I use the word understood very intentionally.” - Mike Krass

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Mike

Website: https://mkgmarketinginc.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikekrass

Twitter: @mkgmarketinginc

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership! I’m your host, Natalie Born. In this episode, Michael F. Schein redefines the effective manner of marketing or getting the hype. Why is it that those who do not consider themselves marketers turn out to have a bigger following? From this conversation, Michael points out the power of utilizing psychology and how it should be used responsibly by keeping our motives in check.

Michael F. Schein is the founder and president of MicroFame Media, a company that specializes in making consultants and coaches famous in their fields. Some of his clients have included eBay, Magento, The Medici Group, University of Pennsylvania, Gordon College, University of California Irvine, United Methodist Publishing House, Ricoh, LinkedIn, and Citrix. His writing has appeared in Fortune, Forbes, Inc., Psychology Today, and Huffington Post, and he is a speaker for international audiences spanning from the northeastern United States to the southeastern coast of China. His book The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Success Secrets From the World’s Greatest Propagandists, Self-Promoters, Cult Leaders, Mischief Makers, and Boundary Breakers, published by McGraw Hill, appears where books are sold.

Main Takeaways:

The Marketing Hype: Utilizing Psychological and Emotional Drives
The Implications of the Hype - Emotional Regulation
Targeting Mistrust to Effectively Offer Value

Key Quotes:

“We let our emotions get in the way. And that's a good thing. The problem with that is some of the best people with the best ideas, they throw the baby out with the bathwater, they willfully reject driving attention and emotion around what they're selling, what their messages are.” - Michael F. Schein

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Michael

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelSchein1

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfrancisschein/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.schein.7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scheinm1/

Author Website: michaelfschein.com

Business website: microfamemedia.com

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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This is our first episode in season 3! We have Christie Garcia to discuss the impact of the unconscious self in communication, the triggers and employing mindfulness in reactions, and how ego management does not only impact leadership, but also our relationship with people and ultimately, how we view ourselves. Christie Garcia is a Leadership Coach, Speaker, Facilitator, and Founder of Mindful Choice Leadership Academy. She has 17 years of experience in sales, recruiting, and coaching. For the last 10 years, she has worked with current and upcoming leaders from fast-growing organizations including Airbnb, Twitter, Movement For Life, and Sunrun. One of Christie’s superpowers is helping her clients manage their Ego and build authentic confidence so they can maximize their leadership and show up 100% in both business and life. Christie’s modern approach is designed to be simple. You just have to choose to be 1% better every day. Main Takeaways:

Characterizing Ego: How Our Unconscious Self Impacts Leadership Controlling Ego through Self-Awareness and Ownership Unleashing Your Best Self through Ego Management

Key Quotes: “It is that balance of ‘What is that mindset that can allow all of us to just show up and be ourselves?’ I mean, that's really when it comes to - Our best self speaks truth with authenticity and integrity.” - Christie Garcia Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources. Connect with Christie Websites: https:// mindfulchoiceacademy.com/ & https://www.mindfulchoiceacademy.com/14-daytrial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiegarcia/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindfulchoice These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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In this episode, Frank Cottle joins us to share his insights about the future of work and how organizations should perceive the hybrid work setup. He talks about how this business model brings about a domino effect in the economic setting that would result in overall betterment to the conduciveness of work. Frank Cottle is the Founder and CEO of Alliance Virtual Offices. For over 40 years he’s been building flexible workspace companies, focusing on new ways of working that genuinely meet the needs of today’s entrepreneurs by combining three fundamental components: people, place, and technology. Main Takeaways: ● The Future of the Workspace on Productivity and Flexibility ● The Domino Effect of Implementing Hybrid Work ● Recognizing the Ideal Work Environment Now and Beyond Key Quote: “The efficient use of capital has now become the primary strategic driver for all aspects of flexible work. It overshadows the work-life balance issue now.” - Frank Cottle Connect with Frank Website: https://www.alliancevirtualoffices.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankcottle Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrankCottle These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Have you followed us on Youtube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCptCkKBF_VfCXFnifyHzrhg

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In this episode, we have Howard Tiersky joining us to discuss how companies can position themselves in the digital world by acknowledging your identity in the industry, recognizing the needs of customers, and becoming relevant in this digital age.

Howard Tiersky has been named one of the Top 10 Digital Transformation Influencers to follow today by IDG (International Data Group). As an entrepreneur, he has launched two successful companies that help large brands transform to thrive in the digital age. His dozens of Fortune 1000 clients have included Verizon, NBC, Avis, Universal Studios, Facebook, Spotify, and Amazon.

Main Takeaways:

● Movement towards Thriving in the Digital Age

● Staying Relevant and Recognizing Digital Transformation

● The Ideal Positioning in Finding Digital Customers

Key Thoughts:

“Do not try to invent the future, just try to improve on the future. I think that that is a much more predictable and effective strategy than thinking you can sit there and create the complete future by yourself.” - Howard Tiersky

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Howard

Website: https://www.from.digital/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiersky

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tiersky

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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In this episode, Ken Lundin joins us to talk about the invaluable journey of going through hardships, failure, breaking the cycle of passive accountability, and how we can get back up and show up stronger.

Ken Lundin, the founder of Ken Lundin & Associates and creator of the Sales Alpha Roadmap, found his mission while standing in his front lawn in Atlanta in 2011. He learned from the people who had purchased it that his house had been sold by the bank. With his business - and the last 6 years of his life - up in smoke, he took a mid-level sales position and over the course of the next 2 years was offered 2 promotions attaining the role of SVP of Sales within two years. With his unique perspective on thriving during difficult times and his considerable sales acumen, he soon became a consultant in order to bring his systematic process to other companies, helping them adapt to difficult changes and to thrive in uncertain times.

Main Takeaways:

Acknowledging the Barriers and Embracing the Modern Framework
Becoming Present: Show Up Better and Stronger

Key Quote:

“I'm very protective of my emotional energy, you know, and so from that perspective, if it doesn't come into my three-foot circle, which is representative of things that I can actually influence change, and I put zero emotional energy into it.” - Ken Lundin

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Ken:

Website: www.kenlundin.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kglundin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kglundin

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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In this episode, we have two guests, Jennifer Wilde and Dan McClure, to share their insights on the holistic approach in redesigning systems in the organization, how leadership impacts the platform for innovators, and how to encourage agility for choreographers to take the realm.

Jenny Wilde is currently serving as Managing Director at Innovation Ecosystem, an organization offering practical tools and support to deliver a step-change in innovation effectiveness. A leader in System Innovation, they enable organizations to solve challenging problems, and find the right solutions to build high impact change.

Dan McClure is a systems strategist and agile product manager. Dan helps organizations envision and create high-impact innovations. He has over 30 years of hands-on experience shaping systems-level initiatives that combine business + technology in tumultuous environments.

Main Takeaways:

● Reimagine the Norm with System Innovation

● Creating Impact through Innovative Ecosystems

● The System Innovator Choreographers in the Making

Key Quote:

“Choreographers are chased out of traditional organizations. So part of the goal here is to rather than chasing them away, identifying them, bringing them in and embracing them as part of the creative process.” - Dan McClure

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Connect with Jennifer and Dan

Website: https://www.innovationecosystem.com/

Jennifer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-wilde-bbb05867/

Dan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mccluredc/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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In this episode, we have Eb Ikonne joining us to share his story of taking a leap towards product development, the concept of leadership in the lens of mentality, and the power of communication as an adaptive leader.

Ebenezer Ikonne is a practitioner-academic (pracademic) with over 20 years in product development. He is currently a product and engineering leader at Cox Automotive. Ebenezer started his technology career as a network engineer and software developer. He later transitioned into product development leadership and management and has held middle- to senior-level leadership and management positions in large organizations, small corporations, and startups.

Main Takeaways:

Making the Leap Towards Holistic Product Development
The Power of Communication in Becoming an Adaptive Leader

Quote:

“Can we expect our leaders to have the answers and to come up with a game plan that will just make sure things work out? But we have so much evidence in front of us that shows us that it's not true, it never happens. And when things get done in any organization, it's not just the leader who did it. I can guarantee that.” - Eb Ikonne

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Eb

Website: https://eikonne.wordpress.com/

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ebenezer-ikonne

Twitter: @eikonne

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/JoyatWork

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Leader-Product-Development-Evidence-Based/dp/1484272978/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Becoming a Leader in Product Development: An Evidence-Based Guide to the Essentials

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In this episode, Nora Herting joins us to discuss the ways visual communication impacts organizations and how storytelling can influence our mental mapping towards our goals.

A pioneer of visual strategy, Nora Herting is passionate about expanding peoples’ definition of creativity and believes the best way to meet the demands of business today is to take a visual approach that blends strategic thinking and creative expression.

Nora’s skill and impact with businesses, and her own entrepreneurial prowess founding ImageThink has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fox Business, Entrepreneur, and INC.

She leads a compelling conversation around the power of visual thinking as a catalyst for personal and organizational change. As a sought-after speaker and thought leader, Nora has inspired global audiences with her creative keynotes at Cannes Lions, SXSW Interactive, WBENC

Nora’s first book, Draw Your Big Idea, has inspired thousands to think visually and access their own creativity.

Main Takeaways:

● How Visual Thinking Helps in Collaboration and Communication

● Cultivating the Habit of Visual Planning

● How the Power Visual Thinking Refashions Organizations

Quote:

“How do you get from where you want to go? The desired future to where you are right now? And then that's where you start filling in what are the action steps, what are the plans, but also articulating the challenges, and you can have fun with those things.” - Nora Herting

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Connect with Nora

Website: https://www.imagethink.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-herting-imagethink

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ImageThink

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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In this episode, I will be discussing the case study of practicing innovation for growth in organizations and the ideal methods to sustain the culture of productive ideation.

Main Takeaways:

Digesting the Principles of the Cautionary Tales of Innovation
Thinking Beyond the Realms of the Organization for Development
Kickstarting Ideation through Innovation Incentive Programs

Key Thoughts:

“Innovation is freedom within a framework. Some people think that innovation is just a free for all and people can do whatever they want and go wherever they want to go. And I would disagree because oftentimes, it’s boundaries that actually help us innovate. Not endless pools of money.” - Natalie Born

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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In this episode, Maulik Parekh joins us to talk about digital disruption and how businesses can take advantage of this phenomenon through innovation and digital transformation.

Based in Singapore, Maulik is an avid entrepreneur, highly sought-after keynote speaker, and bestselling author of Futureproof Your Career and Company. Over the years, with his popular leadership seminars and workshops, he has inspired over 10,000 leaders and prepared them for the increasingly disruptive future.

Prior to his entrepreneurial and literary ventures, Maulik was an award-winning CEO of global companies such as Inspiro and SPi Global. Under his leadership, these companies won over 100 awards, including Best Company of the Year, Best Employer of the Year, and Best Leadership Team of the Year.

Main Takeaways:

● How Digital Disruption Shaped the Decade

● Rise of the Digital Generation Reshaping the Workforce

● Taking the Digital Disruption Phenomenon as an Advantage

“Now, employers do not just have to worry about other employers when it comes to attracting the right talent. They're also fighting against people's innate desire to be the masters of their own destinies.” - Maulik Parekh

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Maulik

Website: https://www.maulikparekh.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iammaulikparekh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammaulikparekh/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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In this episode, Gabrielle Dolan joins us to talk about authentic leadership and how you can connect with customers and engage employees through magnetic storytelling.

Gabrielle Dolan is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker and educator on real communication and business storytelling. Her clients include the Obama Foundation, Telstra, EY, Accenture VISA, Australia Post, National Australia Bank, Amazon, and Vodafone just to name drop a few.

Gabrielle is the best-selling author of six books including Real Communication: How to be you and lead true, a finalist in the Australian Business Leadership Book Awards 2019. Bringing humanity to the way business people communicate isn’t just a career, it’s a calling. Her dedication to the industry was recognized when Gabrielle was awarded the 2020 Communicator of the Year by the International Association of Business Communicators Asia Pacific region.

Main Takeaways:

● How Authentic Leadership Makes Leaders More Effective

● The Superpowers of Storytelling

● The 5 Stories That Companies Should Consider Sharing

Key Quote:

“In business, we try to communicate through logic, facts, and figures. And of course, you need the facts and figures, but all logic does is inform people. It doesn't influence people. And so you've got to think about what stories you can share that will tap into emotion because as humans, we're emotional beings.” - Gabrielle Dolan

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Gabrielle

Website: https://wwwgabrielledolan.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielledolan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabrielleDolan1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielledolan.1/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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In this episode, Shawna Schuh and I cover groundbreaking leadership principles, how we can encourage critical thinking in leaders, and why we don’t need to have all the answers, we just need to ask the right questions.

Shawna Schuh, CSP helps leaders evolve into their higher potential. With over 3 decades of working with remarkable professionals, Shawna uses her expertise in leadership, business ownership, and life with animals to cut to the essence of how someone can shift their thinking for better and better results.

Main Takeaways:

● The Best Leaders Are The Best Questioners

● Critical Thinking in Leadership Requires a Healthy Environment

● Steps Leaders Can Take Towards Problem Solving

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Connect with Shawna

website: www.shawnaschuh.com | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnaschuh| Twitter: @shawnaschuh | Instagram: @shawnaschuh

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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In this episode, Dr. Katrina Burrus discusses Brilliant Jerks. Communication is more than just our words so we talk about how we can help brilliant jerks. Also, find out how to create a work environment that doesn’t foster brilliant jerks.

Dr. Katrina Burrus, CEO/founder of Excellent Executive Coaching LLC, is known for "Fast-tracking leaders to the C-Suite and Beyond" and for "Transforming Brilliant Jerks into Inspiring Leaders."

She is a keynote speaker and published, “Managing Brilliant Jerks" and, "Global Leadership" a body of work used by Nestle, Novartis, the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, the United Nations, and many more. She was most recently featured in Mexico, India, the U.S., Kazakhstan, and Russia. Dr. Burrus has 18 years of experience as the first Master Certified Coach and Founding Board Member from the (ICF) International Coaching Federation in Switzerland.

Main Takeaways:

● What is a Brilliant Jerk?

● How Good Work Environments Can Encourage and Sustain Behavioral Change

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

Connect with Dr. Katrina

Visit her website: https://mkbconseil.ch/ | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus | Twitter @KatrinaBurrus | Podcast: https://apple.co/2UWpkgx | Book: https://amzn.to/2Trf6Et

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Managing Brilliant Jerks: How Organizations and Coaches Can Transform Difficult Leaders into Powerful Visionaries

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In this episode, Nancy Murphy, the Founder & President of CSR Communications, talks about what an intrepreneur is, how we can disrupt and make impactful change within organizations and established systems, and swaying change-resistant powers.

Main Takeaways:

● What is an Intrapreneur?

● How we can affect change and work with leaders who seem overly change-resistant

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Connect with Nancy

Visit www.csrcommunications.com and sign up with Nancy’s newsletter to get exclusive and valuable resources.

Connect with Nancy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyamurphy/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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In this episode, Roger Hardy and I discuss how Roger has helped build Canada's most successful vertical integration e-commerce company and achieved one of Canada's largest e-commerce exits.

Roger Hardy is the CEO of KITS online eyewear retailer. Roger’s entrepreneurial journey began with a single phone line, a 14k modem, and a credit card, building an online company, and selling it to a San Francisco-based More.com at the height of the Dot Com Boom all before the age of 30. An original disruptor, he and his sister next launched Coastal.com owners of Clearly. Under Roger’s leadership, the company became the world's leading digital eyewear retailer, going public on NASDAQ before being acquired by Essilor for $450 million cash.

Main Takeaways:

● Building a Digital Marketplace vs. A Brick and Mortar

● KITS’ Catalyst for Innovation in the Eyecare and Eyewear Industry

● Learning to Stay Innovative

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

Follow Roger Hardy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerhardy/

Visit https://www.Kits.com and use coupon code: FREEKITS to get your first pair of KITS glasses for free

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Let’s go transform something!

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In this episode, Jonathon Hensley is joining me to have a conversation about his new book, and discuss what causes digital product failure, the root causes of failure, and how organizations internally sabotage themselves.

Jonathon is the Co-Founder & CEO of EMERGE, a digital product consulting firm that works with companies to improve operational agility and customer experience. For more than two decades, Jonathan has helped startups, Fortune 100 brands, and technology leaders transform their businesses by turning strategies into valuable digital products and services. Jonathan just released his new book, Alignment: Overcoming internal sabotage and digital product failure.

Main Takeaways:

● The Root Causes of Failure

● Leadership Problems Equals Digital Product Failure

● Are Organizations Actually Effective at Learning From Their Failures?

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Follow Jonathon Hensley:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonhensley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmergeInteractive/

Website: https://www.productalignment.com/

To buy his book:

Alignment: Overcoming internal sabotage and digital product failure by Jonathon Hensley https://www.amazon.com/Alignment-Overcoming-internal-sabotage-digital/dp/1734660406

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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Alignment: Overcoming internal sabotage and digital product failure

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In this episode, Céline Williams discusses everything culture-related. How do we start leading our organizations with culture by design, not by default?

Céline Williams (ACC, CCUG) is an international speaker and the founder of reVisionary, a boutique consulting firm providing executive coaching, leadership development, and culture services to human-focused businesses around the world. She also has her own leadership podcast called Leading Through Crisis.

Main Takeaways:

Culture by design, not by default
How do you design an immovable culture?
Moving out of the Command and Control Era and into an Era of Human-Focused culture

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Connect with Céline

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celinewilliams/
Instagram: @revisionary_celine
Website: https://www.Revisionary.ca
Leading Through Crisis Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-through-crisis-with-céline-williams/id1512686700

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation and leadership process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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My guest, Parker Stevenson, and I talk all about finance. We talk about the biggest financial mistakes entrepreneurs are making, what numbers and metrics matter when growing your business when it’s financially responsible to quit your job to pursue your business, and more!

Main Takeaways:

Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs are Making
Which Metrics Matter When Growing Your Business?
Quitting Your Job to Pursue Your Business with Financial Responsibility

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Parker! Visit Parker’s website:https://www.evolvedfinance.com/or email him at Parker@evolvedfinance.com

Twitter: @evolvedfinance

Facebook: /groups/evolvedfinance

LinkedIn: /company/evolved-finance/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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In this episode, my guest, Jennifer Chapman, and I talk all about creating a sustainable work-life, not just for yourself, but for your team. Jennifer Chapman used to be a workaholic, known as the go-to person for getting things done and managing the most difficult clients at a Fortune 500 consulting firm. She thrived in challenging situations, proving to others time and time again that she was invincible. Eventually, Jennifer’s mental and physical health began to suffer, so she decided to create a new professional and personal life that aligned with what she valued most.

Main Takeaways:

● Creating Healthy Boundaries

● How to Give Yourself Permission to Create a New Path

● Teaching Your Team Good Work Boundaries

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can follow Jennifer on LinkedIn (in/coachjenniferchapman/), Skype (Jenn.gillins1) Email her at jennifer@ambitionleadership.com, or contact her (571) 276-5816

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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In this episode, my guest, Jim Van Over, and I talk about the necessity of failure for innovation. We discuss how human innovation inherently coexists with failure, the ways organizations and leadership can approach failure for growth, and how Elon Musk gamifies innovation.

Main Takeaways:

● The Intersection of Innovation and Failure

● Setting Up Learning Through Failure in Organizations and Leadership

● How Elon Musk Has Gamified Innovation Through Incentivisation; Does it Work For Everyone?

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can follow Jim on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Clubhouse @jimvanover

To learn more about ServiceNow, visit their website at https://www.servicenow.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome to Innovation Meets Leadership. On this episode with my guest and my dear friend, Loretta Edmond, we discuss personal reinvention through mental focus and prioritizing what really matters in life.

Main Takeaways:

● How Crisis Can Be a Catalyst for Transformation

● How To Reinvent Yourself Despite Fear

● Having The Right Mindset And Changing The Fear Narrative In Our Heads

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Loretta on LinkedIn (in/lorettaedmond)

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Denelle Dixon is the CEO and Executive Director of the Stellar Development Foundation, a non-profit organization using blockchain to unlock the world’s economic potential by making money more fluid, markets more open, and people more empowered.

Denelle previously served as COO of Mozilla, one of the most successful mission-driven open-source organizations. During her tenure at Mozilla, she led the organization’s business, revenue and policy teams including the ongoing fight for Neutrality and the global effort to ensure that people can control their personal data. She also pushed Mozilla to understand how to partner with commercial entities while staying true to its core mission of openness, innovation, and opportunity on the web.

Main Takeaways:

● How Leaders Can Practically Introduce Diversity Into Their Company

● The Ways Fintech Can Improve the Lives of Minorities Who Have Been Excluded

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Connect with Denelle on LinkedIn, Twitter (@DenelleDixon). Visit Stellar Development Foundation’s website

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Eric Gibbs serves as President for Ouriginal, a text-similarity detection software that assists K-12 districts and higher education institutions in safeguarding their academic integrity initiatives. Eric is an accomplished business executive with over 20 years of experience in the education technology industry. He creates innovative and successful go-to-market strategies within K-12 and higher education markets.

Main Takeaways:

● How Ouriginal is Safeguarding and Promoting Academic Integrity

● Innovation in Detecting Plagiarism and Verifying Authenticity

● The Future of Educational Software and Technology

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can connect with Eric Gibbs on LinkedIn. Visit Ouriginal’s website

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Katie Mares knows first-hand the challenges brands have when launching & maintaining their brand from customer acquisition through in-person interaction. Using her experiences as a Chief Operational Officer, building company infrastructure, and designing customer experience programs, Katie is now a leading voice inspiring positive, actionable change for Permashield USA.

Main Takeaways:

How Businesses Can Start Creating and Measuring Customer Journeys
Breaking the Script Through Service and Experience
Capturing the Attention of the World’s Most Influential Consumer

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or visit her website.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Matt Kopko is DailyPay's Vice President of Public Policy, where he manages DailyPay's interactions with regulators, legislators, other government officials, and stakeholders. Matt was drawn to DailyPay because he has a passion for focusing on emerging technologies that help improve the lives of millions of working individuals.

Main Takeaways:

● How DailyPay is Helping Employees Get Out of Living Paycheck to Paycheck

● How Empowering Employees With Financial Peace of Mind Benefits Employers

● The Future of Employee Salary Platforms

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can connect with Matt on LinkedIn(in/mattkopko). Visit DailyPay’s website (https://www.dailypay.com)

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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As CEO and co-founder of AutoLeadStar, Aharon Horwitz is passionate about bringing cutting-edge technology solutions to the forward-thinking dealership. He leads a team committed to increasing dealership sales through improved efficiency, scalability, and personalized customer experience. He regularly speaks and writes about automotive innovation, contributing to industry publications including Dealer Magazine and Dealer Marketing. A long-time entrepreneur, Aharon’s drive for developing useful technology with tangible results has garnered coverage by Inc. Magazine, The Next Web, and LifeHacker, Mailchimp, Infusionsoft, and major automotive publications.

Main Takeaways:

● How AutoLeadStar is changing the way dealerships do marketing

● Flexing and pivoting in 2020

● The future innovation of the Automotive Industry and what to look forward to

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can connect with Aharon onLinkedIn (in/aharonhorwitz) or Twitter(@aharonhorwitz). Visit AutoLeadStar’s website

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Dr. Kendra A. Momon is Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA, where she also serves as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce and Director of the Rich Foundation Urban Leadership Program.

She is an expert on a variety of intersectionalities within American Politics, Leadership, The Black Church, Women in Politics, and Hip Hop Culture. She is the author of African American Politics, and her most recent book, Being As Leading: Your Roadmap To Shaping Culture Through Life’s Disruptions.

She is an in-demand public speaker, intellectual, guest commentator, and lecturer whose voice and perspective has been shared on a variety of local, national, and international platforms including NPR, CNN, CNNI, The Associated Press, The AJC, The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Rhode Island College, The University of California, San Francisco, UGA, and LSU.

Main Takeaways:

Discussing Dr. Kendra’s book Being as Leading
Cultural Anthropology; what does it mean and why it’s so important
Navigating Leadership through societal biases as minorities

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can connect with Dr. Kendra onTwitter(@monomleadership), Instagram, and Facebook

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Jason Chlipala, the COO of the Stellar Development Foundation, started his career as a tax and corporate attorney but then made the switch to the tech world when he joined Palantir. There he led teams of engineers, data scientists, and designers building custom solutions to data problems at large companies. Before joining SDF, Jason was the COO of Interstellar, where he worked on all areas of the business. Jason attended Cornell University, where he earned a BA in Mathematics and received his JD from Yale Law School in 2009.

Main Takeaways:

● What is The Stellar Development Foundation?

● The Stellar Network (Similar to Blockchain)

● Blockchain (and other similar systems) and how it affects the FinTech Industry

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can connect with Jason on LinkedIn (/in/jasonchlipala) or head over tohttps://www.stellar.org/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Sean Specie is a host/emcee, aspiring author, and the Chief Strategy Officer of Elevate Experiences based in Metro Atlanta, GA. He has over eight years of experience on a microphone and behind the scenes in corporate events and loves bringing energy and a clear message to a crowd. Sean has helped produce and emcee in-person and virtual events for brands like Coca-Cola, CitizensBank, the Atlanta Falcons, Chick-fil-A, Delta, The Home Depot, and Columbia Sportswear. Main Takeaways: ● How to make virtual meetings and events fun, enjoyable, and engaging ● How you can be more effective at audience engagement ● How to Avoid getting the “that could have been an email or a video” comment after a meeting ● Trends on how people are making virtual meetings/events engaging

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can connect with Sean on LinkedIn (/in/sean-specie), Facebook (@seanspecie), Instagram (@seanspecie), Twitter (@sean_specie), or head over to https://elevateexperiences.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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As we continue to celebrate Women’s Month, we are joined today by two female Superstars Laurie Halter & Ilana Shabtay from season one.

Laurie Halter is the owner of Charisma! Communications, a boutique BtoB PR agency focused on digital companies in the auto industry and host of the Carearing podcast. Ilana Shabtay is the Director of Marketing at AutoLeadStar, a marketing automation platform designed for car dealerships.

Main Takeaways:

● Sometimes setbacks aren’t setbacks. They’re stepping stones.

● How Effective Leadership has changed through the years

● How to face “stagnation” in our personal lives and career

● Advice on how to control yourselves when you get “triggered”

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Laurie on LinkedIn (/in/laurie-halter-1255b6), Twitter (@Charismacom), or visit their websitehttp://www.charismacommunications.com/.

You can connect with Ilana Shabtay onLinkedIn (in/ilana-shabtay-95a3594a) or visit their websitehttps://www.autoleadstar.com/.

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Welcome back to part two of our interview with Jim Kalbach. Hop on in, and let’s continue our conversations from part one. Missed the previous episode? See below for links to the show. Jim Kalbach is an author, speaker, and instructor in design. Jim has authored the books Designing Web Navigation, Mapping Experiences, and the most recent one, The Jobs To Be Done Playbook, which we will be talking about in this episode. Jim is currently the Chief Evangelist at MURAL, the leading online whiteboard. He is responsible for advocating for imagination work, remote collaboration, creative teamwork, design thinking, and more. Main Takeaways: ● How to apply Jim’s recipe for successful innovations ● The Jobs To Be Done Playbook is a tool that’s not for everyone ● How they are utilizing Jobs To Be Done at MURAL Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below. To learn more about Jim, you can follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter: @kalbach, or Head on over to or head on over to https://experiencinginformation.com/. Learn more about the Jobs To Be Done Toolkit at https://www.jtbdtoolkit.com/. These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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Jim Kalbach is an author, speaker, and instructor in design. Jim has authored the books Designing Web Navigation, Mapping Experiences, and the most recent one, The Jobs To Be Done Playbook, which we will be talking about in this episode.

Jim is currently the Chief Evangelist at MURAL, the leading online whiteboard. He is responsible for advocating for imagination work, remote collaboration, creative teamwork, design thinking, and more.

Main Takeaways:

● Explanation of The Jobs To Be Done Playbook

● Customer-centric companies are 60% more profitable than companies that focus on the customer

● How Outcome-Driven Innovation differs from other methods of innovation

● Find the unmet market needs before the market finds them

● Why Job Maps are important

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

You can follow Jim on LinkedIn @kalbach, Twitter @jimkalbach, or https://www.jtbdtoolkit.com.

To learn more about MURAL, visit their website at https://www.mural.co/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Stacey Speller is an accomplished leadership and personal development professional with over 15 years of delivering results. After being personally mentored by New York Times best-selling author and INC Magazine’s “leadership guru” Dr. John C. Maxwell, her specialty is working with high-performing world leaders, government officials, CEOs, and their teams, looking to impact their bottom line through results-oriented training. Through the John Maxwell Company, Stacey has worked globally with Fortune 500 Corporations, including Coca-Cola, Sasol Oil, Walmart/Mass Mart, World Bank, Standard Bank, Woolworth’s, and Planet Fitness.

Main Takeaways:

● Being a woman leader is hard and got even harder because of the situations brought upon by the pandemic

● The pandemic has brought opportunities for women leaders to step up

● Women are innovators – don’t underestimate yourselves!

● Women are naturally curious, and curiosity is the birth of a possibility thinker, and being a possibility thinker is the foundation of innovation

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

To learn more about Stacey, follow her on LinkedIn @speak2stacey or visit her websitehttps://staceyspeller.com

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Jeremy is a designer, strategist, and consultant for Territory Global. He uses human-centered design and expert facilitation to help leaders and their teams to tap into their innate brilliance to solve fuzzy problems.

Jeremy is a gifted strategist, and every moment working with him is a continuous learning experience. In today’s episode, Jeremy and I talk about being a generalist. Are you one of us? Then this episode is for you!

Main Takeaways:

● What makes someone a generalist

● The dilemmas of being a generalist

● Why being a generalist can be a superpower

● Advice from one generalist to another

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

Follow Jeremy on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn: @varohaub

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Let’s welcome the first-ever returning guest from season one, Aaron Born. Previously, he walked us through leading volunteers in crisis. Today, we’ll be talking about a book that has made such a big impact on our leadership.

Aaron Born is the Men’s Ministry Director for Victory Church, a multi-site church of over 20,000 households and 140 nations based in the Atlanta area.

Main Takeaways:

● The impact of Hero Maker on Aaron’s leadership

● The Five Essential Practices for Leaders

● Multiplication thinking vs. addition thinking

● Consistently add value to other people’s lives

● What it means to be a hero vs. what it means to be a hero maker

Be sure to check out full show notes https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resourcesor click "Episode Website" below.

Learn more about Aaron and Men United:

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-born-4a66b7bb/

● Twitter: @born_aaron (https://twitter.com/born_aaron)

● Instagram: @menunited_vc (https://www.instagram.com/menunited_vc/)

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders (Exponential Series)

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Today’s guest is Shawn Richards. He is the owner of Blue Sky Business Consulting. For over 25 years, Shawn has worked with and for small businesses, startups, and leadership positions. Currently, he specializes in teaching leadership principles centered on employee and team engagement. He is also the author of the Thrive Engagement System and the host the Team Engagement Podcast.

Main Takeaways:

● The 3 components to building a high-performing team

● The critical roles of a team leader

● How to engage with your nonhigh-performing team members

● Advice on how to become a better leader

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

Connect with Shawn:

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnjrichards/

● YouTube: https://bit.ly/3cU3UHX

● Podcast: https://blueskybizconsulting.com/2021/01/06/fail-fast-fail-cheap-fail-often

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Herman is the Founder and CEO of Every Child Needs a Mentor, the UK’s leading specialist mentoring organization. With over 20 years of youth mentoring experience, Herman Stewart is recognized as the UK’s leading expert in youth mentoring. Herman authored the book Every Child Needs A Mentor that aims to inspire, help, and engage the people who support the youth with ideas they can use for mentoring. Main Takeaways: ● The importance of mentorships for the youth ● Finding the innate superpower and greatness inside us ● If you become great at mentoring the youth – you’ll be great at mentoring adults ● Leaders need humility ● Lead from the heart Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below. You can connect with Herman on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/3jau5v5) or through their website https://www.everychildneedsamentor.com/ These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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Tamara Laster is the Vice President of Global Sales Strategy at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). As Vice President of Global Sales Strategy, Tamara leads a team responsible for driving IHG's B2B sales strategy, programs and initiatives for IHG's corporate, groups and meetings, and small and medium-sized enterprises, including the IHG Business Edge program.

Tamara is no ordinary leader; she approaches leadership in a non-traditional way. Being exposed to different leadership types and learning from the leaders she met along her journey helped shape the leader she has become.

Main Takeaways:

● Become your own version of a leader

● Be your true authentic self

● Leadership is a constant opportunity to learn and grow

● The fundamentals of Tamara’s leadership style

● Tamara’s advice for leaders

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://anchor.fm/natalie-born or click "Episode Website" below.

To learn more about Tamara, follow her on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/39hY8O2

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Eric Lent is the Global Chief Marketing Officer for World 50. As a key senior leader, Eric runs the marketing function globally, where he has strategic and tactical responsibility for the development and delivery of overall marketing performance and brand strategy.

Outside of work, Eric is an advisor to 48in48, an organization dedicated to building websites for non-profits. Previously, he served as Board Chairman for the Towson University College of Business and Economics, where he received the Dean’s Recognition Award for his lifetime of career successes.

Main Takeaways:

● Eric’s Journey

● As leaders, you need to model the change you want to see

● You grow the most when you step into a mess

● Eric’s advice for people afraid of failure

● How the pandemic helped shape the future of leadership

● What qualities a leader should have

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://anchor.fm/natalie-born or click "Episode Website" below.

To learn more about Eric, follow him on:

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericlent/

● Instagram: @eclent1 or https://www.instagram.com/eclent1/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Are you Interested in starting your podcast but don’t know where or how to start? Then, this episode is the one for you! Join me for the final episode of Innovation Meets Leadership Season 1, where I talk about all things podcasting. From how to start, the things you need, and other factors involved. Tune in as I help you create a plan for building your podcast.

Main Takeaways:

● The FOUR Main Areas in Starting Your Podcast

PURPOSE - What’s your Why and Audience?
FORMAT - How will you organize?
PRODUCTION – Equipment & Recording
POST-PRODUCTION – Getting your message out there

● Advice for when to move the needle on audience growth and monetization

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

Territory’s Persona Mapping Activity: https://territory.co/tool/aoo-persona-mapping-activity/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Throughout 2020 and due to COVID-19, a record number of podcast shows have been launched. Not only has the number of podcasts increased, so has the amount of listenership. With the boom of the podcasting industry, have you ever wondered why it has become so popular? What value does it bring to its audience? Join me as we talk about what podcasting can teach you.

Main Takeaways:

Principles I learned through podcasting

Stop playing it small
Collaboration determines the destination
Ask better questions
Make others look brilliant
The Socratic Approach to Asking Questions

To see the Power-Questions Book click here.

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others 1st edition by Sobel, Andrew, Panas, Jerold (2012) Hardcover

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Melanie Borden has spent the majority of her 14+ year marketing career in the automotive tech industry. Melanie has worked in various atmospheres, from social media startups to a public tech company in consulting, marketing, and business development roles. She has driven marketing efficiencies for her clients along the eastern seaboard from NYC to Burlington, VT. Melanie is the driver for the marketing vision and strategy from inception to execution for the clients she has worked with. Presently, she is the Vice President of Marketing for Celebrity Motor Cars, a franchised Highline auto group based out of the New York and New Jersey Metropolitan area. Melanie develops and implements every single facet of the marketing and advertising strategy and single-handedly built the in-house advertising agency.

Main Takeaways:

● You need a plan of intent when building your social media presence and brand

● How to decide what platforms to focus on

● How to monitor the growth of your brand

● Things you can do the old-fashioned way (offline)

● There is no one size fits all plan for building your social media presence and brand

● Patience is a big part of growing your social audience.

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

Follow Melanie on the following platforms:

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammelanieborden/

● Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/melanieborden

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieborden/

● Twitter: https://twitter.com/millennialdm

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Jodie Charlop founded Exceleration Partners, dedicated to helping professionals build career resiliency and successfully evolve to positions of leadership. Jodie helps her clients transform into powerful leaders by tackling blind spots that may be stealing their leadership power. Jodie has served as a full-time executive coach since 2004.

Main Takeaways:

● What is Leadership Agility?

● How to define your Leadership Agility moving into 2021

● Creating a life that matters

● Moving through the struggles of life

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

You can connect with Jodie on LinkedIn, @jodiecharlop. Interested in learning more about Leadership Agility? Schedule time with Jodie at https://www.jodiecharlop.com/virtualcoffee. Visit her company website, https://excelerationpartners.com.

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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With nearly 30 years of experience coaching in both private and non-profit sectors, John helps individual organizations clarify who they are, why they’re here, and where they should invest their time and energy.

John is a successful entrepreneur, business owner, and offers business coaching and group coaching, and he is the host of the Relationships & Revenue podcast.

Main Takeaways:

● Selling and leadership is serving, and marketing is storytelling.

● Three questions that John asks people interested in starting a business

● Three things that are important when you are starting a business or creating a product

● The difference between FAILING and FAILURE

● Our pain is not for us. Our pain is actually for other people.

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

You can connect with John @johnhulen on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, and @john.hulen on Facebook.

Resources Mentioned:

● Relationships & Revenue podcast – Interview with Natalie Born

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Gianni Quintana is the founder and CEO of DigiTechy, an inbound marketing services, and conversational marketing platform. He is also the host of Smart Chickens Diversity Drives Innovation & Growth Show, and he has over 15 years of experience in strategic marketing. Gianni is a firm believer that where we come from shapes who we become both in life and our career.

Main Takeaways:

● What is Marketing Automation

● Innovations in Marketing Automation

● Metrics for good Marketing Automation

● The roles of Marketing Automation Consultants

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can connect with Gianni on LinkedIn @gianni-quintana-b4b650a0 or visit theDigiTechywebsite, https://digitechy.com/.

Also, view my podcast interview with Gianni here https://digitechy.com/smart-chickens-natalie-born.

Resources we reviewed: https://fromimpossible.com

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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David Turetsky serves as a managing consultant and is responsible for consulting with clients on people analytics, total rewards, and other HR data governance issues at Turetsky Consulting. In his role, David consults with clients worldwide and is focused on improving their usage of data, analytics, and HR processes in support of their business. David and his team partner with their clients to provide ideas, insights, and best practices to optimize people insights.

Main Takeaways:

● Innovation in HR Data & Analytics

● Improve your HR Data & Analytics Team

● Best practices for innovation in the HR data & analytics space

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with David on LinkedIn @davidturetsky or visit his websiteturetskyconsulting.com. Additionally, David and I recorded a double podcast so join me on the HR Data Labs Podcast: https://turetskyconsulting.com/podcast

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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My guest today is Ron Hayman Sr.. Ron is a disabled veteran who served in the Army during the Vietnam war, where he was deployed to Korea. While in Korea, Ron was a communications tech. Recently retired from AT&T, after 19 years as a Sr. Network Support Analyst. He is now the founder of I Honor Your Service To America, a 501c3 Charity.

Main Takeaways:

● Bringing honor, support, and courage to our deployed personnel

● I Honor Your Service To America’s mission

● Continuing their mission even in adversity

● How you can get involved in I Honor’s cause

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

You can follow Ron Hayman Sr. on the following platforms:

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-hayman-sr-848b8b6/

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ihonorusa/

● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IHONORUSA

● Website: https://ihonorusa.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Previously, Lee Towe was the Director of Product Development at a bank. He left that job to start Innovators International, Inc. with a focus on developing and delivering training and facilitation around creativity. Lee also wrote a book on creativity called "Why Didn't I Think of That?". Now he focused on helping people see ways they can "grow the pie." Not just grab a slice. Main Takeaways: ● The most important capabilities innovators must have ● The harm that comes when you create a grabbing/win-lose/comparisons culture within your company and how to abolish it ● How to avoid infighting and create a cooperative, cohesive team ● The core values that built Pie Growers Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources You can connect with Lee on https://www.piegrowers.com/or follow him on LinkedIn. These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. Let’s go transform something!

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Today’s guest is the Senior Vice President of If/Then, Dave Rickett. Dave is a creative visionary in digital strategy and user interface. He is also a strong proponent of user-first methodologies. He helped shape the user experience for brands such as Coca-Cola, The College Board, and ING.

Dave strongly believes that User-First Innovation is key to a successful, scalable, long-term business. If you don’t focus on your customers, you will end up being left in the dust of your competition.

Main Takeaways:

● User-First Innovation, what it truly means for your business

● How to step-up your User-First Innovation game

● Going beyond User-First Innovation

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

You can follow Dave on LinkedIn or check out his company athttps://www.ifthen.com

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Nagini Indugula is a product leader with a lifelong passion for bringing user value to the forefront of strategy and decision making. She has vast experience in digital marketplaces, consumer, and enterprise SAAS products at startup to mid-sized companies. Most recently, as the VP/Head of Product, she oversaw the Product, Platform, and Design team at NCSA Sports. Before NCSA Sports, she was a Product Director at CareerBuilder and launched several new products – Semantic Search, Talent Network, and Work@ (patent pending). She also serves as a product advisor to several startup companies. She graduated from Kellogg School of Management with an MBA in Strategy and Entrepreneurship. She also holds a Master's in Computer Science from K-State.

Main Takeaways:

● Innovation for product leaders

● Creating a culture of performing tests and experimentations when you have an idea

● How to pitch your ideas to your team leader or boss

Resources Mentioned:

● CareerBuilder

● Why Test and A Framework for Testing Methods by Nagini Indugula and Amy West

You can follow Nagini on LinkedIn @indugulanagini and Medium https://medium.com/@nagini_i.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.comor connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Dave Allen is a product executive who spent the last 25 years leading multiple innovation teams at various start-ups and fortune 500 organizations. Within those roles, he has launched a host of market-leading solutions for small and large financial institutions. You can find him speaking at various conferences and even at the Federal Reserve, focusing on how technology can bring greater financial inclusion for the underbanked. Currently, he is the co-founder and CEO of PayDN, a payment and data network focusing on expanding the underbanked community's digital payment options.

Main Takeaways:

● Innovation in Financial Technology

● What PayDN is all about

● Banking transactions through the cloud

● Advice for entrepreneurs trying to get the ball rolling on their ideas

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can follow Dave on LinkedIn @davekallen. Visit PayDN’s website https://www.paydn.io/ or check out their LinkedIn profile @paydn.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today my guest is Abdel Tefridj. Abdel is the CEO and CPO at Data Bid Machine, designed to optimize companies' traffic acquisition. He is a technology and product executive with an extensive background in eCommerce, data science, and software development. He is advising several growing companies in their digital transformation and scaling their data science initiatives.

Main Takeaways:

● Customer-driven innovation

● Customer-centric business framework

● Abdel’s advice on how you can be more innovative and become a “think outside of the box” person

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources.

You can connect with Abdel on Linked at https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdel-tefridj-innovation. Visit his company websitehttps://www.databidmachine.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.comor connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Matt Morasky is back for round two of our discussion. If you missed the first discussion, I urge you to go back to the previous episode titled "Innovation and Design Thinking with Matt Morasky - Part 1" before listening to this episode.

Through the Growth Initiative Brief process, one idea spiders into three ideas: spiders into five ideas and then spiders into more and more ideas. In this episode, Matt walks us through the growth initiative brief that you surely wouldn't want to miss!

Main Takeaways:

The Growth Initiative Brief - Link to Resource: https://bit.ly/3coYJgE

Determine the Goals
Why?
What are the Parameters?
Identify the members of your Growth Team.
Understand your Available Resources.
Name your Sponsors.
Outline the Decision Process.
Complete the brief, and share with key stakeholders for input and feedback.

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can follow Matt on Linkedin @matt-morasky-39872019 or visitterritory.co to learn more.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Matt Morasky has been a practitioner of design thinking and visual thinking for more than a decade. In the course of designing and delivering scores of programs throughout Europe and North America, Asia, and Africa, Matt established the Amsterdam Visual Thinking School and has written, taught, and spoke on the topic around the globe. Matt is also co-author of The Art of Opportunity, a practical guide to identifying, developing, and launching new business opportunities through strategic innovation.

Let’s dive into part one of this interview and talk about the idea behind “big innovation” vs. “practical innovation”?

Main Takeaways

● Big Innovation vs. Practical Innovation

● Having the freedom to advance your ideas and tackling limitations within an organization

● Tips for leaders on how to get their people to think more innovatively

● How to improve the flow of ideas in an organization

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership.

You can follow Matt on Linkedin or visitterritory.co to learn more.

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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With the advancement of technology comes the rise of its applications to businesses. Joining us today is Ron Hayman, the COO & Chief Cloud Officer of AVANT Communications. Ron is an experienced global executive, having worked in 25 countries with a talent for managing turn arounds, start-ups, and growing departments to scale. He is here to talk about why the demand for “Cloud” is continuously increasing for large organizations and start-ups.

Main Takeaways:

● What is a “Cloud” and why companies are moving towards this technology

● Ways that a Cloud allows for innovation

Be sure to check out full show notes at or click the "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Ron on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronhayman/.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today we are continuing our series on innovation. Our guest for this episode is Jamie Silva. Jamie is a Product Development Team Leader at Paylocity. He is a proven entrepreneurial product leader whose passion in life is building products with a start-up mentality. His career’s success is a result of continuous learning and growth guided by personal goals and professional fulfillment.

Main Takeaways:

● The Giants of Innovation (Tesla, SpaceX, Apple, and Amazon)

● Make Innovation Approachable

● Leading Large Corporations Towards Innovation

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Jamie on LinkedIn. Visit their website athttps://www.paylocity.com/.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.comor connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today we are starting a series on Innovation. This episode is all about The Art of Corporate Innovation. I want to talk to you today about how to build a culture that focuses on innovation and how to look for this when you are potentially checking out a new company. Furthermore, I want to demystify the word innovation. Sometimes this word can feel lofty and disconnected from the day to day work we know we must do to keep the business afloat.

Stick around until the end, and I will tell you how you can access my free innovation assessment.

Main Takeaways:

1.) How to Create a Culture Focused on Innovation

2.) The Innovation Starter Guide

Take Our Free Innovation Assessment: https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/innovation

Be sure to check out full show notes at our website: https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today’s episode is really special. Joining us today is Laurie Halter, and we talked about a subject that hits home for the both of us; mentorship and sponsorship. Laurie is the owner of Charisma Communications, a boutique public relations agency specializing in automotive, retail, and technology industries. She is also the host of the Carearing Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/carearing/id1492729033)

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) You Need a Mentor

2.) How to Find a Mentor

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Laurie on LinkedIn or visit their website http://www.charismacommunications.com/.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Joining us today is the Director of Marketing at AutoLeadStar and "growth hacker," Ilana Shabtay. Ilana believes that what brought her to where she is today is her ability to apply and take constructive criticism. As a team leader, she promotes not just her growth but also the growth of all her team members and believes that to succeed as a team, you have to understand your member's strengths and weaknesses and play off them.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) How to Evolve Your Career

2.) How Cultural Differences Play a Role in Teams

3.) Call Your Shots

Be sure to check out our other episodes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below for full show notes.

You can connect with Ilana Shabtay on LinkedIn or visit their website https://www.autoleadstar.com/.

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today I am joined by author, international keynote speaker, host of FlipMyFunnel Podcast, and co-founder of Terminus, Sangram Vajre. Sangram is passionate about being a positive impact on people’s lives. He believes that a clear sense of belonging must exist within your community to be a successful organization.

Main Takeaways in this episode:

1.) Sangram’s thought leadership idea - belongship

2.) Sangram’s PEAK Framework

Be sure to check out full show notes at https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/resources

You can connect with Sangram on LinkedIn @sangramvajre, or visit his company website https://terminus.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.comor connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today we are speaking with an accomplished engineer, businesswoman, and the founder & CEO of Capstone Performance Solutions, Dr. Tina Woodard. Dr. Tina is an accomplished HR leader that aids in implementing innovative organizational effectiveness and leadership development. She emphasizes that to be a good leader, you have to lead with empathy, patience, and communication.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) Right Talents, Right Capabilities of Leaders

2.) How to Hire the Right People

3.) Pushing Your Leadership Skills to the Next Level

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Dr. Tina on LinkedIn @tinacwoodard or visit her company website https://www.capstonesolutionsinc.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today we are speaking with entrepreneur, speaker, software engineer, and founder of 7Factor Software, Jeremy Duvall. Jeremy believes that it’s both an art and a science when hiring technical talents and that good culture is essential within your company to create an environment where people can enjoy themselves yet still deliver desired results.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) Hiring for Culture

2.) The Toxic Subcultures in Start-Ups

3.) Bad Code Kills

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn or visit his company website https://www.7factor.io/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Our guest today, Dr. Dawn Marie Kier is affectionately known as the “heart doctor.” She is the founder of New Dawn Consulting and has spent the last 22 years helping leaders, franchisees, and organizations in the fast-casual, franchise, and retail space. She helps leaders identify and remove the root problems that keep teams and organizations from achieving desired outcomes.

Main Takeaways from this episode:

1.) How Should We Start To Cultivate Influence

2.) A Leader’s Influence

3.) “Results Through Relationship” vs. “Relationships Through Results”

Be sure to check out full show notes at our website Innovation Meets Leadership.

You can connect with Dr. Dawn on LinkedIn or visit her company website https://www.consultingnewdawn.com/.

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership.

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Today we are speaking with the technology executive, investor, venture capitalist, and the SVP of Equifax, Lo Li. Lo is very passionate about spotting high potential leaders. She puts more emphasis on choosing leaders that are resilient and are comfortable with failure. Leaders will fail, and that’s perfectly fine as long as they learn from it and grow over time.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) Spotting High Potential Leaders

2.) The Process Of Doing "The Shift"

3.) How Do You Spot Resiliency In Someone?

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Lo Li on LinkedIn or visit her company website https://www.equifax.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today we are speaking with the author, coach, and founder of TalentRevolution.me, Kene Iloenyosi. Kene Iloenyosi teaches his clients how to discover their purpose and work in their Career Sweet Spot. This process starts with identifying their innate abilities, and how best to use them in a fulfilling and engaging career.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) Maximizing Your Natural-Given Talents

2.) Talent Revolution

3.) Your Leaders' Role On Your Growth

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Kene on Twitter @keneiloenyosi, Instagram @talentrevolution or visit his website http://www.talentrevolution.me/

Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today we are speaking with a writer, speaker, and founder of ConnextionPoint, Amy Balog. Amy designed a comprehensive coaching approach that allows leaders to harness their most significant internal leadership asset, their center. The experience of Amy's clients is a journey to find their peace as the ultimate source of their potential and performance.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) Peace Over Performance

2.) Discovering our Dark Side and Self-Awareness

3.) Choosing Humility Over Pride

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click the "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Amy on Twitter @abalog or visit her website http://connextionpoint.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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We have started a series focused on the most important assets in our businesses, people, and what they bring to the table every day which is their talent. In this episode, we will talk about identifying the right people to hire and promote and how we should think about our own talent and the talent in others.

Main Takeaways on this episode - The X Factor on Talent:

1.) Humility

2.) Teachable

3.) Failure

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our websiteinnovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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This is the last episode in this series “Leading in Crisis” and I’m taking this moment to talk about the racial injustices that have resurfaced to headlines upon the George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery deaths, amongst countless others. Leaders, it’s about time to end the silence. How does race play a role in business and on our teams? What can we do? Where do we begin? Let’s talk about it.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

Racial Injustices and Equality
What can you do on a micro-level?
What can you do on a macro-level?
How Prioritizing Diversity and Psychological Safety Can Make You A Great Leader

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Today we caught up with Theresa Ward, founder of The Fiery Feather. Theresa’s clients are brought peace of mind through her expertise in training, communications, project management, relationships, and overall culture development. She embraces work that involves both big-picture strategies and rigorous roll-up-the-sleeves tasks. She ensures that her clients will continue to compete at a high level in any circumstance.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) How To Maximize Your Productivity During Crisis

2.) The importance of intentional living

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Theresa on Twitter @thefieryfeather Facebook @thefieryfeather or visit her website https://thefieryfeather.com/

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

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Let’s go transform something!

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AVP of Product and Engineering at Cox Automotive, Ebenezer Ikonne, helps teams develop and deliver software solutions that are transforming the automotive industry. He is a champion of Agile and Lean practices that solve the challenges of a dynamic business landscape. He is passionate about evolving how work gets done and wants people to experience “Joy At Work”.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) How the Auto Industry, and Engineering Teams Adapt to the “New Normal”

2.) Opportunities That We Can Take Advantage of During Crisis

3.) Eb’s New Content Called “Joy At Work”

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Ebenezer on Twitter @eikonne Youtube @JoyAtWork or visit his website eikonne.wordpress.com

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.comor connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Let’s go transform something!

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I had the pleasure of speaking with the award-winning writer, filmmaker, founder of Bedheadmedia.com, Phil Stevens. Phil is a relational leader that started in business by improving the way big companies service their customers in the corporate world. He’s a storyteller, business strategist and leads the creative charge.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) Innovation In the Midst Of Crisis

2.) Everyone’s Comfort Level in the Midst of Crisis

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Phil on Instagram @bedheadmedia or visit his website bedheadmedia.com

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Let’s go transform something!

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/support

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Aaron Born is the Men’s Ministry Director for Victory Church, a multi-site church of over 20,000 households and 140 nations based in the Atlanta area. We talk about leading and engaging volunteer teams across 3 campuses.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) How to engage volunteers

2.) Centralization vs. decentralization of volunteer teams

3.) Why returning to “normal” after COVID-19 may not be a good thing.

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Aaron on Linkedin or Twitterand you can connect with Men United at Website, FacebookorInstagram.

We provide proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Let’s go transform something!

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/support

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Parker Lee, Managing Partner of Territory Global talks us through remote work and the Work Forward movement. Territory believes there is a better way of working, based on human-centered principles and respect. Work Forward was founded before COVID-19 but its toolset is applicable with or without a crisis.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

1.) New Ways of Working

2.) Diversity of Thought, Skills, and Perspective

3.) Learning what it means to be on a team and cooperate

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Parker at Territory Global via Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

We provide proven solutions to advance your leadership and innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Let’s go transform something!

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/support

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Roxanne Seymour, CIO of Serta Simmons Bedding guides us through the highs and lows of executive leadership amid COVID-19. Is your company focused on security right now? If not, they should be. We talk about everything from hackers, attackers, and bad actors to communication and team morale.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

Organizational security
Increasing your communication during crisis
Going above and beyond to increase team morale

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

You can connect with Roxanne onLinkedin.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Let’s go transform something!

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/support

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Natalie Born is the Founder of Innovation Meets Leadership and the Vice President of Innovation for Territory Global. Tune in with host Natalie Born and find out what 5 critical and transformative principles to implement amidst the 2020 COVID-19 crisis.

Main Takeaways on this episode:

There are 5 things that a leader must do when there is a crisis:

Assess the Situation
Set a Vision
Create a Clear Strategy
Understand the Financials
Act and execute

Be sure to check out full show notes at Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast or click "Episode Website" below.

These are proven solutions to advance your innovation process. Check out our website innovationmeetsleadership.com or connect with us on Instagram or Facebook @innovationmeetsleadership

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Let’s go transform something!

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/natalie-born/support

The Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast: Recent Episodes

Natalie Born