Seasons Leadership Podcast: Recent Episodes
Seasons Leadership Program
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, co-hosts and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On the Seasons Leadership Podcast, we will bring you practical, actionable advice you can apply now to improve your leadership - and life. Through discussions with world-class leaders, we explore leadership excellence, responsibility and personal growth. Join us on Wednesdays throughout the seasons.
Join us as we once again explore the transition of the seasons. With winter starting in the Northern Hemisphere, we explore the metaphor of the season of winter. Regardless of the physical season you are in, you may be experiencing winter. Learn more about these cycles of change at: seasonsleadership.com.
Show Notes:
We examine the cyclical nature of seasons and reflect on the importance of making the most of this change.
We share what’s new for us as we head into winter. Feeling pulled in a new direction and feeling ungrounded. We are both looking forward to rest and renewal.
We recognize this time of reflection to mull things over and look ahead.
We share what lessons we have learned this year as we prepare to transition to winter. Slow down and don’t rush into decisions and trust the process!
Finally, the dogs make a guest appearance! Meet Cinnamon and Snickers.
Enjoy and embrace all the season has to offer!
Resources:
Winter Reflection | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership or sign up for our Elemental Leadership Course waitlist: https://seasonsleadership.mykajabi.com/elemental-leadership-course-wait-list
We are excited to share the outcome of our 2025 Strategic Planning session. This is an annual practice we recommend for all leaders, to review your mission, vision and values and make any necessary updates or adjustments to achieve the goals of your business or organization.
Through this process we affirmed our vision to make excellent leadership the worldwide standard as our guiding light. As we approach 2025, we have decided it’s time to go deeper into what it means to be an excellent leader. This means we will be moving to a monthly podcast that will bring you richer discussion focused on an aspect of leadership excellence.
We are so grateful for this community and the opportunity to bring you leadership insights through our podcast. This change will allow us to continue to deliver on our promise to give you insights and actions you can immediately take to make your leadership more excellent. We share more exciting changes coming soon to Seasons Leadership in this preview.
We look forward to bringing you more leadership excellence in 2025!
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership or sign up for our Elemental Leadership Course waitlist: https://seasonsleadership.mykajabi.com/elemental-leadership-course-wait-list
Join me, Susan Ireland, as I talk with Seasoned Leader and previous podcast guest Kimberly Adams about gratitude, positivity and community in this special Thanksgiving episode. Kimberly, an artist, author, art instructor, business owner and executive leader shares her leadership perspective on the importance of shifting your energy to positivity. You will be inspired by our discussion to lead with gratitude.
Show Notes:
(1:23) We start with thoughts on gratefulness. Kimberly shares her recovery mindset and how being grateful needs to be a consistent practice.
(6:11) Skillsets – Kimberly shares the wisdom of recognizing the skills you have acquired along the way to help you as a leader. We talk about the negative bias humans tend to have and how practicing gratefulness can rewire your brain for positivity.
(9:22) We talk about the amazing gift it is to tell someone when you observe their strength. A hallmark of a great leader is being able to see other's superpowers. Kimberly and I discuss the importance of recognizing and appreciating individual strengths, both in ourselves and others. Discover how leaders can uplift their teams by acknowledging these unique qualities, all while avoiding the trap of comparison.
(11:29) We reflect on what we are grateful for now. Watch on YouTube to see all the beautiful fall colors and the special gift I have for Kimberly which supports the Love Your Brain Foundation.
About Kimberly: Based on Bainbridge Island, Kimberly spends time in her studio blending modern contemporary art with a hint of impressionism, painting with her fingertips and unconventional tools to create richly textured, colorful pieces. She has published books helping beginners and beyond explore their creative side by taking complex subjects and simplifying them into easy-to-follow steps. Her work inspires joy and positivity on every canvas. Her art can be seen on her website and at Cole Gallery in Edmonds WA.
Resources:
Integrating Passion Into Work Life, profile on Kimberly Adams
Staying Curious with Kimberly Adams Tremper - Seasons Leadership Podcast
LoveYourBrain, foundation link
www.artbykimberlyadams.com
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership or sign up for our Elemental Leadership Course waitlist: https://seasonsleadership.mykajabi.com/elemental-leadership-course-wait-list
Join me, Susan Ireland, as I catch up again with Beth Schryer, global corporate business leader, who has been a featured guest on both our Women in Leadership Podcast and the Seasons Leadership Podcast. Beth shares her recent experience transitioning to a new company and how it has influenced how she measures success. We talk about daily leadership practices, what it means to be trustworthy and a good listener and self-care. This discussion highlights many of our core leadership values through personal stories of leadership.
Show Notes:
(2:25) Choosing the type of leader you want to be, Beth relates how she finds those moments of choice in her own leadership. We talk about daily leadership practices and how to get better results.
(8:10) Beth shares how she “starts with trust,” and how having the outlook that “everyone is in it for the right reasons,” leads to a more energizing outlook.
(11:15) We break down how to be a better listener by making space for everyone. We give practical tips on how to invite people into the culture you expect.
(19:21) Next, we talk about the chain of command, how people’s perceptions of how hierarchies should work influence their engagement and emphasize the need to thank people for giving you bad news.
(21:00) Beth talks about transitioning companies and how she found points of sameness across large corporations. We highlight fundamental elements found in every job and share how we manage aspects of the job we don’t like.
(25:40) Leaders draw on a whole suite of good practices and we highlight a few. We talk about leaders not having all the answers and how leaders need to encourage people to find their own resolution.
(28:40) Self-care and success, Beth shares her personal philosophy that there is not a work life balance but just work life choices. She admits to being an advice-giving monster.
(36:40) We conclude our discussion with humility being one of the best qualities in a leader. Nobody gets there by themselves, and we recognize it takes an army along the way to be a great leader.
(44:00) Beth shares a unique and fun challenge she gave her team that some are tackling with the help of Microsoft AI – to write the best story of how she broke her finger.
About Beth: Beth Schryer is the head of Global Workplace Services (GWS) at Microsoft. She is responsible for the planning, delivery, and operations of Microsoft’s global real estate portfolio of approximately 42M square feet, comprised of over 600 buildings in 110 countries. Prior to Microsoft, Beth led Facilities Management for The Boeing Company encompassing safe, high-quality facilities and real estate solutions across the office, factory, warehouse, and laboratory portfolio. She also held numerous Business Operations leadership roles in the commercial airplanes business unit including the 737, 767 and 787 airplane programs (P&L) and the Manufacturing & Safety function.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership or sign up for our Elemental Leadership Course waitlist: https://seasonsleadership.mykajabi.com/elemental-leadership-course-wait-list
Join us as we talk to Kristen Bruner a chief human resources officer with more than 25 years of experience. We talk about executive presence, hacks for self-care and leadership, what it means to be mission driven and how self-awareness can be the most important aspect of your leadership approach. Our episode highlights the collaborative role of HR professionals and leaders in creating cultures that align with company values, driving both engagement and accountability. With actionable insights into performance management, employee relations and organizational design, Kristen's advice is timeless for leaders looking to enhance the employee experience.
Show Notes:
(2:55) Kristen talks about being tall and how that has influenced her executive presence. She urges all leaders to get comfortable with who you are and “don't dim your lights.” We talk about creating the space for others to be the best version of themselves. Kristen shares how she creates space to encourage leaders to know themselves through continuous learning, listening and having a growth mindset.
(7:35) We discuss what motivates Kristen to keep showing up as a leader. She shares that it is the opportunity to create human organizations. "The way we are designing the work creates the best possible experience for our employees so they can go on and do great things." Kristen is currently passionate about individual self as leaders - how do we help people understand themselves more. She recognizes the need to turn this work selfward. She shares an example about reframing what achievement means for her.
(15:22) The quest for self-care for Kristen starts with the Glucose Goddess. We talk about how this influencer has helped her find hacks she can easily follow. We turn this into a discussion of leadership hacks which Kristen shares including scheduling time, meal prep and a weekly review. Kristen warns that you should run your calendar, or your calendar will run you. We talk about how successful leaders need a system to help process information and lacking that is what often drives people to seek coaching.
(25:28) The responsibility of leaders – we acknowledge the respect needed for the work. Kristen shares from her perspective how to stay connected to your team through consistency and stability. “It is a privilege and not a right to be a leader.” We agree that since leadership is about influencing others’ lives it should be important. Kristen brings the discussion back to self-awareness.
(33:12) Kristen shares her future travel plans and her final advice: “Be the leader that people remember and want to emulate when asked and don’t be the leader people want to be the opposite.”
About Kristen: Kristen Bruner serves as chief human resources officer and corporate vice president at Huron. She has more than 25 years of experience driving high-performance cultures across many industries, guiding talent management, strategic change, leadership development, and operating model design.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership or sign up for our Elemental Leadership Course waitlist: https://seasonsleadership.mykajabi.com/elemental-leadership-course-wait-list
Join us for our passion-filled discussion with Dr. Pam Johnson as we explore the lessons the animal world has to teach us about leadership. Pam shares her experience as a veterinarian and how this calling shaped her career trajectory. Her compassionate and effective approach to leadership will inspire you to look to your own passions for inspiration in your leadership.
Show Notes:(2:45) Pam shares her origin story of becoming a leader and eventually a veterinarian. From losing her mother at an early age, to earning a second degree to follow her passions to the right career path, Pam talks about how these experiences built a foundation for her leadership. When she graduated from vet school, she thought she was just going to be a veterinarian and then she realized she was going to run a business and lead a team of people. We talk about what it means to be a student of leadership.
(11:19) We talk about the risk of becoming stagnant in your career journey and Pam’s philosophy on different types of leaders. Learn from our discussion on the need to sometimes shift relationships and maintain a growth mindset.
(16:45) We confront some uncomfortable truths about the veterinary industry, that the profession has the highest suicide rate. Pam shares how she strives to help keep veterinary medicine more relational and how to fight burnout. She advocates for her platform through her new venture Veterinary Mastermind.
(20:55) Taking leadership to the next level – we recognize that it starts with leadership of self (one of Season Leadership’s four acorns). Pam talks about expanding her circle of influence to have a larger ripple effect in the industry. After a successful career caring for animals and owners, she wanted a space to reach more people. We agree that to be successful in expanding your influence you need to own your own space first.
25:55 Equine intelligence. Pam shares a beautiful lesson leaders can learn from working with horses – they don’t shift for you. To lead a horse, or a group of people it has to be a relationship of trust and collaboration, so you shift to meet them.
About Pam: Dr Pam Johnson is the founder of Veterinary Masterminds, a coaching and leadership development company based in Newnan, GA. Veterinary Masterminds is dedicated to providing compassionate support for pet owners and veterinary professionals. Prior to this role, Pam was the owner and hospital director of Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center, an AAHA accredited hospital, prior to selling to Mission Veterinary Partners in 2021. Pam received a BA from the University of Montevallo on full scholarship in women's basketball, a BS from Auburn University, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn. She has benefited from numerous leadership and business training programs including the University of Notre Dame Executive Leadership.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we reflect on four years of fall reflections. At Seasons Leadership we use the seasons as a powerful tool for understanding transitions and cycles in leadership, offering you actionable insights to navigate these changes. Fall is a time of integration and reflection. Get inspired to dig into your own journey this fall and reflect on what is serving you and what is no longer serving you. We share our own fall transitions and more exciting news about our Elemental Leadership course.
Show Notes:
(3:25) Evolution: How is the fourth podcast on fall different for us? We reflect on how we have evolved.
(5:30) Transitions and integration: We recognize through all our senses what we experience in the transition from summer to fall and connect those inspirations into integrating all these different things from your life.
(9:00) Loss and growth at the same time: We talk about this time of transition and notice that many leaders come to us for coaching when they are experiencing fall.
(11:00) Updating business practices: We discuss how we always spend time in fall looking at our business strategy.
(13:25) Personal transitions: We share our personal transitions and talk about harvesting all the work we have done in the last four years.
(17:45) Take the time to reflect: We conclude the podcast asking questions and giving strategic advice to make the most of fall. How are things showing up in your leadership? Think about your strategic planning. Take responsibility for your life, nurture it and take care of yourself. Explore the possibilities!
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we talk to Frances Chang, chief operating officer at Andovar, a language services company. Frances opens up about the core values that keep her grounded, the power of searching for your passions and the significance of building a robust support network. Discover how leadership is not just about managing others but is a journey of self-improvement and fostering genuine connections.
Show Notes:
(1:30) Frances shares her background, including being an alum of the Seasons Leadership Program and a current student of our new Elemental Leadership Course. She talks about her multinational experience and her passion for languages.
(11:33) We discuss the higher stakes of making a mistake when your level at work increases. Frances shares how she helps alleviate pressure and stress by finding a support network at work. We share advice on how to keep connections strong.
(15:27) Frances shares her belief that leaders should work to find something they like but that you don’t need to have a passion to be successful, rather it is about the journey of finding new things and possibly something that you like through that journey.
(21:30) Frances talks about one of her favorite books by Adam Grant. Unlearning what you already know – we share stories about this realization for each of us and how being an excellent leader requires humility and the ability to listen to diverse perspectives.
(25:12) Actionable advice: Frances shares the importance of having a foundation to ground you and the humility to seek advice from trusted allies at work.
(31:45) We end the discussion acknowledging the importance of knowing who you are and how you shouldn’t separate your work self from your other self. Frances encourages listeners to truly show up as who you are and that who you are is how you lead.
About Frances: Frances currently holds the title of Chief Operating Officer at Andovar, a leading language service provider, where she combines her passion for cultures and peoples with over a decade of operational experience across continents and industries. As a fervent linguist herself, she speaks four languages and is currently picking up a fifth one (Thai). Originally from Taiwan, Frances now resides in Bangkok with her husband and their rescue pup, Junior. She is an alum of the Seasons Leadership Program.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join me, Debbie Collard, for this inspirational conversation with Barb Wilson, chief financial administrative officer at Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. Listen to Barb's journey, deeply rooted in family values, which has shaped her extensive career across both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Discover how Barb's leadership style, honed from her early days at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing, emphasizes respect, inclusion, and community engagement. Learn about her significant role at the Girl Scouts, where she oversees a substantial budget and various departments, ensuring the mission to empower the next generation of women leaders is well-funded and effective.
Show Notes:
(5:40) We talk about values-based leadership. Barb shares an example of her core value of family. She advises leaders to think about what is really driving you so you can stay in alignment with your values.
(7:20) Barb shares a story about her unique leadership opportunity transitioning to another culture and environment in the Czech Republic. She talks about how she viewed the opportunity as “only upside” and made the most of her leadership experience.
(12:53) We talk about leadership excellence and Barb emphasizes the importance of leaders recognizing the next leaders and how she helps other leaders grow.
(15:48) Passions, favorite jobs, strategic discussions and developing a rolodex of mentors - we talk about all the things that lead to a rewarding career.
(24:50) Actionable advice – Barb leaves listeners with this: never forget where you came from, and leadership is a life-long commitment.
About Barb: Barb is the Chief Financial Administrative Officer for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri where she is a key strategic partner and collaborator, guiding the organization's financial oversight for accounting, business services, retail, property management, capital projects, risk management, contracts, and technology functions of the organization. Prior to her current position, Wilson served as Senior Finance Director with The Boeing Company where she held a variety of progressively senior roles in finance and program management. A native of St. Louis, she has actively participated volunteering time in her community and is a very proud Girl Scout Alumna. Barb holds a B.S. degree in business administration, with a concentration in management, from Auburn University. She has also earned an M.B.A. degree, and M.A. degree in computer resources and information management from Webster University and a M.S. degree in national resource strategy from National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces. She is a graduate of the 2007-2008 FOCUS Leadership St. Louis® program and alumni of Defense Acquisition University.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
This episode of the Seasons Leadership Podcast dives into the importance of investing in yourself for long-term success and growth. We share personal stories that illustrate how minor, everyday choices can accumulate into substantial rewards on your leadership journey.
Show Notes:
(1:25) Everyone agrees with it, but they just don't do it. We break down why people choose not to invest in themselves.
(4:46) We share what it means to invest in yourself through gaining knowledge incrementally. How seemingly small investments amount to large pay offs in the long run.
(7:40) We observe that the most successful leaders are the ones who have invested in themselves. We talk about some inspiring stories from the 2024 Summer Olympics and the importance of having a clear vision of what you want.
(11:20) You are worth it! We talk about why it is not being selfish to invest in yourself and the example you set for others.
(17:00) Coming soon you will have the opportunity to invest in yourself by taking our new, online leadership course Elemental Leadership. Don't wait for anyone else to give you permission, if you want to be a better leader, invest in yourself today.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join me, Susan Ireland, for my mind-shifting discussion with Sile Walsh about helping leaders enhance their inclusion practices in the workplace. Sile throws away the blame game when it comes to inclusivity and instead encourages a model of thinking that inclusivity helps everyone do their jobs better. She roots her practical advice in real-world solutions, challenging us to pursue the best thing we can do with our reality versus chasing golden solutions. She brings a new approach to inclusivity in leadership and the workplace that will change how you approach your own leadership.
Show Notes
(2:52) Sile shares, from her years of experience working with leaders, that the main challenges leaders face come down to core things including learning to be inclusive or engaging in inclusivity. The simple idea she promotes is if you include people in the solution, the solution will be more effective.
(6:00) The inclusivity gap, Sile asserts exists when leaders question, “what does inclusivity have to do with my job?” We talk about how to help people see that inclusivity helps you be a better leader and accomplish your job more effectively.
(9:39) Sile breaks down some of the 13 practices and principles for effective leadership, arguing that if a leader is not effective, it is because they are not following or practicing one of these practices or principles. She advocates for finding solutions rooted in reality – what is the best thing we can do with this reality versus chasing golden solutions.
(13:40) Inclusion is an invitation to co-create your workplace reality. Sile shares examples of how people from different experiences also have different expectations and how we most co-create spaces for everyone to feel safe to participate.
(19:38) Sile shares inspiring advice on how to shift your mindset from “people are hard to reach” to “needing to get better at having conversations that result in inclusion.” If we think about inclusion as a leadership practice, we can then work to close the gap.
(23:55) What parts of you do you reject? Sile talks through a thought exercise all leaders should face before working on inclusion – identifying what needs of their own do they first reject?
(29:07) What’s in it for me? We discuss how to motivate leaders to seek inclusion because it is good for their work (and how blame and shame don’t work to motivate this needed change).
About Sile: Sile Walsh specializes in inclusive Leadership. She is a lecturer, facilitator, coach and consultant and has worked internationally with over 22k leaders and organizations for over a decade. Sile is a PhD candidate studying inclusive leadership in the school of psychology and has a professional background in coaching psychology and organizational development.
Resources:Website: silewalsh.com
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we respond to listener questions and recount our unique journeys— how Susan's passion for Program Management and Business Operations catapulted her into executive roles, while Debbie’s early leadership duties in the military set a foundation she hadn't anticipated. This episode we dive deep and share more of our stories delivering on our promise to the Seasons Leadership community we made at the beginning of the year. Lots of our answers are connected to why we started Seasons Leadership to help you proactively steer your career to make a meaningful impact.
Questions
(0:55) How did you decide to be a leader and an executive and what advice would you give yourself earlier in your career?
(6:30) If you had a time machine what is the inflection point in your career that you would reapproach?
(10:50) What brings you joy in retirement that wasn't in your baseline plan?
(13:30) What do you wish you knew about business management or leadership earlier in your career?
(16:35) Who are your leadership role models?
(20:25) What was the defining moment for you in your career and why?
Resources:
Seasons Leadership: www.seasonsleadership.com
Seasons Leadership Patreon Community: www.patreon.com/seasonsleadership
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us for our high energy discussion of the season of summer and get inspired to make the most of the season. We talk about the cyclical nature of the seasons, define summer and encourage you to ride the ebb and flow. We dive into how summer vibes bring a sense of flourishing and fun. Summer is a great time for discovery and cultivating new ideas and inspiration. Need more inspiration? Listen to our summer playlist and send us your additions - we would love to include your favorite songs of the season. We also preview what is coming next for Seasons Leadership - three new Leadership Elements for our Patreon community (join today!) and our Elemental Leadership course. Listen in or watch and get in on the summer fun. This episode is packed with valuable lessons to help you embrace change and make the most of every season in your leadership journey.
Resources:
Seasons Leadership Summer Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/01sJYDm5FRlTvHTK9av0JH?si=fc09c36155d24e2d
Seasons Leadership Patreon Community: www.patreon.com/seasonsleadership
Summer Rerun | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us for part two of our discussion with Celeste Ford, board chair and founder of Stellar Solutions, and Janet Grondin, CEO of Stellar Solutions, where we focus on how to navigate leadership transitions successfully. Together, they reveal a playbook for how to complete a leadership transition which includes continuous coaching, clear communication, and thoughtful planning.
Show Notes:(1:00) Succession planning: Celeste talks about how she followed her gut and knew when it was time to transition from CEO to something new.
(4:20) The role of coaching: Janet talks about deviating from your plan and the role coaching plays in transition.
(8:22) How to let go: Celeste shares how she let go of being the CEO, going out on a win (Baldrige) and announcing on the fourth of July.
(12:40) Breaking down the transition: Janet relays what she does for a new role transition talking through her thought process step-by-step.
(15:10) How to take care of yourself: The leaders acknowledge that we are always in transition at some point. We swap strategies for how to stimulate yourself physically and mentally.
About Celeste: She founded Stellar Solutions in 1995 and served as CEO until 2018 with the mission to deliver high-impact performance for defense, intelligence, commercial, civil and international clients. She established Stellar Solutions Foundation in 1998, QuakeFinder humanitarian R&D program in 2001, and expanded Stellar’s global presence. She launched Stellar Ventures in 2022 to invest in the next generation of space technology companies. Celeste is Board Chair and Founder of Stellar Solutions, Inc., a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-winning aerospace engineering company. She is Managing Director at Stellar Ventures.
About Janet: She is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stellar Solutions Inc., a small, woman-owned business and leading provider of high-impact engineering services to significant intelligence, defense, civil, commercial, and international customers for the past 29 years. Prior to this role, she served as Vice President for Intelligence Programs, Vice President, Defense Programs and Director of Emerging Space Capabilities. Janet is a former Northrop Grumman Director and a retired USAF Colonel with 30+ years of experience in navigation, remote sensing, satellite communications, launch, space superiority, and launch ranges.
Resources:
Part 1: Leading Dream Jobs in Aerospace with Celeste Ford and Janet Grondin - Seasons Leadership Podcast
www.stellarsolutions.com
https://baldrigefoundation.org
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we talk to Celeste Ford, board chair and founder of Stellar Solutions, and Janet Grondin, CEO of Stellar Solutions, about leadership transitions, aerospace, connecting the dots and creating dream jobs.
Show Notes:(7:30) After the leaders introduce their stories, we talk about creating a long-time vision. Janet and Celeste share Stellar Solutions’ vision to satisfy customer critical needs while realizing your dream job, and they break down what that means to them. Janet and Celeste share how the landscape in aerospace has changed – that the money is no longer all from government and how that has required more connecting of the dots across the industry.
(13:30) Next, we talk about creating dream jobs and how they know they have succeeded. We get to talk about the Baldrige framework; Janet and Celeste’s actionable advice and their secret sauce – hint it’s about including everyone!
(20:55) Culture – the leaders share how they create something bigger than themselves, develop a team living the culture and how they provide 9 weeks of paid time off!
(28:15) Janet and Celeste share breakthroughs on remote work to keep everyone connected (no one size fits all!) and leaning into the big concept of deployment.
(33:25) Part 1 of the conversation wraps up with one piece of advice from Janet and Celeste but there is plenty more coming your way next episode when we talk to them more.
About Celeste: She founded Stellar Solutions in 1995 and served as CEO until 2018 with the mission to deliver high-impact performance for defense, intelligence, commercial, civil and international clients. She established Stellar Solutions Foundation in 1998, QuakeFinder humanitarian R&D program in 2001, and expanded Stellar’s global presence. She launched Stellar Ventures in 2022 to invest in the next generation of space technology companies. Celeste is Board Chair and Founder of Stellar Solutions, Inc., a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-winning aerospace engineering company. She is Managing Director at Stellar Ventures.
About Janet: She is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stellar Solutions Inc., a small, woman-owned business and leading provider of high-impact engineering services to significant intelligence, defense, civil, commercial, and international customers for the past 29 years. Prior to this role, she served as Vice President for Intelligence Programs, Vice President, Defense Programs and Director of Emerging Space Capabilities. Janet is a former Northrop Grumman Director and a retired USAF Colonel with 30+ years of experience in navigation, remote sensing, satellite communications, launch, space superiority, and launch ranges.
Resources:www.stellarsolutions.com
https://baldrigefoundation.org
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we talk about our popular blog post “Embrace leading from the middle.” We share more insight into how this idea developed and the challenge we all have to lead from wherever we are.
Show Notes:(1:00) What does it mean to be middle? We talk about what that means to us and how it sparked the idea for Debbie to write the blog and now to produce this podcast episode.
(5:30) You may be "middle," but it shouldn't be an excuse to not lead or put yourself out there authentically. We share examples of how the boundaries of your role sometimes define your leadership.
(10:29) Stop waiting for permission. We give a call to action to see the potential inside yourself. We challenge you to lead from where you are and be creative.
(14:34) There is a difference between being humble and restricting yourself. We encourage you to learn and grow your leadership role.
Resources:
Embrace leading from the middle: www.seasonsleadership.com/almanac/embrace-leading-from-the-middle
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we talk to Executive Director of the Bellevue College Foundation Melissa Johnson about her unconventional higher education journey and how that led to success and leadership opportunities. Melissa shares her passion for helping others along their own educational journeys and will inspire you to continue moving forward despite fear and doubt.
Show Notes:
(0:35) Melissa talks about her educational journey including getting expelled from high school and enrolling at Bellevue College at 37 years old and how that now has transformed into her role at the Bellevue College Foundation.
(6:06) We discuss personal leadership style and how Melissa developed her leadership experience before holding a formal leadership role.
(8:17) Melissa shares her biggest “ah ha” moment...when she learned it was really ok to be wrong and to say you don’t know but will figure it out. We discuss how confidence and leadership excellence are linked and how being an effective leader is about continuing to move forward.
(13:00) We talk about building your network and the importance of “getting out of people’s way” so they can succeed. Melissa shares the inspiring idea that “even if I can’t do what you want me to do, I still might be able to help with what you need.”
(18:21) We dive into fear and talk openly and honestly about being scared to take the next step in your leadership journey. Melissa affirms this as part of her journey and how she now helps encourage others to take that next step through her leadership.
(22:35) Finally we leave you with actionable advice to stop competing and to build bridges instead.
About Melissa: Melissa Johnson is the Executive Director of the Bellevue College Foundation. A late in life learner, Melissa attended BC for the first time at 37 years old. After achieving her AA, she attended the University of Washington where she triple-majored in Communications, Humanities and Social Sciences, receiving the President’s Medal in 2014. Next, Melissa attended Seattle University, graduating with a master’s in nonprofit leadership. In late 2022, Melissa joined the Foundation as their Executive Director. Returning to where her educational journey started is a privilege in Melissa’s eyes. Her passion is removing barriers and allowing people to flourish in ways that are meaningful to them. To do that in a place that meant so much to her journey is something she refuses to take for granted.
Resources:
Website: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Patty Beach, CEO of Leadership Smarts and author of "The Art of Alignment: A Practical Guide to Inclusive Leadership," joins us for this inspiring episode about inclusive leadership. She gives practical, actionable advice on how you can be more inclusive in your leadership and how to get your ideas heard.
Show notes:
(1:00) Patty shares her background and her passion to be both an evangelist and evolutionist of inclusive leadership. The leaders discuss the difference between the two and why they are both important.
(5:00) Patty talks about her book “The Art of Alignment,” and about how to move big powerful ideas out in the world by including others. She highlights the simple and measurable structure of her alignment method and gives examples of how it has worked on high-stakes projects.
(12:08) The leaders discuss how her alignment method can work in all environments – in the workplace for first line leaders to at home negotiating chores with a teenager. Patty shares how she applied this alignment method to her own business.
(16:00) Talk turns to disruptors – Patty defines the difference between a dissenter and a disruptor. She gives advice on how to work with disruptors to help them buy into the process and contribute.
(22:45) Patty shares the powerful application of SHUVA. She talks about how respecting the universal needs of all people to be seen, heard, understood, valued and appreciated can help tap into the collective wisdom of the group and bring about a better world.
(29:55) The discussion ends with actionable advice that listeners can apply today to help get their ideas heard. Patty promises that this shift, will be a gamechanger.
About Patty: Patty Beach is the bestselling author of "The Art of Alignment: A Practical Guide to Inclusive Leadership," and a sought-after TEDx speaker, who specializes in empowering managers to excel and executives to inspire.
Resources:
Tedx Talk: SHUVA: The Secret to Inclusive Leadership: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGf6svw9CmM
Website: leadershipsmarts.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/pattybeach/
YouTube: @leadershipsmartstheartofal3556
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join me, Susan Ireland, as I talk with the remarkable Dr. Jen Self, whose life work weaves the threads of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion into their leadership. Dr. Self's journey from the University of Washington's Q Center to the consultancy powerhouse BRIC-13 demonstrates a devotion to social change that's as inspiring as it is impactful. We talk about how leaders must push past the discomfort and get to work challenging systemic power imbalances and creating space and room for other people’s genius to show up.
Show Notes:
(6:00) We talk about creating access and space for others.
(9:05) We discuss taking risks and how to challenge a failed system and remain safe. We talk about collective leadership and how you need to surround yourself with people who think differently than you.
(16:26) We dig into what it means as a white person to engage in anti-racist work and fight white supremacy.
(18:10) Dr. Jen shares the inspiration for their self-chosen queer JEDI title.
(23:25) We end the discussion talking about ideas on how to take action and let ourselves be transformed by the experience of others. We talk openly about moving through discomfort, giving grace and creating more connection to others humanity to ultimately create the world we want.
About Jen: Dr. Jen Self, LICSW (they/them), is the Queer JEDI; They are the Owner/Principle of Brick 13, the Founding Director of the University of Washington (UW) Q Center, an Assistant Clinical Professor at UW School of Social Work & Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies, a Leadership Tomorrow ‘24 participant, author, researcher, and practitioner of foundational work leading to the development of anti-racist & intersectional Higher Education LGBTQIA+ Student Services, international speaker, and through it all a strategist, coach, consultant, educator, and mental health provider. Dr. Self has worked with and developed leaders across industries, from non-profits to government to corporate.
Resources:
Website: www.brick13.com
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us for an incredible discussion with Alan Mulally, one of the greatest leaders of the 21st century, on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. Our conversation takes you behind the scenes of Alan’s tenure at Boeing and Ford, where his 'Working Together' principles propelled both companies to new heights. From the engineering marvel of Boeing’s 777 development to the boardroom of Ford, we explore how love, humility, and service are essential ingredients in crafting a culture of excellence. Sarah McArthur, editor in chief of the Apex Award-winning Leader to Leader journal, also joins us for this enriching discussion where you will learn how to put into practice the Working Together Leadership and Management System.
We recommend watching this episode on our YouTube or Patreon platforms because this includes charts. You can download the charts here: patreon.com/seasonsleadership
Show Notes:
(8:46) Alan introduces his approach to leadership.
(14:36) Alan talks about his early family life and the development of his values.
(26:22) Alan reviews the Working Together Operating Principles and gives examples of how he put these into practice in his own leadership.
(31:55) The story of the airplane signature – Alan shares how it evolved and what it represented.
(40:17) A Boeing example – Alan shares how the first flight of a Boeing airplane emulated the Working Together principles.
(41:56) A Ford example – Alan shares how he translated his leadership success to Ford, bringing a new culture to their board room.
(47:52) The leaders discuss how to set up the Working Together Leadership and Management System and how it starts with having a psychologically safe environment.
(56:38) Alan dispels the idea of work life balance and argues instead for authenticity as the way to have one authentic and integrated life.
(1:02:17) The family plan review – Alan shares how he implemented this same system at home.
(1:12:50) Debbie and Susan ask questions of Alan.
(1:27:15) Alan revisits his time at Ford and shares more about the references in his accompanying charts included with this special podcast episode.
About Alan: Alan Mulally served as president and chief executive officer of the Ford Motor Company and as a member of Ford’s board of directors from 2006 - 2014. Prior to joining Ford, Alan served as executive vice president of the Boeing Company, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and president of Boeing Information, Space and Defense Systems from 1969 – 2006, where he created his “Working Together” Leadership and Management System.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we talk to Nicole Greer, successful speaker, trainer, facilitator, executive and business coach anchored in transformational change leadership coaching & training programs, on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. Nicole shares her passion for positive leaders and actionable advice including a four-step process for how to hold your team accountable and powerful questions you should be asking yourself as a leader today.
Show Notes:
(1:32) Get LIT – Nicole opens the discussion talking about what it means to build a vibrant culture which include: Lead with clarity, Integrate integrity and Transform the ordinary. The leaders discuss the important alignment between Seasons Leadership and Nicole’s work.
(5:30) Nicole shares that the culture of an organization should be about the customer or client first. Nicole gives advice on how to lead up and align with the culture. The leaders talk about dark shadow culture.
(10:50) We clarify mission and vision. Nicole gives her examples – vision points to a time in the future where something manifests and mission is how we are going to be on the way to where we are going. The leaders agree that these two elements make the culture.
(14:20) Sometimes the turkeys are the leaders. The leaders discuss how to effectively coach teams. Nicole talks about how she wants to “coach people in” and then shares one of the most valuable things a person in their career can do.
(19:26) The leaders talk about bad leadership and how that sets an example too. Nicole shares her most powerful question in her toolbox and how to helps the blind spots fall off. Then we transition to a discussion on accountability. Nicole shares the four steps to holding your people accountable.
(31:30) The conversation ends with setting expectations and asking powerful questions. Nicole poses her leadership challenge to listeners.
About Nicole: As principal coach and CEO of Build a Vibrant CultureTM, Nicole Greer helps individuals, corporations, government, faith-based organizations and non-profits become the people they were created to be through fulfilling a mission to work in teams, and exemplify VIBRANT LeadershipTM. Using transformational change leadership coaching & training programs, Nicole offers foundational tools and uncommon wisdom to Build a Vibrant CultureTM. Nicole is a serious entrepreneur with experience in coaching, marketing, mastering first impressions, learning & development and sales. Nicole is a speaker, trainer, facilitator, executive and business coach.
Resources:
www.buildavibrantculture.com
www.linkedin.com/in/build-a-vibrant-culture-nicole-greer
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we talk to Stan Gibson, an author, leadership consultant and sought-after speaker for his passion for well-being, on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
Show Notes:(6:09) The leaders discuss feeling pressure as a leader to perform but also allow people to make mistakes. Stan shares how leaders must carve out time to take care of themselves using neuroscience to inform their decisions.
(8:36) Stan shares why he wrote his book “Living a Rich and Intentional Life,” and how neuroscience influences how he blocks day for intentionality. Stan gives an example of his own schedule to inspire others to examine their routines for change.
(10:30) We dive deeper into the science of setting successful routines, working with the rhythm of your own day. Stan talks about how exercise can be used to increase your energy level and other tactics listeners can apply right away, like establishing a morning routine, to start making a life changing improvement.
(16:30) Stan talks about nighttime routines next, emphasizes how you need to be selfish to be selfless. He gives more tips on how to diagnose your week and day stack for success. The leaders talk about pebbles versus the big rocks.
(22:57) Stan highlights leadership self-awareness as being key to successful teams and leaders. He encourages listeners to find hope through this process and recommends using the tool StrengthsFinder. Stan shares his belief that knowing when you and your teammates are not at your best allows you to have healthy conflict.
(29:09) Stan’s key takeaway is for leaders to work on their own soft skills to better communicate. He emphasis that identifying the best way for your team to talk to each other through the right tool will create better teamwork without more meetings.
About Stan: Corporate Executive turned author, speaker, leadership consultant and coach, Stan Gibson has become a sought-after speaker throughout the US for his message that both inspires and engages others to greatness! Stan is a long time corporate real estate executive with over 35 years of leadership with Fortune 500 firms. His ability to mix and communicate strategies on the athletic field and in the business-world is timely to all leaders wanting to reset “at home and in the workforce.” Stan has a tremendous passion for well-being as a consultant helping businesses leaders and their teams go through transformation as they learn to Trust, Engage, and create Clarity!
Resources:StanGibsonSpeaks.com
StrengthsFinder 2.0 | EN - Gallup
Living A Rich And Intentional Life: Gibson, Stan: 9798565488777: Amazon.com: Books
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us for this special Valentine’s Day edition of the Seasons Leadership Podcast. We share inspiring stories of love and leadership and leave you with actionable advice to help spread the love.
Show notes:
In this episode we:
· answer the question what does love got to do with leadership?
· define love as a value of leadership.
· share stories about how coming from a place of love can transform lives and team members.
· give actionable advice on how to lead from a position of love.
We wish you lots of love and leadership excellence this Valentine’s Day and every day.
Resources
Self-Affirmation & the Magic of a “Love Me Drawer” | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us for the inaugural episode of season 5 of the Seasons Leadership Podcast. We discuss the transformational season of leadership we know metaphorically as winter. The energy of winter is different, things slow down, we are more self-oriented and self-reflective. Discover how this period, though outwardly quiet, under the surface provides the opportunity for us to transform not only ourselves but our leadership.
Show notes:
In this episode we talk about:
· Honoring the time and space to transform and the importance of feeling our feelings.
· How you know when you are experiencing “winter.”
· Actionable advice on what to do when you are experiencing winter in your life and as a leader.
· What to avoid or resist during this season.
· We end with a discussion on self-care. Excellent leaders have a responsibility to take care of themselves.
Get started on improving your leadership journey by reflecting with us on what the season of winter has to offer you.
Resources:
Self-Care Makes Room for Leadership Excellence - Seasons Leadership Podcast
www.seasonsleadership.com/podcast/s3-e36
Winter Reflection – The Almanac (our blog)
www.seasonsleadership.com/almanac/winter-reflection
Winter Playlist on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7266D2WQ714FR72IoLscoz?si=c20b065f9903445c
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
You are invited to join us in early 2024 for all new episodes of the Seasons Leadership Podcast! We will start Season 5 with reflections on the season of winter followed by a lineup of excellent leaders. We also are committing to sharing more of our own personal leadership stories and experiences in 2024 so season 5 will feature some special episodes with just the two of us.
Until then, we are taking a short break to rest and recharge during this season of winter. In the meantime, revisit some of our most popular episodes of the Seasons Leadership Podcast from all our seasons:
Staying Curious with Kimberly Adams Tremper
Aligning to authenticity with Julie Charlestein
Turning constraint into power with Kris Wilson
Casting a Wide Net with Beth Schryer and Melissa Fleener
We hope you take some time for yourself to enjoy the season and we will see you in 2024!
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us for this special episode all about gratitude. We are profoundly grateful for every single listener, subscriber, patron podcast guest and partner. You have all contributed to our mission to spread leadership excellence to the world. Thank you!
Show notes:
- We thank those in our community (all of you!) who have helped us with our Seasons Leadership mission.- We talk about all the benefits that come with being grateful. - We share actionable advice about gratitude practices you can implement today.
Join us as we talk about how gratitude can improve your leadership and life today!
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us, Seasons Leadership Co-Founder Susan Ireland and Communications and Marketing Leader Lauren Penning, as we talk to Founder of Consciousleadership.org Marika Messager. She's an inspiring leader who transitioned from the world of finance into helping others achieve a mission-driven approach to leadership.
Show notes:
First Marika discusses how she champions three types of leadership: self-leadership, thought leadership, and team leadership. She openly shares her unique perspective on fostering an environment that encourages independent solution-finding and offers insights from her experience in managing a team.
Next, we dive into how to fight toxicity in the workplace. Marika talks about the power of acceptance and responsibility in crafting a positive culture and discusses strategies for mastering emotions and setting boundaries. Marika shares how to maintain healthy words and actions, even when faced with challenging situations.
Get ready to be inspired by Marika’s mission to design healthier behaviors and create conscious cultures. This episode will leave you with actionable advice that will help you elevate your leadership and create a positive impact.
About Marika: Marika Messager is a Conscious Leader, visionary, teacher, researcher in consciousness, elevating individuals, businesses and the global community into a new paradigm of positive and purposeful impact. Marika is also the Founder of ConsciousLeadership.org. A way of bringing together global leaders to mobilize collective power for greater transformation as well as equip individuals with the systems and practices needed in order to create a conscious culture in business and the wider world.
Resources:
Website: https://consciousleadership.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conscious-leadership-coaching-consulting/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marikamessager
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marikamessager/
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us - Seasons Leadership Co-Founder Susan Ireland and Communications and Marketing Leader for Seasons Leadership Lauren Penning - for this inspiring discussion with Andreea Niculescu and Laura Swapp of one and three (and our 50th episode!).
Show notes:
Get ready to challenge the status quo and bring a dose of joy to your world as the dynamic duo behind one and three talk about the last 18 months since they were featured on Season 3 of the Seasons Leadership Podcast. Our conversation traverses through the seasons of life, embracing the cyclical nature and inherent changes that come with leadership and parenthood. We explore the potential of simple, profound actions that can create ripples of positivity, and the transformative impact of practices like meditation on our lives and leadership styles.
Have you ever contemplated the power of your intuition and personal values while making critical decisions in your leadership journey? We address this compelling aspect with Laura and Andreea, discussing the often undervalued power of intuition, its historical gender association, and how to harness it to your advantage. We then navigate towards understanding the magical blend of data and intuition in decision making, offering invaluable insights to help you develop your intuition and uphold your personal values.
We further delve into the process of building trust and transparency, emphasizing the importance of cultivating values and intuition from an early age. But it's not all theory and no action; we examine the idea of taking on challenges for 90 days to catalyze personal development. Finally, we underscore the strength of being present in every moment to bring a spark of joy to others. We end the discussion sharing what we are going to let go of this fall (unfortunately Andreea exists the conversation early due to technology difficulties)!
About Laura and Andreea: Together, Laura and Andreea are one and three. They believe there is one unassailable truth: we are interconnected–with each other and with the planet.
Resources:
Season 3, episode 14: Live Your Values with One and Three Co-Founders Andreea Niculescu + Laura Swapp - Seasons Leadership Podcast
The Live Your Values Deck
one and three | Seattle, USA | Brand and Social Impact Strategy Consulting
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we talk to Lisa L. Levy, a disruption and innovation catalyst on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
Show Notes:Lisa shares our mission to make positive leadership the norm rather than the exception by leading by example. She shares how she knew how to be a good leader by following the mantra: “be the leader you want to be led by.”
A self-described control freak, Lisa shares how she learned to let go and foster a team culture where everyone could work together to get the job done. She reflects on her lessons learned from her personal leadership journey underscoring how true leadership is about more than a title on an organizational chart.
We dive into Lisa’s journey to become a consultant – leaving her “dream job” because she was constantly running into a brick wall with no collaboration from other teams. She talks honestly about how she navigated that time and refined her leadership skills to support other leaders to build their self-reliance. She shares the one thing she asks all leaders – if they can step away for 30 days and not worry – and how that becomes a criterion of success for those she works with.
About Lisa: For over a quarter of a century, Lisa's experience has spanned diverse sectors, from healthcare and finance to government, navigating the complexities inherent in each. She holds professional certificates including Lean Six Sigma Master and Project Management Professional. In 2009, she started Lcubed Consulting. The firm's tailored approach fosters disruptive leadership, nurturing agility and driving businesses forward even amidst unforeseeable disruptions. Her book, "Future Proofing Cubed," encapsulates these insights, ensuring businesses are not only equipped for today but are resilient for tomorrow.
Resources:
The Preferred Disruption and Innovation Catalyst (lisallevy.com)
Future Proofing Cubed: The Definitive Guide to Improving Productivity, Refining Processes, and Bolstering Profitability: Levy, Lisa: 9798638377168: Amazon.com: Books
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us for this special discussion on customer service and leadership.
Show Notes:
We talk about how excellent leaders care about their customers. We share examples of exceptional customer service, and not so exceptional. Breaking down what sets these examples apart, we challenge leaders to really consider who is your customer? Next, we talk about loyalty and how the cast of a leader’s shadow can affect how the organization treats their customers – either positively or negatively. Our discussion concludes with a call to action: Look at your organization through the eyes of your customer.
Resources:
Need help being more self-aware? Get a coach!
Customer Service & Culture – Both are about Leadership | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Join us Oct. 17 for a live event with Seasoned Leader David Spong
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
What if the chaos and uncertainty of autumn could be harnessed as a metaphor for transformation, providing a fresh perspective on managing anxiety? Constance Scharff, PhD, joins us on the Seasons Leadership podcast to unravel this intriguing idea.
We delve into a rich discussion on the root causes of anxiety, especially in the modern world and Constance sheds light on ways we can discern real anxieties and offers actionable steps to make our workplaces and our lives safer. Leadership and its far-reaching influence is an integral part of our conversation. We underscore the essence of effective communication in bringing about change and the power leaders wield in shaping organizational culture. We touch on the significance of openness to fresh ideas, even if they stir discomfort, and the leadership shadow we cast.
We talk about the importance of valuing the perspectives of others, regardless of their status or experience. We explore the need for leaders to be accessible and foster a culture of mutual respect and self-care within their teams. Constance passionately emphasizes that nurturing oneself is pivotal to being able to give to others. She also talks about her upcoming book “The Path to God’s Promise,” which will come out on Nov. 1, 2023.
Bio: Constance “Ahuva Batya” Scharff, PhD is an internationally recognized speaker and author on the topics of addiction and trauma recovery, the psychological impacts of climate change, and women’s mental health. She is the founder of the Institute for Complementary and Indigenous Mental Health Research. Her writing centers around using complementary health and contemplative practices to improve mental health treatment outcomes and wellbeing. She is a passionate advocate for decolonizing mental healthcare and incorporating indigenous practices and ontologies into healthcare services, as well as radical social transformation to lessen the impacts of climate change. Dr. Scharff is a recent recipient of St. Lawrence University's Sol Feinstone Humanitarian Award, honoring her service to and advocacy for those suffering from mental illness, trauma, and addiction. She regularly travels the world speaking, teaching, and advocating for compassionate health practices that destigmatize mental health problems and sociocultural adjustments to improve human existence and experience. An award-winning, bestselling nonfiction author, Dr. Scharff’s debut novel, The Path to God’s Promise, is scheduled to be released in autumn 2023.
Resources:
Website: Constance Scharff
Books:
Rock to Recovery Book
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast. (Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Positive Leadership Podcasts on the web!)
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we explore what the season of fall can teach us about leadership. We'll talk about the closure the season offers and the anticipation of something new on the horizon.
Fall (as we are about to experience it in the Northern Hemisphere) is a time of year when we are inspired by the natural beauty of the fall colors. We'll discuss the super blue moon that graced our skies on Aug. 30 and how its occurrence aligns with the theme of closure and anticipation. We're also excited to share our Spotify fall playlist, curated to enhance your appreciation of the season and foster growth and reflection.
Resources:
Seasons Leadership Fall Playlist on Spotify
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Have you ever considered the impact of your personal style on your professional growth? Prepare to look at your wardrobe differently as we chat with Bruce and Pamela from Michael Bruce Image Consulting, who'll guide us on how to express ourselves more authentically and communicate more effectively.
We dive into the enriching world of personal style, discussing how it can be a catalyst for change in how we show up. Our guests illustrate this by sharing Season Leadership Co-Founder Susan’s wardrobe transformation, highlighting how the changes she made helped her show up more as her authentic self. We discuss the subtle elements like fit and color that play a significant role in cultivating a positive self-image, and how the right style and even small changes can empower you to take control of your career.
Bruce and Pamela share actionable advice you can take today to start transforming your own wardrobe and leadership presence. Our guests help us navigate the overload of seasonal trends, advising us to be daring and bold, and take intentional steps towards change that can have a lasting impact. Listen and be inspired to embrace the season of summer in your wardrobe and beyond.
Bio:Michael Bruce Image Consulting is a premier, head-to-toe Image Consulting company based in the greater Seattle area. They work with a diverse client base around the country to identify and elevate their personal style by educating how to dress authentically for their lifestyle, body type and budget. Working with clients to first address their “interior,” allows Michael Bruce Image Consulting to dress their “exterior” with a personal style that is authentic to them individually and therefore, long-lasting.
Bruce Pflaumer owner of Michael Bruce Image Consulting offers experience and expertise of more than 25 years in the apparel industry including, buying, merchandising, apparel design and development, and brand building. Pamela Forgrieve wears many stylish hats for Michael Bruce Image Consulting. She is a Certified Image Consultant, Certified Wardrobe and Bridal Stylist and she’s the Director of Operations & Logistics.
Resources:
Michael Bruce Image Consulting - MBIC
Be More Like Nature and Show Your True Self | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join me, Susan Ireland, as I talk to Andy Erickson, a senior consultant who works with clients throughout North America to develop leaders, coach teams and transform organizational cultures.
Show Notes:
Have you ever considered how your perception forms your reality? During my conversation (outside!) with Andy Erickson, a seasoned consultant with an impressive track record in the construction and manufacturing sectors, we talk about the power of perception and how it can significantly influence our personal and professional lives. Andy touches on the critical role of language and how our reactions shape our experiences.
Imagine navigating through a chaotic work environment and finding the strength to rise above it all. Andy takes us through his experiences, shedding light on the methods he has used to stay focused and strategic amidst chaos. We delve into the world of biases and how they affect our relationships even before we meet people, and how choosing our reactions can alter the outcome of situations.
Leadership comes with its challenges, including the quest for acceptance and dealing with various prejudices. We discuss the liberating feeling of accepting that not everyone will like us and the importance of getting the right support. The conversation ends with the emphasis on building relationships in business and putting people first. Andy shares his experience in large organizations and how a clear mission can create a more productive work environment.
Bio: Andy Erickson is a senior consultant at JMJ. He works with clients throughout North America to develop leaders, coach teams and transform organizational cultures. His specialties include High-Performance Projects and Incident and Injury-Free culture. Andy’s consulting approach is informed by his own experiences as an Operations manager and background in the aerospace industry for 17 years.
Resources:“Friendship arises out of mere Companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, "What? You too? I thought I was the only one." – C.S. LewisJoin Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join us as we talk to Bob Jordan, CEO of InterimExecs, about how leadership styles impact teams and organizations.
Show Notes:
Our discussion starts with Bob introducing us to the concepts in his new book he wrote with Olivia Wagner, “Right Leader Right Time - Discover Your Leadership Style for a Winning Career and Company.” Together, we unravel the four distinct leadership styles - fixer, artist, builder, and strategist - and the potential harm that can occur when one style is overused.'
In our interactive discussion, we delve deep into the importance of creativity in leadership and how leaders with different leadership styles can effectively communicate with their teams. We emphasize the vital role of 'artist energy' and the necessity of complementary skills. We also shed light upon the fascinating concept of imposter syndrome and how it affects leaders. Bob introduces us to the unique FABS Leadership Assessment, a tool designed to help leaders gain an understanding of their own authenticity and confidence.
As we move towards the final segment, we discuss the exciting rise of interim leadership roles and project-based leadership. Bob acquaints us with his innovative concept, Red Team - Rapid Executive Deployment, a quick response solution designed to assist organizations in need. As our conversation wraps up, we revisit the insights gleaned from “Right Leader Right Time” and discuss the potential of FABS. Our episode concludes with a poignant reminder of the importance of authenticity in leadership and utilizing your unique leadership potential to make a tangible difference.
Bio: Robert Jordan is the CEO of InterimExecs, which matches top executives with companies around the world. Based on research with thousands of leaders and companies, he and Olivia Wagner wrote "Right Leader Right Time: Discover Your Leadership Style for a Winning Career and Company," and have launched the FABS Leadership Assessment, a free assessment at RightLeader.com designed to help leaders and organizations perform better. Jordan also authored "How They Did It: Billion Dollar Insights from the Heart of America," and helped publish "Start With No," Jim Camp’s bestseller on negotiation.
Resources:
Right Leader website
InterimExecs website
https://twitter.com/interim_execs
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjjordan/
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join me, Susan Ireland, co-founder of Seasons Leadership, and Lauren Penning, Seasons Leadership communications and marketing leader, as we talk to Cathy Zerbe, a retired senior director in the CRO Pharmaceutical Industry, about how to inspire, motivate and empower teams.
Show Notes:
Cathy graciously takes us into her world, revealing her leadership style that puts empowering others at the fore. Kathy's approach of integrating technology, refining processes, and leading by example, serves as the backbone of her hands-on leadership style that has seen people around her thrive.
Now, imagine a workplace where respect and trust are the bedrock. Cathy believes, and we couldn't agree more, that these are crucial elements in empowering a team. In our chat, she delves into how she strikes a balance between work and personal life to avert employee burnout and shares her unique approach to dealing with workaholics.
As we segue into the final part of our discussion, Cathy shares her journey of mentorship. She talks about finding a mentor outside her own organization, standing firm on her values, and the importance of self-awareness and courage in the workplace. We conclude by reflecting on Stephen Covey's, "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" and its relevance to Kathy's journey. Join us as we navigate these insightful conversations and discover a treasure trove of empowerment and leadership wisdom.
Bio: Cathy Zerbe worked in the Contract Research Organization industry for 30 years, primarily at Quintiles (now IQvia), Parexel and Syneos. With a master’s in computer engineering, she started in IT, was the worldwide head of Data Management for Quintiles for several years and then moved on to develop clinical trial planning and pricing tools. Her experience in line management includes managing groups of up to 250 people in 5 different countries, managing managers and engaging users. Her main goal has always been to empower people around her, and to help make other people's jobs easier.
Resources:
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey
Glamping At Anglers Roost - Welcome to Angler’s Roost RV & Campground (anglersroost-montana.com)
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Embrace the summer season and let its energy work wonders for your personal and professional growth! Join me, Debbie Collard, as I share my thoughts on how summer's longer days, energized feelings, and focus on commitment, productivity, and creativity can help us become excellent leaders and make the most of every moment.
Show notes:
Discover the importance of cultivating relationships, renewing friendships, and utilizing the season's energy to transform your life. Whether you're enjoying summer in the Northern Hemisphere or experiencing a different season in your life, this episode will inspire you to strive towards excellent leadership. Don't forget to sign up for the Leading Through Change sample workshop by joining our Patreon membership. Until next time, have a great summer!
Resources:
Seasons Leadership Summer Spotify Playlist
Summer - Seasons Leadership blog the Almanac
Sign up for Leading Through Change sample workshop
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon at Patreon.com/seasonsleadership. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Patricia reflects on her journey and her experiences with burnout. She shares valuable insights on the importance of taking breaks, recharging, and reconnecting with the physical world.
In this candid conversation, Patricia emphasizes the significance of self-awareness, listening to our intuition, and setting boundaries. She shares how her time in Italy helped her reconnect with herself, and how trusting her intuition has been vital in her personal growth. Patricia even discusses the idea of creating a "manual" for ourselves to better understand our own triggers and needs - but first, we must take the time to truly know ourselves.
Setting boundaries is an essential part of self-care, and Patricia dives into how these boundaries can help us align with our values and protect us from burnout. We also explore the importance of listening to our own inner voice and intuition, rather than relying on the advice of others. Patricia encourages us to practice self-care and set aside time for ourselves, even if it's just one day a week.
Tune in to learn from Patricia's experiences and discover how to nurture your own self-awareness and resilience.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to award-winning host of The Unconventionalists® podcast and best-selling author Mark Leruste about telling your story, fighting off self-doubt and imposter syndrome and healing in this episode of the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
Leadership is the opportunity to show up in a powerful way (3:48)
Mark describes his definition of Leadership Excellence. He talks about when you “flip the switch” on leadership and start seeing yourself as a leader no matter your level or role. Mark shares the inspiring idea that leadership is about making people feel seen, heard and understood.
How to put yourself (your story) out there (8:07)
Mark shares what he learned through talking to guests on his podcast The Unconventionalists. He defines proximity bias as a main reason people don’t see the value in their own stories. He affirms that sharing your story is the greatest gift. Mark points out that sharing your story is not about being in the spotlight but becoming the spotlight.
Glow in the Dark: how the book came to be (17:05)
Mark shares the story of how his book came to be including the need to fight off self-doubt and building a quiet confidence in the belief that the book will change lives. Debbie asks how Mark kept himself going despite the challenges. He shares the insight that helped him, “feelings are the last things to change,” and that with persistence, discipline and constant pushback you can push past resistance.
The story that will change your life (34:22)
Mark shares his final piece of advice with listeners which is also the core message of his book. He shares the story of his mental health struggles and reminds listeners that there is “light, love, connection and hope on the other side.”
About Mark Leruste: Mark is on a mission to help entrepreneurs and business leaders impact the world with their story. He's a leadership and communications expert, rebel optimist, proud dyslexic thinker, award-winning host of The Unconventionalists® podcast and best-selling author of his new book, "Glow in the Dark," which recently won a Business Book Awards.
Over the years Mark has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Forbes, Elle, and his TEDx Talk has reached more than 1.2 million views.
Resources:LinkedIn: @markleruste
Website: www.markleruste.com
Own Your Story: https://markleruste.podia.com/own-your-story
Glow in the Dark (Bonus): www.glowinthedarkbook.com
Story Impact Assessment: https://glowinthedark.scoreapp.com
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Stephan Wiedner, co-founder Noomii.com and Skillsetter.com, about his passion to unleash the collective potential of people, how to build psychological safety and practice leadership skills.
Show notes:
Feeling apathy at work (2:45)
Stephan shares his own story of struggling to find meaning in his work before he moved to working in human performance with a focus on technology. Stephan relates that he is working on concreating leadership skills because lots of goals in the leadership realm can be ambiguous. By concreating leadership skills, he believes he can better create a system for leaders to learn and practice them.
Building psychological safety (10:40)
Stephan explains his definition of psychological safety and how recent protests caused him to rethink his original definition. Stephan links psychological safety and apathy at work, citing a study that asked people to what extent their voices mattered at work. The leaders discuss how their missions align.
Actionable advice to help leaders abolish apathy (22:38)
Susan and Debbie ask Stephan for actionable advice listeners can apply immediately to help combat apathy at work. Stephan encourages listeners to attune themselves to what might be causing others in the room to not be as open or candid as they could be. Stephan tells listeners about a special offer for a complementary assessment (see details below).
About Stephan Wiedner:
Stephan Wiedner is an entrepreneur whose mission is to abolish apathy in the workplace. He firmly believes that for great work to take place, everyone needs to have the courage to speak up and the confidence to know they'll be heard. His passion for unleashing the collective potential of people has led him to cofound Noomii.com, the web's largest network of independent life coaches, and Skillsetter.com, a platform similar to a flight simulator for practicing interpersonal skills.
Stephan has been a guest speaker for Truth, Lies and Workplace Culture Podcast, Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast, Building Psychological Strength Podcast, and many other audiences interested in psychology, business and technology. His writing has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other popular publications. In addition to his professional career, Stephan serves as a volunteer firefighter in his local community. Stephan is married with two children and enjoys spending quality time in the outdoors, hiking, biking, camping and reading.
Connect with Stephan:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/swiedner
Resources:
Special offer for Seasons Leadership Podcast Listeners!Free Psychological Safety Assessment for your workplace: Reach out to Stephan via LinkedIn and mention the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
Life Coach, Business Coach, Career Coach, Executive Coach Directory | Noomii
Skillsetter
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Jaime Diglio, a highly accomplished performance coach and the Founder of inFirst Coaching, about her journey from the WAR Room to the WIN Room and her passion for helping others get unstuck and see their potential.
Show notes:
The journey from the WAR Room to the WIN Room (3:00)
Jaime shares some of her professional journey that inspired her TEDx Talk. She talks about how she was “Working Against Results” and needed to move to “What I Need” and how she got back on track.
Burnout can happen to anyone (10:40)
The leaders talk about how prevalent burnout is for leaders and dispel some of the old, harmful leadership advice like “never let them see you sweat.” They agree that you need to practice what you preach and the courage it takes to admit that you need help.
Being unique (15:33)
Jaime talks about uniqueness and how that makes for good leaders, teams, and helps address the “leadership gap.” She asserts “whatever you are interested in will make you interesting.” The leaders talk about how everyone being the same leads to watered down mediocre leadership and teams.
Actionable advice to improve your leadership today (25:00)
Debbie and Susan share the mission of the podcast to provide listeners with actionable advice they can put into practice now and ask Jaime to share some advice. Jaime talks through an exercise and a daily practice that leaders can use now to gain more awareness and build their brand. The discussion concludes with Jaime sharing what she is passionate about.
Jaime Diglio Bio: Jaime Diglio is a highly accomplished performance coach and the Founder of inFirst Coaching. With over 20 years of experience in sales leadership roles at top-tier companies like Gartner, Microsoft, and Slalom, Jaime has developed a set of proven coaching techniques that have become a secret weapon for her clients' success. She holds a master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology, which has further enhanced her ability to train leaders and teams on how to WIN at work and in life.
Jaime’s expertise lies in helping individuals and teams identify and remove the invisible barriers that are holding them back, leading to immediate increases in performance. Her innovative WIN Room programs are specifically designed to support high-growth organizations with future of work strategies that drive sales, employee engagement, connection and retention. Jaime's recent TEDx talk, titled "From WAR Room to WIN Room: Change your room, change your life," has been widely praised for its inspiring and transformational message. Her ability to instill a sense of confidence and motivation in her clients has made her one of the most sought-after coaches around.
Connect with Jaime:
Instagram: @winroomcoach
website: https://linktr.ee/winroomcoach
Resources:TEDx Talk: From WAR Room to WIN Room: Change Your Room, Change Your Life
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk about self-care and the responsibilities all leaders have to take care of themselves. Overwhelm is common. Debbie and Susan give tips and advice on how to tackle this overwhelming problem in leadership.
Show notes:
What self-care has to do with leadership (3:00)
Debbie and Susan talk about how taking care of yourself is a decision all leaders must make to continue to raise their level of excellence. The leaders agree that like all decisions this one comes with consequences. Debbie and Susan talk about the cost of not choosing self-care.
Leaders need to hold themselves to a higher standard (7:30)
The leaders agree that leaders need to be accountable for how they show up to lead because the leadership shadow is long and far. They share examples of interacting with leaders who do not prioritize self-care.
Advice for leaders to prioritize self-care (9:10)
- Accept the responsibility.
- Identify ways to recover that work for you.
- Keep it realistic.
Debbie and Susan share exercises you can try.
Tiny practices and how they link to self-care (19:35)
Debbie and Susan share some “tiny practices” they implement daily to help reduce overwhelm and stress.
Resources:Self-Affirmation & the Magic of a “Love Me Drawer” | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Feeling Overwhelmed? This simple process can shift your perspective | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Tiny Practices – Patreon Exclusive Leadership Element!
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Kimberly Adams Tremper, artist, author, art instructor, business owner and executive leader, about her four C’s - creativity, community, challenges and staying curious.
Show notes:
Finding your superpower (4:40)
Kimberly shares her definition of leadership and how she believes everyone has their own superpower. She shares her own journey to becoming a leader and how she has relied on being a “beacon of curiosity.”
Getting Unstuck (12:00)
The leaders talk about the common problem of getting stuck. Kimberly shares how she moves through challenges. Her tip is to seek to understand, be curious and find another human who has been through it.
Making a dramatic shift in your work/life (17:24)
Kimberly shares the story of how she went from working full time in the corporate world to working full time as an artist – she treated art like a business, stayed super curious and found community.
Actionable advice to overcome obstacles (24:55)
She talks about how she overcame obstacles to successfully navigate the shift and ultimately find her flow. The leaders talk about her discipline to make balance happen.
Dealing with personal challenges with grace and tenacity (34:00)
Kimberly shares how she dealt with the terrifying news about her brain tumor and found patience and humor. She talks about the importance of finding someone else who has been through it and how helpful it is to stay curious.
Kimberly Adams Tremper Bio:
Switching between the art room and the board room is natural for her; in addition to being an artist she has worked in leadership positions in corporate retail for over 30 years. Her professional art is unique, using only her fingertips to create, this art has been displayed in galleries for over 9 years. Through her creative work she is a mentor to students and emerging artists. In the corporate world she focuses on helping leaders be better leaders and teams collaborate to optimize results.
Recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, Kimberly has relied on her positive mindset to continue to overcome her toughest hardships. Daily she pursues her passions to help others develop skill sets that will help them in all aspects of their life and career. Kimberly currently sits on the Board of Advisors for the Tombolo Institute for Bellevue College. For more information about the artist, her classes, and available works visit: artbykimberlyadams.com.
Connect with Kimberly:
Instagram: art_by_kimberly
Facebook: Art by Kimberly Adams
LinkedIn: Kimberly Adams Tremper
Resources:Unstuck: Rethinking Risk & Reward by Colin House
Integrating Passion Into Work Life, profile on Kimberly Adams
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founder Debbie Collard as she reflects on the seasonal metaphor of spring and the time to awaken to new energy, creativity and the opportunity to elevate your thinking.
Spring cleaning (3:46)
Debbie talks about the importance of getting rid of the things that no longer serve you.
Celebrating spring (4:27)
Debbie gives tips on making the most of the season.
Reflection questions for spring (7:11)
During this time of new beginnings, Debbie poses some questions you should consider as you move forward.
Resources:Spring Forward | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Seasons Leadership - Spring - playlist by Susan Ireland | Spotify
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception on Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock our exclusive Lessons in Leadership Column from our Resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, a lifetime member of the Board of the Malcom Baldrige Foundation and our Leadership Elements Series.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland on Wednesdays for the winter season of our all-new Seasons Leadership Podcast.
Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform throughout the season and let us know what you think of our winter episodes!
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock discounted coaching with Seasons Leadership and get get one-on-one support from Debbie or Susan for your personal leadership journey.
Learn from Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk about defining values and how values shape leadership. Show Notes:
How to define a value (1:04)
Debbie and Susan review how others define values for their leadership and life. The leaders affirm that values show up as behaviors and beliefs and a filter for how we view others.
What to do about conflicting values (4:30)
Debbie and Susan discuss how to mediate this common dilemma.
Values-based leadership (7:20)
The leaders discuss how to operationalize values into observable behaviors.
For more on values and how we as leaders can shape the culture join us on Patreon for the extended episode.
Resources:Live Your Values with One and Three Co-Founders Andreea Niculescu + Laura Swapp - Seasons Leadership Podcast
Amazon.com: The Live Your Values Deck: Sort Out, Honor, and Practice What Matters Most to You: 9781797206127: Congdon, Lisa, Niculescu, Andreea, Congdon, Lisa: Books
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock discounted coaching with Seasons Leadership and get get one-on-one support from Debbie or Susan for your personal leadership journey.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk all about gratitude in this special Thanksgiving episode.
Show notes:
Gratitude for Seasons Leadership (0:48)
Between coaches and critics, the leaders believe the journey to get to where we are today is something to be grateful for.
Gratitude for Mission and Community (5:03)
Debbie and Susan affirm how having a mission and community fuels growth.
Gratitude for Podcast Guests (7:13)
The leaders are thankful for the values held by our podcast guests.
Leadership and Gratitude Are Linked (10:12)
Debbie and Susan explore how having gratitude and humility makes better leaders.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock discounted coaching with Seasons Leadership and get get one-on-one support from Debbie or Susan for your personal leadership journey.
Learn from Constance Scharff, PhD, an internationally recognized speaker and author on the topics of addiction and trauma recovery, and mental health. She is the founder of the Institute for Complementary and Indigenous Mental Health Research. Her writing centers around using complementary health and contemplative practices to improve treatment outcomes. She is a passionate advocate for decolonizing mental healthcare and incorporating indigenous practices and ontologies into healthcare services.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Constance about the importance of seeking out other perspectives, holding the door open for other voices and believing in yourself.
Show notes:
Through diversity we can have amazing solutions to problems (6:50)
Constance shares her love of stories and how she wants more stories told outside of the narrow, western experience. The leaders talk about the need to continue to learn and grow through listening to the experiences of others.
Show Break (12:00)
Learn about the Seasons Leadership Patreon Community.
Seek out conversations with others (13:30)
The leaders discuss how to be more open. Constance believes it comes down to really listening and how that relates to good leadership – “listen to take in and learn from.” Constance asserts we are at a crossroads of leadership because of the pushback to the status quo going on.
Relational leadership is holding open that door (24:33)
Constance talks about how people in power should allow other perspectives at the table. That is her goal – to listen and hold the door open for others. She asserts that when you have that non-sequitur feeling that is when you know you need more people at the table.
What stories you believe are true (35:30)
Constance shares her final piece of advice to listeners – to believe in your capabilities as a leader. Debbie and Susan share key takeaways from their discussion with Constance.
Resources
Website: Constance Scharff
Books by Dr. Scharff:
Rock to Recovery Book
Meeting God at Midnight (Poetry)
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon. At our gold-level, unlock discounted coaching with Seasons Leadership and get one-on-one guidance from Debbie or Susan on your personal leadership journey.
Learn from our friends at Michael Bruce Image Consulting. Bruce Pflaumer is the founder of Michael Bruce Image Consulting. Pamela Forgrieve is a Certified Image Consultant, Certified Wardrobe and Bridal Stylist as well as Director of Operations & Logistics.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Bruce and Pamela about style for fall, transitions, embracing color and how your personal style and brand can help you show up as the leader you were meant to be.
Show notes:
The challenge of fall clothing (2:02)
The leaders talk about the shift in clothes that come with the weather. Pamela brings up the mindset shift that happens too. Bruce cautions not to hide but embrace the newness of the season.
Embrace yourself – everyone is in a transition (8:45)
The leaders talk about how to navigate transitions and how personal style and brand can help. Bruce encourages listeners to think about trying something new to help prepare for a change. The leaders talk about how to push back on the mindset of “fitting in.”
Style helps us exude confidence (15:45)
Bruce and Pamela share client success stories that illuminate how changing your style can change your mindset and help you take control of your narrative.
Show Break (21:20)
Learn about coaching with Seasons Leadership
Opportunities in the season for business leaders (23:00)
Bruce and Pamela share how they challenge themselves every season and look for growth opportunities. Bruce gives tips on how to efficiently achieve your style goals.
Style as choice (30:00)
Bruce and Pamela give advice on how to build your fall wardrobe and take on common questions about how to navigate trends. The image consultants share the new colors for fall and tips on how to incorporate them successfully. Susan and Debbie share key takeaways from the discussion.
Resources
Be More Like Nature and Show Your True Self | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Podcast — MBIC (michaelbruceimageconsulting.com)
MBIC Spring 2022 (mailchi.mp)
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon.
Join Co-Founders of Seasons Leadership Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they give practical, actionable advice on how to identify potential mentors and set the relationships up for success. And sign up to join our Patreon Community of values-based leaders and get even more insight on this important topic on our bonus Mentor Relationships episode.
Show notes:
Debbie and Susan discuss:
What is a mentor – how do you define the relationship (1:30)
How to begin a mentor relationship (5:16)
What kinds of mentor relationships you should pursue (8:03) Learn more about
Resources
Nurture Relationships with Mentors to Accelerate Growth | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Three Mentorship Relationships to Pursue for Success | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon.
Learn from our resident Seasoned Leader David Spong, who retired from a 40-year career in aerospace as president of Aerospace Support for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. During his tenure, two different organizations he led won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Service.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founder Debbie Collard as she talks to David about his exclusive column for Seasons Leadership's Patreon community, the influence of Baldrige on his career and perspective and how everyone is a leader.
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon.
Learn from Molly K. Gimmel, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Design To Delivery Inc (D2DInc), an award-winning firm that provides program and acquisition management support services to Federal government agencies. She also is the author of “Master Your Mindset: How Women Leaders Step Up” published in April 2022, where she explores the unwritten rules of successful female leadership through Master Your Mindset. In 2021, Molly founded the Vellamo Leadership Institute to help women master their leadership mindsets and put into practice the lessons learned to be more effective leaders.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founder Susan Ireland and Communications and Marketing Leader Lauren Penning as they interview Molly about creating a community of leaders, leadership mindsets, entrepreneurship and helping others become better leaders.
Show notes:
Creating a community of leaders (6:22): The leaders discuss the role of community in leadership, in writing Molly's book and in Seasons Leadership and Vellamo. Molly shares the story that inspired the name Vellamo and that the person you are best equipped to help is the person you were.
Leadership mindset (11:49): Molly explains what mindset has to do with leadership and the difference between mindsets and skills. The leaders discuss the mindset most leaders struggle with – according to Molly it’s “head chatter.” Molly shares how she established the mindsets for her book.
Make sure your time matches your values (28:25): Molly shares her values and the belief that being in congruence with them has allowed her to accomplish her goals. She talks about mentors and how she admires leaders with vision. Molly shares her belief that anyone can be a leader.
Resources:
Master Your Mindset: How Women Leaders Step Up: Gimmel, Molly: 9781544529004: Amazon.com: Books
NAWBO | National Association of Women Business Owners
Vellamo Leadership Institute (vellamo-leadership.com)
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
And now you can join our community of values-based leaders on Seasons Leadership Patreon.
Join Co-Founder of Seasons Leadership Susan Ireland and Patricia Zinnecker, host of “From Stresspreneur to Chillpreneur” on a special rebroadcast of the Vom Stresspreneur zum Chillpreneur podcast.
Susan dives into her personal story of being a single-mom and career woman. They talk about stress, managing guilt, knowing your values and creating purpose and meaning in life. This episode was republished on the Seasons Leadership Podcast with permission from Patricia who was a guest on our Women in Leadership Podcast last year and an alum of the Seasons Leadership Program.
Resources:
Vom Stresspreneur zum Chillpreneur: 48 - Single Mom of 3 and a 30+ year Boeing-Career - with Susan Ireland (libsyn.com)
The Live Your Values Deck
Recommended article
Trusting in the Flow with special guest star, Patricia Zinnecker - Seasons Leadership Podcast
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, certified coaches and co-founders of Seasons Leadership, in making positive leadership the norm rather than the exception. On Wednesdays on the Seasons Leadership Podcast, we will bring you practical, actionable advice you can apply now to improve your leadership - and life. Through discussions with incredible leaders, we explore leadership excellence, responsibility and personal growth.
...
Learn from Anne Corley Baum, the President of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, part of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and author. She has run leadership training programs through her own company, Vision Accomplished, that focus on leadership development. She has spent years serving in leadership roles and teaching leadership to high potential employees on their way to the C -Suite. Anne is passionate about sharing useful and easy to apply techniques to help people succeed.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founder Susan Ireland and Communications and Marketing Leader Lauren Penning as they talk to Anne about integrity, getting results, tips on taking out the “head trash” and empowering others.
Show Notes:
(1:48) Anne introduces her leadership journey and how it was defined by having the courage to take on a bigger opportunity. Anne shares what helped accelerate her success as a leader within organizations and as owner of her own consulting business.
Empowering others to be the best they can be (7:23)
Anne shares her personal mission to help others be the best they can be so they can succeed. The leaders discuss the things that can get in your way. Anne shares the inspiration behind her books.
Defining leadership (13:26)
Anne identifies integrity as the most important characteristic of a leader because it builds trust. The leaders also talk about how leadership is about getting results.
Fighting head trash (16:32)
Anne introduces the idea of “head trash” and gives tips on how to dismiss negative talk and step into a new leadership role with confidence. The leaders discuss how this leads back to operating with integrity.
There is no one way to be a leader (36:50)
Anne shares a leader she admires that is seemingly not like her. Susan shares story from early in her career about feedback she got to mold her into a certain kind of leader. The leaders agree that there are lots of paths to the results - just because you do it differently doesn’t make you wrong.
We all want to be heard and seen. (41:30)
The leaders talk about being a lifelong learner. Worth the effort to try and build that relationship. Anne shares her favorite quotes. Susan and Lauren break down what they learned from their discussion with Anne.
Resources:
Small Mistakes, Big Consequences Develop Your Soft Skills to Help You Succeed
Small Mistakes Big Consequences for Interviews
Learn from Andy Erickson who works with clients throughout North America to develop leaders, coach teams and transform organizational cultures. His specialties include High-Performance Projects and Incident and Injury-Free culture. Andy’s consulting approach is informed by his own experiences as an operations manager and background in the aerospace industry for 17 years.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founder Susan Ireland and Seasons Leadership Communications and Marketing Leader Lauren Penning as they talk to Andy about his desire to serve people, power moves, establishing leadership routines and toolbox and fighting imposter syndrome.
Show notes:
(3:40) Andy introduces himself and his background in leadership working for Boeing and as a management consultant. The leaders discuss the difference between management and leadership and how everyone on a team can step up and be a leader.
Choose your relationship to others (14:57)
Andy talks about the tendency to make things wrong when in reality they are not wrong, they are just different and how relationships are the foundation of accomplishments. The leaders discuss how we can shift our relationships to others to be more effective leaders.
Leadership power moves (18:57)
Andy shares three power moves that can help a workplace transformation: relationship, commitment and responsibility. The leaders discuss how these power moves can help establish habits and organizational routines. Andy shares Dunbar’s number.
(31:40) Show break – coaching with Seasons Leadership
The leadership toolbox (33:03) Susan talks about the unique challenge of a leader and manager to balance both keeping an operating rhythm and managing people. The leaders agree that connecting people to the “why” is crucial and how stories are a way to connect. Andy talks about the tools in a leadership toolbox including relationships, stories and asking good questions.
Work shouldn’t suck and fighting imposter syndrome (45:30)
Andy talks about changing your relationship to your job and how this has motivated him to help others make their life or job better. The leaders address how imposter syndrome is a challenge everyone faces and what you can do to get to work on your ego.
The courage to face loneliness (56:00)
Andy talks about the courage to say the tough thing and speak up. The leaders conclude with circling back to relationships and the dynamic created within a group and the power of being able to process things together on “the balcony.” Susan and Lauren share their key takeaways from the discussion with Andy.
Resources:
“You too? I thought I was the only one.” - C.S. Lewis
“You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.” - Eleanor Roosevelt.
Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave, by Ryan Holiday
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard as they explore the seasonal metaphor of fall and the time to integrate new insights.
A season of change (1:01)
The leaders talk about embracing change and being excited for the next new thing.
The energy shift of fall (3:20)
Recalling positive memories of fall, the leaders agree the energy of fall is more mellow and deep than summer.
Show break (7:00) – Learn about coaching with Seasons Leadership.
Anxiety about the unknown (8:22)
There is tension in the season of fall, when you feel ready to change something. Debbie and Susan address what listeners can do when confronted with these feelings.
Strengthening your leadership (12:20)
The leaders conclude by finding inspiration in the challenge of fall.
Resources:
Fall playlist from Seasons Leadership
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland on Wednesdays for the fall season of our all-new Seasons Leadership Podcast.
Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform throughout the season and let us know what you think of our fall episodes!
Vision, mission and values are the foundation for great leadership practices. Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard talk about how to identify your vision and values and the importance of having a mission.
Show notes:
Vision: your what (2:02)
Ask yourself – where are you headed? What inspires you?
Debbie and Susan talk about inspiration and how that informs what you should be doing in the world.
Values: how you do what you do (4:52)
Ask yourself – what bothers you? How do you feel?
Debbie and Susan talk about living in alignment and share examples when their values were trampled on.
Show break (9:50) Learn more about coaching with Seasons Leadership
Mission: your why (11:29)
Ask yourself: why you do what you do? What drives you?
Debbie and Susan talk about their own personal missions and how identifying your mission saves time and leads to more fulfillment.
Resources
How To Be a Values-Based Leader - Seasons Leadership Podcast
The Live Your Values Deck – Lisa Congdon
Live Your Values with One and Three Co-Founders Andreea Niculescu + Laura Swapp - Seasons Leadership Podcast
Co-Founders of Seasons Leadership Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland talk about the impactful workshop: Reflection Circles Living with Change with Seasons Leadership. A Reflection Circle is a four-session virtual journey paced over four weeks, consisting of group coaching and guided reflection to gain clarity and purpose as individuals experience change in today’s fast paced and complex environment.
Show notes
- Learn what is offered in the program (0:48)
- Listen to how this workshop helped both Debbie and Susan personally (3:28)
- Gain new insights as you experience change (5:50)
Resources:
Sign up for our Fall Reflection Circle Everyone experiences change. As you navigate changes in your life, we invite you to join us to build your self-awareness, energy and perspective; and to work on how you want to respond to these changes you are experiencing. Through personal exploration and discussion with peers, Reflection Circles will support you to gain greater clarity through deeper connections and self-awareness.
Reflections on Leading Through Change with Kate Philips-Kaiser - Seasons Leadership Podcast
Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard revisit their discussion with special guests and aerospace executives Melissa Fleener and Beth Schryer. Beth shares her challenge of transitioning from leading a team of hundreds to a team of thousands. Melissa talks about how mentor relationships can help you step up to your next leadership role. Debbie and Susan reflect on the common theme of “casting a wide net” in business and relationships weaved throughout the discussion.
**Show Notes:
Mission & value driven leadership** (9:15)Beth shares her mission to always improve the business or organization – “a leader never stops.” Melissa connects to products and people, simplifying her mission to “how can I help?”
Diversity brings strength to an organization (17:33)
Beth talks about purposefully bringing more diversity to the facilities organization and the experience of being a disrupter. Melissa gives her positive perspective of working with a more diverse team. Share common experiences (22:18)
Melissa relates a story about accountability and how she balanced her commitment to her customer and to her family. The leaders talk about how sharing these common experiences can reduce loneliness and inspire others to honor their values.
“You won’t ever feel ready” (32:40)
Melissa and Beth share tips on how to step into a new leadership role and their own journey of stepping up. Advice includes figuring out how to sell yourself, the aspects of the job that interest you and a road map.
Bring authenticity to networking (45:50)
Both Beth and Melissa talk about intentionally building up a network and the importance of staying connected. Beth shares her personal advisory committee. Melissa talks about authenticity in networking.
“Don’t hold yourself to perfection” (53:46)
Beth shares the story of managing Facilities during COVID and how sometimes you need to just make a choice as priorities come and go. Melissa talks about the importance of communicating – not being afraid to ask for help and establishing boundaries.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard as they talk about nurturing relationships in business.
Life is all about relationships (1:06)
Debbie and Susan start the discussion with an introduction to the value of connection. They talk about how business relationships are different and the work it takes to nurture relationships.
Just keep the connection fresh (3:28)
Debbie and Susan share what a successful relationship at work looks like – having a level of mutual respect and regard. Debbie relates a story to highlight the importance of staying in touch. Susan shares how often people loose connection and the benefit of being the one to reach out and reconnect.
Having a network to lean on helps everyone (9:05)
The leaders discuss diverse networks and how they help with creativity and perspective.
Show break (10:30) – Learn about coaching with Seasons Leadership.
The secret of a Relationship Matrix (12:13)
Debbie shares the secret of a true introvert who was good at keeping in contact by keeping a “relationship matrix.” Debbie and Susan share how the Seasons Leadership’s Relationship Matrix works – and remind listeners to be deliberate and don’t keep score.
Resources
Relationship Matrix | Resources | Seasons Leadership Program
Relationships in Business are Important | The Almanac | Seasons Leadership Program
Learn from Marissa Thomas, CEO and co-founder of For the Breast of Us, the first online platform for women of color and their families affected by breast cancer. The company’s beautiful mission is to uplift women of color affected by breast cancer by sharing stories to empower survivors and help make the rest of their lives the best through education, advocacy and community.
**Show notes
Introduction to Marissa’s why** (0:23)
Susan reintroduces Marissa Thomas to listeners. The discussion with Marissa starts with what drove her to create for the Breast of Us and how she advocates for women of color.
Advocating for everyone to be their own best advocate (4:10)Through discussion of the Foundational Leadership Triad, Marissa shares her mission or purpose. She tells the story of a young woman who was diagnosed and eventually passed away and how she strives to continue her legacy. She encourages listeners to advocate for their bodies – “you are the only one who will know what it feels like.”
Values and living your best life as a leader (8:20)
Marissa talks about the value of connecting with people so you can support them better and how to be a better leader. She shares the growth of For the Breast of Us and the type of leader she strives to be. How you can support others facing breast cancer (14:13)
Marissa gives practical advice on how you can support others on this journey – just do.
The power of sharing stories (28:50)
Marissa encourages listeners to go to the For the Breast of Us website and read and share stories there to help amplify voices. Debbie and Susan share fresh insights about the episode – being humble, allowing others to lead and teaching people how to support us.
Additional link:
https://breastofus.com/
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard as they talk leadership and principles.
Show Notes:
We are all leaders (:40)
Debbie and Susan discuss how we are all leaders and the importance of paying attention to the kind of example are you setting. They affirm we all have values, even if unconscious, and that values are core to Seasons Leadership.
Reacting in the moment could signal a value (2:57)
Debbie and Susan advise paying attention to your reactions and focusing on getting your agency back. They remind listeners of an earlier episode of the Seasons Leadership Podcast where Adam Reynolds discusses The Triangle of Blame.
How to map out your values (6:08)
Susan shares the story of refreshing values for Seasons Leadership and how the Live Your Values Card deck was a beautiful tool for this purpose.
Show break (8:48) – Learn about professional coaching with Seasons Leadership
Values guide the culture (10:24)
Susan and Debbie wrap up their discussion talking about how leaders must live their values and the organization’s values to keep the trust and be effective.
Resources
Leadership & Principles | Resources | Seasons Leadership Program
Taking Responsibility for Your Role in Conflict with Adam Reynolds - Seasons Leadership Podcast
Live Your Values with One and Three Co-Founders Andreea Niculescu + Laura Swapp - Seasons Leadership Podcast
The Live Your Values Deck – Lisa Congdon
Learn from Kate Gilman Williams, 12-year-old animal activist, founder of Kids Can Save Animals, Club 15 podcast and author of Let’s Go on Safari! Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard revisit their interview with Kate about leadership, advocacy having no age limit and the importance of saving animals on our summer edition of the Seasons Leadership Podcast.
Show Notes:
Urgency of saving animals (3:03)
Kate shares statistics about how often endangered animals are killed and how these sad facts shaped her advocacy journey.
Everyone can make a difference (6:29)Kate tells the story of how her classmates helped save koalas. She encourages everyone to make an impact.
Be an advocate for your passions (10:06)
Kate shares the challenge to get the word out and other causes and goals she is passionate about. Debbie and Susan share fresh insights (17:03) from their discussion with Kate including how cultivating your passions can help discover your why.
Additional Links:
kidscansaveanimals.com
Book - Kids Can Save Animals
Download the song: https://songwhip.com/jennhartmannluck/kids-can-save-animals
Bad Bosses – they are real and everywhere, and chances are you’ve already had at least one. Feel “seen” on our Summer Edition of the all-new Seasons Leadership Podcast as Co-Hosts and Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard share relatable stories and strategies on how to deal with this common workplace issue.
Show Notes:
(0:56) Debbie and Susan introduce the topic of Bad Bosses and the proliferation of this problem.
How do you know you have a Bad Boss? (2:50)
Susan and Debbie share different characteristics they have encountered in bad bosses. The leaders talk about micromanaging killing creativity and the role of providing actionable feedback.
What is a Good Boss? (5:30)
The leaders contrast what it means to be a good boss.
Show break (6:50) – Learn about professional coaching with Seasons Leadership
What can you do about a Bad Boss? (8:27)
Susan’s advice is to give grace and have flexibility. Debbie talks about doing what you can control and identifying what choice you have in the situation. Debbie and Susan share stories and what they learned from having Bad Bosses.
Always remember the impact bosses have on others (13:55)
Resources:
Bad Bosses | Resources | Seasons Leadership Program
Learn from the Co-Founders of One and Three Andreea Niculescu and Laura Swapp. One and Three asserts: “We blur the lines between brand, creative and social impact strategies to make the world a more beautiful and connected place.”
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they interview Andreea and Laura about being leaderly, the importance of getting to know yourself, cultivating a fandom of support and living your values.
Show Notes:
(1:09) Susan introduces Andreea Niculescu and Laura Swapp and their incredible backgrounds. Andreea and Laura share how One and Three came to be.
Little “l” – being leaderly (9:33)
Andreea and Laura share their individual views on leadership and the things that are important to them. Andreea shares how she has viewed leadership through the little “l.” Laura talks about the importance of love. The leaders talk about how everyone is a leader to somebody. Susan introduces the concept of the responsibility we all have to lead. The leaders agree that irrespective of title people gravitate towards people who exhibit themselves with truthfulness.
Being friends with yourself (17:59)
The leaders share their observations about self-reflections and Andreea encourages listeners to imagine a world if we were taught to look inward and pay attention to what we are made of at the individual level and collectively. Andreea shares the story for how the “Live Your Values Deck” came to be – as a creative and fun starting point for a conversation with ourselves. Laura testifies to the power of “putting language to what you value as a lens.” The leaders agree that things can be messy when they are just in your head and the importance of putting things down on paper.
Show break (25:42) – Learn about professional coaching with Seasons Leadership
90-days activity challenge (27:18)
Andreea takes listeners through the questions to ask yourself to start the 90-day reflection process called Brand Strategy for One: Start with what are your values? Then write your interests and capture your aspirations. Next ask these 6 questions: What do I love? What do I hate? What am I great at? What do I suck at? (Andreea emphasizes that the flip is so vital) what matters to me? And what doesn’t matter to me?
Susan and Debbie commit to taking on the challenge for summer (look for more on this in a future episode!) Laura shares the importance of doing this exercise more than once – how major life events and moments offer a chance to revisit and refresh. The leaders talk about how this value work and “forced prioritization” is a gift and how to meet in the middle with others.
Cultivating a fandom of support (37:15)
The leaders talk about life as a process of evaluation and growth. They share the leaders that have inspired them throughout their journey. The conversation turns to the importance of creating partnerships and supportive networks to sustain you. Susan brings up the loneliness of leadership many leaders experience and how working on relationships makes life a lot easier.
Final Advice (48:47)
Andreea and Laura share their advice for listeners at the end of part 1 of the discussion (they have promised to join us for a part 2!). Andreea outlines three things all leaders should do, and it is back to powerful basics. Laura emphasizes the importance of “knowing yourself.” Debbie and Susan recap their discussion with Andreea and Laura.
Resources
The "Live Your Values Deck"
one and three | Seattle, USA | Brand and Social Impact Strategy Consulting
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland on Wednesdays for the summer season of our all-new Seasons Leadership Podcast.
Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform throughout the season and let us know what you think of our summer episodes! And check out our special summer playlist to help get you in the flow of the season.
Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/01sJYDm5FRlTvHTK9av0JH?si=6292fbe6354b4344
Learn from the Founders of BenchStrength Coaching Christine Noffz, Dawn Rowley and Susan Gellatly about living your values, measuring success, resilience and the universal problem of finding a work, life balance. The leaders also talk about the success of their program – Women Rising – a women’s leadership program designed by women for women.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founder Susan Ireland and Communications and Marketing Leader Lauren Penning as they revisit the previous discussion with BenchStrength leaders and share information about the open enrollment for the Women Rising program starting this September.
Show notes
(1:40) The BenchStrength coaches introduce themselves and talk about how they found more power collectively. Then the leaders talk about how the Women Rising Program (6:23) came to be. The leaders share why women in leadership is a key ingredient (8:45) and the ripple effect (9:40).
The leaders engage in a discussion of the Foundational Leadership Triad of vision, mission and values (10:00) and they share how living your values can bring you clarity (12:30). Next, they answer the question “what is success?” (16:35) and talk about the role of resilience (20:30). The leaders share where they see their business growing in the next three years (26:35) and then reveal their favorite leadership quotes (29:20). Susan and Lauren share the key takeaway from the earlier discussion with BenchStrength (35:37) and Susan testifies to the amazing impact of the Women Rising program (36:17).
Special Guests LN: Christine Noffz, Dawn Rowley, Susan Gellatly
Bench Strength Coaching LN: @BenchStrengthCoaching
To learn more about Women Rising and enroll: https://mailchi.mp/benchstrengthcoaching/women-rising-fall-2022
Learn from Emma Hodsdon, a program manager and international leader who has held roles in Communications, Business Operations, Program Management and as a Chief of Staff during her career. Emma has worked in both Australia and the United States, and with teams around the globe. She spent 17 years working for The Boeing Company - where she realized her superpower of being a dot connector and big picture thinker. Emma is currently a program manager at Atlassian, based in Sydney, Australia. She spends her free time going on adventures with her 5-year-old son.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Emma about tenacity, saying yes to opportunities, finding your tribe and women supporting women in leadership.
Show notesEmma starts the discussion (1:36) defining leadership. She shares a story about helping other leaders (2:30) and gives advice on how to build relationships with important people. Emma talks about providing candid feedback (3:20) and helping others see their potential. The leaders discuss the role of influence (4:36).
Leadership presenceEmma discusses the challenges of leading early in your career (6:01) with the leaders agreeing it takes fortitude and courage (8:09). Emma relates a success story that started out being less successful (8:27) and having the tenacity to never give up building trust. Emma hints at the animal that inspired her (10:00) and talks about traveling to America for the first time alone at 15.
Defining success
The leaders talk about defining success at different times in your career (11:09). Emma believes success is related to the level of satisfaction you feel at the end of each day and shares how going forward (12:21) success is about a work life blend now that she has her son (13:40). Emma shares a metaphor about a hallway and being pulled into different opportunities (14:33) and how her career was not a single track (21:35).
SHOW BREAK (21:47) Coaching with Seasons Leadership
Final thoughts
(23:17) The show continues with Emma talking about changing companies (23:17) and finding her new tribe. She gives advice on asking for help (24:05) and discovering what gives you energy (25:15). The leaders discuss having a song for the season (29:13) and Emma relates a funny story about her “belonging song.” Emma gives advice on how to be successful (32:47) and emphasizes the importance of women supporting women (33:44). (35:25) Susan and Debbie discuss takeaways from their discussion with Emma.
Learn from Jan Johnson,President and CEO of Jordan Johnson, Inc., a Baldrige-based consulting and training firm specializing in working with executive leadership to effect significant sustainable improvement in their organizations through the use of proven tools and processes. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Jan about Baldrige, taking risks, beating imposter syndrome, high-level leaders and living an unexpected life.
Show notes
Jan starts the conversation talking about what leadership means to her (2:04) and her two careers (2:40). Jan shares that her first leadership role was a stretch (3:34) and it provides a great example to someone starting out in leadership.
Not being afraid to take risks(6:50) Susan asks Jan about how to "jump in." The leaders talk about how difficult it is to not let your personal fears get in your way (7:10). Jan shares her own struggle with doubts (8:15) but how she never let them stop her. Jan reflects on where she is today (8:30), how she sought collaboration and always viewed her clients as partners. The discussion comes back to taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. Jan shares her key learning (12:00) to be open to the possibilities of what could be.
Learn from your mistakes
Jan shares “the absolute gospel truth” that there is no mistake a younger leader could make that she has not already made herself (12:54). Jan talks about having the strength to learn from every single one and how that helps her help others (13:41). The leaders talk about the importance of grace (14:20) and how not to beat yourself up, but to move forward after a mistake. (15:20) Jane shares a painful leadership moment and what she learned from the experience.
(17:44) Show Break – Learn about Reflection Circles with Seasons Leadership
Success is helping others succeed
(21:34) The show continues with Jan talking about taking chances and the importance of continuously learning. Jan shares (23:00) that she plans to work until she “can’t make a difference anymore.” She describes what makes her most proud – seeing others she helped succeed (23:20). She shares how she celebrates success (24:56) and gives an amazing example she learned from a client on how to celebrate with your team (25:48).
Live your true, whole self
(27:46) Jan explains how living her true, whole self is something she really believes in. She shares how important it is to her to always be genuine and honest. She encourages, “never be afraid to lose a job.” The leaders talk about “imposter syndrome” and how to push back on those feelings (29:48). Jan shares her story of supporting the “third most influential leader in the world,” according to Forbes Magazine, and how that experience gave her a case of imposter syndrome. She recalls how she overcame the fear (31:18) to work effectively with this high-level leader, “he had the confidence to hire me, so I need to have as much confidence in myself as he had in me.”
The leaders discuss confidence (33:34) and trying things you think are impossible. Susan pushes (34:39) on how someone can feel empowered to take risks – sometimes you need to keep the job so this can be really difficult. Jan shares the real risk she took (36:20) when she started her own business and how the adversity (38:04) helped push her forward. The leaders affirm the importance of having a support system (38:34).
Final thoughts
(40:04) Jan shares how Jane Pope, a true Servant Leader, inspired her and why. She shares a final piece of advice (42:23) for someone in a leadership role - grow your people - and her final thought (44:38) – have fun. (46:46) Debbie and Susan recap their discussion with Jan.
How are you living with change? Learn more about the Seasons Leadership offering Reflection Circles Living with Change.
Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard for a four-session virtual journey paced over four weeks, consisting of group coaching and guided reflection. Gain the confidence, capability and connection to address the complexity of change in your life.
Learn more at: Reflection Circles Summer (mailchi.mp)
Learn from Seasons Leadership Founders and Co-Hosts Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they explore the seasonal metaphor of summer – freedom, being in the flow, high energy and taking breaks to enjoy the season.
Show notes
(0:43) The show starts with Susan and Debbie introducing the metaphor of the seasons and why we call ourselves Seasons Leadership. (3:20) Susan talks about the influence of the book “Time Between Dreams” by Carol A. Vecchio, and shares Carol’s vision of thriving in summer, “means that we have a clear vision, dream or direction and the energy to launch, build and create it.” Both leaders share nostalgic stories about transitions to summer. Debbie’s is about middle school transitioning to summer (1:39) and Susan’s is metaphorical about the summer of her corporate career (3:44).
The leaders review questions (5:00) that we should ask ourselves during this season in our life and they encourage listeners to commit or make a decision (6:56) and encourage feelings of connection (7:51). The conversation turns to leadership (9:20) and Debbie talks about how coaching clients are grappling with work/life blending – especially during the summer. Susan encourages listeners to pursuing coaching (10:55).
During the show break (11:25) learn more about coaching through Seasons Leadership.
(12:34) The discussion continues about coaching in “summer” and the challenge of managing the energy of the season (13:30). Debbie and Susan share the importance of intentionally taking breaks (14:08) and how this relates to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The leaders reflect on how the “western world” views taking breaks (16:47).
Susan shares an idea she got from the Gretchen Rubin Happier Podcast episode 379 – to pick a summer song (18:09) and Debbie and Susan share their summer songs. Next (22:55), they move on to book recommendations (see resources below) and explore the idea of a book report as a future podcast feature (27:38). Debbie and Susan wrap up the episode (28:36) reviewing their advice for the season.
Resources:
Happier - Ep. 379: Summer Songs, Family Traditions, and Trouble with a Full Cup of Coffee - Happier with Gretchen Rubin (getpodcast.com)
https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_my_stroke_of_insight?language=en
What we are reading this summer and other books referenced:
Time Between Dreams by Carol A. Vecchio
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Colors of the West by Molly Hashimoto
Whole Brain Living the Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters that Drive Our Life by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph. D
The Earned Life by Marshall Goldsmith
Go and Tell the Bees that I am Gone by Diana Gabaldon.
Learn from Kate Philips-Kaiser, an international leadership coach and facilitator, who supports leaders and their teams for high performance and growth. She has coached hundreds of leaders from around the world, ranging from startup founders to executives in large multinationals. In addition to her work with organizations, she coaches, facilitates and teaches in top business schools, including INSEAD in France and Singapore and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She has a deep appreciation for working with diverse people, cultures and management challenges. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Kate about creating space to recognize who we are becoming, leading and living with change and looking for the shiny core.
Show notes
After introductions (3:15) the episode starts with the leaders talking about their collaboration on Reflection Circles. Kate then talks about what leadership is about for her (3:56) – making something happen that would not have happened otherwise. (5:00) Kate shares her varied leadership journey from Canada to France to the United States of America. Susan asks if she thinks leaders are born or created (6:55) and Kate responds with thoughts on what leaders bring to different situations.
Kate shares (8:05) a personal story of leadership not working well and needing tenacity and agility (9:24). Kate talks about the importance of holding space (10:08) and appreciating how Seasons Leadership demonstrates vision. The leaders talk about the shift (11:18) when people recognize you in a different role and how this connects to change. Kate discusses how leading through change became important to her as a topic (12:16) and how she has coached many through change (12:57) and who they are becoming (13:50).
The conversation on leadership coaching expands to how Kate views herself as a collaborative leader (15:00), holding people accountable (15:36) and burning away the "crap" to reveal the shiny core underneath. Susan affirms Kate’s ability to see the shiny core as her vision (16:34). Kate reveals a big takeaway from being a coach in a business school (17:02) – you recognize there is no one way of being and you can tell when people are shining (17:30).
(18:00) – Show break – Learn more about the Seasons Leadership Reflection Circles offering.
The conversation continues (21:47) with Kate talking about how it is hard for people to lead through change and how they must first learn to live with change (24:02). Kate says that Reflection Circles was set up to help give people accountability (26:44) and that is where the magic happens. She shares the magic that comes from working with an international group (28:49) to create Reflection Circles. Susan shares her fandom of the program (31:27).
The conversation concludes with Kate talking about her values (35:50) and the advice she gives to people going through change (38:02). Susan and Debbie talk about their takeaways from their conversation with Kate (39:30).
Learn from Cindy Whiston, a consultant in diversity & inclusion, productivity, strategic planning, corporate wellness and conflict resolution. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Cindy about diversity, equity and inclusion and the importance of moving beyond your bias as a leader. This is part 2 of a 2-part discussion with Cindy.
Show notesThe discussion with Cindy Whiston starts with a recap of part 1 (2:34) and then Cindy centers part 2 of the discussion (2:46) on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Cindy shares (3:15) the “professions exercise” and Debbie and Susan go through the exercise with her to demonstrate how this can make people more aware of their biases. The leaders discuss (8:40) how biases come from our experience, background, the media etc.
Cindy asserts that as leaders, part of what we are being asked to do is to create an environment that is psychologically safe for all (9:28). They talk about the idea of belonging (9:28) and the impact of social pain (9:55). Cindy shares some client examples (11:08).
13:13 – Show Break – Learn more about the Seasons Leadership Reflection Circles offering.
Cindy reviews the different types of biases (16:51) and explains how affinity bias is the most insidious (17:36). The leaders discuss how to disrupt these biases (20:45) and the importance of inviting people in so they can share differing points of view (22:22). Cindy encourages listeners to think about what more is possible with new points of view (23:28). The leaders discuss (23:46) how to get away from a fear-based approach (26:00). Cindy encourages reframing as getting feedback, not failure. (27:20) Debbie gives a visual example of viewing the tasks as an obstacle course and there is that one you don’t believe you can get over prompting the metaphorical question: what is my wall?
Next, they examine what is holding people back from inviting other perspectives and supporting DEI (28:29). Cindy points out that often the skills that got us to where we are now (our leadership role) are the ones that will absolutely impact our ability to be successful in a DEI context. Susan brings up how leaders are typically graded (30:22) and how that might impact motivation to look for other perspectives. Cindy shares advice (32:29) on how to approach a workplace that does not value DEI – it first starts with yourself.
The conversation concludes with a discussion on why DEI efforts fail (34:00), and how to better support them. Cindy gives tips on how to help people recover when they let their bias get in the way (35:00). (37:10) Susan and Debbie share insights from part 2 of their discussion with Cindy.
Listen to part 1: How We Engage with People is Leadership with Cindy Whiston - Seasons Leadership Podcast
Resources:
· When “Culture Fit” is Code Word for Affinity Bias - Cultural Intelligence Center (culturalq.com)
· It’s Not Your Coworkers’ Job to Teach You About Social Issues (hbr.org)
· 24 Anti-Racist Movies and TV Shows You Can Stream Right Now | Glamour
· Talks to help you understand racism in America | TED Talks
· Podcasts | Anti-Racism Resources (harvard.edu)
Learn from Cindy Whiston, a consultant in diversity & inclusion, productivity, strategic planning, corporate wellness and conflict resolution. She has worked with 8,000+ clients globally, including Microsoft, The Boeing Company, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, REI, T-Mobile, City of Hope, FedEx Ground, Deloitte, Turner Construction, Marriott, Hilton, JPMC, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Premera Blue Cross, The Humane Society of the United States, Planned Parenthood and NPR. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Cindy about shifting your mindset to be more productive and seeing and engaging with your people as the essence of leadership. This is part 1 of a 2-part discussion with Cindy.
Show notes
After introductions (2:20), Cindy shares what she wants to talk about...the dynamic that is most relevant to her consultant work - mindset. (3:00) Cindy defines terms like “belief systems” and how they impact our focus. As an example (3:30), Cindy shares how her and Debbie met and the work they did together to help create clarity around Debbie’s own priorities. Cindy gives additional examples of how she has helped others shift their mindset (4:23) and how listeners can too (6:00) through exploring opportunity cost.
The conversation broadens (8:00) to how changing expectations makes someone a better leader. Debbie talks about the power of living out of her calendar (9:00) versus her inbox and how she became more productive (12:45). (13:32) Cindy then talks about the impact of this behavior shift on your team and shares an example of a leader doing a whiteboard activity.
During the show break (14:30), you can learn more about the new Seasons Leadership Workshop offering - Reflection Circles. Debbie and Susan share their experiences with the workshop and one of the founders, Kate Philips-Kaiser – talks more about its development and unique benefits to participants. Learn more on our website: www.seasonsleadership.com
When the show returns, the leaders discuss (18:23) more about mindset and leadership - Cindy jokes this could go on for hours! Cindy contends that the way we produce the most results is through others (18:50) and gives several examples. Each example is centered around the environment in which someone is asked to engage. (21:23) Cindy shares a personal example from when she was holding a group session and the assumptions she made that were incorrect. She encourages listeners to play with changing their mindset and gives advice (24:05) on how to do that. She challenges listeners (25:38) to see themselves as seated side-by-side with their employees – people aren’t problems, people have problems. The group talks about how to play with this concept (26:40) and center yourself on producing results (28:50). Cindy talks about building self-confidence and humility (29:20), how it’s a leader’s job to get it right and not always be right (30:23) and the leader’s role to teach others how to communicate (31:00).
(32:23) Susan asks how do you become aware of your own mindset? Cindy shares that coaching is for people who are excelling and want to take performance to next level. She alludes to the discussion in part 2 that will address common forms of bias and how to recognize them. (35:08) Cindy encourages people to create situations to push their own buttons. Last (37:20), Susan and Debbie break down learnings from their conversation with Cindy.
Learn from Darren Sekiguchi, vice president and program manager, F-35 Lightning II Production Programat Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. Throughout his leadership career he has held various positions across Supply Chain, Program Management, Quality and Production Operations/Manufacturing across the Commercial and Defense Aerospace and Services industry. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard as they talk to Darren about transitioning roles, his metaphor of chameleon leadership, listening, gaining trust, instilling self-confidence, his diversity and inclusion advocacy and more.
Show notes
After introductions, (3:37) Darren shares his journey from an island kid raised in Hawaii and his love of the magic of flight. Next, Darren talks about his latest career move (4:54) and how he navigates that change as a leader, assesses his environment and builds trust. Susan asks about his leadership ability (6:44) – if he was a natural born leader or did he develop it? Darren shares his passion for the journey (8:07).
The conversation moves to a central metaphor to Darren’s leadership – the chameleon (8:32). Darren provides useful examples of how like the chameleon a leader should be nibble and flexible. (9:38) He talks about how a leader should understand the strengths of their team and how they can all work together. Susan describes the metaphor as next level leadership (11:39) but challenges how someone stays authentic when working to adapt. Darren links authenticity to having vision like the chameleon’s ability to see in other ways (12:48). Through the metaphor Darren talks about the importance of using your voice as a leader – like the chameleon’s ballistic tongue (15:12), remaining on the leading edge – like the chameleon’s gripper feet (17:39) and how to help build confidence (18:37). Darren admits something he does NOT have in common with the lizard (19:40).
Next the leaders talk about how to connect and build trust with your team (23:33). Darren shares his induction process for new employees (23:57) and a strategy he uses to work on aspects of his leadership that are less strong (26:18). Debbie and Darren talk about an inspirational leader they have in common (30:34).
The group talks about the common struggle with self-confidence as a leader (32:40) and Darren offers advice centered around building a network of support. Susan asks about work week balance (37:06) and Darren shares the best development opportunity for team members (38:43). The conversation circles back to Darren’s current transition (39:34), the challenges and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will give you honest feedback (42:18). Darren talks about what he is doing personally to get better as a leader (43:53) and more on how to build a cross-functional team (45:53).
The conversation ends with Darren’s diversity and inclusion advocacy (48:57) and Darren shares what people can do to be better advocates and allies. The leaders talk about final advice for leaders (50:04) and building a legacy. Darren shares his (51:18) inspiring one. Last, (52:23) Debbie and Susan break down the learnings from their discussion with Darren.
Learn from Adam Reynolds, who has more than two decades of experience coaching individuals navigating conflict. Adam is principal owner at Adam Reynolds Leadership. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard for part 2 of their discussion with Adam about conflict. Together they explore the different roles of the triangle of blame and strategies to successfully navigate conflict in each position – victim, offender and rescuer.
Show notes
(1:34) Debbie asks Adam about how he stays objective when coaching someone through conflict. Adam reveals his mindset (2:08) to help people have clarity on what they are seeking. He also talks about the importance of recognizing when you are in a pattern of blame. Adam affirms the powerful emotions that come with venting (3:52) but how people need to learn to move beyond that (4:35).
The group explores the victim power dynamic (6:30) and how resolution is possible (9:10). They turn back to the allure of being the rescuer (10:15) and Susan points out that it is easier to be objective in a business context then in your own family (10:40). Adam gives tips on how to be more neutral (11:45) but he and Susan circle back to the emotions that come into play (12:52) and Adam asserts that the more you are part of the result that can be created the more it matters to you (13:22).
(13:49) Debbie asks how do you move out of the rescuer role? Adam talks about the process of getting out, (16:10) examining from a position of wanting power and ultimately taking responsibility (18:13) as key. Adam shares (18:50) that it is easy to give people advice on what to do when you don't need to do it and that the best thing is to go towards the conflict (20:52). The group agrees that the trigger for the start of the triangle is the victim role (24:12) and that they have the power to circumvent a lot of bad energy (26:14) by taking responsibility first.
The offender role in the triangle also is addressed (28:15) and Adam gives advice on moving into curiosity. Adam shares his bigger belief (31:15) that victims being right does not get them power. This is where, Adam asserts, the controversy lies (31:35). The leaders then discuss how to practically employ conflict resolution (33:00) and Adam shares final thoughts on conflict resolution as a practice one must be attentive to (34:05). Next, Susan and Debbie (36:00) break down learnings from the 2-part discussion with Adam.
Listen to part 1: Finding Your Power in Conflict with Adam Reynolds - Seasons Leadership Podcast
Learn from Adam Reynolds, coach and principal owner at Adam Reynolds Leadership. Adam says, “the most important part of the work is that it matters deeply to each client.” Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard as they talk to Adam about the fruits of conflict, why it needs to be addressed and how the triangle of blame is a negative force for conflict resolution. This is part 1 of a 2-part discussion aimed at giving listeners actionable advice to better move through conflict in their own lives and emerge with stronger relationships and better leadership outcomes.
Show notes
(2:25) Debbie asks Adam to tackle an aspect of conflict. Adam shares how conflict comes in many forms (3:55) and Susan presses if conflict is bad? The answer to that question continues to unfold throughout the discussion between the leaders. Performance reviews (5:40) are referenced as an example of bad conflict.
Next, Adam introduces the concept of the “triangle of blame” (6:19) which is also sometimes referenced as “the drama triangle.” He reinforces his thesis that conflict is actually good and necessary (6:55) and is a way to create deeper relationships. The leaders agree that it is usually not fun to be in conflict (7:50) but Adam suggests that unresolved conflict is not good (9:23) and that you need to stay in the conflict so you can work through it. Susan points out the adversarial nature of conflict (10:50) and then Adam points to the importance of diversity for us to grow (12:05) and how naturally out of that comes conflict. The leaders discuss the broader context of conflict and how all relationships are at the core of human accomplishment (13:22) which naturally brings conflict.
The group discusses how, to our detriment, people are not taught to engage in conflict effectively (14:47) and all the negative outcomes that come with conflict avoidance (17:20). Adam shares that the triangle is the smallest possible relationship system that can restore balance in a time of stress but that the “triangle of blame” however, is not an example of that (18:48).
Next, Adam provides examples of victimization (19:24) and how the perception of that causes stress. The leaders discuss how objectivity versus subjectivity plays a role (21:05). Then Adam gives an example to break down the “triangle of blame” (23:57) and how victims often feel powerless (26:07). This powerlessness plays a key role in driving the triangle (26:07). Roles in the triangle are discussed with Debbie asking about the rescuer (30:44). The group agrees that being the rescuer can feel empowering (31:20) and even seductive (34:15). The roles in the triangle will be discussed more in-depth in part 2.
(35:28) Adam breaks down the task of the rescuer and of a good coach in the “triangle of blame” to help someone effectively move through conflict. The group discusses power (37:05) and then connects the concept back to leadership (39:17) and how effective leaders help people gain back their power (39:45). Debbie and Susan break down the learnings from part 1 of their discussion with Adam (42:40) and look forward to part 2.
All episodes of the Seasons Leadership Podcast are available on our show page: Seasons Leadership Podcast
Learn from Dr. David Spong and Dr. Cathy Spong – a father and daughter duo – who each have a demonstrated history of leadership success applying the Baldrige criteria. Be inspired by their support of each other’s leadership success across different disciplines – aerospace and medicine. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders and podcast hosts Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they talk to Cathy and David about leading with values, shaping the culture and the importance of mentorship.
Show notes
(1:51) The show starts off with a discussion about how leadership – despite being practiced in different fields – is really the same (1:51). David talks about how the higher up you get in an organization the difference between leadership gets less and less (2:26). Cathy talks about bouncing ideas off each other (3:18) despite their organizations having completely different goals. Susan asks what they have learned from each other through this unique relationship (3:55) and of course the conversation turns back to Baldrige but also a more personal note when David shares a proud dad moment (5:00).
Cathy inspires by talking about the importance of living your values (5:41) and never expecting someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself. Then both David (6:33) and Cathy (8:02) share a story about a time they were proud of the other.
The conversation takes a familiar turn when Susan asks about the challenge of having a “bad boss” (9:15) an issue that both David and Cathy can relate to. David reinforces that you can’t let a bad boss change what you do (9:50) and Cathy agrees (11:09) and adds that a leader should still work to change the culture if they can.
Debbie asks what advice they have for a leader early in the journey (12:38) – the leaders talk about mentorship and setting expectations without emotion. Susan observes that the relationship Cathy and David have is a mentor relationship (13:23) and how that takes away the loneliness that leaders can sometimes be susceptible to. David shares how not having a coach early on was a detriment (15:50) and shares advice to create a “kitchen cabinet” and choose carefully. Cathy advocates (17:14) for leaders to establish the culture and lift people up.
The discussion concludes with David sharing (17:37) how reaching “retirement age” changed him and imploring leaders to have the courage of your convictions – if you think it is the right decision, make it and move on.
(20:00) Debbie and Susan share key takeaways – shaping the culture, leadership is leadership across different industries and the importance of having a mentor or coach. They share resources to get you started now. This is part 3 of a 3-episode series featuring Dr. David Spong and Dr. Catherine Spong.
Related episodes
Part 1: Inside the Baldrige Leadership Journey with Dr. David Spong - Seasons Leadership Podcast
Part 2: Improving the health of pregnant women through leadership with Dr. Cathy Spong
Visit Seasons Leadership Podcast show page to subscribe: Seasons Leadership Podcast
Learn from Dr. Cathy Spong who is a Tenured Professor and Chair in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She also serves as Chief of the Department’s Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and holds the Paul C. MacDonald Distinguished Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they interview Cathy about her leadership and mission to improve outcomes for pregnant women and families.
Show notes
Dr. Spong talks about her leadership journey (3:57) and when she started to see herself as a leader. She shares a story about how hard it was to be a newcomer needing to lead (4:30) and gives clear advice. She relates the importance of getting to know your team and shares a relatable example of a scientist wanting to paint (5:24). She connects some of her early success to her exposure to the Baldrige criteria (6:35).
Next, Cathy reveals what she has recognized as key as she has grown in her leadership experiences – communication (7:58). Then the leaders discuss the experience gap (9:00) and the danger of being in an echo chamber (10:33) and needing to surround yourself with people that will challenge you. Dr. Spong shares her mission or “why” (12:13) and explores one of her biggest leadership challenges – the COVID pandemic (13:33).
The conversation shifts to what Cathy is most proud of – her family (16:23) and how she manages to balance it all (17:13). She shares a personal story of how she influenced others just by being herself and inadvertently broke the rules (18:30). Finally, she addresses the loneliness of being a leader sometimes (21:25).
(25:20) Debbie and Susan share their insights from the discussion with Cathy. This is part 2 of a 3-episode series featuring Dr. David Spong and Dr. Cathy Spong.
Interested in learning more about the Baldrige criteria? Listen to part 1: Inside the Baldrige Leadership Journey with Dr. David Spong - Seasons Leadership Podcast
Learn from Dr. David Spong who retired from a 40-year career in aerospace as president of Aerospace Support for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. During his tenure two different organizations he led won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Service. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland as they interview David about the Baldrige criteria, leadership excellence, culture and the relentless pursuit of quality.
Show notes
David explains what the Baldrige Quality award is (2:55) and begins to breakdown how it helps teams pursue excellence with leadership setting the culture (4:45). He shares how he originally believed he didn’t have time for this “soft stuff” (5:58) but then became a true believer in the power of using the Baldrige criteria. He explains how he transitioned from an engineer to a “caring leader” (8:00) all through realizing the power of the metrics.
David talks about quality first (10:40) and gives a very visual example in aerospace related to fuel tanks in wings (12:32). He draws a distinction between management and leadership (15:30) and shares the cruise ship metaphor (16:22). Next, he talks about being a values-based leader (18:19), demonstrating values (19:34) and the role of employee surveys (21:40) and his thoughts on feedback (23:36).
Debbie Collard asks David if knowing what he knows now, would he change anything in his 40+ year career (26:12). A surprise voice joins the podcast (28:52) who will actually be our guest next week – David’s daughter Catherine Spong, M.D.
(32:00) Debbie and Susan share their insights from the first episode of the all-new Seasons Leadership Podcast. This is part 1 of a 3-episode series featuring Dr. David Spong and Dr. Catherine Spong.
More information: Baldrige Performance Excellence Program | NIST
Join Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland for the all-new Seasons Leadership podcast. New episodes will be posted on Wednesdays through out the seasons starting in April 2022.
Join Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard for the all-new Seasons Leadership Podcast starting in April 2022.
Learn from Kris Wilson, land use and real estate lawyer and Office Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Bellevue, WA, office. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard as they interview Kris about setting boundaries, turning constraints into power, leading with values and the importance of helping people solve problems.
Show Notes:
Susan is excited to introduce her sister-in-law Kris Wilson to WIL podcast listeners as someone she has always admired for her success and ability to set boundaries. Kris tells how she came to be in her current role (2:50) and the important leadership challenges she has faced recently as office manager. The women discuss boundary setting (4:36) and start to get at the success Kris has making everything in her life work. Kris describes how to reframe boundary setting as a power (5:53). The women talk about the importance of leaders setting an example (8:05) so that others can be empowered to set their own boundaries.
The middle of the episode tackles Kris’ “why” (9:55) and how to lead with values (10:56). Kris describes why inclusiveness in leadership is the most important value (11:57) as well as being vulnerable in the face of uncertainty (12:32). The conversation again comes back to choosing your power and setting strong boundaries to succeed (14:30) and the courage it takes to accomplish that. Debbie is inspired by Kris’ ability to list off all her personal values (14:56). Kris shares that reading great works and inspirational quotes help inspire her (15:05) and how watching others succeed gives her satisfaction (16:51).
Kris describes how to celebrate with those at the office (17:29) through shoutouts and at recognition events and how to celebrate at home (19:10) with dance parties! She spends some time talking about having a growth mindset (20:10) and looking for diverse perspectives (21:00). Debbie likens this to Kris "filling up her leadership toolbox” (22:00). Kris emphasizes the need to be open to “unlearning” as part of development (23:08) and being comfortable being uncomfortable. She decries the common trend to label people “flip floppers” (24:35).
The conversation concludes with Kris sharing the two books (27:02) she continues to use in her life: Stephen Coveys’ “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and “Just Enough: Tools for Creating Success in Your Work and Life,” by Laura Nash and Howard Stevenson. She talks about building a kaleidoscope pattern in your life (30:08) and the support she needs to succeed (30:48).
Kris notes that the opinions she expressed within this WIL episode are solely her own and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of her firm or its clients.
Additional Links:All episodes of the Women in Leadership podcast are available at the WIL Show Page
Learn from Julie Charlestein, president and CEO of Premier Dental Products. Join Seasons Leadership Co-Founder Susan Ireland and Seasons Leadership Communications and Marketing Leader Lauren Penning as they interview Julie about leading with authenticity, the excitement behind the dental industry and how she adapted to the gravitas of her leadership role.
Show Notes:
Julie shares the story of how Premier Dental got started (1:34) and the impact of the family business on the dental industry. Next the women discuss her personal leadership journey (2:35). Connecting to her mission, or “why,” Julie talks about her success (4:03) and how she looks to the past and her grandfather “Mr. M” (5:20). Her favorite adage of his was “remember who you are,” which connects to the theme that continues to show up in this episode: the importance of authenticity.
Julie teases exciting news coming soon to the dental industry through her company’s innovation (7:10), how the pandemic challenges affected her business and how her employees rose to the challenge (9:40) and how they celebrate success (11:21). Julie has more to say about the exciting, technical world of dental products (12:33) and the importance of working outside of a family business first to validate your own capabilities (15:25).
Susan and Lauren ask Julie to talk more about preparedness (16:30) and how to adapt to the gravitas of a new leadership role (17:49). Julie compares balance in life to filling up all your “glasses” from a limited water jug (20:02) and gives advice on how to set boundaries (21:19). The discussion again comes back to “authenticity” and being who you are (22:49). Julie shares more insight into her evolution as a leader (25:35), her stick-to-itiveness (26:30) – yes this is a real word – and what support looks like for her (29:35).
Additional Links:Medium: https://julie-charlestein.medium.com/
WIL show page: The Women in Leadership Podcast by Seasons Leadership
Learn from Kate Gilman Williams, 12-year-old animal activist, founder of Kids Can Save Animals, Club 15 podcast and author of Let’s Go on Safari! Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard interview Kate about leadership, advocacy having no age limit and the importance of saving animals.
Show Notes: Kate opens up about what inspired her to become an activist at the age of seven and shares the story of her first safari (3:03). Next Kate talks about how she expanded her role as an activist and started podcasting (5:00). The conversation gets serious about the urgency of helping save animals now (5:42) with Kate sharing that every 8 hours a rhino is killed for its horn and every 15 minutes an elephant is killed for its tusk.
Kate shares a story about how the kids at her school helped koalas (6:29) to show how kids everywhere can have an impact. She talks about the mentors that inspire her (7:00) including Jane Goodall and Sara Maston. Kate shares her mission (8:03) to save animals and to teach advocacy. She expands on this idea (9:22) by explaining that many kids get inspired by other issues to help as well and how she hopes her advocacy can provide an example of how kids can make a difference.
Finally, the conversation turns to Kate’s most pressing challenges (10:06) to get the word out and Susan and Debbie discuss how we are not all just one thing (12:04) but that we can, like Kate, have many passions. Kate encourages all people to get involved (12:04) in stopping the use of animals for entertainment.
Additional Links:
kidscansaveanimals.com
Download the song: https://songwhip.com/jennhartmannluck/kids-can-save-animals
All episodes of the Women in Leadership podcast are available at the WIL show page
Learn from Seasons Leadership Co-Founders and podcast hosts Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard as they express their gratitude for the women leaders that guest-appeared on the Women in Leadership Podcast. Listen as they review the themes of season 2 and the incredible advice and insight offered in our first ten episodes!
Show Notes:
Susan and Debbie share their gratitude for all the Women who have guest-appeared on the Women in Leadership Podcast!
(2:04) Rita Robbins, organizational and professional development trainer and neuroscience consultant: Rita is a big proponent of taking the learning and moving on.
(4:06) Marissa Thomas, CEO and co-founder of For the Breast of Us, the first online platform for women of color and their families affected by breast cancer: Marissa gives important advice for how to support people dealing with a health crisis or personal tragedy.
(7:03) Christine Noffz, Dawn Rowley, and Susan Gellatly, founders of BenchStrength Coaching: Learn about the special connection Debbie and Susan have with these founders.
(9:26) Tamya Olszanska, a senior consultant and certified facilitator with Scherer Leadership Center: Hear the life goal of Susan’s that Tamya is currently living.
(11:33) Melissa Fleener, leader Integrated Metals capability and Auburn site for Boeing Fabrication, and Beth Schryer, vice president and general manager of Boeing Facilities and Asset Management: Susan and Debbie appreciate Melissa and Beth’s very different approaches and their shared thoughts on mentorship.
(15:11) Denise Shields, principal of Shields Resource Group; a niche Baldrige-based consulting organization: Through Susan and Debbie’s gratitude for Denise’s expertise in Baldrige they foreshadow a major topic for season 3 of the WIL podcast.
(17:41) Susan Griffin, nurse executive leader for 30 years: Hear the fun story of how Debbie and this podcast guest connected.
(19:46) Reverend Canon Liz Easton, canon to the ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska: Liz is a faith-based leader featured on WIL because of a listener request. Learn what she inspired Susan to do after guest-appearing.
(22:04) Patricia Zinnecker, international entrepreneur, coach and author: Learn the practice that Patricia encourages that Debbie and Susan believe help propel success.
(26:30) Liat Arad, vice president of Marketing, UBQ Materials: Learn the strategy Liat uses that surprised Susan.
Additional Links:
All episodes of the Women in Leadership podcast are available at the WIL Show Page
Learn from Liat Arad as shares her journey to sustainability and how she leads with inspiration and excitement! She serves as vice president of Marketing at UBQ Materials, an award-winning, clean-tech company that is set out to create a waste-free world by converting landfill-destined waste into a climate-positive substitute to plastic. Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard talk with Liat about the challenges of being a new mother and leading an organization during a pandemic. In this episode, Liat shares gems to help listeners find inspiration, build better networks and evaluate what is important in their work and life.
Show Notes:
Liat shares her unique journey to sustainability (2:05) when she was bit by the start-up bug. The women then talk about her “why” (5:05) and her desire to leave the world a better place, especially after becoming a mother. The conversation turns to finding inspiration and excitement in the everyday challenges (6:22) and Liat shares the mission of UBQ Materials to get to zero waste.
Susan, Debbie and Liat explore in-depth what it means to celebrate success (10:30). Debbie gets real about the importance of celebrating accomplishments and her and Susan give tips on how to make it meaningful (11:24). Liat talks about the burnout many women experience (15:50).
The women address if being prepared for leadership is a gendered question (16:36) and the idea of embracing a learning curve when taking on a new role. Liat shares the benefit of working for a natural teacher (19:13) and promoting a good team culture. She tells the story of when she decided to move in a different direction in her career and the network she relied on (20:37). The women talk about how to build an authentic connection with a mentor (22:00) and Liat shares the softer side of resilience (23:50).
The conversation concludes with gems on how to help your team come out of the “zoom bubble” (26:30), and the ephemeral work/life balance (28:00). Liat shares an incredible metaphor on juggling (29:55) – encouraging you to think about which ones are glass. She also discusses paying it forward (32:34) and promoting spaces that help women succeed (33:40). Liat finishes by sharing her desire to be like the Lorax (34:40).
LN: www.linkedin.com/in/liatarad/
Additional Links: www.ubqmaterials.com
All episodes of the Women in Leadership podcast are available at the WIL Show Page
Learn from Patricia Zinnecker as she shares how trusting in the flow of life helped reshape her leadership in a positive way. At only 29 years of age, Patricia has a master’s degree in psycho linguistics and international experience in entrepreneurship. Her new book, From Burnout Back to Life (available in German), illustrates Patricia’s perspective in life to recognize the right measure and tells the story of her pivotal burnout after working 80-100 hours a week for years and how she came back stronger and more resilient. Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard talk with Patricia about her shift in priorities, growing in maturity as a leader and helping others achieve balance in business and life. This episode is packed with tips to help listeners begin taking back their lives while still achieving their professional goals.
Show Notes:
In the first third of the episode, Patricia shares her story from burnout to chillprenuer and gets honest about the importance of sharing your talents to make the world a better place (4:05). Debbie asks Patricia to share the uniqueness of her coaching approach (5:09). Patricia then shares a personal story about her sister’s wedding (6:00) and how that helped her start to reevaluate her values. The women talk about the role of writing to understand better what you did and why (8:00), how upholding your values contributes to success (9:20) and trusting in the flow of life (10:53). The conversation turns to passions – including Patricia’s love of horses (12:00) and the serenity of nature. She talks about her greatest achievements (14:37) and shares the German championship title she won – twice (14:59)! Patricia gives practical advice on celebrating accomplishments (15:52) and the women discuss the importance of having a roadmap to success (18:18). Patricia shares the common German idea of “the way is the goal,” and talks about how to stay motivated (19:40). Gaps in leadership are discussed (20:45) including ones Patricia has faced – the experience gap (20:45) and gender gap (23:40). Next, the women discuss resiliency (25:00). Susan encourages Patricia to explain the role support systems have in her success (27:30) and how she found balance (30:00). Patricia shares tips on how to prioritize by focusing on high impact versus just being busy (31:05) and the role of commitment buddies (32:24).
IG: @der.chillpreneur
LN: www.linkedin.com/in/patriciazinnecker/ FB: www.facebook.com/der.chillpreneur
Additional Links: www.der-chillpreneur.de www.seasonsleadership.com
All episodes of the Women in Leadership podcast are available at the WIL Show Page
Learn from Liz Easton as she shares how she leads in the moment with integrity. The Reverend Canon Liz Easton is Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska. She has served the Episcopal Church in Nebraska since her ordination to the priesthood in 2009. She is a co-host of the podcast Popping Collars, which explores the intersection of religion and popular culture. Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard and Seasons Leadership Communications and Marketing Leader Lauren Penning talk with Liz about leadership, her faith, moving from Seattle to Nebraska, leading from the second chair and pandemic leadership challenges.
Show Notes:
Liz shares how she decided on the unique profession of priest (5:40) in the Episcopal Church which includes the story of her big move from Seattle, WA, to Omaha, NE (9:00). The women discuss how a change of place can help with a shift in leadership roles (11:33) and the grace of having a fresh start. Liz talks about how she strives to empower people with faith as her cornerstone (14:11). Next the conversation turns to unique leadership challenges faced by the church during the pandemic (16:30). Liz shares that she is most proud of playing matchmaker (but not how you think) (19:50). The discussion moves to how Liz is successful in her current leadership role by asking for help (22:15), being comfortable leading from the second chair (24:30) and making decisions in the moment (26:40). The last third of the discussion covers the two sides to resiliency (29:01), how failing is ultimately part of success (30:36) and finding balance (32:40). Liz explains the story of The Wandering Clarkson (37:24), what cartoon character she would be and her latest book recommendations.
IG: @LizEast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
Additional Links: Popping Collars Podcast
All episodes of the Women in Leadership podcast are available at the WIL Show Page
Learn from Susan Griffin as she shares how she lives her values every day. Susan served in progressive leadership positions including nurse executive leader for 30 years with over 22 years as a chief nursing officer in hospitals and the last six years of her career as chief nurse executive for Methodist Health Care System in San Antonio, Texas. Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard interview Susan about how she led and supported team efforts to achieve Magnet Nursing Excellence Designation and Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Designation and her passion for excellence in leadership, mentoring and service.
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Show Notes:
Susan talks about her mission to pursue excellence for the glory of God on episode 7 of the Women in Leadership podcast. She shares the importance of creating a big vision (4:29) and how that helped propel her to success in her nursing career. Learn what a chief culture officer is (5:53) and what Susan believes is the key to financial success in business.
Next, the women talk about living your values (7:02). Susan shares how transparency and humility in leadership helped her achieve incredible results including leading teams to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and Magnet Nursing Excellence Designation. She tells the story of how she helped set up a clinic in Tanzania (9:15) and shares reflections on thankfulness (11:26).
Halfway through the episode the conversation turns to the importance of mentorships (14:36) and growing an executive presence (16:18). Susan talks about the mentor that inspired her to get the training she needed to succeed early as a leader in nursing (17:47). Susan also shares her thoughts on the biggest leadership challenges facing nursing today (23:10). The last third of the episode is about authenticity (27:29). Susan shares how she helps foster an environment where it is safe for others to speak up which creates better outcomes. This leads into how an environment of trust is essential to make hard decisions (31:21).
Special Guest LN: DO WE HAVE A LINK FOR THIS?
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
Additional Links:
Baldrige Foundation
All episodes of the Women in Leadership podcast are available at the WIL Show Page
Learn from Denise Shields as she shares how her mission of "creating better business results" for her clients helped them reach their own incredible goals. Denise is the Principal of Shields Resource Group; a niche Baldrige-based consulting organization. Seasons Leadership Co-Founders Susan Ireland and Debbie Collard interview Denise Shields as she gives practical advice on goal setting and discusses the importance of resilience.
Show Notes:
Denise shares how she became a Baldrige consultant (3:30) starting the theme of the episode around being ready when opportunity knocks on your door. Next the women discuss the importance of mission in an organization (6:18): from the mission that supports your business to being behind the mission of your clients. Denise shares two inspiring stories of how her mission of creating “better business results” for her clients helped them reach their own incredible goals.
Next the conversation turns to values (12:45) and how they align (or don’t) with a business decision. Denise shares her biggest accomplishment (17:10) out of a storied career and talks about grit (21:25). If you are looking for ideas on how to celebrate success Denise has some great advice (22:52) and find out what she got Debbie to do for the first time (25:16).
The last third of the discussion covers how to prepare as a leader (26:00) and goal setting (28:26). Denise shares the five goal areas she focuses on, her practice of setting goals every year and when to know to pull back. The women talk about the importance of resilience in life (31:15) and what advice Denise has for other women leaders (hint – it’s not about competing).
Special Guest LN: Denise Shields
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
Additional Links:
Baldrige Foundation and the California Council for Excellence
All episodes of the Women in Leadership podcast are available at the WIL Show Page
Learn from Melissa Fleener and Elizabeth Schryer as they share their stories and career advice! Melissa leads the Integrated Metals capability and the Auburn site for Boeing Fabrication while Beth is the Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Facilities and Asset Management.
Special Guests LN: Melissa Fleener and Elizabeth Schryer
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
Learn from Tamya Olszanska, a senior consultant and certified facilitator with Scherer Leadership Center, as she tells her story effective guidance through the LDI experience for applicants as well as leading, facilitating, and managing the LDI program. She is a renowned specialist in leadership development and alternative education which supports professionals as they create inspired solutions in alignment with their core values.
Special Guest LN: Tamya Olszanska
Sign up for Unleashing your Leadership Potential, Introduction to Leading at a Higher Level Workshop:
https://wiseratwork.com/unleashing-your-leadership-potential-introduction-to-leading-at-a-higher-level/
Sign Up for LDI: https://scherercenter.com/workshop/ldi-october-2021-agata-cielarska/
For more information on leadership development, visit https://www.seasonsleadership.com/.
Sponsored by Ascension Transformation Solutions
Partnership with Seasons Leadership Program
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
Learn from Christine Noffz, Dawn Rowley, and Susan Gellatly, founders of BenchStrength Coaching, as they tell their story of how they were each building their own business, pursuing their passion in coaching, and recognized they could make a greater impact by joining forces. From sharing a passion for developing women leaders, they also started Women Rising, a women’s leadership development program, designed by women for women to offer you something they never had while in male-dominated industries.
Special Guests LN: Christine Noffz, Dawn Rowley, Susan Gellatly
Bench Strength Coaching LN: @BenchStrengthCoaching
Women Rising Web: https://benchstrengthcoaching.com/women-rising-by-benchstrength-coaching/
The program's mission is to prepare aspiring women for greater success by learning how to leverage strengths to drive results and overcome habits that may interfere with effectiveness. Designed and led by women, each participant leaves with an individual development plan based on learnings from the program.
For more information, visit https://benchstrengthcoaching.com/ or dial 888-312-0129 to talk to a coach!
Sponsored by Ascension Transformation Solutions
Partnership with Seasons Leadership Program
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
Learn from Marissa Thomas, CEO and Co-founder of For the Breast of Us, the first online platform for women of color and their families affected by breast cancer, as she tells her story of how she overcame hardship, found community, and created an opportunity for you to join the sisterhood of breast cancer survivors!
Special Guest IG: @marissadt28
For the Breast of Us IG: @forthebreastofus
The company’s mission is to uplift women of color affected by breast cancer by sharing stories to empower survivors and help make the rest of their lives the best through education, advocacy, and community.
For more information, visit https://breastofus.com/.
Sponsored by Ascension Transformation Solutions
Partnership with Seasons Leadership Program
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
Learn from Rita Robbins, organizational and professional development trainer and neuroscience consultant, as she tells her story of how she became the first female leader engineer at Bell Labs, how she finds her passion for leadership today by using her voice for empowerment, and how she creates the opportunity for you to apply life-changing lessons she has learned over the past 25 years.
In today's final episode of season 1, the ladies interview transformation experts Steven Rayner and William Belgard, Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Ascension Transformation Solutions, They talk about how corporate transformation, leadership development, and culture change are three key elements to leading a successful organization. For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
In today’s episode, the ladies talk about how to fight against your natural tendencies to become unmotivated at your job and explore why this happens. They talk about their own experiences with finding motivation and equip you with tools for you to implement when you find yourself lacking inspiration. For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
In today’s episode, the ladies talk about the top 5 tips on how to successfully navigate change in 2021. They talk about lessons learned from their past experiences and give advice on how to handle the aspects you can control in a changing environment. For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
In today’s episode, the ladies talk about how to successfully align goals for 2021 for the most impactful new year resolutions. They talk about their favorite aspects of vision boarding and give advice on how to accomplish your goals in the new year. For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
In today’s episode, the ladies talk about how to improve work performance, showmanship, and professionalism virtually. The ladies read encouraging stories from weekly listeners on teleworking.For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
In today’s episode, the ladies talk about why executive coaching matters and the benefits you could receive from your own personal executive coach. Debbie and Susan share about their own journey into becoming executive coaches and share about the five steps you should take in order to prepare for your coaching experience! Tune in on Women Wednesdays for more episodes! For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
In today’s episode, the ladies talk about how to find empowerment and strength during today's economy. They share their own personal stories of resilience and how it fits into being a successful leader as well as the five common characteristics a resilient person should be able to identify with. Tune in on Women Wednesdays for more episodes! For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
In today’s episode, the ladies talk about the importance of being a values-based leader in today’s world answering questions about how to handle a crisis professionally and how to handle tough direct feedback all while remaining aligned with your values. For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
In today's episode, the ladies talk about the importance of personal branding and offer secret tips on how to develop your own personal brand. Tune in on Women Wednesdays for more episodes! For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
In today’s episode, Maryanne Metz will introduce Debbie Collard and Susan Ireland, co-founders of Seasons. You learn about how they started their 30+ corporate careers and how they became executive leaders. The ladies talk about culture in the workplace as a woman, what inspired them to create the Seasons Leadership Development Program, and offer advice to further advance your personal leadership goals. For more information, visit www.seasonsleadership.com or www.ascensionts.com. Follow us on social media to stay connected!
IG: @womeninleadership_podcast
LN: Women in Leadership Podcast
This Podcast is Sponsored by Ascension Transformation Solutions.