Chat With Leaders: Recent Episodes

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Rick Plympton, Corporate Fellow and Former CEO at Optimax Systems, Inc, shares their journey of transitioning to an employee ownership trust and empowering a local workforce, exploring how shared prosperity drives meaningful, long-term success.

Rick and Jeff discuss open-book financial management, the math behind profit-sharing models, and creating a perpetual purpose trust that makes a business unsellable, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Empowering the Whole Team: Shifting away from a command-and-control hierarchy allows a company to scale at the sphere of influence of the entire workforce rather than just a few top executives, which unlocked a sustainable 20% year-over-year organic growth rate for OptiMax.
• Radical Equity and Shared Wealth: Distributing 25% of company profits equally among core team members—regardless of whether they are the CEO or the custodian—fosters a unified workspace culture where every individual values absolute precision and quality.
• Hardcoding Legacy with EOTs: Moving to an Employee Ownership Trust (or Perpetual Purpose Trust) establishes permanent corporate governance that blocks predatory corporate buyouts, protects local families, and caps executive compensation at a healthy 7x ratio to the lowest earner.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Optimax’s website at www.Optimaxsi.com

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, host Jeff Bond sits down with Jackie Cardello, President of GRF CPAs & Advisors, to discuss how values, independence, and community impact drive sustainable success. Jackie shares how her background in English, philosophy, and psychology fuels human-centered leadership in a technical industry.

We explore GRF's courageous pivot from an "eat what you kill" compensation model to a goals-based system that rewards collective stewardship and leadership behaviors. Jackie also shares the strategic advantages of remaining fiercely independent and managing difficult partner conversations with vulnerability.

Key Takeaways

• The Humanities Edge: A background in philosophy and psychology builds the empathy and communication skills required to lead people and navigate tough organizational shifts.
• Incentivizing Stewardship: Swapping out individual profit models for goals-based compensation allows a firm to intentionally reward mentorship and collaboration over short-term revenue.
• Independence as a Magnet: Staying independent preserves a firm's core values, allowing for client-first decision-making and an authentic culture that naturally attracts and retains top talent.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.grfcpa.com/ Follow Shane on LinkedIn at
• Follow GRF CPAs & Advisors (GRF) on social media at:
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grf-cpas-and-advisors
  • Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/grfcpas
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grfcpas/
• Follow Jackie on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-cardello-grf/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Kevin Clegg, CEO of Clegg Auto, shares his journey of transitioning his family's auto shops into the first employee ownership trust holding company in the U.S., exploring how the care factor drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss transitioning an exit strategy into a daily operating model, guiding employees to own their own lives before owning a company, and replacing traditional management with a 200% accountability culture, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) protects an organization’s mission in perpetuity, ensuring the business remains evergreen and cannot be sold again.
• True company ownership requires employees to first own their lives and careers by identifying what they care about most and aligning their vocational track with those values.
• Traditional management can be replaced by a 200% accountability model where team members are 100% committed to their roles and 100% committed to keeping their peers accountable through peer coaching.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Clegg Auto at https://cleggauto.com/
• Follow Kevin on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-clegg-59655a/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, host Jeff Bond sits down with Steve Kruger, the fourth-generation leader of L.E. Schwartz & Son—a commercial roofing legacy that has anchored the Georgia landscape since 1910. Steve shares the raw reality of earning respect on hot roofs rather than leaning on a bloodline, and how a 116-year-old firm successfully navigates crises by choosing long-term integrity over the "quick fix" challenge.

Later in the episode, the conversation shifts to the future of the company as Steve is joined by his son, Michael Kruger. Representing the fifth generation, Michael talks about the unique synergy of working alongside his father and grandfather, balancing historic family traditions with modern technology, and leading a century-old mission with "pull instead of push".

Key Takeaways

• Earning Leadership Through Shared Labor: True stewardship in a hands-on trade isn't handed down through a bloodline; it is validated by serving on the front lines to gain deep empathy and mutual respect for the people doing the daily work .
• The "Golden Rule" in Crisis Management: Preserving a century-old reputation means choosing long-term success over short-term gains, proving that there is no right way to do the wrong thing when navigating business challenges with clients and employees .
• Deepening Impact through Local Convening: True community stewardship moves beyond stilted, transactional relationships by giving back, celebrating shared history, and intentionally gathering diverse groups to build a lasting local bond .

Resources Mentioned

• Visit L.E. Schwartz & Son: http://www.leschwartz.com/
• Follow Steve Kruger on LinkedIn: Steve Kruger
• Follow L.E. Schwartz & Son on social media:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/l-e-schwartz-&-son-inc-/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Garry Ridge, Culture Coach and Former Chairman and CEO of WD-40 Company, shares their journey of transitioning from a "command and control" leader to a servant leader, exploring how "the will of the people" drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the specific algorithm Garry used to grow WD-40's market cap from $300M to $3.5B, the defining moments of cultural safety during global crises, and why a leader's number one responsibility is to be a learner and a teacher. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• The Algorithm for Culture: Sustainable success is built through the formula of Values + Behavior x Consistency. Consistency is the "magic word" that prevents cultural toxins from eroding the organization.
• Profit as Applause: Shift the focus from the bottom line to the people; profit is the natural "applause" that follows when employees feel safe, seen, and empowered to do their best work.
• Leading Like a "Donkey": Effective stewardship requires the humility and reliability of a donkey—carrying the load and helping others reach their destination rather than seeking the spotlight.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://thelearningmoment.net/
• Follow The Learning Moment on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-learning-moment/
• Visit https://www.wd40.com/
• Follow WD-40 on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wd-40-company/
• Follow Garry Ridge on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/garryridge/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Brad Herrmann and Hai Nguyen, Co-founders of Text-Em-All, share their journey of rewriting the SaaS success script by prioritizing greatness over growth and people over profit. They explore how an audacious 100-year vision and the transition to an employee ownership trust drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the intentional process of leaders defining "enough," the creation of an employee-driven culture code, and how shared ownership acts as a "silo buster" for political friction. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and building an organization that remains a joy to do business with.

Key Takeaways

• Defining "Enough" as a Leadership Prerequisite: Transitioning to an employee ownership trust requires founders to confront personal concepts of security and scarcity to determine what financial outcome is "enough" to safeguard the company's future.
• Institutionalizing Culture Through Documentation: Moving beyond oral legend to a written "Culture Code" allows a company to hire, coach, and even fire based on shared values like authenticity, compassion, and shared excellence.
• Shared Ownership as a Unifying Factor: Employee ownership aligns the entire team around the company's ultimate bottom line, ensuring that business decisions and product development are driven by the best ideas rather than internal politics .

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Text-Em-All: https://www.text-em-all.com/
• Follow Brad Herrmann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradherrmann/
• Follow Hai Nguyen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hainguyen/
• Follow Text-Em-All on social media:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/textemall/
• Twitter / X: https://x.com/textemall
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/textemall/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Jason Dressel, CEO at History Factory , shares his journey of helping iconic brands mine their heritage to drive future performance, exploring how preserving corporate memory drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the $1 trillion cost of corporate amnesia , the launch of the AI platform Chronicle , and why a leader’s most profound obligation is to be the ultimate steward of their organization’s story, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• The risks of corporate amnesia and strategic drift: Losing institutional knowledge during leadership transitions and rapid growth costs enterprises an estimated $1 trillion in wasted productivity.
• How successful companies balance heritage and innovation: Long-term resilience requires leaders to stay tethered to their organization's unique "superpower" while remaining agile enough to navigate modern technological disruption.
• The role of AI in preserving institutional knowledge: Specialized AI acts as a "truth engine" by grounding data in verified, handcrafted sources to eliminate hallucinations and provide a clear trail back to original historical evidence.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit: https://www.historyfactory.com/staff/jason-dressel/
• Follow Shane on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jason-dressel-1634484/
• Follow History Factor on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/history-factory/
• Twitter / X: https://x.com/historyfactory
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehistoryfactory/?hl=en

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, John Newland, CEO at JOMA Construction, shares his journey of transitioning from a small home-flipping operation to a 100% employee-owned firm, exploring how the Greek concept of eudaimoniadrives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the philosophy of"getting better before getting bigger," the rigorous process of empower every team member, the establishment of the ESOP, and how true legacy is built by elevating others to lead the organization forward.

Key Takeaways

• The Power of Eudaimonia: Integrating a guiding principle of "human flourishing" and contentment into the daily operations and client interactions of a construction business.
• Democratizing Ownership: Why JOMA chose a 100% ESOP model to ensure all stakeholders benefit from the company's success without taking on individual financial risk.
• Leadership as Presence: Utilizing daily affirmations and personal poise to remain grounded and "fully present" within the inherent chaos of the business world.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://jomaconstruction.com/
• Follow John Newland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnewland/

• Follow JOMA Construction on social media:

  • Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/jomaconstruction
  • Facebook: facebook.com/jomaconstruction
  • YouTube: youtube.com/jomaconstruction
  • Instagram: instagram.com/jomaconstruction
  • Subscribe to JOMA’s mailing list at http://jomaconstruction.com/learn/jomail-archive

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Enrique Alvarez shares his journey as a business leader, exploring how embracing challenges, learning from mistakes, and empowering teams drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss how creating a culture of transparency, shared learning, and problem-solving helps organizations grow stronger—providing practical takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Facing challenges and making mistakes is part of the job—and growth comes from how we resolve problems.
• Openly sharing experiences and failures strengthens teams and accelerates learning.
• Continuous improvement is a collective effort built on trust, collaboration, and accountability.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/vector-global-logistics/.
• Follow Enrique on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrique-alvarez-64332a2/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Maria Thacker Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences, shares her journey of transitioning from a dedicated "number two" to leading a massive ecosystem through a global pandemic. We explore how a commitment to mission and the guidance of mentors drives meaningful, long-term success even when the original plan is upended.

We discuss the critical role of a connector in the life sciences sector, the importance of "work-life harmony" over balance, and why true stewardship means preparing the next generation to lead. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Purpose Over Tactics: In times of crisis, your "North Star" must be your organizational purpose, allowing your tactics to remain nimble and adaptive.
• The Responsibility of Mentorship: Leadership is a societal responsibility; investing time in the next generation is essential because no leader is "here forever".
• Embracing "Ready Enough": You don’t have to feel fully ready to step into a leadership seat; surrounding yourself with a community that believes in you is the key to moving forward through fear.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.galifesciences.org/
• Follow Maria on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariathacker/
• Join the Georgia Life Sciences mailing list at: https://www.galifesciences.org/join-the-mailing-list

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Jared Meyers, Founder & CEO of andCo, shares his journey of aligning personal values with professional leadership, exploring how authenticity in business drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the often-overlooked emotional costs of inauthentic leadership, why financial outcomes alone are an incomplete measure of success, and how balancing personal identity with professional responsibility leads to healthier leaders and more resilient organizations.

Key Takeaways

• When leaders act differently in business than they do in life, there is an emotional cost that impacts well-being and fulfillment.
• Authenticity at work restores energy, clarity, and purpose, leading to stronger leadership and healthier cultures.
• True stewardship requires balancing personal identity with professional responsibility, not separating the two.

Resources Mentioned

• Follow Jared Meyers on social media at

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-meyers/

• Follow andCo

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/andcohospitality/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Producer Thomas Mastrototaro and Lead Editor Daniel Mastrototaro reflect on the past year of conversations with business leaders who exemplify stewardship in action, exploring how choosing care over convenience drives meaningful, long-term success.

They discuss key themes that emerged across the year, including why care in leadership costs something, how patience and time shape healthy organizations, and the importance of finding meaning in work while empowering people and communities. These reflections provide practical insight and encouragement for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and lasting impact.

Key Takeaways

• Care over convenience is a common theme among leaders.
• Care costs something; it requires sacrifice.
• Care builds people, and places.

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Masami Sato, Founder & CEO of B1G1, shares her journey from an introverted backpacker to leading a global giving movement, exploring how the power of small, daily acts of kindness drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the philosophy of "business as usual" becoming a force for good, the importance of expanding our "family circle," and how integrating micro-impacts can transform company culture. This episode is full of actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• The Power of Small: Masami explains how small, consistent contributions—like giving access to water for every cup of coffee sold—can collectively solve massive global challenges.
• The "Bee" Philosophy of Business: Just as bees pollinate flowers while collecting nectar, businesses can benefit their own growth while naturally enriching the global ecosystem through their daily operations.
• Expanding the Family Circle: Masami challenges leaders to widen their definition of "family" to include the global community, moving from a mindset of separation to one of connection and collaboration.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://b1g1.com/
• Follow Masami Sato on social media at
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/masamisato/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sato.masami

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Christy Kovac, President and CEO of Sheridan Construction, shares her journey of intentional, purpose-driven leadership, exploring how stewardship, employee ownership, and community impact drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the importance of intentional succession planning, celebrating employee contributions to strengthen engagement, and building trust with clients to support lasting relationships—providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and creating a thriving legacy. Stay tuned to

Key Takeaways

• The importance of intentional succession planning to ensure long-term organizational success.
• How celebrating employee contributions and fostering ownership strengthens engagement and culture.
• Why building trust and prioritizing community impact creates lasting relationships and a meaningful legacy.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.sheridanconstruction.com/
• Follow Shane on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-kovac-ab801411/
• Follow Jackson Healthcare on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sheridanconstruction/
• Twitter / X: https://x.com/SheridanCo1947
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheridanco1947/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Sandy Moll, leader of Advanced Business Solutions, Jeremiah 2911 Capital, and several other ventures, shares her journey of faith-driven leadership, exploring how "chasing God, not busyness" drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss how Sandy stewards multiple companies while working three days a week, her counter-cultural strategy of growing a business 100% through service, and why she believes "work-life balance" doesn't exist when your work is part of your life's purpose. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Stewardship Through Surrender: Sandy's leadership is founded on "chasing God". She starts each day in silence, asking God for direction, which allows her to manage numerous responsibilities without being consumed by "busy-ness".
• Growth Through Service: Advanced Business Solutions has grown entirely through relationships and service, not traditional marketing. Sandy's focus is on serving clients well and asking, "Who else can we help?".
• Work-Life Integration: Sandy reframes the "work-life balance" debate. She believes that if you are doing the work God put you on earth for, it isn't separate from your life—it's an integrated part of it.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.abs-core.com/
• Follow ABS on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ABSThrive/
• Follow Sandy on at
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandymoll/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandyJMoll

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, John Sensiba, retiring CEO of Sensiba, and Monique Ramirez, his successor, share a masterclass on why intentional succession is the ultimate act of stewardship. John shares his journey of leading the firm through two major economic crises by refusing to abandon core values. They explore how the Golden Rule and simple, unwavering priorities—family, community, and firm—drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the courage it takes to hand off a legacy gracefully, and how an "eat what you kill" compensation model can destroy culture. We also cover the immense privilege of receiving a planned, six-year leadership transition, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• The Ultimate Act of Stewardship is Succession: A leader’s most important duty is to prepare the organization for the next generation, viewing their role as a "transient caretaker" for the benefit of employees and the community.
• Values Are Non-Negotiable in Crisis: Establishing simple, clearly articulated priorities (like family, community, and firm in that order) and refusing to abandon values when they become "inconvenient" provides clarity and resilience during financial crises or global pandemics.
• Culture Over Compensation: The courage to abandon an "eat what you kill" compensation model for a subjective, values-based approach is necessary to cultivate a culture of collaboration, trust, and shared success.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Sensiba's Website
• Sensiba B Corp Certification Information
• Follow John Sensiba on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndsensiba/
• Follow Monique Ramirez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicramirez/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In today’s episode, Jeff speaks with Chris Carneal, the founder and CEO of Booster, the nation's number one school fundraising company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 2002, Booster has raised over 1.3 billion for schools.

Chris and his family first leadership have also created a collaborative community for leaders at Virtue Village, which is a business hub designed to foster connection and purpose.

In this conversation, Jeff and Chris unpack a key distinction that Chris makes between values that are merely timely and virtues that are truly timeless and character building. They’ll also explore what it means to steward your company's culture and people through every season, from unprecedented crisis to flourishing, and show you how courage and gratitude can be your greatest assets when creating a resilient, enduring business.

This episode is for every leader who knows that true strength isn't just about what you build, but how you endure.

Key Takeaways

• Shifting from "Values" to Timeless "Virtues" Creates a More Actionable Culture
• A Strong Cultural Framework Is Essential for Navigating Crisis
• Intentional Community Is the Antidote to Human Disconnection

Resources Mentioned

• Learn more about Booster: https://www.boosterthon.com/
• Virtue Village: https://www.virtuevillage.com/
• Virtue Voices Leadership Events: https://www.virtuevoices.com/
• Visit https://www.chriscarneal.com/
• Book: The Virtue Driven Business by Chris Carneal

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Rob Kuehl, CEO of Maier America, shares his insights on servant leadership and building inclusive company cultures that thrive across global contexts. He reflects on his journey of transforming company culture, investing in his own leadership growth, and staying grounded in values while leading through challenges in a global enterprise. We discuss what it takes to lead with humility, the reality of cultural transformation, and how empathy and active listening create stronger teams and better business outcomes.

Key Takeaways

• Servant leadership is about serving others and fostering a supportive environment.
• Cultural transformation takes time and persistence.
• Empathy and active listening are key to effective leadership.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Maier America: https://www.maieramerica.com
  Follow Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robkuehl
  Follow Maier America on social media:
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maier-america/

Join the Conversation

The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! VisitChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Miren Oca, Founder and CEO of Ocaquatics Swim School, shares how she transformed a small backyard business into a certified B Corp and 100% employee-owned swim school. She explores how stewardship, employee ownership, and embedding social responsibility into business can redefine ROI and create ripple effects of impact.

We discuss her journey as an “accidental entrepreneur,” the importance of developing people through mentorship and leadership training, and the lessons she learned during COVID that shaped her approach to connection and resilience.

Key Takeaways

• Employee ownership fosters a culture of responsibility and pride.
• Mentorship programs can significantly impact young team members' lives.
• Measuring impact is as important as measuring profit.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.ocaquatics.com/
• Follow Miren on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/miren-oca-80561261/
• Follow Jackson Healthcare on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ocaquatics-swim-school/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocaquatics/?hl=en

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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What does making tamales have to do with running a world-class movie studio?

In this inspiring conversation, host Jeff Bond sits down with Frank Patterson, President and CEO of Trilith Studios, a name synonymous with the booming film industry in Georgia. Trilith is now the largest production facility in Georgia and the largest purpose-built studio outside of Hollywood.

In this conversation, Jeff and Frank unlock the critical importance of leveraging your values to build a purpose-driven community and business.

Frank’s leadership journey is defined by connection, creativity, and conscious capitalism. He shares how early influences shaped his philosophy of stewardship, the incredible story behind Trilith's intentional "placemaking," and discusses the future of AI as a tool for human flourishing.

This conversation is for every business leader who knows that true competitive advantage isn’t just about what you do, but how you do it.

Key Takeaways

• Stewardship Through Connection: How Frank’s Uncle Oscar used tamales to connect his community, providing a foundational lesson on leadership.
• The Power of Empowerment: Why great leaders must be fans of their team's talent and create an environment that empowers them to execute on their ideas.
• Building with Purpose: The vision behind Trilith to create a "place,” not just a facility, that cares for the well-being of the creative community.
• An Optimistic View of AI: Why Frank believes AI and other emerging technologies are powerful tools that will enhance, not replace, genuine human creativity and connection.
• The Leader as a "Rung on the Ladder": A powerful perspective on a leader's obligation to lift up the next generation.

Resources Mentioned

• Learn more about Trilith https://www.trilith.com/
• Trilith was designed by Lew Oliver. Learn more here: https://www.lewoliverinc.com/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com and eotlproductions.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Curtis Hite, Chairman and CEO, Improving, discusses the essence of stewardship in leadership, emphasizing the importance of a people-first approach and the responsibility leaders have towards their teams and stakeholders. He shares insights on building a strong company culture, navigating global expansion, and the significance of values-driven leadership.

We discuss the weight of stewardship as a responsibility to help others flourish, the power of listening to employees to build trust, and how a values-driven approach can be a strategic advantage — providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Stewardship is a heavy responsibility focused on others' flourishing.
• Listening to employees is key to building trust and engagement.
• A values-driven approach can be a strategic advantage in business.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.improving.com/
• Follow Curtis on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-hite-a7b228/
• Follow Improving on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/improving-enterprises/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, John Lauseng, CEO of Aldrich, shares his insights on stewardship and leadership, emphasizing the importance of servant leadership, culture, and the need for rest and disconnection in a high-pressure environment.

You’ll hear how John navigated the challenges of leading during the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of aligning growth with organizational values, and the legacy he hopes to leave as a leader.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership often involves giving opportunities to individuals before they feel ready.
• During crises, true leadership is tested and revealed.
• Culture can be a strategic advantage in driving performance.
• Rest and disconnection are essential for effective leadership.
• Growth should align with the organization's core values and purpose.
• Modeling behavior is crucial for encouraging team unplugging.

Resources Mentioned

• Learn more about Aldrich at https://aldrichadvisors.com/
• Follow John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-lauseng-18313a2b/

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn @ChatWithLeaders.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Shane Jackson, President of Jackson Healthcare, shares his journey of stewardship-driven leadership, emphasizing the importance of long-term thinking and a leader’s impact on both their organization and community, exploring how trust, transparency, and radical vulnerability drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss how redefining leadership through the lens of stewardship fosters long-term thinking, how radical vulnerability can strengthen trust and team morale, and why simplicity and clarity are essential for lasting organizational success, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is a long-term responsibility, not for personal gain.
• Radical vulnerability can inspire confidence in leadership.
• Long-term thinking leads to sustainable growth.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.jacksonhealthcare.com
• Follow Shane on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanejacksonculture/
• Follow Jackson Healthcare on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jackson-healthcare/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jackson_healthcare/?hl=en

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Leslie Zinn, CEO of Arden’s Garden, shares insights from her journey growing a family business into a beloved wellness brand. She discusses the tension between her mother Arden's unwavering commitment to health and the practical demands of running a profitable enterprise. Leslie highlights pivotal moments, such as navigating the industry's E. coli crisis and unintentionally establishing successful stores in food deserts. Her reflections reveal the powerful impact of mission-driven decisions, customer loyalty, and the growth mindset that sustains their business today.

Key Takeaways

• Leslie’s early experiences balancing her mother's passion for wellness with business profitability.
• How Arden’s Garden navigated critical decisions during industry-wide health scares without compromising their core values.
• Unplanned strategic moves into underserved communities that led to surprising success and deep community impact.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Arden's Garden at https://www.ardensgarden.com
• Follow Leslie Zinn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliezinn
• Follow Arden’s Garden on social media at:
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/ardensgardenatl
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ardensgardenatl
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ardensgardenatl

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

• Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/
• End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode, Michael Seitz, CEO of Earthwise Pet Franchise, shares his journey from entrepreneurial roots to leading a franchising powerhouse in the pet industry.

Michael opens up about the critical shifts in his leadership approach, embracing collaboration and stewardship to scale Earthwise Pet to over 200 locations. Michael and Jeff discuss the importance of maintaining humanity in business, balancing innovation with legacy, and navigating the challenging yet rewarding entrepreneurial journey.

Key Takeaways

• Effective stewardship involves collaboration and trusting your team.
• Balancing innovation with respect for legacy and core values is critical in scaling a business.
• Entrepreneurship demands resilience, adaptability, and embracing the realities of leadership challenges.

Resources Mentioned

• Earthwise Pet Franchise
• Michael Seitz LinkedIn Profile

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn at Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Steve Carse, Co-Founder & Franchising Director of King of Pops, shares his journey of building a joyful, community-driven business from a popsicle stand into an iconic Atlanta brand. He explores how intentional culture, community stewardship, and long-term thinking drive meaningful, sustainable growth.

We discuss navigating the balance between fun and responsibility, maintaining culture through growth, and creating impact beyond profit, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Intentional culture-building: How creating space for joy, fun, and community can fuel a purpose-driven business.
• Stewardship through scaling: Lessons learned in maintaining culture and stakeholder relationships while growing King of Pops into a multi-city brand.
• Balancing joy and responsibility: How to lead a business that brings happiness to customers and meaning to employees, while being accountable to the broader community.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit King of Pops official website
• Follow King of Pops on
  • Instagram
  • X/Twitter
  • LinkedIn
• Visit Steve’s official website
• Read Steve’s book, Work is Fun
• Follow Steve Carse on LinkedIn

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

• Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/
• End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Gabrielle Mills, President and Founder of Sourced., shares her journey of leading with intentionality and empathy, exploring how faith, values-based leadership, and strategic delegation drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss how fractional teams can empower small businesses, the evolving role of a founder-turned-CEO, and the balance between personal stewardship and business leadership, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• The power of delegation and fractional leadership to scale with integrity
• The personal and spiritual convictions that shaped Gabrielle’s entrepreneurial path
• Why focusing on people before profit builds stronger, sustainable businesses

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.getsourced.me/
• Follow Gabrielle on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellemills
• Recommended reading: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/.

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Chat With Leaders Podcast is now The Steward Chair.

The Steward Chair is a podcast that explores leadership as stewardship—the responsibility of guiding organizations, people, and industries with integrity, long-term thinking, and a commitment to doing good while doing well.

Through deep, candid conversations with high-level business leaders, we unpack the challenges, decisions, and strategies that define values-driven leadership. This is a space for leaders who recognize that success is about more than personal achievement; it’s about leaving a lasting, positive impact on their organizations and communities.

Each episode provides real-world insights on how to navigate business challenges while maintaining ethical integrity, long-term sustainability, and a legacy-driven mindset.

This show is a collaboration between Chat With Leaders Media and End of the Line Productions. Learn more at https://chatwithleaders.com/ and https://www.eotlproductions.com/.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Today you’ll have the opportunity to learn from networking and leadership consultant, speaker, startup advisor, and journalist, Adam Marx.

Adam is the founder of The Zero to One Networker. He draws on more than a decade of experience in the music and startup tech industries to teach others how to cultivate powerful relationships using strategies of patience, consistency, authenticity, and value creation.

Adam shares how his background in music journalism helped him fall into the world of networking, where he built relationships with both artists and professionals. He also introduces his '300 Club' concept, explaining how a small group of key voices can drive conversations and create lasting impact. We discuss overcoming imposter syndrome, staying engaged in your community, and how networking is about much more than just fundraising.

Stay tuned to hear how you can build relational capital and why it’s more important than followers or views. Oh, and you may get to hear the story behind Adam’s signature orange sunglasses and my red jacket!

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.zerotoonenetworker.com/
• Follow Adam on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammarx13/
• Follow The Zero-to-One Networker on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-zero-to-one-networker

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How can a large organization successfully implement and sustain zero-waste initiatives while engaging their people and community in long-term environmental responsibility?

In today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with Dawn Brown, to discuss the journey of sustainability and environmental stewardship at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Dawn is Senior Manager of Stadium Tours and Education Programs plus Sustainability at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Mercedes Benz Stadium is the first professional sports stadium worldwide to achieve LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in 2017 and TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum certification.

You’ll learn about the role of education and empowerment in fostering a sustainable culture, how sustainability has become part of the stadium’s DNA, and how Mercedes Benz Stadium is looking to make a global impact through the playbook they developed for other organizations who want to achieve zero-waste..

Tune in to hear how Mercedes Benz Stadium is leading the way in sustainability, one small but impactful step at a time.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Learn more at https://www.mercedesbenzstadium.com/sustainability
• Follow Dawn on social media at
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-brown-802797170
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/altadawn/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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On today’s episode, we flip the script as our Producer and the Co-Founder of Chat With Leaders Media, Quentin Thomas, interviews Nathan Stuck about this year’s BLD Southeast conference.

BLD which stands for B Corp Leadership Development is a conferences organized by B Local Community leaders to strengthen and support the local B Corp movement as well as all purpose and mission driven entrepreneurs who will be in attendance. This year’s BLD Southeast will take place in Atlanta, Georgia on September 11th and 12th.

Stay tuned to learn more about this year’s event, including the amazing speakers, excursions, and opportunities to connect with other people who are passionate about using their influence as a force for good.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making this an event you won’t want to miss.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Learn more about this year’s BLD Southeast, hosted in Atlanta, Georgia at https://bldsoutheast.com/
• Learn more about B Corp Leadership Development and find your B Local community at https://usca.bcorporation.net/b-corps-leadership-development/
• Visit https://www.blocalgeorgia.com/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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On today’s episode, Nathan sits down with Scott Koloms, President and CEO of Facilities Management Services, pbc (or “FMS”), and Founder and CEO of Canopy KY.

FMS is a janitorial services company that believes investing in their people will be good for business and positively impacts the communities they serve. Canopy KY is a nonprofit on a ​​mission to grow Kentucky businesses to positively impact people, our planet, and our future.

In our conversation, Scott shares his journey into entrepreneurship and the importance of finding common ground to make positive impacts. We also discuss how sometimes we need to adapt our language to communicate the importance of social impact and sustainability in business and the value of celebrating the journey.

Stay tuned to learn how Scott has integrated his belief that “doing good is good for business” into his organizations, empowering his teams to positively impact stakeholders throughout the communities they serve.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://canopyky.org/
• Visit https://facilitiesmgmt.com/
• Follow Scott on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkoloms/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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On today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with Phillip Scroggin, Chief Marketing Nerd at Sol Insights.

Phillip is a Certified Marketing Professional with the American Marketing Association and the host of the weekly business podcast: Good Morning, Market. He’s also the founder and Managing Director at Sol Insights, a growth marketing firm based in Savannah, Georgia, centered on everyday businesses.

You’ll hear Phillip share his journey into leadership, his unique approach to supporting small businesses in a non-traditional business hub, and valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on balancing passion and profit.

Stay tuned to discover how Phillip's commitment to community and strategic thinking can inspire and guide your own business endeavors.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit solinsights.com
• Follow Sol Insights on LinkedIn / @solinsights

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Today Nathan Stuck sits down with Heather Orrico, Vice President of Enterprise Sales at Comcast Business.

Heather shares about the Comcast RISE program, which was originally created in 2020 to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Today, the program continues to support the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs dedicated to uplifting their local communities. This year’s funding opportunity closes on Friday, May 31st and is open to small businesses in Atlanta, GA, Houston, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Richmond, VA, and Southern Colorado.

You’ll discover why Comcast chose to invest in Atlanta and the state of Georgia, how you can take advantage of these investment opportunities, and how programs like RISE positively impact entrepreneurs, businesses, and the communities they serve.

Stay tuned to gain valuable insights from Heather and discover how you can leverage opportunities like Comcast RISE to drive growth and make a meaningful impact in your community.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.comcastrise.com/ to learn more and apply
• Follow Heather on LinkedIn

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Whether you know him as a rebel with a cause, analytics junkie, optimist, cynic, serial envelope pusher, cult creator, or superhero, you’re guaranteed to learn from today’s conversation with Joey Womack, Founder and CEO of Goodie Nation. What started as a hackathon project, Goodie Nation has evolved into a community for post-accelerator social entrepreneurs and diverse founders, investors, coaches, and companies in the innovation space.

As we shift to Part 2 of this conversation, you’ll hear why the way the B Corp community measures impact stands out to Joey, why KPIs are essential to making a real impact, and his advice for identifying your purpose in life.

Stay tuned as Nathan and Joey dive into the importance of authenticity and purpose in building a business that not only makes a profit, but makes a difference.

If you haven’t listened to part 1 of this conversation, be sure to check out our previous episode here.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit www.goodienation.org
• Follow Joey on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeywomack/

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/joeydigital

• Subscribe to the Goodie Nation mailing list at https://goodienation.org/mailing-list/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Whether you know him as a rebel with a cause, analytics junkie, optimist, cynic, serial envelope pusher, cult creator, or superhero, you’re guaranteed to learn from today’s conversation with Joey Womack, Founder and CEO of Goodie Nation. What started as a hackathon project, Goodie Nation has evolved into a community for post-accelerator social entrepreneurs and diverse founders, investors, coaches, and companies in the innovation space.

In Part 1 of this conversation, you’ll hear the evolution of Goodie Nation into a pre-accelerator program eliminating the relationship gap for many promising entrepreneurs, the importance of community in connecting and supporting entrepreneurs, and the state of the black tech ecosystem in Atlanta and the role it plays in shaping not only Atlanta, but everything.

Stay tuned to delve into Joey Womack's journey and the impactful work of Goodie Nation, as we uncover insights into entrepreneurship and community-building. And be sure to follow B the Change Georgia to catch Part 2 of this discussion.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit www.goodienation.org
• Follow Joey on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeywomack/

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/joeydigital

• Subscribe to the Goodie Nation mailing list at https://goodienation.org/mailing-list/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Today Nathan Stuck sits down with Christopher Marquis, Sinyi Professor at the University of Cambridge and author of The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profits and Socializes Costs. Chris’ research examines business sustainability and social entrepreneurship, and he is passionate about how academic research can help people around the world address some of the biggest crises of our day — including climate change, inequality, and discrimination.

Chris and Nathan discuss the B Corp movement and its impact on business as a force for good. He emphasizes the importance of future-proofing businesses, employee engagement, investor interest, and consumer support in driving the adoption of B Corp principles.

Tune in as we delve into how the B Corp movement is redefining success in business and paving the way for a more sustainable future.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://chrismarquis.com
• Follow Chris on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-marquis/
• Subscribe at https://chrismarquis.substack.com
• Christopher Marquis’s books:
  • Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism
  • The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profit and Socializes Cost
  • Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How can entrepreneurs effectively harness the power of community engagement while being a connector to drive meaningful change in both business practices and social impact initiatives?

In today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with Lizy Freudmann, founder of the strategic marketing company, One More Thing. With an interest in behavioral economics and consumer behavior, Lizy built her business around working with clients to drive specific behavioral outcomes from the customers they look to serve.

In this conversation, Nathan and Lizy delve into the importance of building relationships within your community and the transformative impact of curiosity and continuous learning. Lizy shares her journey of relocating to New Orleans and the influence it has had on her work, the importance of intentionality in supporting your community, as well as her pioneering efforts in becoming the first B Corp in Louisiana.

Stay tuned as we uncover the significance of being a dot connector and explore the role of business as a force for good with Lizy Freudmann.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Follow Lizy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lfreudmann/
• Visit https://www.onemorethingllc.com/
• Follow One More Thing on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-more-thing-llc/about/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In today’s episode, you’ll learn from Brandy Amidon, the Co-President and CFO of Brains on Fire, a creative marketing agency with offices in Greenville, SC and Los Angeles, CA. In addition to serving in a “typical” CFO capacity while nurturing her team within a small business atmosphere, Brandy serves as the first female and youngest Mayor of the City of Travelers Rest.

During this episode, Brandy talks about the importance of building trust and community. You’ll hear about the evolving landscape of branding, the value of company culture and the role it plays in attracting both employees and clients, and the benefits of being part of a B Corp community.

Tune in to this episode as Brandy dives into the crucial aspects of building trust and community–from the small business office to the mayoral office.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.brainsonfire.com/
• Visit https://www.brandyamidon.com/
• Follow Brandy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-amidon-701a7220/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How can businesses in the construction and development industry balance growth and profitability with a genuine commitment to social and environmental responsibility? In today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with Jon Williams, President and CEO of W&A Engineering and the Better Communities Collaborative.

Jon shares the journey that shaped his commitment to community service, from working in a family grocery store to starting a small landscaping company. W&A Engineering is now a multidisciplinary firm with offices across the United States.

We’ll hear how Jon navigates generational differences by creating a work environment that blends traditional values with evolving perspectives, the decision to pursue B Corp certification, and his mission to not only overcome negative perceptions of the development industry, but influence others to pursue more conscious design and community impact.

Stay tuned to hear practical steps that you can take to create lasting, positive change in the communities you impact.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit www.waengineering.com
• Follow W&A Engineering on Social Media
• https://www.instagram.com/waengineering/
• https://www.facebook.com/WandAEngineering/

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/wandaengineering/

• Follow Jon on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/waengineering/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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On today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with Jennifer Singh, the Sustainability Catalyst at ATDC. Jen has more than 15 years of experience in building and scaling innovative businesses at both startups and large corporations. She brings that experience to ATDC by supporting early-stage companies at the forefront of solving our climate and environmental challenges.

Jen and Nathan discuss her role as a Sustainability Catalyst in supporting startups, the importance of meaningful connections, the evolving narrative of sustainability as a business imperative, and the positive impact of climate-conscious practices on both the environment and profitability.

Stay tuned as we explore the transformative power of technology and collaboration in shaping a sustainable and environmentally conscious future.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Learn more about ATDC’s Sustainability Program https://atdc.org/industry-programs/sustainability/
• Subscribe to ATDC’s Mailing List https://atdcsustainability.substack.com/
• Follow Jennifer Singh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifersingh2/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How can individuals and businesses turn food waste into a healthier planet?

Today Nathan Stuck sits down with David Paull, co-founder and Chief Impact Officer at CompostNow. With a decade of experience in food systems work and social entrepreneurship, David has been a key player in the Atlanta community, including serving as a commissioner on the East Point Local Food System Ecosystem Commission and as a board member on the Southface Institute’s Board of Directors.

In this conversation, Nathan and David explore David’s journey into the world of composting, the importance of regenerating soil health, and the significant role CompostNow plays in creating a closed-loop system to tackle food waste and improve agriculture practices.

Tune in to hear David’s story as well as learn the environmental impact of composting. You can also hear his advice for individuals and businesses looking to adopt more sustainable practices.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.compostnow.org/
• Follow CompostNow on social media at:
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/compostnow-llc/
• https://www.instagram.com/compostnow/
• https://www.facebook.com/CompostNow/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with a guest who is reshaping the fashion industry for a sustainable future. Tanjuria Willis is the Founder of Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week and Owner of eKlozet Luxury Consignment Boutique. She joins us to share her incredible journey from electrical engineer to a leader in sustainable fashion.

In this episode, Nathan and Tanjuria delve into Tanjuria’s motivation behind launching Sustainable Fashion Week, explore the lesser-known aspects of the fashion industry, and learn how Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week looks to make an impact far beyond Atlanta.

Tanjuria also shared her vision for the future of Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week and how achieving B Corp certification aligns with her commitment to society and sustainability.

Tune in for an enlightening conversation filled with insights and practical steps to make more sustainable fashion choices.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://sustainablefw.com/
• Follow ASFW at:
• https://www.facebook.com/atlsfw

• https://www.instagram.com/atlsfw/

• Follow Tanjuria on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanjuriawillis

• Also referenced in today’s episode:

• https://goodonyou.eco/

• https://remake.world/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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On today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with Chad Livsey, the founder of The Chad Livsey Project. The Chad Livsey Project’s mission is to identify and improve distressed real property within the city of Atlanta, Georgia.

Chad takes us on a journey through his family's legacy in The Promise Land, sharing how his great-grandparents' entrepreneurial spirit and his own family's commitment to community improvement inspired his path as a leader. We delve into Chad's transformative work, which involves turning trash-strewn streets into vibrant, clean neighborhoods, as well as his fight against eminent domain.

Listen in to discover the impact of Chad's actions and how The Chad Livsey Project is helping create a brighter, cleaner, and more inclusive future for Georgia.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://chadlivseyproject.com/
• Follow The Chad Livsey Project on
• LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadlivseyproject
• Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theChadLivseyProject

• Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/chadlivsey/

• Visit Delightful Vending at www.delightfulvending.com

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In today’s episode, host Nathan Stuck sits down with Dr. Valencia Belle, the founder of SCHOOLS. SCHOOLS (Success Can Happen Out Of Low Scores) affords high-quality, cost-effective standardized test preparation to scholars and scholar-athletes, occasioning 5-10 point ACT and 100 -200 point SAT average composite score increases with as little as five weeks of test prep.

Dr. Belle has a passion for reducing education debt and increasing the earning potential of students. You’ll hear her story of going from a student-athlete to realizing the significance of the ACT score, SCHOOLS’ mission to eradicate intergenerational poverty caused by student loan debt, and her journey as the first BIPOC female B Corp in Alabama and only the second overall B Corp in the state.

Dr. Belle's story highlights how a clear mission and dedication to social impact can create meaningful change within communities and help pave the way for more businesses to follow suit. Tune in to hear her incredible journey.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit www.schoolstestprep.com
• Follow S.C.H.O.O.L.S. on social media at:
• https://www.facebook.com/schoolsprograms
• https://www.twitter.com/CLEARED19

• https://www.instagram.com/schoolsprogram/

• Follow Dr. Valencia Belle on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/valenciabelle/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In the second part of this two-part series, Nathan Stuck dives further into the depths of inclusivity and leadership with Adrianne Gordon of B Local Asheville, B EOS Network and BLD Southeast. Join us as we delve into how she challenges conventional notions, amplifies diverse voices, and dismantles barriers to access. Discover her refreshing perspective on the delicate balance between passion and self-care, embodied by her philosophy of a "beautifully spiced life." Adrianne's insights on avoiding burnout while championing the B Corp movement are a must-hear. We also unravel the story behind her venture, Practical Insight, and how she guides mission-driven companies toward manageable, measurable progress without sacrificing their team's well-being. Tune in for actionable advice and inspiration to create a meaningful impact without compromising on life's richness.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit adriannegordon.com
• Follow Linkedin.com/in/adriannegordon/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this first of a two part series, Nathan Stuck dives into the world of coalition building and leadership with Adrianne Gordon. Her journey began leading a college gay-straight alliance, igniting her passion for diverse perspectives and genuine connections. Adrianne's unique superpower lies in creating effective structures, leading her to spearhead B Local Asheville's early years. Discover how she merged B Corp values with EOS tools, fostering a community of over 50 like-minded companies across the nation. Join us as we explore Adrianne's evolution through EOS, the power of progress over perfection, and her inspiring advocacy for authentic leadership.

Stay tuned for the second part to uncover more of Adrianne's insights and experiences.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit adriannegordon.com
• Follow Linkedin.com/in/adriannegordon/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Welcome to "The People Experience Pulse," a Chat With Leaders Media podcast. In this trailer episode, Executive Producer Quentin Thomas, sits down with the Vicki Flier Hudson and Jeff Bond to delve into the inspiration behind the podcast's focus on People, Employee, and Human Experience (PX/EX/HX) leaders. Vicki, a DEI-focused executive coach, musician, and Executive Partner of the People-First Elevation Team, emphasizes the importance of elevating people's experiences for a thriving workplace culture. Jeff, CEO of Chat With Leaders Media and Executive Partner of the People-First Elevation Team, highlights the significance of servant leadership and rethinking business with a people-first approach. The podcast aims to provide actionable strategies, insights into evolving employee experiences, and examples of successful PX/EX/HX initiatives, inspiring listeners to create inclusive workplaces. Join hosts Vicki Flier Hudson and Jeff Bond as they embark on an exciting new journey.

Resources related to this episode

• Visit peoplefirstelevation.com
• Follow Vicki on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickiflierhudson/
• Follow Jeff on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbond123/
• Subscribe to The People Experience Pulse Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcast
  • Google Podcast
  • Spotify

Credits

• Theme Music 🎵Embark on a Journey from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How can we simplify caregiving and support the caregivers themselves? How can businesses play a role in addressing the caregiver crisis to support their workforce?

On today’s episode, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from Karina Muller, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Motivity Care, an organization revolutionizing caregiving management through a tech-enabled service solution.

Karina has over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, sports industry, caregiving management, and stress management. She shares her motivation for starting the organization and the personal experiences that fueled her drive to address the issue of elder care. You’ll also hear Karina shed light on the challenges faced by caregivers, particularly women, while offering invaluable insights into self-care and managing caregiver guilt

Tune in as we unpack the complexities of caregiving, the impact on women, and the transformative solutions we can implement now for a better future.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit www.Motivitycare.com
• Follow Motivity Care on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/motivity-care/
• Contact Motivity Care at info@motivitycare.com
• Follow Karina on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinamuller/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Why should you see sustainability as a core aspect of your business operations and how can you integrate it seamlessly to drive profitability? Today Nathan had the pleasure of sitting down with Venkatesh Kini, Co-founder of Ubuntoo. Ubuntoo is an online platform that matches corporations and institutions to sustainable innovations and entrepreneurs around the world.

In today’s discussion, Venkatesh shares the story of founding Ubuntoo with Peter Schelstraete, delves into the challenges faced by companies when adopting sustainability practices, and addresses the common misconception that sustainability is separate from the core business.

Stay tuned as Nathan and Venki explore the power of sustainable innovation and the transformative impact it can have on businesses and the environment.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.ubuntoo.com/
• Follow Venkatesh on LinkedIn
• Follow Peter Schelstraete on LinkedIn

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur? In today’s episode, we sit down with Ricky Steele, Chief Development Officer at Talent360 Solutions and Author of The Heart of Networking. He discusses how he approaches building and maintaining relationships in his network. Ricky shares his perspective on effective leadership, why you should devote time and energy to the person standing in front of you, and emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach to life and the need to have a desire to touch people.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, you won't want to miss this conversation with one of Atlanta's most influential business leaders.

Resources related to this episode

• Visit www.heartofnetworking.net
• Visit https://www.talent360solutions.com/
• Follow Ricky Steele on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickysteele/

Credits

• Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How do you break into the circle of Investment Capital as a founder that doesn’t understand the lingo or have the connections? You talk to people like Anastasia Simon at Techstars Atlanta & Techstars Impact, powered by Cox. Nathan sits down with Anastasia to unpack her story and how she helps underrepresented founders navigate this often confusing landscape so some of the most pressing problems can be addressed today.

This is part two of this episode. Tune in to Part 1 here.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Linkedin / @anastasianicole
• Twitter / @anastasiab
• Follow
• Paige Hendrix Buckner https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigehendrixbuckner/
• Mandela SH Dixon https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandelash/

• Twanna Harris https://www.linkedin.com/in/twannaharris/

• https://www.kaporcapital.com/

• MLN Ventures
• Open Venture Capital https://openventure.capital/
• It All Media https://www.itallmedia.co/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How can business leaders develop and strengthen their leadership capabilities in the face of disruption and uncertainty? In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Jay Weiser, Principal and Founder of Jay Weiser Consulting.

Jay and Jeff discuss why even companies with the best strategies and execution plans can be caught off guard and unprepared. Jay shares practical advice for early-stage entrepreneurs and seasoned executive leaders to immediately strengthen their leadership capabilities, as well as "The Five Leadership Superpowers" and how they can help companies adapt to disruption and uncertainty.

Tune in to discover how to become a more effective and prepared leader in today's fast-paced business environment.

Resources related to this episode

• Visit www.jayweiser.com
• Follow Jay at
• https://linkedin.com/in/jayrweiser

• https://twitter.com/Jay_R_Weiser

• Follow Jay Weiser Consulting at

• https://www.instagram.com/jayweiserconsulting
• https://www.youtube.com/@jayweiserconsulting

Credits

• Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How do you break into the circle of Investment Capital as a founder that doesn’t understand the lingo or have the connections? You talk to people like Anastasia Simon at Techstars Atlanta & Techstars Impact, powered by Cox. Nathan sits down with Anastasia to unpack her story and how she helps underrepresented founders navigate this often confusing landscape so some of the most pressing problems can be addressed today.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Linkedin / @anastasianicole
• Twitter / @anastasiab
• Follow
• Paige Hendrix Buckner https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigehendrixbuckner/
• Mandela SH Dixon https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandelash/

• Twanna Harris https://www.linkedin.com/in/twannaharris/

• https://www.kaporcapital.com/

• MLN Ventures
• Open Venture Capital https://openventure.capital/
• It All Media https://www.itallmedia.co/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How can your business integrate the principles of conscious capitalism and better involve stakeholders for mutual success? In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Kent Gregoire, a certified conscious capitalism consultant and the Co-Founder of Stakeholder Business. Kent is a renowned entrepreneur, consultant, speaker, and angel investor with over 35 years of experience in the business world.

In this episode, Jeff and Kent dive deep into the topic of stakeholder capitalism and how it's transforming the business landscape. Kent discusses the importance of giving stakeholders a voice and involving them in the strategic decision-making process, why it’s important for businesses to align stakeholders and adopt purpose-driven metrics, and shares his stories that have shaped him as a leader and helped him prioritize purpose over profit.

Resources related to this episode

• Follow Kent on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentgregoire
• Visit https://www.symphonyadvantage.com/
• Visit https://stakeholderbusiness.com/

Credits

• Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Have you ever wished that you had better mentors and advocates to set you up for success before you started your career? How do some people receive that “leg up” early in their career that seems to catapult their success and others lag behind despite giving it their all?

Twanna Harris will share the story that led her to what she aspires to be today, “being the person she needed most when she was first starting out.” Today, Twanna equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the space, tools, coaching, and community they need to convert their talents and creativity into successful, purpose-driven business ventures.

This is part two of this two-part interview.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.tribalgood.org/
• Check out Kahlil Greene at https://www.tiktok.com/@kahlilgreene
• Follow Bryan Stevenson with Equal Justice Initiative
• Check out Jalaiah Harmon
• Follow Sydney Hulebek
• Lebron James Team
  • Check out Maverick Carter
  • Follow Rich Paul
• Check out Issa Rae
• Follow Tawanna Harris at:
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/twannaharris/
  • https://www.instagram.com/twannaharris/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode, Jeff Bond interviews William Warren, author of "The Conquering Creative," and Owner of The Sketch Effect, about his experience transitioning from a creative hobbyist to a successful business owner. William shares the key steps he took to turn his creative skills into a sellable product, offering advice for other creatives who want to make the same transition. He emphasizes the importance of finding the intersection between what you're naturally good at, passionate about, and what the market needs. William also discusses the mindset shifts and practical skills that creatives need to develop in order to be successful in both their craft and the business of their craft. The main takeaway of the book is that the business side of creative work is not as hard as you might think, and William breaks down ways to shift your thinking, actions, and outcomes to achieve success. Tune in to learn how to overcome business challenges as a creative professional.

Resources related to this episode

• Visit https://theconqueringcreative.com/book/
• Follow https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-warren-83101586/
• Follow https://www.instagram.com/thesketcheffect/

Credits

• Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Have you ever wished that you had better mentors and advocates to set you up for success before you started your career? How do some people receive that “leg up” early in their career that seems to catapult their success and others lag behind despite giving it their all?

Twanna Harris will share the story that led her to what she aspires to be today, “being the person she needed most when she was first starting out.” Today, Twanna equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the space, tools, coaching, and community they need to convert their talents and creativity into successful, purpose-driven business ventures.

This is part one of this two-part interview.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.tribalgood.org/
• Check out Kahlil Greene at https://www.tiktok.com/@kahlilgreene
• Follow Bryan Stevenson with Equal Justice Initiative
• Check out Jalaiah Harmon
• Follow Sydney Hulebek
• Lebron James Team
• • Check out Maverick Carter
• • Follow Rich Paul
• Check out Issa Rae
• Follow Tawanna Harris at:
• • https://www.linkedin.com/in/twannaharris/
  • https://www.instagram.com/twannaharris/

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Have you ever struggled to communicate with someone from a different cultural background in the workplace? Do you want to learn how to build a more inclusive and diverse team?

On today’s episode, hosts Jeff Bond and Vicki Flier Huson sit down with Soumaya Khalifa, founder of Khalifa Consulting, which provides cross-cultural training and education to businesses and individuals. In addition to her consulting work, Soumaya is the founder and executive director of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta (ISB), one of the most distinguished community-building organizations in the area.Today’s discussion centers around the challenges of navigating cultural differences in the workplace, and how to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in a globalized world.

Tune in to hear Soumaya Khalifa share her insights and experiences on how to bridge cultural gaps and create a more harmonious work environment. From her years of consulting experience, Soumaya offers practical advice for leaders who want to develop cultural competence and foster a culture of respect and inclusivity.

Resources related to this episode

• Visit https://khalifa.consulting/
• Visit https://isbatlanta.org/
• Follow Soumaya at:
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/soumayakhalifa/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soumaya.khalifa.7

• Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/soumayakhalifa

• Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta - info@isbatlanta.org

• Khalifa Consulting - soumaya@khalifa.consulting

Credits

• Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Today Nathan had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Joye Purser, the first-ever Senior Executive Regional Director for Cybersecurity for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

She is a nationally recognized global security leader with extensive experience in cybersecurity, enterprise risk management, pandemic recovery, and government budget oversight. Her career includes working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the White House, the Pentagon, and the private sector, as well as serving on the board of Cyversity and volunteering in her community.

In this episode, Nathan and Dr. Purser discuss what she wishes everyone knew about cybersecurity, what every business leader should know about malware, spyware, and ransomware for protection, and resources to help business leaders understand and build a solid cybersecurity culture.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit Eastbysouthsolutions.com
• Follow Joye on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyepurser/
• Visit the following websites:
• Cyversity.org
• YearUp.org
• WiCys.org
• ATLWorks.org
• CISA.gov

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How can a co-working space become a beacon of light for work and transform the way people think about their jobs? In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Chris Smith, Chief Revenue Officer at THRIVE | Coworking and CoFounder of THRIVE | Initiative. Together, THRIVE provides a purpose-driven, socially engaged environment for freelancers, entrepreneurs and employees of both large and small businesses, combining design-forward style and thoughtful amenities with philanthropy and community involvement..

You’ll hear from Chris about how to leverage the power of purpose to drive change, how to build a legacy that goes beyond profit, and how THRIVE | Coworking is taking its commitment to service and generosity to the next level through a unique initiative that benefits retailers, micro-donors, non-profit partners, and local communities.

Resources related to this episode

• Visit https://workatthrive.com/
• Follow Thrive at:
  • https://twitter.com/workatthrive
  • https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrive-coworking-office/
  • https://www.facebook.com/workatthrive/
• Visit https://change4good.org/

Credits

• Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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What comes to mind when you think of the word, “purpose?” For you it may be career, family, or community. Maybe you haven’t thought much about “purpose”, let alone what YOUR purpose is. Purpose is exactly what today’s guest thinks about, and not only his purpose, but the purpose of many professionals like yourself.

In today’s episode, Jeff chats with Greg Sloan, Co-founder of Go Beyond. Go Beyond is a talent development company that leverages behavioral science and technology to help you attract, engage, and grow your people.

Greg talks to Jeff about why purpose is relevant to both your personal and professional life, how you can start defining your purpose and support others in doing the same, as well as shares his personal journey which led to him and his wife defining their purpose.

Resources related to this episode

• Visit https://www.trygobeyond.com/
• Follow Go Beyond at
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/go-beyond-work
• https://twitter.com/gobeyond_work
• https://www.instagram.com/gobeyond.work/
• https://www.facebook.com/trygobeyond.work

Credits

• Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I know all of you care deeply about using your influence and business as a force for good or are at least looking for inspiration on how capitalism can elevate people and the planet. However, as my friend and guest today, Christina Maria Noel, points out… when you’re trying to change the world, it’s easy to put the world's weight on your shoulders, which is not sustainable.

Social impact burnout is a real thing, my friends, and I want to help you avoid it by sharing Christina’s vulnerable and helpful story with you today. We talk about her journey into the B Corp movement and how we all need to learn (including me) that you can’t run at 120% all the time. This is a good conversation about choosing the projects you take on, running your life well, and knowing how to approach your mental health.

Christina Marie Noel is an award-winning social entrepreneur, marketing strategist, & keynote speaker. During the ten years Christina has been a social entrepreneur, she has worked with more than 80 mission-driven organizations to develop and improve their marketing and business strategy.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://noelandco.io/
• Follow Noel & Co. at:
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/noel-and-co/

• https://www.instagram.com/noelandco/

• Follow Christina at:

• Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinamarienoel/

• Instagram https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinamarienoel/

• Subscribe to the Noel & Co. mailing list at https://mailchi.mp/noelandco/enewsletter

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Everyone has a story to tell. That is the same for entrepreneurs, whether you call it the “hero’s journey,” “quest,” or another name. The question many founders and entrepreneurs ask is “how do I find my way on this entrepreneurial journey?”

In today’s episode, Jeff chats with serial entrepreneur and investor, Cap Treeger. Cap is the author of Finding the Way: The Entrepreneur's Tale. He talked to Jeff about the importance of ‘purposeful intention,’ what founders and CEOs can do differently to attract and retain top talent, as well as what he sees as his role as a leader.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://findingtheway.com/
• Follow Finding the Way on:
• LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/89742313
• Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/findingthewaybook
• Twitter at https://twitter.com/FindingtheWayBk

• Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087493189015

• Sign up for the Finding the Way mailing list at https://findingtheway.com/contact/

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Today Nathan had the pleasure of sitting down with Ian Bentley, the Founder and CEO of Parker Clay. Parker Clay sells handcrafted goods made in Ethiopia using premium material and promotes giving back to the community through sustainable development programs.

In this episode, Nathan and Ian discuss the failings of the fashion industry, how the emergence of the conscious consumer has impacted business startups and ownership, and the unconventional fundraising initiative spearheaded by Ian and his business.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit www.parkerclay.com
• Follow Parker Clay on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Venmo
• Follow Ian Bentley on LinkedIn
• Visit invest.parkerclay.com

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Shane Jackson is the President of Jackson Healthcare and Author of Fostering Culture: A Leader’s Guide to Purposefully Shaping Culture. Learn how Shane embraces the responsibility of leading a multi-billion dollar business while intentionally crafting and curating a culture that benefits all stakeholders. 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Join Shane Jackson's mailing list
• Follow Shane on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Jackson Healthcare

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

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In this second of a 2 part episode, Jeff Bond chats with Chantel Cohen, Founder and CEO of CWC Coaching & Therapy. Her clients include individuals, couples, and groups in corporate and therapeutic settings. She is on a mission to help business owners find a healthy sense of work-life integration and create the lives they always imagined for themselves.

Chantel talks to Jeff about misconceptions about how therapy and business go together, complexities business leaders face today with the workplace mental health crisis, and tools for leaders to practice better self-care

More About Chantel Cohen

Chantel Cohen is the Founder and CEO of CWC Coaching & Therapy, which provides therapy and coaching services to entrepreneurs and professionals alike. In particular, she is on a mission to help business owners find a healthy sense of work-life integration and create the lives they always imagined for themselves. Through the Become One Again™ Method, her company helps individuals enhance their relationships with themselves, their partners and their businesses with the goal of alleviating the associated mental stresses that come with high-demanding careers.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• https://chantelcohen.com/#hello
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantel-cohen-lcsw-certified-executive-coach-56176666/
• https://www.instagram.com/chantelcohen/
• https://twitter.com/chantelcohen
• https://www.facebook.com/chantel.waynecohen

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

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In this first of a 2 part episode, Jeff Bond chats with Chantel Cohen, Founder and CEO of CWC Coaching & Therapy. Her clients include individuals, couples, and groups in corporate and therapeutic settings. She is on a mission to help business owners find a healthy sense of work-life integration and create the lives they always imagined for themselves.

Chantel talks to Jeff about misconceptions about how therapy and business go together, complexities business leaders face today with the workplace mental health crisis, and tools for leaders to practice better self-care

More About Chantel Cohen

Chantel Cohen is the Founder and CEO of CWC Coaching & Therapy, which provides therapy and coaching services to entrepreneurs and professionals alike. In particular, she is on a mission to help business owners find a healthy sense of work-life integration and create the lives they always imagined for themselves. Through the Become One Again™ Method, her company helps individuals enhance their relationships with themselves, their partners and their businesses with the goal of alleviating the associated mental stresses that come with high-demanding careers.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• https://chantelcohen.com/#hello
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantel-cohen-lcsw-certified-executive-coach-56176666/
• https://www.instagram.com/chantelcohen/
• https://twitter.com/chantelcohen
• https://www.facebook.com/chantel.waynecohen

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

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Greenhouse Software has won numerous awards, including Inc. Magazine Best Workplace (2018 – 2022) and Glassdoor #1 Best Place to Work, Forbes Cloud 100, Deloitte Technology Fast 500, Inc. 5000, Crain's Best Places to Work NYC and Mogul's Top 100 Workplaces for Diverse Representation (2022).

Jeff sits down with their Head of People Experience, Layla Kajer, to dive deeper into their secret sauce of how they prioritize employee engagement and how she landed in this leadership role.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit Greenhouse.com
• Follow Layla Kajer on Linkedin

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

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Nelson Davis is the Founder and Leading Partner of Analytic Vizion, a data and analytics consulting firm in Atlanta, GA designed to focus on equipping and inspiring the next generation of data and technology leaders since 2019. Nelson would describe himself as a Believer, Husband to Alyson, Father of four incredible (and crazy) boys, lover of people, hoping to impact the next generation of marketplace leaders for the better.

Discussion Topics

1. What motivated you to become an entrepreneur and start Analytic Vizion despite the fact that you were on a successful track with your consulting career?
2. What obstacles did you face with building momentum in the very beginning?
3. Why did you create the ‘Consulting Journey’ which essentially informs new hires that your goal is for them to be launched back into the marketplace after 3-6 years?
4. What have you learned about the model of ‘Love. Teach. Launch’ in your hiring process as you’ve been developing emerging servant leaders in your organization?

Follow/Get In Touch

• Web: analyticvizion.com
• Follow Nelson Davis on LinkedIn
• Follow Analytic Vizion on LinkedIn
• Follow @Nelsondavis and @AnalyticVizion on Twitter

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Vicki Flier Hudson is the Chief Collaboration Officer of Highroad Global Services, Inc., a company that exists to release the power of diverse teams. She offers keynote presentations, workshops, and organizational strategies for working successfully across differences. Vicki has a strong track record preparing leaders for global and cross-cultural responsibilities. She has brought training and consulting to companies like Procter & Gamble, IHG, UPS, The Home Depot, The Coca-Cola Company, NASA, Martin Marietta, and many more. She is the author of the book Zen and the Art of Offshoring: How to Build a Collaborative and Profitable Team with Your Partners in India, and a recipient of Kennesaw State University’s Instructor of the Year award for International Programs.

Vicki is certified in TTI Success Insights DISC and 12 Driving Forces. She is also a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), a certified facilitator of the Cultural Detective methodology, and a trained coach through CTI (Co-Active Training Institute). Previously, Vicki supervised and conducted training for Distribution and Manufacturing for Immucor, Inc., a worldwide blood bank automation company with affiliates throughout the globe. She also spent several years as a software analyst specializing in multi-country software implementation.

Vicki has lived and/or worked in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Nepal, and Thailand. She developed a knack for riding camels, rickshaws, buses, and cement trucks across the globe, and enduring Indian train rides exceeding fifty-five hours at a time. She has traveled in several countries including Austria, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, and Singapore. She is an active member of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) and Japan-America Society of Georgia, and served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and TAG's International Business Society. In her spare time, Vicki sings and plays guitar in two hard rock bands, Overtime Crew and The Spirit of Rush.

Chat Highlights

1. Can you share your story of how you came to realize your passion for global leadership coaching, virtual training, and cross-cultural training?
2. How has the rise of polarization impacted your story and reframed your vision for how you carry out your purpose through your work?
3. How can we seek reconciliatory justice without condemning or dehumanizing people whose beliefs and actions have been harmful either directly or indirectly to our lives?
4. In what ways have you learned to communicate with people across political, cultural, and social beliefs - particularly when those beliefs are vastly different than your own?
5. What advice would you have for leaders to effectively inspire their teams who have diverse and sometimes polarizing viewpoints?

Get In TouchVisit High Road Global Services Website
Follow Highroaders Blog
Watch this powerful story [Video] Using Empathy to Promote Dialogue in a Divided Society by Vicki Flier Hudson
Follow Vicki’s Band FaceBook Page: The Spirit of Rush
Follow Vicki on LinkedIn

Presented ByInspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA
AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA
Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA
Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Chat Guest

Brian Benn is Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of the Atlanta Housing Authority. Brian is responsible for the development and implementation of technology strategies that are aligned with and anchored by the overarching strategy of the agency, ultimately supporting the 25,000 households and 55,000 participants served. Brian studied Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and has a Master of Business Administration degree from Belhaven University. Brian has a wealth of IT leadership experience in both the private and public sectors including the Department of Defense and NASA where he began his career. Brian volunteers as an Executive Ambassador for TechBridge, Incorporated, serves on the Board of Directors for the Technology Association of Georgia, the Executive Advisory Board for Atlanta Technology Professionals, the Advisory Board for the Government Technology Special Districts Program, the Greater Atlanta CIO Governing Body for Evanta and serves as board chair for the Technology Association of Georgia's Southeastern Software Association. Brian is a technology evangelist with a passion for bridging the digital divide. Brian seeks to be a servant leader – mentoring individuals, promoting development/growth, and empowering others to maximize their potential individually and collectively.

Chat Highlights

1. Why has bridging the digital divide and "digital inclusion" become even more critical as a result of the pandemic at Atlanta Housing and in our community?
2. Share more about your leadership of Atlanta Housing's ACCESS initiative. Where does it stand today and what’s your vision for its ongoing impact? (Achieving Connectivity to Create Equity and Self Sufficiency)
3. What are the three ways you approach ACCESS to ensure it's having the type of intended impact in our community?
4. Why is social responsibility so important to you as a leader?
5. Why should leaders use their influence and platform to make a difference in their communities?

Get In TouchConnect with Brian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwbenn/

Follow Brian on Twitter at @BWBenn1911

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Mike Morris is a Vice President in the Business Consulting group at EPAM. He leads the Atlanta-based consulting team and has responsibilities across multiple clients.

Mike has over 24 years of consulting experience, having started with Andersen Consulting (Accenture). He enjoyed 15 years with North Highland, where he led the Atlanta office and served as a Group Vice President. Mike also was the co-founder and CEO of Broadgreen Solutions, which he led from 2015 up through the integration of the Broadgreen team with EPAM in 2020. Broadgreen Solutions was a Certified B Corp, which gave away 10% of its consulting time to non-profits and social entrepreneurs.

Mike’s consulting career has allowed him to work with CTOs and CIOs on strategic technology programs, help business executives refine their strategies and processes, and drive successful execution of large-scale change initiatives.

Mike is currently on the board of directors for Hands of Love USA and High Tech Ministries. As an active leader in the Atlanta community, Mike was a member of Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2012 and High Tech Ministry’s Ambassador leadership development program. Mike previously served as President of the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Atlanta, board member of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), and as an advisory board member for Career Spa. Mike graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science. Mike and his wife Kendra live in greater Atlanta with their three children. In his free time, Mike enjoys cooking, travel, trail running, and backpacking.

Chat Highlights

1. Why did you come to the decision to found Broadgreen Solutions as a certified Benefit Corporation and give away 10% of your consulting capacity to non-profits, social entrepreneurs, and B Corps?
2. As a B-Corp, what did you find were the greatest advantages as it related to your mission as well as your for-profit objectives for the company?
3. How did you identify your purpose to fund clients and choose which projects to work on pro-bono?
4. What questions do you still have today about how to have the greatest impact as a certified B-Corp?
5. What possibilities would you imagine there being if more for-profit companies made the same kind of commitments to pro-bono work with a meaningful social impact?

Get In TouchFollow Mike on LinkedIn
EPAM website

About Our SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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M-Cultivo was born out of David Paparelli's Executive Masters at the London School of Economics, focused in Social Business and Entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, David has built access to market solutions for developing world agricultural producers. He spent 7 years growing Thrive Farmers International, a volume direct-trade specialty coffee importer in the US. Before that, he worked with nonprofits in East Africa and Central America on several economic development initiatives. He has always had a passion for empowering next-generation producers with practical solutions.

Nathan sits down with David to discussthe market inequities around farming in the coffee supply chain and M-Cultivo's belief that they can change the entire coffee industry for the better, particularly the lives of the producers and their communities.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

www.m-cultivo.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/m-cultivo/

Instagram @mcultivo.coffee

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

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Shavonne Reed is a marketing and communications expert with more than 20 years of multi-media and marketing experience. She uses emotional intelligence and the happiness advantage principles to facilitate communications skills to develop effective leaders. Shavonne is an unapologetic leader who shows up authentically and is very impactful through her vulnerable style of storytelling. She helps her clients author their own narratives, set strategies, and develop confidence.

Chat Highlights

1. Why did you make a decision to recently rebrand your business towards women’s health marketing?
2. How has seeking wisdom from mentors helped you to shift your focus and be more intentional about how you apply your leadership and business skills towards this why?
3. With respect to finding our calling and purpose as leaders, what significance have you found in the ability to remain open-minded to change and new possibilities to employ your experience towards a greater social impact?
4. How has your story with women’s health issues in your family informed the way you look at your own physical and mental health?
5. Why is it important for leaders to consider improving self-care?
6. What is guiding your courage today?

Get In TouchVisit Opuatechnologies.com AND Shavonnereed.com
Follow Shavonne on Linkedin @ShavonneReed AND Instagram @_shavonnereed_
Follow Opua Agency on Instagram: @opuaagency

Presented ByInspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA
AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA
Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA
Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Chat Guest

For over 25 years, Charlie has been a professional angel investor and entrepreneur. His mission is to help entrepreneurs take the next steps in business and life.

10 facts about Charlie (from Paparelli.com)

1. Professional angel investor and co-founder of 12 startups.
2. Invested in over 35 companies in 25+ years
3. Since 1992 focused on helping entrepreneurs start and build their company.
4. Mentors 10 startup founders and advise many more on a daily basis.
5. Offices at the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA.
6. Founder and director of Angel Lounge in Atlanta.
7. Had five exits that netted a 50% IRR (internal return rate).
8. Continually thinks about helping entrepreneurs build the company of their dreams and great value for investors.
9. A recovering alcoholic who, thanks to the recovery process, entered into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
10. Has a God-given passion for entrepreneurs, to love and serve them.

Charlie has 3 core beliefs...

1. There is a reason God puts each entrepreneur in my life. I need to discover the reason and help with the next steps for the entrepreneur.
2. Every day I must intercede in prayer, asking God to share His mercy, blessing, and protection for every entrepreneur who shares their story with me.
3. My investment and mentoring relationships tie my destiny to God’s destiny for the entrepreneur. It is always a wild ride.

Angel investing is a contact sport. It is not about investing in companies. It is all about investing in people and their families. I love it and wouldn’t think of doing anything else. God uses me every day in these activities as an angel investor.

Chat Highlights

1. Charlie’s passion for entrepreneurs and the belief that you really need to be fully in the entrepreneur’s corner is a gift to the community. As a lead investor, he has helped countless entrepreneurs find the money and hit those milestones. He explains the relationship as a “contact sport”?
2. Charlie has over 40 entrepreneur’s on regular zoom calls called “Paparelli Zoom Chats” which he launched recently to support entrepreneurs and foster open dialogue around challenges they’re facing and serve them with encouragement and thought leadership. We asked Charlie to share his inspiration for the idea.
3. Charlie describes his responsibility to entrepreneurs as being a servant, and we ask him to explain that further.
4. Charlie shares more about the types of conversations they’re having in Paparelli Zoom Chats, how the topics are derived, and what his greatest take-a-ways have been.
5. Charlie shares remarkable insight into his belief system and a few powerful ideas as an overall “call to action” for entrepreneurs in closing. You don’t want to miss what he says about what he’s doing on TikTok.

Get In Touch

Learn more about Charlie at www.paparelli.com
Charlie is very involved with the Atlanta Technology Development Center (ATDC) and Atlanta Tech Village (ATV). Check out their websites to learn more about Atlanta’s thriving entrepreneur community.

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Louise Wasilewski is CEO and co-founder of Acivilate, a social enterprise providing rehabilitation software to justice, health, and human services agencies. Pokket helps justice agencies work with human services agencies to improve outcomes for vulnerable people by empowering them to help themselves and find the support services they need. Wasilewski has spent twenty-five years in technology innovation. Wasilewski is a member of the Metro Atlanta Reentry Coalition, the Greater Gwinnett Reentry Alliance, and the National Criminal Justice Association. She has spoken at the American Correctional Association and the American Probation and Parole Association on the use of technology in correctional reentry settings and was published in Policy and Practice, the magazine for Health and Human Services professionals. She is passionate about improving criminal justice outcomes because it is an issue that has affected her family. Ms. Wasilewski holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering from Southampton University and an MBA from Emory University. She holds five patents.

Chat Highlights

1. Touch on why you founded Acivilate in 2014 and the problems you set out to solve in the criminal justice system with your technology solution.
2. What has been your proudest accomplishment over these last 7 years?
3. How has an unexpected introduction and relationship caused you to rethink your baseline business strategy and make some big changes to your plan recently?
4. Given this experience, what have you learned about focusing on collective impact versus entirely owning credit for successful outcomes as a leader?
5. The importance of open-mindedness from the perspective of a founder and leader.

Get In TouchFollow Louise Wasilewski on LinkedIn and visit Acivilate.com to learn more.

About Our SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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John Duisberg is the co-founder of Cooleaf in Atlanta, GA, which is an employee engagement platform that helps leaders build a culture of appreciation and performance for their organization. At Cooleaf, John leads revenue generation and overall customer operations. John is married to his wife and best friend, Lauren, and has two awesome dogs! John is also a leader in High Tech Ministries and leads a local Grace@Work Bible study group.

Chat Highlights

1. What originally motivated you to build your business around improving employee and customer engagement?
2. Why do you think modern-day leaders need to be hyper-focused on demonstrating their genuine appreciation for their team and customers?
3. Can you share an example of a company or customer you’ve seen setting a high bar in their culture around engagement and appreciation? What kind of impact on performance is this having?
4. For leaders who want to build a better culture around employee appreciation, what’s a good starting point?
5. Employee appreciation day is right around the corner on March 5th and John’s team is generously offering a Free 90 Day Trial of their recognition program. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity!

Get In TouchFollow John Duisberg on LinkedIn

Learn more at Cooleaf.com

Email mail@cooleaf.com

About Our SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Dalia Racine is the Douglas County District Attorney and today's featured guest. Dalia brings almost 15 years of prosecutorial experience to serve our community with specializations in homicides, crimes against women and children, and human trafficking.

Dalia has championed the responsibility of elected prosecutors to keep their communities safe by implementing innovative practices and policies that reduce the number of repeat offenders who cause harm. Dalia has integrated Smart Justice while holding dangerous offenders accountable in our prison system. Additionally, Dalia has made it a priority for the District Attorney's office to be an integral part of our community and to keep servant leadership at the forefront of everything she does.

Today, you'll hear more about her story, lessons learned around leadership, and some strategies for mitigating criminal behavior while elevating humanity. Dalia is a great example of how to be a good steward of a position of power and influence over the lives of others in our community.

Resources Related To This Episode

• https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyDA
• https://www.instagram.com/douglascountyda
• https://www.tiktok.com/@douglascountyda
• https://twitter.com/douglascountyda
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-dalia-racine-1ab4a210/
• https://www.douglasda.org/

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Chat Guest

JP James was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and his family is from India. He knew since the age of 12 that he wanted to be an entrepreneur! When he was 12 years old and the internet was just beginning to flourish, he initiated his career by going to his local library to give lessons about the functions of a computer. He was making nearly $60,000 a year by the age of 14. At age 17, he was starting two new ventures: he began his first company and was admitted into Georgia Tech. Since then, James has helped start, acquire, restructure, and scale stagnant ventures in their management strategy, business process automation, technology automation, and capital solutions. Having built ventures from startup to hundreds of millions in valuation. He owns, invests, and advises fast-growth ventures.

Founder & Chairman, Hive Financial Systems, LLC

James invested and helped scale Hive Financial Systems, a financial technology company, providing technology to a portfolio of closely held consumer lenders.

Grew almost 8000% in revenue since 2017, in less than 30 months as of the start of 2020, as one of the fastest-growing companies in the world

Designed and built an end to end financial automation software including marketing, underwriting, loan management and analytics architecture with capital from multiple VCs and balance sheet financing from several institutional lenders for its closely held portfolio of lenders.

Co-Author of Two patents filed on System for Processing Loans using Machine Learning and Identifying and Processing Data impacting Enterprise Valuation

Chairman of the Board, Libreum International LLC

Scaled Libreum International into a multi-national conglomerate stretching with multiple global offices and hundreds of employees serving advisory capacities for Capital Markets, IT / Software Development, Accounting & Bookkeeping Services, and Operational Consulting. With over 150 clients spanning 15 years in industries as diverse as FinTech, Financial Services, Medical Devices, B2B SaaS applications, Tech-Enabled ventures in Manufacturing, Logistics, Restaurants, and Apparel.

Founder, Libreum Capital Management

• Libreum was a multi-strategy manager of managers and fund of funds hedge fund focused on the applications of risk management utilizing agent-based modeling understanding bottom-up position risk.
• Built fund and partners and classmates at Georgia Tech
• Partnered and brought in traders in commodities, forex, energy trading, fixed income, merger arb, convertible arb, long-short equities, and quant strategies
• Trade desks in Chicago, NYC, and South Korea
• Sales and administration in Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Mumbai, Taipei, London

Family & Non-Profit Activity

• Wife Mary, and 4 daughters, Evelyn, Nora, Alaina, and Leanna
• TiE Atlanta President 2020-2021
• TiE Atlanta Angels, Co-Founder & Chair - $4.3MM deployed in 2.5 years in early-stage ventures
• Board Member of Atlanta Police Foundation, 21 Century Leaders, Buckhead Club
• Active National Member of BENS, Business Executives for National Security
• Has taught Sunday school at Buckhead Church for the last 7 years

Chat Highlights

1. What major changes or adjustments have you had to make in your leadership as a result of the coronavirus pandemic?
2. Given that JP leads teams in different parts of the world, we discussed how he’s continuing to keep his teams engaged, positive, and accountable to continued business growth activities during the crises.
3. Why is Atlanta such a great place to do business, raise a family, and work as an entrepreneur and investor?
4. JP has noticed that people don’t want to connect with the tragedy that’s happened and feel the emotion around the problems people are facing. He is called to action to give back to the community and challenges all leaders to do the same. You grow as a person when you help people that you don’t know as well as the people you know. Pro Tip: It’s not just writing checks.

Get In Touch

Connect with JP James on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/jpjameslinkedin
Learn about TiE Atlanta and how they’re fostering entrepreneurship at atlanta.tie.or
Learn more about HIVE Financial Systems at hivefs.com

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Chat Guest

Dee Ann is a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to retirement in 2018, she was Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability for Chick-fil-A, Inc. Selected as the company’s first female officer in 2001, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems. During her long career, she worked closely with Chick-fil-A’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, and other key leaders as an architect of their organizational culture. Turner was responsible for thousands of selections of Chick-fil-A Franchisees and corporate staff members. Additionally, she led Talent Management, Staff Learning, and Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Culture and Engagement. Most recently, Dee Ann launched and led the Sustainability function focusing on Chick-fil-A’s strategy to implement sustainable practices at the $10.5 billion company.

Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, writing books, speaking to over 50 audiences per year, and consulting and coaching leaders globally. She is the author of the best-seller, It’s My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture. Her latest book is Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture and Win the Hearts of Customers was released in September 2019 and her new book will release in April 2021.

She is a graduate of Clayton State University with a degree in Management. She also completed executive education courses at Emory University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School. She is a 2009 alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Dee Ann has been married to her husband, Ashley for 35 years and they are the parents of three grown sons. She has served numerous non-profit boards in the past including The Kenya Project, Eagle Ranch, and Proverbs 31 Ministries. She has also served on the board of advisors for Lubbock Christian University and First Care Clinics. Currently, she serves on the board of advisors for Unconventional Business Network Women and the advisory board for the Pure Hope Foundation. When she is not traveling, she can often be found on her Peloton bike in her home outside of Atlanta or on her stand up paddle board at Lake Hartwell in northeast Georgia.

Chat Highlights

1. What’s the story of how your leadership journey began with Chick-Fil-A and how that’s evolved into writing your 2 books, “It’s My Pleasure” and “Bet On Talent”?
2. Unemployment rates have soared to nearly 15% with BLS predictions as high as 20% in the next 12 months. When you released your book Bet On Talent in 2019, we were celebrating under 2% unemployment. What does drastic change in the world around us mean to employers?
3. Culture can be such a loaded word. How do you define a great culture and what can leaders be doing now to strengthen their own cultures during this uncertain time?
4. You’ve seen multiple economic downturns followed by recoveries in your career. What advice would you have for leaders to better prepare for these inevitable shifts in the future to survive and thrive?
5. What can leaders do today to clarify their purpose, values, mission, and talent strategies while keeping their business moving forward into the recovery phases of COVID-19?

Get In Touch

Learn more about Dee Ann at deeannturner.com
Social Media
facebook.com/DeeAnnTurnerAuthor
twitter.com/DeeAnnTurner
linkedin.com/in/deeannturner
.instagram.com/deeannturner

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As President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Kyle Waide oversees the distribution of nearly 70 million pounds of food and grocery products each year through a network of 600 local and regional partner non-profit organizations that feed those in need across 29 Georgia counties. Before being named CEO in June 2015, Kyle served three years as the Food Bank’s Vice President of Partner Operations, leading the organization to record-breaking years of food distribution to the hungry. Through Kyle’s collaborative efforts to improve distribution best practices, the Food Bank dramatically increased the nutritional quality of its product offerings, including fresh produce.

The Food Bank distributes more than 16 million pounds of produce yearly. Before joining the Food Bank, Kyle held several management roles at The Home Depot Inc. in disaster relief, corporate responsibility, community affairs, and store operations. He also previously served as part of the management team that created and launched Charity Navigator, the nation's premier charity evaluation service. Kyle is a graduate of Harvard University. He currently serves as the Chair of the Southeast Regional Cooperative and the Vice-Chair of the Georgia Food Bank Association. Kyle also is a member of the Ending Hunger Advisory Committee and the Policy, Education, and Advocacy Committee for Feeding America. He is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2015, the Rotary Club of Atlanta, the Community Advisory Board for The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc., the Super Bowl LIII Host Committee Advisory Board, the Committee For A Better Atlanta, and the board of directors for Goodwill Industries International Inc.

Kyle resides in Decatur, GA, with his wife, Christina, and their three children.

Chat Highlights

1. How Kyle was led to serve as the CEO of ACFB in the non-profit sector?
2. ACFB just drastically increased its capacity to a massive 340,000+ square foot facility; how has that growth changed the reach of the Atlanta Community Food Bank?
3. ACFB usually spends $120,000 weekly on food and a few weeks ago spent $1,000,000 a week! 8x the average amount! What has the impact been on the Atlanta community from the coronavirus, and how are things going forward?
4. How can people help the Atlanta Community Food Bank meet the current and future demands around food insecurity?
5. Importance of volunteering
6. Financial contributions

Get In Touch

Kyle Waide, CEO, and President of Atlanta Community FoodBank
Volunteer and give to the Atlanta Community Food Bank at acfb.org.
Learn more about Kyle and connect at linkedin.com/in/kyle-waide-4339a31/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Sterling Johnson currently serves as Director for the Partnership for Southern Equity’s (PSE) Just OpportunityPortfolio, where he oversees administration of PSE’s economic justice programs, including regranting, small business support, and workforce development initiatives. Prior to joining the PSE, he spent nearly 4 years providing consulting and project management services to over 40 state and local governments, including former mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms’ (through her Commission on Workforce and Economic Development.)

In this second of a two part interview, Nathan Stuck sits down with Sterling to discuss the value of social utility and social contract, what he wishes everyone understood about the Partnership for Southern Equity, how his lived experiences fuel his personal purpose, and challenges he encountered entering the field of public policy and community economic development.

About Sterling Johnson

Sterling currently serves as Director for the Partnership for Southern Equity’s (PSE) Just Opportunity Portfolio, where he oversees administration of PSE’s economic justice programs, including regranting, small business support and workforce development initiatives. Sterling also provides subject matter expertise as a facilitator and consultant for other PSE clients.

Prior to joining PSE, he spent nearly 4 years with Atlanta based law firm Griffin & Strong, P.C. as Director of Public Policy, providing consulting and project management services to over 40 state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and private businesses nationwide. His specialty areas include community economic development, government contracting and supplier diversity, workforce development, and inclusive economic ecosystems. Sterling also project managed more than 15 procurement disparity studies, managed supplier diversity programs on major public-private development projects, including Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, and served as project manager for Living Cities' City Accelerator 4 and 6, which explored procurement inclusion as a tool for economic inclusion. He also has provided policy guidance to several mayoral administrations, including former mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms’ (through her Commission on Workforce and Economic Development), Birmingham (AL) Mayor Randall Woodfin, and Mayor David Briley of Nashville (TN), among others. He also consulted with the Shelby County government on passage of its 2022 Minority and Women Business program ordinance.

Sterling obtained his master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Planning and Economic Development from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University and holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Furman University, where he was a Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium scholar, football letterman, and participated in Track and Field. In 2022, Sterling was also inducted into the Outstanding Atlanta class of 2022 and recognized as an Emerging Leader through the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Program. He remains active in the Atlanta community as a graduate of the United Way VIP program, a board member with the South DeKalb Tribe, Board member and co-chair of the Diversity Committee for the Museum School, and as a member of the Clark Atlanta School of Public Administration advisory board.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• [Book] In Search for Our Mothers’ Gardens
• [Book] Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (King Legacy)
• Justice 40 Accelerator
• The Great Retention Podcast
• Partnership for Southern Equity
• Mareatlas.org

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

Sterling Johnson currently serves as Director for the Partnership for Southern Equity’s (PSE) Just OpportunityPortfolio, where he oversees administration of PSE’s economic justice programs, including regranting, small business support, and workforce development initiatives. Prior to joining the PSE, he spent nearly 4 years providing consulting and project management services to over 40 state and local governments, including former mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms’ (through her Commission on Workforce and Economic Development.)

In this first of a two part interview, Nathan Stuck sits down with Sterling to discuss the value of social utility and social contract, what he wishes everyone understood about the Partnership for Southern Equity, how his lived experiences fuel his personal purpose, and challenges he encountered entering the field of public policy and community economic development.

About Sterling Johnson

Sterling currently serves as Director for the Partnership for Southern Equity’s (PSE) Just Opportunity Portfolio, where he oversees administration of PSE’s economic justice programs, including regranting, small business support and workforce development initiatives. Sterling also provides subject matter expertise as a facilitator and consultant for other PSE clients.

Prior to joining PSE, he spent nearly 4 years with Atlanta based law firm Griffin & Strong, P.C. as Director of Public Policy, providing consulting and project management services to over 40 state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and private businesses nationwide. His specialty areas include community economic development, government contracting and supplier diversity, workforce development, and inclusive economic ecosystems. Sterling also project managed more than 15 procurement disparity studies, managed supplier diversity programs on major public-private development projects, including Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, and served as project manager for Living Cities' City Accelerator 4 and 6, which explored procurement inclusion as a tool for economic inclusion. He also has provided policy guidance to several mayoral administrations, including former mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms’ (through her Commission on Workforce and Economic Development), Birmingham (AL) Mayor Randall Woodfin, and Mayor David Briley of Nashville (TN), among others. He also consulted with the Shelby County government on passage of its 2022 Minority and Women Business program ordinance.

Sterling obtained his master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Planning and Economic Development from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University and holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Furman University, where he was a Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium scholar, football letterman, and participated in Track and Field. In 2022, Sterling was also inducted into the Outstanding Atlanta class of 2022 and recognized as an Emerging Leader through the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Program. He remains active in the Atlanta community as a graduate of the United Way VIP program, a board member with the South DeKalb Tribe, Board member and co-chair of the Diversity Committee for the Museum School, and as a member of the Clark Atlanta School of Public Administration advisory board.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• [Book] In Search for Our Mothers’ Gardens
• [Book] Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (King Legacy)
• Justice 40 Accelerator
• The Great Retention Podcast
• Partnership for Southern Equity
• Mareatlas.org

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Bill Treasurer, Chief Encouragement Officer at Giant Leap Consulting (GLC), a courage-building company that exists to help people and organizations be more courageous to drive superior performance.

Bill talks to Jeff about the significance of courage as a core leadership characteristic, how leaders can identify what they need to start building courage, and shares his story of overcoming fear.

More About Bill Treasurer

Bill Treasurer is the Chief Encouragement Officer at Giant Leap Consulting (GLC), a courage-building company that exists to help people and organizations be more courageous to drive superior performance. He is dedicated to advancing the new organizational development practice of courage-building, a concept that he introduced in his internationally bestselling book, Courage Goes to Work.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• • Learn more at Couragebuilding.com
  • Leadership Two Words at a Time by Bill Treasurer
  • Amazon.com: Bill Treasurer: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/courage/

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Bill Treasurer, Chief Encouragement Officer at Giant Leap Consulting (GLC), a courage-building company that exists to help people and organizations be more courageous to drive superior performance.

Bill talks to Jeff about the significance of courage as a core leadership characteristic, how leaders can identify what they need to start building courage, and shares his story of overcoming fear.

More About Bill Treasurer

Bill Treasurer is the Chief Encouragement Officer at Giant Leap Consulting (GLC), a courage-building company that exists to help people and organizations be more courageous to drive superior performance. He is dedicated to advancing the new organizational development practice of courage-building, a concept that he introduced in his internationally bestselling book, Courage Goes to Work.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• • Learn more at Couragebuilding.com
  • Leadership Two Words at a Time by Bill Treasurer
  • Amazon.com: Bill Treasurer: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/courage/

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Tanya Coventry-Strader, Interim Executive Director at Mothers & Others for Clean Air, an organization working to protect children’s health by reducing the impacts of air pollution and climate change throughout the Southeast. Tanya Coventry-Strader is a purpose-driven social impact and communications leader. After a corporate career that included executive roles at Time Warner, Carter’s, and Build-A-Bear Workshop, she founded Brand + Purpose, a consultancy helping companies define, articulate, and activate their purpose by aligning their values, culture and brand equity to find cost-effective ways to put social impact to work for the organization as well as society.

Tanya talks to Jeff about the relationship between brand building, social impact work, and purpose work, and the importance of creating a corporate strategic giving plan, which aligns with a company’s core values, and connects authentically with stakeholders.

More About Tanya Coventry-Strader

Tanya Coventry-Strader is a purpose-driven social impact and communications leader. After a corporate career that included executive roles at Time Warner, Carter’s, and Build-A-Bear Workshop, she founded Brand + Purpose, a consultancy helping companies define, articulate, and activate their purpose by aligning their values, culture and brand equity to find cost-effective ways to put social impact to work for the organization as well as society. Tanya has also worked with non-profits including Habitat for Humanity International, The Carter Center, Westside Future Fund, and Committee for Common Ground.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Follow Tanya at linkedin.com/in/tanya-coventry-strader

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Tanya Coventry-Strader, Interim Executive Director at Mothers & Others for Clean Air, an organization working to protect children’s health by reducing the impacts of air pollution and climate change throughout the Southeast. Tanya Coventry-Strader is a purpose-driven social impact and communications leader. After a corporate career that included executive roles at Time Warner, Carter’s, and Build-A-Bear Workshop, she founded Brand + Purpose, a consultancy helping companies define, articulate, and activate their purpose by aligning their values, culture and brand equity to find cost-effective ways to put social impact to work for the organization as well as society.

Tanya talks to Jeff about the relationship between brand building, social impact work, and purpose work, and the importance of creating a corporate strategic giving plan, which aligns with a company’s core values, and connects authentically with stakeholders.

More About Tanya Coventry-Strader

Tanya Coventry-Strader is a purpose-driven social impact and communications leader. After a corporate career that included executive roles at Time Warner, Carter’s, and Build-A-Bear Workshop, she founded Brand + Purpose, a consultancy helping companies define, articulate, and activate their purpose by aligning their values, culture and brand equity to find cost-effective ways to put social impact to work for the organization as well as society. Tanya has also worked with non-profits including Habitat for Humanity International, The Carter Center, Westside Future Fund, and Committee for Common Ground.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Follow Tanya at linkedin.com/in/tanya-coventry-strader

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

Today Nathan had the pleasure of sitting down with Mark Hubbard, General Partner at Renew Venture Capital. Renew Venture Capital’s mission is to solve society’s biggest challenges by purposely renewing how we invest in and help build companies, all while leading with empathy.

Mark has founded, invested in, or mentored thousands of enterprises from startups to global corporations in his almost 30 years in venture capital, global private equity, and institutional asset management.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Renew built an inclusive and diverse leadership team, what sets some founders apart from others, and the importance of investing in relationships.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit Renew Venture Capital
• Follow Mark Hubbard on LinkedIn
• Read Mark’s blog post, “Why did I choose Impact VC?”
• Visit PIXEL RECESS : A Design & Impact Venture Studio

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

Today Nathan had the pleasure of sitting down with Mark Hubbard, General Partner at Renew Venture Capital. Renew Venture Capital’s mission is to solve society’s biggest challenges by purposely renewing how we invest in and help build companies, all while leading with empathy.

Mark has founded, invested in, or mentored thousands of enterprises from startups to global corporations in his almost 30 years in venture capital, global private equity, and institutional asset management.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Renew built an inclusive and diverse leadership team, what sets some founders apart from others, and the importance of investing in relationships.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit Renew Venture Capital
• Follow Mark Hubbard on LinkedIn
• Read Mark’s blog post, “Why did I choose Impact VC?”
• Visit PIXEL RECESS : A Design & Impact Venture Studio

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

On today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Patrick Plonski, Executive Director of Books For Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent. Books For Africa has shipped over 54 million books and served every African country since 1988 with an annual fiscal impact exceeding $30 million.

Pat talks to Jeff about the challenges of running a logistic business with international complexities, balancing ambitious growth goals while consciously creating a culture where your workforce feels they have a strong work-life balance, and his hope for positively impacting future generations.

More About Patrick Plonski

Pat Plonski has served since 2003 as Executive Director of Books For Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent. Books For Africa has shipped over 54 million books and served every African country since 1988 with an annual fiscal impact exceeding $30 million. Books For Africa has been rated in the top three percent of all U.S. charities by Charity Navigator, partnering with organizations such as the United Nations, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Peace Corps, the U.S. Library of Congress, OPEC, Merck, the African Union, and Oprah’s Angel Network. Plonski has traveled to 48 countries in his career. He has served as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences teaching coursework on world development issues.

Previously, Plonski has served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council at the University of Minnesota (1998-2003), and Committee Administrator of the Minnesota House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture (1987-1998).

He holds a PhD in International Education (2009) from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s Degree in History (1994) from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in History from St. John’s University (1985).

Plonski is a frequent commentator in the media on topics pertaining to development, education, and literacy in Africa.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.booksforafrica.org/
• Follow Books For Africa on Facebook
• Follow Pat on LinkedIn

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

On today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Patrick Plonski, Executive Director of Books For Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent. Books For Africa has shipped over 54 million books and served every African country since 1988 with an annual fiscal impact exceeding $30 million.

Pat talks to Jeff about the challenges of running a logistic business with international complexities, balancing ambitious growth goals while consciously creating a culture where your workforce feels they have a strong work-life balance, and his hope for positively impacting future generations.

More About Patrick Plonski

Pat Plonski has served since 2003 as Executive Director of Books For Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent. Books For Africa has shipped over 54 million books and served every African country since 1988 with an annual fiscal impact exceeding $30 million. Books For Africa has been rated in the top three percent of all U.S. charities by Charity Navigator, partnering with organizations such as the United Nations, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Peace Corps, the U.S. Library of Congress, OPEC, Merck, the African Union, and Oprah’s Angel Network. Plonski has traveled to 48 countries in his career. He has served as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences teaching coursework on world development issues.

Previously, Plonski has served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council at the University of Minnesota (1998-2003), and Committee Administrator of the Minnesota House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture (1987-1998).

He holds a PhD in International Education (2009) from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s Degree in History (1994) from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in History from St. John’s University (1985).

Plonski is a frequent commentator in the media on topics pertaining to development, education, and literacy in Africa.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.booksforafrica.org/
• Follow Books For Africa on Facebook
• Follow Pat on LinkedIn

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Trevor Williams, Managing Director at Global Atlanta, an online news service covering Atlanta’s intersection with the global economy.

Trevor talks to Jeff about getting started in journalism, why Atlanta is indisputably an international city, and how journalism can have a global, local, and individual impact.

More about Trevor Williams

A versatile digital journalist, Trevor Williams has spent more than a decade writing on international business and trade for Global Atlanta, an online news service covering Atlanta’s intersection with the global economy.

In addition to local reporting that helped the company win the 2014 President’s E Award for Export Service from the U.S. Commerce Department, he has undertaken journalism trips to 30+ countries on five continents, uncovering stories that reveal both the perils and promise of globalization. His interviewees span the socioeconomic spectrum — from top executives and heads of state to workers and villagers in frontier markets.

Trevor focuses intently on Asia and also has written extensively on foreign direct investment, trade and exports, Georgia’s ties with China, and Atlanta’s emergence as a payments hub, among other topics.

Trevor graduated from the University of Georgia with dual bachelor’s degrees in Magazine Journalism and Religion, as well as a minor in Chinese Language and Literature.

He is a proud husband and father of two young sons, as well as the editor "Making Men: Five Steps to Growing Up,” a book outlining five steps that fathers can use to grow their sons into manhood.

His freelance work has appeared in China Daily, Site Selection magazine (online), Nuernberger Zeitung, InSite magazine, Breakaway magazine, Brio, Boundless.org, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, AramcoWorld and China Business Review.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Join the 10K+ readers receiving daily or weekly updates on the latest international news in Atlanta at https://www.globalatlanta.com/about-us/
• Follow Trevor Williams on LinkedIn and Twitter @jtrevorwilliams
• Follow Global Atlanta on Twitter

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Trevor Williams, Managing Director at Global Atlanta, an online news service covering Atlanta’s intersection with the global economy.

Trevor talks to Jeff about getting started in journalism, why Atlanta is indisputably an international city, and how journalism can have a global, local, and individual impact.

More about Trevor Williams

A versatile digital journalist, Trevor Williams has spent more than a decade writing on international business and trade for Global Atlanta, an online news service covering Atlanta’s intersection with the global economy.

In addition to local reporting that helped the company win the 2014 President’s E Award for Export Service from the U.S. Commerce Department, he has undertaken journalism trips to 30+ countries on five continents, uncovering stories that reveal both the perils and promise of globalization. His interviewees span the socioeconomic spectrum — from top executives and heads of state to workers and villagers in frontier markets.

Trevor focuses intently on Asia and also has written extensively on foreign direct investment, trade and exports, Georgia’s ties with China, and Atlanta’s emergence as a payments hub, among other topics.

Trevor graduated from the University of Georgia with dual bachelor’s degrees in Magazine Journalism and Religion, as well as a minor in Chinese Language and Literature.

He is a proud husband and father of two young sons, as well as the editor "Making Men: Five Steps to Growing Up,” a book outlining five steps that fathers can use to grow their sons into manhood.

His freelance work has appeared in China Daily, Site Selection magazine (online), Nuernberger Zeitung, InSite magazine, Breakaway magazine, Brio, Boundless.org, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, AramcoWorld and China Business Review.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Join the 10K+ readers receiving daily or weekly updates on the latest international news in Atlanta at https://www.globalatlanta.com/about-us/
• Follow Trevor Williams on LinkedIn and Twitter @jtrevorwilliams
• Follow Global Atlanta on Twitter

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

Katherine “Kat” Shayne is the Co-Founder and CEO/CIO of CIRT. Before starting CIRT, Kat worked as a researcher focused on global materials management and marine litter for the Jambeck Research Group and UGA New Materials Institute, as well as an engineering and sustainability consultant.

She has a passion for bridging science and technology with business and mitigation strategies in communities, especially with regard to waste management and new materials. She is a UGA 40 under 40 honoree, OneYoungWorld SDG 5 Lead 2030 Challenge winner, and a Google for Startups: Women Founders cohort member.

Nathan unpacks Kat’s founding story of getting into the field of Environmental Engineering and why it’s so hard to answer the question, “Can I recycle/repurpose/reuse this?”

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit www.cirt.tech
• Follow Kat on LinkedIn
• Follow Kat on Twitter and Instagram
• Follow CIRT on Instagram and LinkedIn

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Katherine “Kat” Shayne is the Co-Founder and CEO/CIO of CIRT. Before starting CIRT, Kat worked as a researcher focused on global materials management and marine litter for the Jambeck Research Group and UGA New Materials Institute, as well as an engineering and sustainability consultant.

She has a passion for bridging science and technology with business and mitigation strategies in communities, especially with regard to waste management and new materials. She is a UGA 40 under 40 honoree, OneYoungWorld SDG 5 Lead 2030 Challenge winner, and a Google for Startups: Women Founders cohort member.

Nathan unpacks Kat’s founding story of getting into the field of Environmental Engineering and why it’s so hard to answer the question, “Can I recycle/repurpose/reuse this?”

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit www.cirt.tech
• Follow Kat on LinkedIn
• Follow Kat on Twitter and Instagram
• Follow CIRT on Instagram and LinkedIn

CREDITS

• Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Claire Angelle, Founder and CEO of Angelle Consulting, a mission-driven public relations and consultancy firm. Founded in 2018, Angelle Consulting’s motto is to fuel positive change and the company has extensive international experience working with government agencies, influencers and companies large and small.

Claire talks to Jeff about how PR can be used as a force for good; the importance of leading from love, not from fear; and how leaders can be more proactive about their conscious leadership.

More About Claire Angelle

Claire Angelle is the Founder and CEO of Angelle Consulting, a mission-driven PR and consultancy firm. Her company’s motto is to fuel positive change. As such, her goal is to elevate the voices of business leaders and organizations committed to do well by doing good. Prior to launching her own venture, Claire was Executive Director of Worth Cities (Worth Group), where she provided comprehensive strategy, content/marketing services and programs for cities across the United States. Her passion for local government and community impact started in 2013 when she opened and led the Atlanta Mayor's Office of International Affairs. She started her career with the French Foreign Service as a Press Attaché for the Consulate General of France in Atlanta. Originally from Nantes, France, she graduated from the University of Nantes and holds a Master’s Degree in International Business and Trade.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• You can reach Claire by email at claire@angelleconsulting.com
• Follow Claire on LinkedIn
• Visit https://www.angelleconsulting.com/

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Claire Angelle, Founder and CEO of Angelle Consulting, a mission-driven public relations and consultancy firm. Founded in 2018, Angelle Consulting’s motto is to fuel positive change and the company has extensive international experience working with government agencies, influencers and companies large and small.

Claire talks to Jeff about how PR can be used as a force for good; the importance of leading from love, not from fear; and how leaders can be more proactive about their conscious leadership.

More About Claire Angelle

Claire Angelle is the Founder and CEO of Angelle Consulting, a mission-driven PR and consultancy firm. Her company’s motto is to fuel positive change. As such, her goal is to elevate the voices of business leaders and organizations committed to do well by doing good. Prior to launching her own venture, Claire was Executive Director of Worth Cities (Worth Group), where she provided comprehensive strategy, content/marketing services and programs for cities across the United States. Her passion for local government and community impact started in 2013 when she opened and led the Atlanta Mayor's Office of International Affairs. She started her career with the French Foreign Service as a Press Attaché for the Consulate General of France in Atlanta. Originally from Nantes, France, she graduated from the University of Nantes and holds a Master’s Degree in International Business and Trade.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• You can reach Claire by email at claire@angelleconsulting.com
• Follow Claire on LinkedIn
• Visit https://www.angelleconsulting.com/

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Enrique Alvarez, Managing Director of Vector Global Logistics. Vector provides world-class logistics services to make their partners and clients more successful while bettering the lives of everyone they come in contact with and creating a positive social impact. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Vector employs approximately 145 employees and has additional offices in Mexico and Chile.

Enrique talks to Jeff about the importance of trusting your team, even through challenges, as well as why sticking to your values and being true to yourself pays off.

About Enrique Alvarez

Enrique Alvarez believes we all have a personal responsibility to change the world. For this reason, he is hardworking, relationship-minded, and proactive. Enrique is the Managing Director at Vector Global Logistics, which is dedicated to changing the world through the supply chain. He is proud to say that Vector’s success and growing social impact has been built on their results-based culture, a passionate team, and their desire to truly partner with clients.

Before co-founding Vector, he worked for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where his main focus was on the operations, sales, and supply chain processes. Prior to joining BCG, Enrique worked for Grupo Vitro, a Mexican glass manufacturer, for five years holding different positions from sales and logistics manager to supply chain project leader.

He has an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Technólogico de Monterrey in Mexico. Enrique’s passions are soccer and the ocean, and he also enjoys traveling, getting to know new people, and spending time with his wife and two kids, Emma and Enrique.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Follow Enrique on LinkedIn
• Visit www.vectorgl.com
• Follow Vector Global Logistics on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

View Details

In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Enrique Alvarez, Managing Director of Vector Global Logistics. Vector provides world-class logistics services to make their partners and clients more successful while bettering the lives of everyone they come in contact with and creating a positive social impact. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Vector employs approximately 145 employees and has additional offices in Mexico and Chile.

Enrique talks to Jeff about the importance of trusting your team, even through challenges, as well as why sticking to your values and being true to yourself pays off.

About Enrique Alvarez

Enrique Alvarez believes we all have a personal responsibility to change the world. For this reason, he is hardworking, relationship-minded, and proactive. Enrique is the Managing Director at Vector Global Logistics, which is dedicated to changing the world through the supply chain. He is proud to say that Vector’s success and growing social impact has been built on their results-based culture, a passionate team, and their desire to truly partner with clients.

Before co-founding Vector, he worked for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where his main focus was on the operations, sales, and supply chain processes. Prior to joining BCG, Enrique worked for Grupo Vitro, a Mexican glass manufacturer, for five years holding different positions from sales and logistics manager to supply chain project leader.

He has an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Technólogico de Monterrey in Mexico. Enrique’s passions are soccer and the ocean, and he also enjoys traveling, getting to know new people, and spending time with his wife and two kids, Emma and Enrique.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Follow Enrique on LinkedIn
• Visit www.vectorgl.com
• Follow Vector Global Logistics on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube

CREDITS

• Theme Music 🎵RickyValadez from Pond5.com
• Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

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Tia Robinson is the CEO & Founder of Vertical Activewear, a vertically integrated brand that sustainably manufactures apparel on demand in metro Atlanta. Tia launched Vertical Activewear in 2020 to help take the waste out of fashion, not only by creating a sustainable apparel brand but by also incorporating a sustainable supply chain in-house. Since then, the Yonkers, New York native has had the opportunity to use her over 15 years of marketing, merchandising, and wellness experience to encourage mindfulness and intentionality in the fashion industry by offering both DT2 and B2B solutions that lessen environmental impact and social damage.

Nathan Stuck sits down with Tia to hear the founding story of Vertical Activewear, the ways her business is lessening the impact on the environment, and the process that helps her bake environmental sustainability into her decision-making framework.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.verticalactivewear.com
• Follow Tia on LinkedIn

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Tia Robinson is the CEO & Founder of Vertical Activewear, a vertically integrated brand that sustainably manufactures apparel on demand in metro Atlanta. Tia launched Vertical Activewear in 2020 to help take the waste out of fashion, not only by creating a sustainable apparel brand but by also incorporating a sustainable supply chain in-house. Since then, the Yonkers, New York native has had the opportunity to use her over 15 years of marketing, merchandising, and wellness experience to encourage mindfulness and intentionality in the fashion industry by offering both DT2 and B2B solutions that lessen environmental impact and social damage.

Nathan Stuck sits down with Tia to hear the founding story of Vertical Activewear, the ways her business is lessening the impact on the environment, and the process that helps her bake environmental sustainability into her decision-making framework.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.verticalactivewear.com
• Follow Tia on LinkedIn

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In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Patty Tucker, Founder and Senior Strategist of Treehouse Counsel, an Atlanta-based communications consultancy helping intentional leaders turn stakeholders into believers and advocates. Treehouse Counsel partners with business leaders who want objective senior counsel without adding the complexity and agenda of a full-time CCO or major agency..

Patty talks to Jeff about the importance of asking and listening to your stakeholders, defining and standing behind your values, and how shifting the values of your business towards conscious capitalism can positively impact culture, bottom line, and beyond in your business and the world.

More About Patty Knap Tucker

Patty is the Founder and Senior Strategist of Treehouse Counsel, an Atlanta-based communications consultancy helping intentional leaders turn stakeholders into believers and advocates. As one of a small global cohort of Certified Conscious Capitalism Consultants, she brings vast experience to today’s urgent need for stakeholder engagement and purpose-driven leadership.

Patty is a leader in the movement helping businesses operate as a force for good and embrace evolving demands for sustainability, transparency, and social benefit. She guides leaders in Conscious Capitalism strategies, provides counsel to B Corp innovators and helps build Georgia’s CEO alliance, goBeyondProfit.

Her six-year-old consultancy, Treehouse Counsel, is named for the fresh perspective gained from a unique vantage point. She brings clients of all sizes and stages her transferable experience with strategic initiatives across every vertical industry with hundreds of companies from start-ups to Fortune 100s.

Patty is a PR agency veteran including 14 years in leadership with Edelman, the largest global, independent PR firm, where she founded and led the Atlanta Corporate practice, stewarded corporate communications best practices across the Americas, and worked on the annual Edelman Trust Barometer to better define how businesses build trust.

Patty serves on the Inspire Brands Foundation Board of Trustees & Executive Committee, Trees Atlanta Board, and College of Charleston College of Communications National Advisory Council. She’s an OnBoard Advocate helping drive board diversity, and an active member of Leadership Atlanta (Class of ’01), Conscious Capitalism Atlanta, and 1% for the Planet.

Her longest “client relationship” is with her husband, Guy, which has grown with strategic “brand extensions,” their adult children, Evan and Allegra. She is an outdoor enthusiast, sustainability advocate and healthy nutrition buff.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit TreehouseCounsel.com
• Follow Patty on LinkedIn

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In today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Patty Tucker, Founder and Senior Strategist of Treehouse Counsel, an Atlanta-based communications consultancy helping intentional leaders turn stakeholders into believers and advocates. Treehouse Counsel partners with business leaders who want objective senior counsel without adding the complexity and agenda of a full-time CCO or major agency..

Patty talks to Jeff about the importance of asking and listening to your stakeholders, defining and standing behind your values, and how shifting the values of your business towards conscious capitalism can positively impact culture, bottom line, and beyond in your business and the world.

More About Patty Knap Tucker

Patty is the Founder and Senior Strategist of Treehouse Counsel, an Atlanta-based communications consultancy helping intentional leaders turn stakeholders into believers and advocates. As one of a small global cohort of Certified Conscious Capitalism Consultants, she brings vast experience to today’s urgent need for stakeholder engagement and purpose-driven leadership.

Patty is a leader in the movement helping businesses operate as a force for good and embrace evolving demands for sustainability, transparency, and social benefit. She guides leaders in Conscious Capitalism strategies, provides counsel to B Corp innovators and helps build Georgia’s CEO alliance, goBeyondProfit.

Her six-year-old consultancy, Treehouse Counsel, is named for the fresh perspective gained from a unique vantage point. She brings clients of all sizes and stages her transferable experience with strategic initiatives across every vertical industry with hundreds of companies from start-ups to Fortune 100s.

Patty is a PR agency veteran including 14 years in leadership with Edelman, the largest global, independent PR firm, where she founded and led the Atlanta Corporate practice, stewarded corporate communications best practices across the Americas, and worked on the annual Edelman Trust Barometer to better define how businesses build trust.

Patty serves on the Inspire Brands Foundation Board of Trustees & Executive Committee, Trees Atlanta Board, and College of Charleston College of Communications National Advisory Council. She’s an OnBoard Advocate helping drive board diversity, and an active member of Leadership Atlanta (Class of ’01), Conscious Capitalism Atlanta, and 1% for the Planet.

Her longest “client relationship” is with her husband, Guy, which has grown with strategic “brand extensions,” their adult children, Evan and Allegra. She is an outdoor enthusiast, sustainability advocate and healthy nutrition buff.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit TreehouseCounsel.com
• Follow Patty on LinkedIn

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Looking for a path to empathy and being a more purpose-driven leader who is using their business as a force for good? Listen to this conversation with Jared Simmons, guided by Nathan Stuck.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Follow Jared on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredsimmons
• Visit https://outlastllc.com
• Follow Outlast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/outlastconsulting/

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On today’s episode, Jeff Bond chats with Cathryn Peirce, Founder and CEO of Carbon Zero Financial, a fintech company working to make carbon neutral living as simple as swiping a credit card. Carbon Zero provides white label climate technology for the automatic measurement, monitoring, and offsetting of cardholders’ carbon footprints as they spend.

Cathryn talks to Jeff about putting dignity back into dollars, how we can see “entitlement” of future generations as an opportunity, and the importance of making sustainability a business imperative.

More About Cathryn Peirce

Cathryn Peirce is Founder and CEO of Carbon Zero Financial, a B2B fintech providing white label climate technology for the automatic measurement, monitoring, and offsetting of cardholders’ carbon footprints as they spend. Carbon Zero works with banks, credit unions, fintechs, and startups to implement plug-in climate impact and ESG technology across financial products and services.

To her role as CEO, Cathryn brings a deep passion for distilling complex dynamics into understandable and actionable frameworks. Cathryn is a social innovator with over 8 years in behavioral change education, marketing, social impact, media, community mobilization, and sales. Prior to Carbon Zero, Cathryn was a Director of Marketing at New York- based real estate technology firm, Compass, Co-Founder of Share the Wealth Workshops, which provides free financial and investment education to women and marginalized communities, and an interpersonal violence reduction educator.

Cathryn is a 2016 Fulbright Fellow, summa cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and intrepid solo backpacker (44 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North & South America).

She leads by the motto: “When values aren’t at the beginning of our decision making, integrity is rarely at the end point of our actions.”

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit https://www.carbonzero.cc/

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In today’s episode, Jeff Bond and William Smith host a conversation with Ken Ballou, Director, US Banking and Financial Services at Sensedia, an emerging technology company delivering API solutions for companies adopting a more digital, connected, and open strategy. This conversation was hosted at the TAG FinTech South 2022 Conference at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Ken Bellou talks with Jeff and William about how technology has enabled smaller companies to compete with the bigger players, the importance of conscious leaders to contribute through capitalism to elevate humanity, and what he sees as the future of Fintech.

More About Ken Ballou

Ken Ballou is a senior technology executive and entrepreneur. His success in the software industry reflects a specialization in driving international business growth and market development. 


Throughout his career, Ken has successfully developed numbers of productive business relationships with a diverse array of global enterprises, including prominent banking and financial services firms and industry-leading technology corporations.

Ken recently joined Sensedia, an emerging global leader providing Open API technology key in supporting a range of digital banking initiatives such as Banking as a Service (Baas) and Open Banking. His responsibilities include the development of business relationships with some of the most progressive and influential banking and financial services firms in the United States.

Ken has previously held a number of entrepreneurial and business leadership positions in companies ranging from Computer Associates and HP Software, to Ni2, Camunda, Alfresco Software, Palantir, and Mobixell Networks.

In 2004 Ken also co-founded an LLC named NewEnding, a business development and advisory services firm offering growth strategy and management guidance to organizations ranging from early stage to Fortune 500.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Follow Ken on LinkedIn
• Visit https://www.sensedia.com/

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Bernie Burgener is the executive director of the Greenhouse Accelerator, where he helps to create sustainable local jobs by advising and financially supporting startup entrepreneurs with cleantech companies. Bernie grew up in Switzerland and then early in his career helped fund and grow businesses in various countries and industries in South America in a financial as well as a consulting function, working for a private investment company out of Lima, Peru. He then worked in various positions for a couple of decades with a global water treatment company out of Atlanta, eventually leading its international business development.

Nathan Stuck sits down with Bernie to hear how he pivoted into a career more focused on sustainability, what makes him optimistic about the future of capitalism, and how we can have the ability to thrive while doing good.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Visit GreenhouseATL.org
• Follow Bernie on LinkedIn

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In today’s episode, Jeff Bond hosts a conversation with Farrukh Siddiqui, Founder & CEO of Defynance, and Ashvini Nirbhavne, Marketing Analyst at Defynance. Defynance refinances existing student loans through income share agreements to empower people’s financial freedom. This conversation was hosted at the TAG FinTech South 2022 Conference at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Farrukh and Ashvini talk with Jeff about the student loan debt crises, aligning your personal values and goals with the organization at which you are employed, and the hope for the younger generation to continue creating businesses that do good and be uncompromising in their work-life balance.

More About Farrukh Siddiqui

Seasoned financial executive, social entrepreneur, and impact innovator with over 30 years of diverse professional background in social impact, product development, business development, sales, operations, and technology with a consistent leadership track record of achieving results by empowering staff, demanding organization wide accountability, and transparency.

Farrukh is the founder of several companies, including Defynance, RedPerit, and Murzzy SRI, Inc.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Follow Farrukh on LinkedIn
• Follow Ashvini on LinkedIn
• Visit https://defynance.com/

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Mecca Moore Tartt is the Executive Director of Startup Runway Foundation, a 501c3 with a mission to connect top underrepresented founders with first investors. Backers include Presenting Sponsor Cox Enterprises, and Founding Partners Truist, Georgia Power, American Family Institute, Innovator's Legal, Avanta Ventures, and VAlor Ventures.

Mecca is also the Co-Founder of A Weekend For Love one of the top luxury couples' marriage retreats, The Founder of the Wives Prayer Challenge which has 1500 women from over 65 locations around the world, and The Founder of the Self-Care Summit: A Women’s Health & Fitness Empowerment Day, and now the creator of an e-commerce business which is focused on Christian apparel and has already sold 800+ products covering 21 states.

Mecca a Power 30 Under 30 Recipient strives for excellence in all that she does and shows other women how to do it too.

Nathan unpacks her story about leaving a successful career in medical device sales behind to pursue her passion for creating more opportunities for female and minority founders.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

• Go to MeccaMooreTartt.com

• Visit StartupRunway.org

• Follow Mecca on Instagram and LinkedIn

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Jeff Bond and William Smith hosted this conversation with Commissioner Tim Echols, Vice-Chairman at the State of Georgia Public Service Commission at the TAG FinTech South 2022 Conference at the Georgia World Congress Center.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Email Commissioner Echols at techols@psc.state.ga.us Follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/timechols

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Servicing Fleets Not Fleeting Notion for Cox Automotive Georgia Public Service Commissioner Echols discusses impacts of power plant regulations on state WABE-FM Interview: House Bills Put Electric Car Owners On The Defensive Viewpoint: Electric vehicles and Georgia's future EE News: Georgia Power pans wind power proposals An Unholy Tour of Atlanta Georgia Public Broadcasting: Like Night And Day: How Two States' Utilities Approach Solar Today's Energy Solutions : Georgia Power, University of Georgia solar tracking demonstration project

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In today’s episode, Jeff Bond and William Smith host a conversation with Sean Banks, Partner at TTV Capital, a venture capital firm with more than $350 million under management focused on early stage companies in the financial technology space. This conversation as hosted at the TAG FinTech South 2022 Conference at the Georgia World Congress Center.

You’ll learn more about the state of FinTech, cryptocurrency, opportunities to create new business models around FinTech, and how FinTech businesses can be a force for good in the world.

More About Sean Banks

Sean is currently a Partner at TTV Capital and has over 15 years of venture capital experience. He joined the company in 2002 as a summer associate and returned in 2005. Prior to joining TTV, Sean served as Vice President of Finance and General Counsel for an Atlanta-based technology start-up company. 

Presently, he chairs the Technology Association of Georgia’s FinTech society, serves on the Technology Association of Georgia’s Board of Directors and Leadership Counsel, is a member of the Venture Atlanta Selection Committee and is a founding member of the Fintech Atlanta Task Force. Sean also sits on the Editorial Board of ngenuity Payments Journal which is published by TSYS the world’s largest credit card issuer. He is frequently featured as an expert on advances in fintech and the fintech ecosystem of Georgia in business print, radio and TV media. 

Sean earned his MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and was one of five Woodruff Fellows. Additionally, he earned his J.D. at the University of San Diego and graduated from the United States Naval Academy, where he played baseball and earned a B.S. in Economics.

For TTV, he serves on the Board of Directors for FX Bridge, Hurdlr, Medxoom, SamCart, and TaxBit. He is an observer on the MX and Springbot Board of Directors.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Follow Sean at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-banks-93b3471/ Visit https://ttvcapital.com/

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In today’s episode, Jeff Bond and William Smith host a conversation with Larry Williams, President and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) at the FinTech South 2022 conference at the Georgia World Congress Center, presented by TAG.

TAG is Georgia’s largest technology association with over 20 professional societies, 150+ events, and 30,000 members all committed to building a more inclusive and diverse technology ecosystem.

Larry shares his perspectives on the state of FinTech and the responsibility of its leaders in the areas of financial literacy, sustainability, inclusion, consumer payments, B2B, cryptocurrency, and more. 

About Larry Williams

Larry Williams brings more than 25 years of experience in global branding, international trade and finance, public and industrial policy, and administration and management to TAG. As the former president and CEO of The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s official economic development partnership, Williams helped facilitate local, national and international business growth and expansion programs. Under Williams’ leadership The Beacon Council created and executed a new economic development framework to help the area grow and secure investments in today’s innovation economy. This has resulted in $687 million in new investment, 119 company relocations or expansions, and more than 4,500 new jobs.

From 2011 to 2014 Williams helped shape the vision for Atlanta’s tech sector as vice president of technology development at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. He provided leadership and direction to the Chamber’s Mobility Task Force, positioning Atlanta as a global hub of mobile technology, and to the Technology Leadership Council.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Follow Larry at https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrykwilliams/ Learn more at https://www.tagonline.org/

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In today’s episode, Jeff chats with the Founding President of goBeyondProfit, Megan McCamey, about her leadership in the state of Georgia in partnership with Jackson Healthcare, the increasingly essential role of generosity in business resilience, and their latest research with Georgia CEO that outlines the critical issues surrounding mental health and flexibility.

More About Megan McCamey

Megan McCamey is the founding President of goBeyondProfit, a venture built to help CEOs lead purposefully and authentically amidst changing expectations from stakeholders. goBeyondProfit is an example of the types of ventures Megan has executed throughout her career bringing capacity and experience that turns an idea into a new business line or stand-alone enterprise.

Earlier in her career, Megan was Senior Advisor to the CEO for Points of Light and founding President of the Civic Incubator where she built new enterprises through mergers/acquisitions and joint ventures between for-profits and non-profits. Reporting to the Chair of McKenna, Long & Aldridge, Megan led the philanthropic and community impact strategy firm-wide including a multi-faceted effort to fight human trafficking nationwide. She transitioned to advise the new US Chair of Dentons, LLP on a post-merger social impact and corporate responsibility platform. She also worked closely with the founders of GreenPrint as they launched a sustainability solutions company.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE View the full report at https://gobeyondprofit.org/2022-business-generosity-report-a-road-map-for-resilience/ Follow Megan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-mccamey-91919a2

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In today’s episode, Nathan Stuck chats with Mark Johnson, co-owner and COO at Ambactus Group, about serving emerging brand leaders who care deeply about using business as a force for good, Mark’s personal story of overcoming significant health challenges at a young age, his second chances of now being able to serve CPG brands that directly impact many people’s health -  including his own, the business impact Ambactus has felt from certifying as a B Corp, and how to be accountable to doing good while doing well.

Get to know more about Mark

Mark Johnson is co-owner and COO of Ambactus Group, a B Corp Certified broker/national sales agency in the consumer packaged goods industry. He holds degrees in marketing and finance as well as graduate degrees in psychology and Christian ministry. Having started multiple companies prior to Ambactus, Mark loves the process of growing companies and uses that passion to grow the Ambactus team and impact but also to grow emerging brands through Ambactus' accelerator and national sales services. Part-time on the side of Ambactus, Mark also runs an executive coaching company called Intaba Coaching that helps leaders gain clarity, vision, and inspiration so that they can redemptively lead their people and organizations.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Contact Mark directly on their website at https://ambactusgroup.com/contact/ Follow Mark on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-johnson-ambactus/ Credit to Mark’s reference to “kingdoms” originating from John Eldredge's book The Way of the Wild Heart

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In this episode, Jeff chats with Scott McMichael, Managing Director of Improving’s South Region about the direct impact on the business success he’s experienced by prioritizing all stakeholders in their business when making decisions. Even though it’s the harder path, the literal differentiation and lasting relationships this creates for your business will set it up for a bright future.

Scott McMichael is also on the Conscious Capitalism Chapter Board in Atlanta and a wonderful steward of his community. 

More about Scott McMichael

Scott McMichael serves as Managing Director of Improving’s South US Region, supporting the executive leadership in the Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston enterprises, including oversight of  their strategic training service offerings, national partnerships, and signature community marketing initiative, “CodeLaunch.” His primary focus is growing and positioning Improving for greater impact across North America and to change the perception of the IT profession. This includes business development, delivery excellence, plus attracting and growing technology professionals by creating a great work culture.

Prior to working with Improving, Scott was the President and COO at Innovative Architects, which was acquired by Improving in 2018. He serves on the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is an active member of Conscious Capitalism’s Senior Leader Network. 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Follow Scott at https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-mcmichael-23a8b7/ Go to https://improving.com/  Learn more about Conscious Capitalism at https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/chapter/atlanta 

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Lavonya Jones is the newly appointed Director of The Georgia Social Impact Collaborative (GSIC) and Founder of Consciously Funded, a social justice media company. Nathan sits down with Lavonya to talk about how her worldviews were influenced by the many social justice leaders while growing up in the Ben Hill neighborhood of SW Atlanta, her passion for entrepreneurship as a solution to economic injustice and inequality, and what attracted her to become the new Director at GSIC, and the work ahead around social impact investing.

Learn how you can get involved in social impact work and leave a lasting legacy through collaboration and using business as a force for good.

More about Lavonya:

Lavonya Jones is passionate about entrepreneurship as a solution to economic injustice and inequality. As a third-generation HBCU graduate, She currently is the Director of the Georgia Social Impact Collaborative, Founder of the social justice media company, Consciously Funded, and an Entrepreneurship Instructor for Morehouse College where she serves students at Minority Serving Institutions around the country, creating pathways for them into entrepreneurship, technology, and venture capital.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

Go to GASocialImpact.com

Follow and Connect With Lavonya on Social LinkedIn: CoachLavonyaJones Instagram: CoachLavonyaJones Facebook: CoachLavonyaJones Twitter: CoachLavonya

Follow and connect with GSIC on Social LinkedIn: GASocialImpact Facebook: GSICATL Twitter: GSIC_

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Jeff sits down with Stan Tucker, Founder of Leap for Literacy, Author of “Stan The Man”, and Host of the YouTube children’s program “The Very Airy Library” to talk about his entrepreneurial journey, persisting through obstacles, big breaks with Zac Brown, and impacting our future generations by helping them fall in love with acts of kindness and literacy.

More About Stan

Stanley Tucker, also known as Stan The Man, has a mission to spread kindness through literacy with his non-profit, Leap For Literacy, and inspire storytelling through his Children’s Show, The Very Airy Library. At a young age, Stanley experienced heartbreak when his beloved father tragically passed away. Stanley’s late father was described as an ambitious and hardworking spirit who his son was fortunate enough to be able to feel. Although it was a short time, Stanley having such an impactful role model gave him the same thrill for life and desire to make a difference in others’ lives. With that same drive, he is picking up where his father left off with the continuous support of his teachers, uncles, and his community. Stanley strives to become an impactful part of the community himself by writing relatable and inspiring stories for children to hopefully inspire them to write their own and teaching them the importance of connecting with others through kindness!

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Visit https://www.leapforliteracy.org/ Subscribe to The Very Airy Library at https://www.youtube.com/c/TheVeryAiryLibrary Learn more about Leap for Literacy’s founding story and how to offer support at  https://secure.qgiv.com/for/vieeuz  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leapforliteracy/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LeapForLiteracy/ Twitter https://twitter.com/leap4literacy 

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In today’s episode, Nathan Stuck sits down for a deep conversation with Jamal Lewis, Economic Opportunity Manager for Georgia’s Partnership for Inclusive Innovation (“The Partnership”), about the far-reaching economic and societal impact when you’re intentional about fostering community and opportunities for diverse business leaders to innovate at scale across your state when entering your values and actions around inclusion.

More about Jamal Lewis Driven by the desire to improve access to resources in underserved and underrepresented communities, Jamal’s current role as Economic Opportunity Manager for the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation (the Partnership) allows him to help create spaces and opportunities for those who are often under-resourced. Understanding that inclusion is an imperative struggle, Jamal is focused on igniting and equipping current and future innovators with the capital, partnerships, and resources conducive to creating economic and community success. 

Throughout his career, Jamal has maintained the belief that partnerships and equitable access are crucial to the long-term sustainability of opportunities. He has been a longtime advocate for ownership and economic and community development all of which influence his professional endeavors.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamallewis/  Website: www.PINGeorgia.org  Twitter: @PINGeorgia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkH6hyMuJY0KCPf6rJwRWcQ 

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In today’s episode, Jeff chats with Fred Jewell to explore the dynamics of employee engagement and the six categories of engagement drivers that he identified in his research article published here in the Jabian Journal. Fred shares some fantastic insights that will help you better understand organizational psychology as a leader who wants to give their team the very best support to keep them engaged with your mission. After listening, we hope this helps you learn How to be a better leader, or a happier person, or both.

About Fred Jewell

Fred Jewell is a consultant, executive coach, speaker, and author of the book, "We Can't Do It Alone: Building Influence with Simple Strategies." As an Executive Director and Senior Strategic Advisor at Jabian Consulting, he spends most of his time working with his clients on strategy, transformation, culture, communication, change management, and organization design. He is also regular contributor to the Jabian Journal, where he has written extensively on engagement, culture and leadership.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Read the full article at https://journal.jabian.com/exploring-the-dynamics-of-employee-engagement/ Follow https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredjewell/  Purchase Fred’s book at https://www.amazon.com/We-Cant-Alone-Influence-Strategies/dp/0999640402 

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In this episode, Jeff sits down with Hugh Henderson, Founder & Owner of Capstone Hospice in Atlanta, GA which exists as a values-based company focused on exceptional people delivering exceptional care. They unpack Hugh’s story of building this successful business, defining company values,, building a strong company culture centered around calling and purpose, how the need for hospice care has been skyrocketing in our society, and practical advice he would have for other aspiring leaders who want to put “purpose” at the core of their business.

MORE ABOUT HUGH:

Hugh Henderson began his hospice career in 1992 as a Counselor with a local hospice organization.  After 24 years of seeing the hospice industry from all different angles and serving in various hospice leadership positions with local, regional, and national companies, Mr. Henderson decided to open Capstone Hospice in 2015. Capstone exists as a values-based company focusing on exceptional people delivering exceptional care.  

Mr. Henderson holds a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Georgia State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia.  He and his wife, Karen, have been happily married for 28 years and have three children, ages 27, 24, and 21.  Hugh and his family attend Perimeter Church in Johns Creek, where Mr. Henderson serves as an Elder.  When not fulfilling his career-long passion for hospice, Hugh enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and watching college football (Go Dawgs!).

WHAT IS A “CAPSTONE?” 

In architectural terms, the capstone is the final fixture put in a place on any constructed edifice-- the “crowning achievement” so to speak of a building or, in the case of a hospice patient, a lifetime.  The capstone allows patients and families to put “the final stone” in place as a monument to the value and worth of the life lived by each hospice patient.  

The word “capstone” is also a biblical reference found in the book of Psalms (118:22).  Such a reference emphasizes Capstone’s values-based approach and our desire to have a positive impact on all we serve.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Go to www.capstonehospice.com 

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Ally Hellenga serves as the Community Manager at Creature Comforts Brewing Co. in Athens, Georgia. In her role at Creature, she helps steward the company's community give-back programs. She is also the company's self-proclaimed ‘B Keeper’ or project manager behind Creature's B Corp certification and recertification. She began this role in January of 2020, after working in higher education for 4 years.

Nathan Stuck sits down with Ally to unpack her story of beginning her career in sustainability and how her role as Community Manager at Creature Comforts has helped her use her influence and resources as a force for good.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Learn more about how Creature Comforts is making serving their community simple at https://getcurious.com/ Follow Ally Hellenga on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonhellenga/ Follow Creature Comforts on Instagram @CreatureComfortsBeer Email Ally at a.hellenga@ccbeerco.com 

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In this episode, Jeff chats with Jack Griffin, Founder/CEO of FoodFinder who was recently awarded the 30 Under 30 by Forbes in the category of Social Impact in 2022. 

FoodFinder is a national nonprofit organization whose website and app help food-insecure families find and get help from their closest food pantries. Over the last 9 years and throughout high school and college, Jack grew FoodFinder to where it is today: the single largest source of food pantry information available anywhere in the United States.

He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019 where he studied Business Administration and Social Work and now leads FoodFinder’s mission full-time. During the pandemic alone, FoodFinder has connected more than 1 million Americans to free food assistance nationwide.

Jeff was joined by a special co-host, Mike Morris, a mutual mentor of his and Jack Griffin as well as a 2x Chat With Leaders podcast guest.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Website: https://foodfinder.us    Donation Portal: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/NDgzNjk=   Social Media Handle: @FoodFinderUS

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In this episode, Jeff chats with Joe Yi, EVP at Apogee Financial Partners, about how important it is to build leadership character in our youth, his lessons learned at West Point and active military service, his transition into civilian life as a sales leader, and what he’s learned along the journey about the requirements of a servant leader. In the end, this has helped him realize the importance of knowing where the striving for rank ceases in order to arrive at the leadership level aligned with your giftedness.

About Joe

Joe Yi is the Executive Vice President of Apogee Financial Partners.  He leads a team of interdisciplinary specialists to advise the leaders of industry and community. Joe’s clients have been blessed with talent and entrepreneurship that have sourced their wealth and influence. He strives to deliver the best that Apogee has to offer so that his clients may further their high impact in philanthropy, business development, and generational planning.   

Joe has been an Atlantan since 1977 when he called Stone Mountain home.  Upon graduating from West Point and a stint in the Army, he returned home and married Kae. They now call Alpharetta home where they are active in their church, Alpharetta Rotary, Grace@Work, and Walk to Emmaus communities.  

They are blessed with two adult children, Joshua and Jessica, who are aspiring in their own careers. 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Follow Joe at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeyi/  Learn more at ApogeeFP.com

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In this episode, Nathan chats with Tyler Thompson, the Founder of The Environmental Solutions Store (TESS) and Event Organizer of Atlanta Green Market.

Tyler is a practitioner of grassroots consumer activism focused on advancing market-based solutions to environmental problems. He is the son of environmental business writer, John Thompson who published The Environmental Entrepreneur: Where to find the profit in saving the Earth in 1992. Tyler is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Albania 2013-15) and a cross-continental cyclist (7,000 miles from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Key West, Florida). He has worked in government, for-profit, and civil society sectors, including a corporate stint at Delta Air Lines. 

Tyler and his father's work to ignite a green-consumer revolution begins in his hometown with the Atlanta Green Market Fair. 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE https://atlgreen.market/  https://www.instagram.com/atlgreen.market/ Follow Tyler on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-thompson-37a343116/

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In this episode, Jeff chats with Louis Enrique Negrón, Sr. about his story of self-discovery, spiritual healing, service to the community, and development as an executive business leader.

Guest Bio

As Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Louis Negrón is committed to supporting the young scholars who will become the leaders of tomorrow. 

Using his talents in fundraising and networking, he develops partnerships with agencies in Metro Atlanta that support his organization’s initiatives to mentor, educate, enrich and empower at-risk youth. Negrón’s goals include establishing 100 Black Men of Atlanta as the protector of the city’s children as well as Atlanta’s premier African-American volunteer mentorship group. 

Prior to taking on his current role in February 2021, Negrón already had more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, as well as a decade of experience in higher education. He holds a B.A. in Spanish from Morehouse College, an M.A. in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology.

Negrón was named one of Georgia’s 50 Most Influential Latinos by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2021 and featured in Atlanta Magazine’s 2020 list of the 500 Most Influential Leaders. 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Visit https://100blackmen-atlanta.org/ Follow 100 Black Men Of Atlanta on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter Follow Louis Enrique Negrón on LinkedIn

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In this episode, Jeff chats with Nigel Zelcer, the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Jabian Consulting about his story, why he founded their firm around a unique no-travel consulting model, the impact of empowering their employees to become ingrained in their communities, and why he’s so passionate about Conscious Capitalism.

Through Nigel’s leadership, Jabian has grown into one of the most respected management consulting firms in the country which has consistently been recognized as a best place to work and a charitable community leader.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Learn more at Jabian.com Follow Nigel Zelcer on LinkedIn Follow Jabian on LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Following his chance adoption of Arlo, a Border Collie, in college, Clancy Clark embarked on an unconventional life journey, from training award-winning sheepdogs to a three-decade career as a highly successful and recognized sales professional. Now Clancy is on to his next adventure: sharing his life experiences and wisdom as an author, speaker, and coach to help others attain fulfillment.

Clancy’s book, Love Your Work, Live Your Dream, is a compilation of values, ideas, and actions that have brought Clancy a life of fulfillment and abundance, for they all helped him answer The Biggest Question: “What is the most important thing in my life? And knowing that, how do I go about creating a life that I enjoy every day?” For people without an answer to this question, life happens to them, not for them.

The answers are as individual as each person, so inside Clancy’s book, you’ll find… A toolkit for ensuring your occupation provides you with real meaning and not merely a source of income. Workable items to help you gain clarity regarding your life vision, as well as how to step into it more fully.

Jeff chats with Clancy about his personal story, how people can begin this journey to fulfillment, some of the questions they can ask to find their own answers, and how they can lead to a more fulfilling reality.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Go to www.ClancyClark.cc to learn more about Clancy and his work  Purchase Love Your Work. Live Your Dream on Amazon.com Support your local bookstore and purchase the paperback on Indiebond.com

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In 2013, Chris Chancey and his wife Sarah moved to the fringe of a refugee resettlement community in the Atlanta metro area. After a year of learning from their refugee neighbors, they believed there were an ample amount of refugees looking for good jobs and knew there were an ample amount of companies looking to hire dependable employees. They launched Amplio Recruiting in 2014, to help great companies hire dependable employees for the refugee workforce.

Chris is focused on achieving Amplio's vision of staffing companies in 25 locations by 2025 and provides operational and financial support to the Amplio team.

Nathan Stuck sits down with Chris to unpack how they’re using their business to restore stability and dignity for migrants and refugees, his founding story, what it’s meant for his team to become a certified B Corp, and some key lessons learned along the journey.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Learn more at AmplioRecruiting.com Follow Chris Chancey on LinkedIn

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Sarah Marske founded Saramar Group with a vision to positively impact the world by doing business with a higher purpose, creating social impact along with profit. She is passionate about partnering with people, brands, and organizations to bring their purpose-driven visions to life and create a real impact for their business, customers, and communities.

Before starting the Saramar Group, Sarah led award-winning Hispanic marketing campaigns and social impact initiatives in her role on the multicultural marketing team at The Coca-Cola Company.  She created, led, and collaborated on innovative strategies and campaigns that tap into Hispanic passion points and values, earning the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) Multicultural Marketing Excellence Award, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Silver Anvil Award for Best PR Campaign, and the Billboard Music Award.

Sarah sat down with Jeff to open up about her story of transitioning from major corporate brands to life as an entrepreneur, the tremendous opportunity brands have to better engage the Hispanic audience who are near and dear to her heart, and why she's so passionate about being a Conscious Capitalist.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Visit www.SaramarGroup.com Follow Sarah Marske on Linkedin Invest Atlanta Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative Score Atlanta 

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Future Successors in Atlanta, GA was born in 2012 by Niki Watson as the founder of the nonprofit. The organization encourages underrepresented youth to find their passion to live out their purpose by equipping them with entrepreneurship and leadership skills under FOUR PILLARS: Communication, Explore, Respect, and Believe.

Jeff chats with Niki about her story of escaping poverty in Augusta, GA where she witnessed firsthand how drugs and poor education squandered the lives of many community members. This fueled her fire to help better equip our next generation in underserved communities by demonstrating how to discover a better life was possible through education, business, and leadership.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Visit https://futuresuccessors.org Follow @future_successors on Instagram Follow Niki Watson on LinkedIn

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Michele Pearson Tucker is a special ally to B Local Georgia who has committed her life to leading community initiatives, working collaboratively with local organizations, and providing financial empowerment. Michele is a proud business owner of an Edward Jones investment branch where she works as a Financial Advisor. 

Michele has also been involved in various boards, committees, and organizations within the Athens-Clarke County community over the years. Michele was appointed to the Athens Housing Authority Board of Commissioners in 2006 where she continues to serve. She also serves on boards for the Athens Tech Foundation, the Classic Center Cultural Foundation, Farm to Neighborhood Inc., and the Board of Trustees at Ebenezer Baptist Church, West. 

Nathan sits down with Michele to unpack her story of humble beginnings, overcoming obstacles as a woman of color in her field, and intentionality around diversifying board rooms. What has she learned? What’s been effective? What can we be doing better to be truly inclusive? Tune in…

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Visit the Minority Business Nonprofit Association - TheMBNA.org Email Michele at SustainMBNA@gmail.com Follow Michele on LinkedIn Learn more about Michele’s Financial Advisory work at Edward Jones at https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/michele-pearsontucker. 

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In 2006, Beth Armknecht Miller founded Executive Velocity as an outlet for her trademark enthusiasm and energy for assisting clients with their most valuable asset – their people. Through her proven approaches, she provides expert advice on leadership capabilities and builds succession plans for organizational continuity.

For business owners and senior leaders, Replaceable: An Obsession with Succession provides a step-by-step, six-phase process and valuable tools to create and execute a succession plan, delivering a strong leadership pipeline that builds value for your company and allows senior leaders to expand their roles and success.

In this episode, we unpack the six phases and some of the overarching principles to help leaders better understand the right way to approach succession planning.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Purchase Beth’s Book, Replaceable: An Obsession with Succession on Amazon Learn more about Beth at Executive-Velocity.com

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Anita Ward is an Applied Cultural Anthropologist whose Ph.D. and career have been dedicated to culture, purpose, and the growth and transformation of organizations. 

Considered a corporate shaman, Anita has led organizations that include JPM Chase, American General, Occidental Petroleum, and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.  She currently serves as CDO leading the US growth and development of the UK-based fintech, Salary Finance.  With a mission to help millions of working Americans achieve financial happiness and wellbeing, Salary Finance partners with employers at no cost to provide a holistic financial wellbeing platform to their employees. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Anita’s story of overcoming poverty and the lack of a stable home early in her childhood How her family overcame the odds so that she could pursue a college education and successful career track as an executive leader. How sharing her story a few years ago made a huge impact and what she’s learned about the role of vulnerability in leadership since. Why serving on the Conscious Capitalism Atlanta Chapter Board and several nonprofits throughout Atlanta has been so important to Anita. How being a Conscious Capitalist and thinking holistically about all the stakeholders impacted by your business, including your community through the lens of inclusion is critical to the success of modern-day business leaders.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Follow Anita on LinkedIn Visit SalaryFinance.com Learn more about Conscious Capitalism and how to plug into this community in Atlanta at ConsciousCapitalism.org/Chapter/Atlanta Work Is Love Made Visible - a poem by Kahlil Gibran

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Scott Sadler, CFA is the Founder and President of Boardwalk Capital Management in Atlanta, GA. Scott is a 30+year veteran of the investment industry.  He leads all investment research and management for Boardwalk.  His experience includes wealth management for affluent clients of Goldman Sachs, Wachovia Asset Management, and Bank of America across the United States and Canada. He was also the founder, and for seven years, the lead manager of a top-ranked international (emerging markets) mutual fund.

Boardwalk Capital Management was the first wealth management firm that is also a Certified B Corporation in the Southeast.

Nathan sits down with Scott to unpack the major benefits of ESG thinking for companies and investors and the greatest lessons he's learned through his experience. 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE

BoardwalkCM.com Follow Scott on LinkedIn

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James Carbary is the Author of Content-Based Networking, Founder of Sweet Fish Media (an Inc. 5000 B2B podcasting agency), Young Married Christian (a media company on a mission to end the foster care crisis), and Showcase (a SaaS platform that helps you build an audience).

Jeff chat's with James about how he’s learned to reverse engineer meaningful relationships that have tremendously impacted his business growth, how his worldviews around faith have impacted his leadership, how he’s being challenged as a business leader in the midst of rapid growth, and some incredibly helpful resources that have been helping him find more wisdom and clarity around his leadership.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Go to JamesCarbary.com for links to his book, podcast, and more Podcast Recommendation: Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast Book Recommendation: Pocket Prayers by Max & Andrea Lucado Book Recommendation: We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter by Celeste Headlee Podcast Recommendation: Leadership on Purpose by Blake Bozarth

ABOUT CHAT WITH LEADERS MEDIA Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChatWithLeaders

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Kevin Rogers is the founder of SHWAXX Laboratories and an admired leader in the B Corp and social impact community around Metro Atlanta.

After serving 30 yrs. as a licensed Master Barber and Licensed Barber instructor, opening, and selling a couple of barbershops, opening, and failing at others, publishing a barber trade journal in the early 2000s, Kevin founded a natural hair product manufacturing company, called SHWAXX Laboratories, LLC. The mission: “Building healthier self-images through the art and science on natural hair”, has been a career-long mission.  More than just quality handcrafted pomades, shampoo, conditioner, and styling aids…   SHWAXX Labs is here to empower licensed barbers and cosmetologists through micro-distribution opportunities, increasing their income through retail sales. Since 2016, SHWAXX Labs has handcrafted and sold more than 10,190 units of SHWAXX Brand products grossing over a quarter million in sales through services rendered, product sales on the SHWAXX.com website, Amazon Store, independent micro-distribution wholesalers, and Professional Hair Tradeshow sales.

Nathan Stuck sits down with him to unpack his founding story and what he's learned along the way by being open-minded, seizing opportunities, receiving mentorship, and staying grounded in his faith and family values.

Resources Related To This Episode START:ME Small Business Accelerator Emory Impact Investment Group (EIIG) Emory Consult Your Community NMSDC: National Minority Supplier Development Council Partnership for Southern Equity (Just Capital Cohort) Amazon Black Business Accelerator Comcast RISE program (Technology Makeover + 1 year of Business Internet, Voice & Cybersecurity Service)

Learn More & Follow AMAZON STORE LINK: https://www.amazon.com/stores/SHWAXX/page/DD3A44C4-9C40-4F19-9366-EEBC5A9826B2?ref_=ast_bln SHWAXX BRAND INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shwaxxbrand/ SUBSCRIBE TO SCHWAXX BRAND YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwELlvKEzjiRInEuNPXYNNw WEBSITE: http://shwaxx.com FOLLOW KEVIN ON LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shwaxxlaboratories-llc/

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In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Brandon Hatton, the Author ofConscious Wealth: Money, Investing, and a Financial Awaking for the Person Who Has it All. Brandon draws on the wisdom he’s gained through his own experiences in life and amid his career as an investment advisor who endeavors to help his clients live abundant and intentional lives. 

We unpack some of Brandon’s personal story of wrestling with a mindset of scarcity and relationship with money early in his life and how that’s evolved into his career, book, and major lessons learned today about purpose-driven and Conscious Leadership. I would venture to say that this will hit home with most of you as it did with me, so strap in and enjoy today’s chat with Brandon Hatton.

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandonthatton/  Twitter https://twitter.com/brandonthatton/  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/brandonthatton/  Website & Full Bio https://brandonhatton.com/  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCysvlohDDuJEKXn13zeYKnA  Buy the Book Conscious Wealthhttps://brandonhatton.com/book  Sign Up For Brandon's Being Enough Bloghttps://brandonhatton.com/beingenough

ABOUT CHAT WITH LEADERS MEDIA Learn how we can help you plan, produce, and maintain a professional podcast for your business at https://chatwithleaders.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChatWithLeaders

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Rachelle Kuramoto is an award-winning writer and brand strategist who balances creative and business acumen with deep empathy. As the vice president of brand and content for Dragon Army, she guides organizations to articulate what makes them distinctive and sustainable with the stakeholders who matter most. Rachelle’s professional path spans more than 20 years, starting at Ogilvy Public Relations. In 2015, she launched Watchword Brand, an agency specializing in branding, content production, and market intelligence. In 2019, the firm was acquired by Dragon Army, fueling its position as one of the most respected and fastest-growing digital agencies in the country. 

Rachelle has donated services and board support to not-for-profit entities that provide security and educational equality to Georgia’s citizens — including Waymark Foster, The Alliance Theater, Future Foundation, and Usher’s New Look. She helped to launch a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) chapter that has grown into one of the largest in the state. Rachelle is a founding member of 48in48 and a co-founder of Ripples of Hope, a 501(c)3 that accelerates the healthy, meaningful growth of organizations that believe business should be a force for good. Currently, Rachelle is serving as a board member for the Grove Park Foundation.

Rachelle earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in literature and business as a Presidential Scholar in music at Wake Forest University. She published her Master’s dissertation under the watchful eye of Dr. Maya Angelou, whom she credits with teaching her ability to be courageously empathetic in every form of communication. Outside of work, Rachelle is a mom of two teenagers and a dog and a happy wife.

What You'll Learn From This Episode How the motto of her alma mater "Pro Humanitate" (For Humanity) laid the foundation for a purpose-driven career and life Rachelle's experience studying under Dr. Maya Angelou Her shared values with her husband, Kenji, a former guest on our show, and what it's been like having two purpose-led entrepreneurs living under one roof The biggest lessons learned about how to truly leverage business as a force for good and positive impact The biggest challenges facing brands today What purpose-driven business leaders should start and stop doing today to elevate their brands Dragon Army's experience with becoming a B Corp What's motivating Rachelle's leadership and her team today

Resources Related To This Episode

Follow Rachelle https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachellekuramoto-atlanta-dragonarmy https://www.instagram.com/rkuramoto https://www.facebook.com/RachelleKuramoto https://twitter.com/ShelKuramoto

Follow Dragon Army https://www.linkedin.com/company/dragon-army https://www.instagram.com/dragonarmy https://dragonarmy.com 

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“We” do not exist as isolated individuals. We, as individuals, are inhabitants of networks; we are relationships. That is how we prosper and thrive. Brandon Pelissero inhabits relationships and networks locally, nationally, and globally within B2B via digital marketing to the industrial chemical industry and is dedicated to zero waste. Brandon advocates sustainability with and through K-12 and college & university students and educators. As Ecolink’s Chief Value Officer turned CEO, Brandon measures the triple impact (economic, environmental and social) of Ecolink’s employees, supply chain, and 700 (and growing) customers annually.

What You'll Learn An insider's account of Brandon's leadership journey with Ecolink in the late 90s that led to him buying the business in February 2020. What led to Ecolink's reincorporation as a public benefit corporation and initiate the certification as a B Corp. Why that mattered to Brandon. How Ecolink has completely overhauled their 401k and retirement plan and why they did it. How they've recently implemented a 4 day work week How Brandon's vision is to ensure their employees become successful, enjoy their lives, and retire earlier than the typical retirement age.

Resources Related To This Episode Atomic Habits by James Clear American Indian Business Principles and Practices Visit Ecolink.com Get in contact with Brandon at brandon@ecolink.com Follow Brandon at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonpelissero

Other Resources Recommended By Brandon Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection GA DECA Program of Leadership The FLITER® Business & Leadership Rating Scale - an innovative process and a comprehensive system designed to help small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) stabilize, grow, expand or scale their business!  Brandon used this in his first week of owning the business and said it was well worth the money. Sofer Advisors - business valuation services

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Presenting a sneak peek of the newest show in Chat With Leaders Media Network, Future Health NOW hosted by Shavonne Reed. 

Every day, there are public health crises threatening the livelihoods of our families and communities. While the novel coronavirus has taken center stage, there are several other escalating issues impacting our society, not limited to: mental health, generational poverty, inadequate nutrition access, and rising healthcare costs that widen the opportunity chasm.

However, there’s still so much hope! 

Our youngest consumers, Gen Z, are much more aware of the health risks of fast food, stress, sugary drinks, various medications, and social media than previous generations. This awareness has been leading them further away from choices that negatively impact their overall health.

🤔 What if we... awakened to solutions for a healthier future? became better guardians of our mind, body, and soul? helped save the lives of our loved ones before losing them too early? poured into and empowered the healthiest future generations to follow?

🤔 How will the future health of our families and communities look, if we start NOW?

Subscribe to this podcast and join our host, Shavonne Reed, Founder of OPUA Agency, as she embarks on a journey of answering these questions by having crucial conversations with today’s top public health leaders who will edify us all on how to increase lifespans, pay less over time with preventative healthcare, lead more active lifestyles, and build a more sustainable tomorrow… starting today!

Together… we can become more Optimistic People, Unified for Awareness that leads to action and better peace of mind towards the livelihood of our future generations.

This is Future Health NOW!

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Dalia Racine is the Douglas County District Attorney and today's featured guest. Dalia brings almost 15 years of prosecutorial experience to serve our community with specializations in homicides, crimes against women and children, and human trafficking. 

Dalia has championed the responsibility of elected prosecutors to keep their communities safe by implementing innovative practices and policies that reduce the number of repeat offenders who cause harm. Dalia has integrated Smart Justice while holding dangerous offenders accountable in our prison system. Additionally, Dalia has made it a priority for the District Attorney's office to be an integral part of our community and to keep servant leadership at the forefront of everything she does.

Today, you'll hear more about her story, lessons learned around leadership, and some strategies for mitigating criminal behavior while elevating humanity. Dalia is a great example of how to be a good steward of a position of power and influence over the lives of others in our community. 

Resources Related To This Episode https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyDA  https://www.instagram.com/douglascountyda https://www.tiktok.com/@douglascountyda https://twitter.com/douglascountyda https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-dalia-racine-1ab4a210/ https://www.douglasda.org/ 

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Ashley Rutland and Tiffany Pearson-Kilgore are the Co-CEOs of Planned to A.T., a nonprofit organization that curates interactive game-style workshops to teach financial literacy and life skills to students and student-athletes from diverse backgrounds. They are both former classroom teachers and have 16 years of combined educational experience that ranges from Title I public schools to private schools, and elementary through the high school levels.

Ashley and Tiffany took the leap of faith to launch Planned to A.T. after recognizing a deficit amongst their young African-American male students, in particular, who often desire to become professional athletes but lack the knowledge they need to navigate in that world financially. They realized that nearly all of their students no matter what grade level had no idea of how the lack of good money management skills can negatively impact their world in general. This sparked an interest in developing fun yet impactful workshops that expose students to the fundamental basics of managing their finances. Planned to A.T. was born with a primary focus on programming for students at colleges, universities, educational institutions, and youth organizations.

Planned to A.T. is driven by the understanding that financial knowledge is power and can lead to creating a framework for a successful livelihood! They provide students with a simple toolkit designed to not just help them successfully navigate their current financial circumstances but to ultimately help them build a framework that carries into adulthood. So although they start by meeting students where they are, their focus is for them to start thinking in terms of improving their current financial status to the point that this thinking translates into an interest in building generational wealth. It’s all about money management. This, of course, can have a positive impact on not just them and their families but can contribute to the overall health of their communities. The belief that their work could create a positive impact of that magnitude is what motivates Ashley and Tiffany the most!

Discussion Points What do you wish everyone understood about how the lack of financial literacy is negatively impacting our student-athletes today? What motivated you to make the leap of faith from being educators to entrepreneurs to tackle these issues? As cousins, how does looking through the lens of your upbringing and families clarify why it was important for you to come together on this mission? How has NIL (Name-Image-Likeness) changed the game for student-athletes? What complexities have you seen it present when it comes to financial literacy? Why does it make sense for large corporations to get involved with the solution with their time, talent, and treasure? How they will continue to invest in these students with increased support.

Resources Related To This Episode VisitPlannedToAT.org to learn more Follow Tiffany and Ashley on LinkedIn Follow Planned to A.T. on LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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Chris Sizemore is CEO of Creative Mischief, an Atlanta based marketing and branding agency, founded in 2008. As CEO, Chris leads the strategic mission to bring brands to life through a human-centered marketing approach that drives and inspires memorable experiences. This method of creative problem solving, and innovation fuels the creation of ideas that resonate deeply with an audience, drives engagement and ultimately growth for clients. Creative Mischief’s clients include the NCR, United Way, First Data, Georgia Chamber, CHOA, Atlanta Technical College, and Douglas County Chamber and Douglas County Economic Development Authority (Elevate Douglas). 

Chris focuses his professional development through experiences including Leadership Atlanta, Leadership Cobb, ARC’s Regional Leadership Institute, public speaking engagements, and was recognized as a “40 under 40” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia Trend Magazine. His love of serving his community is integral to who he is, and Chris supports his community by serving on the boards of United Way of Greater Atlanta, Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation, LiveSafe Resources, Emory University Center for Ethics, and the Georgia Chamber. In additional to supporting initiatives including the fight against child sex trafficking, ending generational poverty and public safety. Chris prides himself on being 110% committed to his most important role in life, dad to his three amazing kids, Noah, Haven, and Cooper.

What You’ll Learn Foundational experiences that led to Chris’s passion for getting involved with social impact causes and serving in the community. What he calls the “Southern Way”. How he became deeply involved with the fight against domestic violence, human trafficking and affordable housing. How AMI (Area Median Income) negatively impacts eligibility for affordable housing programs for vulnerable and legacy residents in low-income areas, and how that’s affecting the Atlanta community today. Why Chris believes the conversation around the phrase “affordable housing” sparks the wrong narrative and how influential leaders around the city should be approaching the conversation instead. Ways Chris believes we can do better as a city by addressing the areas of greatest need such as job training and development.

Resources Related To This Podcast

Follow Chris on LinkedIn Follow Chris on Twitter Email Chris@Creative-Mischief.com  Visit Creative-Mischief.com  Lyric from Garth Brooks Song Standing Outside The Fire “Life is not tried, it’s merely survived if you’re standing outside the fire.” Shoutouts to the great work being done by  United Way of Greater Atlanta Atticus LeBlanc at PadSplit Wellspring Living Street Grace Rohit Malhotra, Founder at Center for Civic Innovation

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Matt Stevens joined Creature Comforts Brewing Co. in September 2017 as its first Director of Strategic Impact, his role was to ensure the business was making meaningful investments in both their employees and their city. His team now leads their two primary community impact programs, Get Comfortable and Brew For One, and they oversee CCBC's B Corp certification process. He is no stranger to Athens, Georgia, however. A self-described "boomerang," he has returned to Athens during four chapters of his life, including years as a graduate student at the University of Georgia where he earned his MPA in Nonprofit Management. Prior to a career in craft beer, Stevens worked in both the public and nonprofit sectors, including six years as the Associate Director of UGA's research station in San Luis, Costa Rica.

Resources Related To This Episode GetCurious.com Follow Matt on LinkedIn Learn about University of Georgia’s Master of Public Administration degree TEDxUGA Talk (March 2021) Matt’s Craft Brewers Conference lecture (September 2021) -- This is essentially his craft beer CSR manifesto. B Corp Declaration of Interdependence The Search for God and Guinness by Stephen Mansfield Doing Good Better by William MacAskill This is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick

Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

Produced by Chat With Leaders Media. Visit https://chatwithleaders.com to learn more about starting your own business podcast. 

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Vicki Flier Hudson is the Chief Collaboration Officer of Highroad Global Services, Inc., a company that exists to release the power of diverse teams. She offers executive coaching, presentations, and organizational strategy for working successfully across differences.

Vicki has observed hesitancy in leaders to engage in depolarizing conversations. And they have some valid fears! They wonder, “Will I have to water down my views? Will I be forced to come to an agreement with the other side? Who holds the power in the conversation? Will I be complicit in supporting a harmful view?”

She chats with our host Jeff Bond about four myths that may hold us back from having conversations that could save our relationships and even our society. Note: these myths are written from a U.S. perspective and may vary in other cultures.

Resources Braver Angels - A national grassroots movement to unite red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America. Visit HighRoaders.com   Email vicki@highroaders.com

Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about growing your business as a force for good through your own podcast series and content marketing.

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Join us for a coffee chat with Jasmine Burton, founder of Wish for WASH and the Hybrid Hype, who will be talking about her work as a social impact founder that operates at the intersection of innovation and inclusion.

Jasmine is an Atlanta native, Georgia Tech College of Design graduate, a current MBA student, and a Social Impact Fellow at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, and has worked in the Sanitation Economy across 10 countries over the past decade.

She shares how her work is rooted in human-centered design, empathy, and social inclusion particularly related to the 3rd, 5th, and 6th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Jasmine identifies as a social impact designer and storyteller who seeks to utilize design thinking, evidence-based research, and business acumen to build a more inclusive world because #EverybodyPoops.

Hosted by Sydney Hulebak, Director at Georgia Social Impact Collaborative (GSIC) as part of their “Social Entrepreneur Coffee Series” at the Just Add Honey Tea Room on the Atlanta BeltLine.

The Georgia Social Impact Collaborative (GSIC)was formed by a group of community leaders committed to developing a stronger ecosystem around impact investing in Georgia. By bringing together our region’s leaders, representing all sectors of our social fabric, GSIC envisions an energetic and dynamic network of resources that raises up our social impact ecosystem.

Show Sponsor: InspirEDU Atlanta

InspirEDU’s mission is to help underserved youth develop the skills needed for education and career success through technology‐based learning tools and engagement activities with their families, communities, and schools.

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Kathija "Kat" Mohammed is the COO of EnrichHER, a certified B Corporation and financial technology platform that matches revenue-generating companies led by women and founders of color to individual and institutional sources of funding. Since 2017, EnrichHER has deployed upwards of $4 million through its platform and matched business owners to $13 million in working capital through its Accelerator. By providing capital, coaching, and connections, they are fueling the fastest-growing demographic of business owners. Their network has engaged with over 23,000 advocates through its digital community and in-person activations.

As a leader, Kat is a growth specialist focusing on building relationships and optimizing operational efficiency. She has over 10 years of operations experience previously working for a non-profit as a Director of Education where she developed educational and professional development programming for hotel owners across the US. She also has experience in data analytics, operations, commercial lending, and retail. Kat is motivated by her desire to positively impact as many people as she can in her life along with her family. Kat is a lover of life and when not honing her professional skills, she can be found enjoying the outdoors or doing creative projects.

What you’ll learn Why EnrichHER exists, their overall mission, Kat’s role as COO, and why they certified as a B Corporation. EnrichHER’s experience with going through the extensive B Corp certification process. What issues and barriers still exist for female founders and founders of color within the funding ecosystem. What Kat sees as the biggest area of opportunity for funders, investment firms, and companies like EnrichHER to continue this focused work on diversity, inclusion, and access to capital over the next 5+ years. How to make sure your mission and vision stay locked in and that you’re responding to the needs of your stakeholders as you continue to grow rapidly. What is giving Kat the greatest hope for a sustainable future through businesses as a force for good.

Follow / Learn More Follow EnrichHER on LinkedIn Follow Kat on LinkedIn Sign up for the EnrichHER Newsletter Email kat@enrichher.com Follow EnrichHER on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube

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Tim Huff is an Executive Coach and Leadership Advisor who has a passion for helping leaders and executives at all levels tap into the greatness that exists within themselves to lead their teams at their full potential and live their lives intentionally and unapologetically. With over 26 years of high-stakes leadership experience in the U.S. Army as well as multiple Fortune 500 companies, he has a unique background that allows him to empathize with his clients’ leadership challenges as he helps them in their journey of transformational change.

As a Certified Executive Coach, Tim enjoys coaching and advising individuals as well as teams in values-based leadership, effective behaviors, healthy relationships, executive presence, and high-performing team dynamics. With a strong business and Information Technology background, he understands the pressures placed on today’s executives as well as the value of excellent leadership in an organization. Tim’s mission is to help all leaders be at their best for their teams!

What you’ll learn When and why coaching authentic leadership became an important mission for Tim. Ways in which Tim has seen leaders struggle with the idea of being completely authentic while owning their responsibility for company performance. The 3 dimensions of authentic leadership and how Tim describes their importance. Purpose Passion Values How Tim would describe authentic leadership as “freedom”. The RAVE framework for authentic leadership: Respect, Appreciate, and Value Everyone How leaders can consciously create environments that are safe for all stakeholders to be comfortable as their authentic selves.

Follow / Learn More Learn more about Tim’s Executive Coaching Services at PlatinumLevelLeadership.com Email tim@plleader.com Learn more about the work Tim is doing with Turknett Leadership Group at https://www.turknett.com/team/tim-huff/  Email thuff@turknett.com  Follow Tim Huff on LinkedIn

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Carson nourishes authentic communities by connecting people through food and entertainment. Crohn's disease forced him to think deeply about life, meaning, and purpose at a young age. After losing 18-inches of his colon, Carson “accidentally” completed a degree from William & Mary and left his career in real estate behind. Choosing instead to pursue his lifelong passion.

Carson’s goal is to nourish lives and help people indulge in our common ancestral language. Food. 

In order to pursue this goal, he founded SweezEats amidst the pandemic in Sept 2020 as a means to build community through their cookie gift boxes.

Since then, they’ve partnered with small businesses to ship signature batch cookie gifts to their clients, donors, and employees. They’ve shipped a total of over 13,000 cookies to friends and customers… and counting.

What you’ll learn How Carson describes food as a language that can empower us to be better humans. Influences in Carson’s life that inspired his love for food and his journey into entrepreneurship. Why Carson felt it was important to build and strengthen communities through his cookie gift boxes amidst the pandemic. How he was able to get the world out through social marketing leading to lots of orders coming in. What he learned about the power of simplicity through this experience of launching and maintaining SweezEats that every entrepreneur and business leader should keep in mind.

Follow / Learn More Follow Carson on LinkedIn Follow Carson (and his delicious food) on Instagram Join our LinkedIn community and be part of the ongoing conversations by following Chat With Leaders on LinkedIn

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Channing Salava is the Co-Founder of Brand Pollinators, a conscientious consulting firm that specializes in establishing foundational marketing within emerging brands. Brand Pollinators works with purpose-driven brands to bring clarity to your mission and vision and ensures those values are being actualized in the market.

Before co-founding Brand Pollinators, Channing built her career in the consumer packaged goods space working with brands that held a strong social mission. Her life's purpose is to help ideas, people, and companies actualize their full potential and she believes in the power of cross-pollination.

Channing has a BA in Communication Studies from Belmont University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Emory University. She is a lifelong competitive athlete and a proud dog mom.

What you’ll learn How Channing came to the realization that she was not living out her personal purpose in her profession. What she did to clarify her purpose and apply that to the decisions she set out to make from that point forward. Why Channing believes people struggle with the tension of clarifying their own purpose. Why Channing believes it’s important for business leaders to clarify their organizational purpose and social impact mission. What leaders can be doing better today that will help equip and empower our next-gen professionals and organizational leaders to create a sustainable future.

Follow / Learn More Visit BrandPollinators.com Follow Brand Pollinators on Instagram Follow Channing Salava on LinkedIn

Join our LinkedIn community and be part of the ongoing conversations by following Chat With Leaders on LinkedIn

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Jenn Graham is on a mission to design a more inclusive world. An activist, designer, and civic tech entrepreneur, Jenn is the Founder and CEO of Inclusivv (formerly “Civic Dinners”), bringing diverse voices together for conversations that matter.

Since starting Civic Dinners as a social experiment in Atlanta, Jenn has built a global team and a digital platform that has already enabled over 1,800 dinners around the world—both in-person and virtual—and has a goal of inviting a million people to the table by 2021. Her clients range from Facebook to Coca-Cola, including beloved organizations such as The King Center, Sierra Club, and The Aspen Institute. 

Jenn was featured as a “2020 World-Changing Woman in Conscious Business” by Conscious Media Company, and last year she was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a “Small Business Person of the Year – Rising Star.” Jenn’s work has also been recognized by President Obama and has received numerous awards for social impact and creative community engagement.

What you’ll learn What inspired Jenn to start Inclusivv (originally as Civic Dinners) in order to spark community engagement and more meaningful conversations. Why it was important for her to empower businesses, communities, and individuals to create positive social change through small-group, structured environments. Jenn’s process of shaping her purpose, mission, vision and values in order to clarify how she would lead her team and create a positive culture. How Jenn overcame some of the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic forcing them to pivot their original business model into more digital vs in-person dinner experiences. How Jenn is working through the challenges of moving from the role of a founder to that of a CEO amid their rapid growth. Why it’s been important for Jenn’s team to start the journey of becoming a certified B Corp and how business leaders can follow her lead of scaling their for-profit businesses as a force for good.

Hosted by: Nathan Stuck, Chair of B Local GA.

Follow / Learn More Follow Jenn Graham on LinkedIn Follow Inclusivv on Instagram Visit Inclusivv.co Email Jenn@inclusivv.co

Join our LinkedIn community and be part of the ongoing conversations by following Chat With Leaders on LinkedIn

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Glynis Lee serves as the Vice President of Inclusion, Community, and HR Technology, responsible for accelerating and actuating a world-class inclusive culture at Infor, LLC.  With her deep background in technology transformation, program, and project management – she has been able to inject an action-oriented approach to inclusion and community, focusing on systemic process transformation to interrupt bias and infuse inclusive behavior as a natural and organic component of the company culture.  

Glynis’ career spans over 20 in leading complex IT service delivery organizations and overseeing strategic technology transformation efforts in private, government, and academic, and global organizations.  She has focused on the selection, implementation, and management of ERP systems supporting back-office operations, particularly in Human Resources and Finance.  She transitioned to an HR leadership role several years ago, leveraging technology to facilitate cultural transformation.  

A graduate of Rutgers University with a BS in Business Economics, and an MBA in Management Information Systems, she holds her PMP certification, and certificates in Executive Leadership, High-Performance Leadership, and Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University.

A native of New Jersey, Glynis now lives outside Atlanta, GA with her husband, 2 children, and granddaughter.

What you’ll learn What shaped Glynis’ view that corporate social responsibility is so much more than writing checks. Why she felt called towards leading inclusion and diversity initiatives as a business leader. Why it is important for Glynis as a leader of her family, business, and community to teach the importance of open-mindedness and listening to opinions outside your own beliefs. Ways in which Glynis would guide us to better navigate conflict resolution and challenging conversations in the workplace. How business leaders can use their influence to promote more cohesion and tap into the strengths of all 5 generations of people who are currently serving in the workplace.

Follow / Learn More Follow Glynis Lee on LinkedIn Join our community by following Chat With Leaders Media on LinkedIn

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John is an accomplished business leader with extensive experience in CRM, Marketing Automation, and Content Management software in corporate and start-up environments. He graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing and dual minoring in Psychology and Management. John also earned the rank of Eagle in The Boy Scouts of America and has since worked to incorporate civic engagement and community initiatives, specifically involving youth, education, and technology, into his career. 

The early stages of John’s career were fraught with obstacles, however through perseverance, mentorship, civic engagement, and hard work he now is the Founder & President of his own Salesforce consulting firm based in Atlanta, LogicSpree. He has also served on a number of non-profit boards that have a key social impact on the Atlanta community such as InspirEDU, Atlanta Technology Professionals, and the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). 

What you’ll learn John’s greatest aspirations growing up and the mentors who inspired and empowered him in those early years The significant obstacles he faced after college to get his career on the right track When he started to really feel like he was breaking through into a brighter future and path towards growth as a leader How his experiences through struggle and pain informed his sense of responsibility to be of service to others in need on his team and in his community The advice he would give to himself as a younger professional, knowing what he knows today What kind of legacy he hopes to leave as a leader as he forges ahead in service to his coworkers, customers, and community through his influence and resources

Follow / Learn More Follow John DeShazer on LinkedIn Follow LogicSpree on LinkedIn Visit LogicSpree.com to learn how they’re helping small and mid-market businesses simplify and scale Salesforce.

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Shannon started her own journey of transformation when she realized what a terrible leader she had been for many of her team members over the years.  Growing up as the daughter of a bank CEO and holding Director and VP roles in large organizations did not make her a good leader of people. It took a Hero’s Journey saga of self-awareness and challenge for her to uncover and embrace her true nature, a compassionate and inspiring leader with a strong dose of “GSD” (get stuff done). Taking control of her own mindset and skills was the first step in being a better leader and a better person. She realized that unlike her beliefs from the ’80s and ’90s, work and life are not separate. We cannot just leave part of ourselves at home. Instead, we can embrace all of who we are in every aspect of our life and show up authentically.

This led her to create Guided Ventures Group (GVG), an organization of leaders and experts who use real-world experience to act as guides for others on their journey of professional and personal growth. GVG, a woman-owned business, is the first business under the GVG umbrella because elevating people at work makes a difference in every aspect of their life.

What you’ll learn What made Shannon self-describe herself as a “terrible leader” in the first two decades of her career. What commonly held beliefs about being an effective leader during that era influenced how she treated her people then. Why it was important for her to have the self-awareness to admit to being a terrible leader. A story of the pivotal moment that led her to want to turn the corner towards becoming a better leader. What she’s learned to be the top characteristics that epitomize a good 21st-century leader Why she is involved on the board of Conscious Capitalism Atlanta and how that’s influenced the way she guides her clients towards new ways to lead, live, and learn.

Follow / Learn More Follow Shannon on LinkedIn Visit GVG’s Website Follow GVG on Facebook and LinkedIn

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​​Kerry Mallory is the Managing Director for the Eastern U.S. region of Ronald Blue Trust.

As Managing Director, Kerry is responsible for the client service, growth, and expansion of the company’s offices across the Eastern U.S. region. This includes providing leadership and oversight of offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Charlotte, North Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; Montgomery, Alabama; and Orlando, Florida.

In addition to his leadership role, Kerry serves as an experienced wealth advisor to individuals, families, and businesses. He uses his objective perspective to help clients make wise financial decisions to experience clarity and confidence and leave a lasting legacy. Kerry and his team integrate financial planning, investment management, and trust services into financial plans tailored to his clients’ needs.

Prior to joining Ronald Blue Trust, Kerry worked with Regions Bank for 15 years. Most recently he was the Senior Vice President of Private Wealth Management serving as the manager for Georgia and South Carolina. Previously he worked with Bain & Company as a Management Consultant in Sydney, Australia.

Kerry graduated cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College with his BS in Business Administration. He also earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Active in his community, Kerry served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Providence Christian Academy for five years. He is a member of the Marietta C12 CEO Peer Advisory Group and is a Business Leadership Group member at Fellowship of Companies for Christ International. He also leads a men’s small group at his local church. He and his team are the planned giving partners for Atlanta Mission. In the past, he has served on several boards including the River Region United Way, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and the Montgomery Zoo. In addition, he has been an effective fundraiser and volunteer for the American Heart Association, the Arthritis Foundation, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

He and his wife, Brook, have been married 25 years and live in Atlanta with their two children. In his free time, Kerry enjoys reading, hunting, and scuba diving.

Kerry shares why it’s important to... Place your trust in God, not riches Spend less than you earn Have a spending plan Live generously Save for the unexpected

Follow / Learn More Follow Kerry on LinkedIn Email Kerry at kerry.mallory@ronblue.com  Visit RonBlue.com

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Brian Mize is President and Co-Founder of Ad Victoriam Solutions, a Certified B Corporation and Top 25 Multi-Cloud Salesforce Partner based out of Alpharetta, Georgia. Brian specializes in service and has lived that out through 23 years of service in the United States Navy and United States Army (to include a combat tour in Afghanistan) - as well as serving the needs of his Technology Customers and End Users for over 25 years. It was his passion for serving that nourished the Ad Victoriam idea of a Partner who provides top-notch solutions for Clients and a top-notch environment for Team Members. A graduate of Kennesaw State University, and a life-long Georgian, Brian resides in Northwest Georgia today with his wife and twin sons. If asked, Brian will name his son, Noah, as a key inspiration for his success. When not leading his Team in solving technology issues or serving the Nation in the Georgia Army National Guard, Brian enjoys riding his Harley-Davidson and fishing with his sons.

Chat Topics How would you describe the role and main responsibilities of a Chaplain for someone who is unfamiliar? Can you describe your first interaction with a Chaplain? What aspects of your story led to you wanting to become a Chaplain in the GA Army National Guard? How has your experience as a Chaplain informed your views on how to be an effective business leader as the President of Ad Vic? What have been the most rewarding aspects of leading a certified benefits corporation?

Follow Learn more at AdVic.com  Follow Ad Victoriam on Facebook Follow Ad Victoriam on Instagram Follow Ad Victoriam on LinkedIn Follow Brian Mize on LinkedIn Follow Chat With Leaders on LinkedIn

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Nipuna Ambanpola is a native of Sri Lanka currently living in the United States. Nipuna is a tech-for-good entrepreneur and strongly believes that technology has the capacity and efficiency to mobilize people to strengthen social impact across the world. In 2017, Nipuna founded IVolunteer International, a 501(c)3 tech-nonprofit in the United States with the vision of creating 7-billion volunteers. IVolunteer International’s purpose is to create a culture of global contribution through volunteerism. Understanding the impact of local volunteerism and mobility, Nipuna has devoted his life to creating tech solutions to make volunteering fun, easy, and equitable. Since 2017 under Nipuna’s leadership, IVolunteer International has connected 6,000+ volunteers to global causes, exposed 200,000+ people to volunteerism, and forged 16 strategic partnerships across the world in local communities through 4 distinct tech-oriented programs

Nipuna believes that every single human being has the power to create impact and envisions a society where volunteerism is a lifestyle and part of the culture. Through #BirthdayDeed (a global pledge campaign), Writers’ Council (an activist training program), IVolunteer Series (an online talk-show), and other advocacy campaigns, IVolunteer International has empowered people to connect to their community, find their political voice, unite for a common cause, spotlight local issues, and start movements. Nipuna has spoken about IVolunteer International and the impact of tech-for-good at TEDx Savannah, Points of Lights Conference in Atlanta, Global Goals Summit at the United Nations, University Scholars’ Leadership Symposium in Malaysia, and a variety of other change-making venues. Nipuna also serves as a Civil Society Representative at the Youth Steering Committee with the United Nations Department for Global Communications.

Nipuna holds a Bachelor’s of Economics from Georgia Southern University and a Master’s of Public Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia. Nipuna is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Business Analytics at the University of Georgia and envisions expanding IVolunteer International’s impact through big-data analytics of volunteer mobility, individual social impact metrics, and volunteer impact. In his free time, Nipuna loves to read, meet new people, and volunteer. Nipuna volunteers with the United Way and Rotary International and has been recognized for his community work as a Will Watt Fellow, Paul Harris Fellow, and a Rotary Youth-All Star.

Discussion Topics What was the impetus behind your founding a new movement for volunteerism and your organization, IVolunteer International? Do you know the origin story of why volunteerism became so normalized within your home country’s culture in Sri Lanka? Why do you think many people’s involvement in the US is little to non-existent? What is holding people back from serving in their communities? What opportunities have you experienced as a direct result of your volunteerism and how are you leading people towards action in their communities to experience the same outcomes? How do you lead your team to inspire and equip the next generation of volunteers to care deeply about social and environmental impact by giving more of their time, talent, and treasure?

Follow/Get In Touch Visit ivint.org  Follow Nipuna Ambanpola on LinkedIn Learn about the #BirthdayDeed pledge: ivint.org/birthdaydeed  Follow IVolunteer International on Facebook Subscribe to IVolunteer’s monthly newsletter at ivint.org/subscriber   Guidestar Platinum Seal Nonprofit Organization TEDx Talk: Uniting the world through volunteerism Member of FastForward Tech Nonprofit Incubator

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B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting

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Dean J. Fusto is a 2020 recipient of the Klingenstein Fellowship at Teachers College, Columbia University, and the President and Head of Brandon Hall School, an international boarding and day school serving students in grades 6-12. His career spans nearly three decades as an educational leader. He founded the teachlearnlead.net community in 2014 as a tribute to his heroes and heroines: teachers. This comprehensive site is an online edu-library that has grown in reach and built a global audience of teachers and school leaders seeking professional development and access to the latest educational research. Dean is a past recipient of a National Endowment of the Humanities Fellowship and an EE Ford Fellowship. As a thought leader and influencer, he has published 5 books, dozens of articles and holds a M.A.T. from the SIT Graduate Institute, an M.A. from Columbia University, and Proactive Leadership certification from Cornell University. He has founded and designed numerous experiential, service-learning trips for thousands of students and teachers. In 2017, out of his passion for inspiring youth leadership, he founded the Center for Global Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurial Studies at Brandon Hall School. In 2020, he established the Therese A. Fusto microgrants to fund social and community impact projects.

Discussion Topics Why did becoming an educational leader resonate with you when first started this career journey nearly three decades ago? As you progressed in your experience, what were some of the greatest problems you saw as an area of opportunity for change in youth education? How did you arrive at Leadership, Scholarship, and Service as the three-pronged focus of your mission at Brandon Hall School? Given all the complicated societal + environmental issues we’ve been facing, what’s been your greatest area of focus when it comes to shepherding your team to equip and prepare students for these “real world” challenges? Fast forward to retirement, what do you most hope to have accomplished?

Follow/Get In Touch

Visit TeachLearnLead.net Visit BrandonHall.org Follow Dean on Twitter Follow Dean on LinkedIn Follow Brandon Hall School on Facebook Follow Brandon Hall School on Twitter Follow Brandon Hall School on Instagram

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B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting

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Chad is the culture, and people strategist who drives business results with the power of belief, purpose, and communication. Chad began his 20-year career as a labor and employment attorney, then transitioned to a senior business executive, where he learned how the power of people can impact an organization.

In co-founding NICH in 2016, Chad sought to develop a resource that he wished he had as a senior executive at a large enterprise. During his nearly 15-year tenure with one of the most successful specialty retailers in the country, Aaron’s Inc., Chad was responsible for the most valued aspect of the business: attracting, hiring, training, and engaging the 20,000+ (mostly millennial) associates. Building this process from scratch gave Chad invaluable experience and lessons on what’s effective for today’s millennial workforce. 

Nikki is the millennial marketing, creative director, and internal brand strategist who provides clients with counsel and a personal confidant to successfully lead their brands around the world. 

Nikki has developed a wide skill set thanks to a diverse background spanning a Major League Baseball team, a large enterprise, a digital advertising agency, and a technology start-up. She has developed a range of specialties from graphic design to copywriting to web coding. With a passion for purpose and a great eye for design, Nikki helps organizations tap into their younger generations by meeting them where they are. 

In co-founding NICH, Nikki sought to build a team of creatives, communicators, and designers that understand the power of effective and authentic communication. Nikki creates strategies and executes proven tactics to build strong foundations of communication and engagement across companies both locally and abroad.

Nikki and Chad live in Historic Inman Park Atlanta and have an office in the Old Fourth Ward.  When not in the office, you can find them with their two dogs, training or drinking wine at VinoTeca. Both are elite endurance athletes that travel the world competing in crazy events and run teams of like-minded individuals.   

Discussion Topics Can you walk us through your journey to starting NICH Culture – an agency that’s uniquely focused on workplace culture and purpose? What kind of problems have you seen leaders of growing companies facing with respect to unhealthy cultures and how do you invite them into a conversation about building a stronger narrative and culture built around purpose, mission, and stronger core values? Can you share an example of the impact you’ve had with helping your clients understand, define, articulate, and promote an exceptional work culture through your work at NICH? What do you see happening in the labor market right now and what role are leadership and culture playing for those organizations that are thriving?

Follow/Get In Touch Follow Nikki on LinkedIn     Follow Chad on LinkedIn   Follow NICH Culture on LinkedIn   Instagram: @NICH_Speed  Twitter: @nich_culture 

Presented By

B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting

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Kenji is the Founder and CEO of Acuity which builds and maintains financial functions for entrepreneurs and startups. Through Acuity, he’s provided thousands of companies with a full range of financial solutions from high-level strategic financial counsel through its fractional CFO practice all the way to virtualized bookkeeping solutions for early-stage startups. Kenji’s core business mission is to provide scalable financial solutions for entrepreneurs so that their main focus can be on growing their company.

Prior to co-founding Acuity, Kenji was the vice president of finance and administration for one of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation, where he directed the planning, reporting, analysis, and execution of company financial processes. His experience also includes significant tenure with Arthur Andersen where he handled diverse business engagements, including coordinating domestic and international project teams, performing financial services, and assisting clients with due diligence.

Kenji is active in financial, business, and community organizations throughout Atlanta. He is a Board Member for The Entrepreneurs Organization, a Founding Venture Partner at NextGen Ventures, a Board Member of Staplehouse Restaurant (a subsidiary of The Giving Kitchen), a Board Member of Refuge Coffee, and serves on the Xero Partner Advisory Council. He is a CPA in the State of Georgia and a graduate of Wake Forest University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting. He was named as one of The Atlanta Business Chronicle's 40 Under 40, a TIE Top Entrepreneur, and a Top 50 Cloud Accountant.

Discussion Topics Given the success and positive momentum  in your business, you recently returned from a leadership retreat where you closely examined this important question: “What is the significance?” Why was that question central to your planned discussions? What were some of the biggest problems you experienced in the public accounting advisory sector that you set out to do differently when you started the Acuity journey in 2004? What gave you the confidence in growing your business around an entirely remote workforce, many of whom work flexible and part-time hours to serve your clients? Going back to the present day as you reflect on the outcomes of your retreat and the question of “what is the significance?” -  what answers did your team arrive at? Why did you recently decide to go through the certification process to become a B Corporation? How has this decision to become a B Corp been received by your team and how do you feel it will impact your ability to have a positive influence on society as a for-profit business going forward?

Follow/Get In Touch Visit Acuity.co Follow Kenji on Twitter Follow Kenji on LinkedIn Subscribe to Acuity on YouTube to watch fun videos including their series, Drink While You Think, where Kenji and his business partner Matthew chat about cloud accounting, current events, and other hot topics (over drinks and with the occasional special guest).

Presented By

B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting

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Ayushi Sinha graduated Cum Laude from the Princeton University Department of Computer Science, received a certificate in Cognitive Science, and is a member of the Product team at Nines, a startup bringing AI to radiology diagnostics. Having co-founded her own startup, WellPower, a vertically integrated Uber for water filtration and distribution in East Africa, she is particularly interested in social entrepreneurship. Astha Sinha graduated from high school this spring and plans to pursue Computer Science at Vanderbilt University. Alongside computer science, she is also interested in the arts and sees entrepreneurship as a way to combine the two.

Yustha Yoga is a desi-inspired athleisure founded by two sisters, Ayushi and Astha. The co-founders grew up doing yoga with their grandparents in India and playing dress-up with their mother's Banarasi saris. Fast forward to today: they are committed to bringing the fabrics and patterns that women in their family have worn for generations by designing south-Asian inspired athleisure.

Discussion Topics Can you share your backstory of how your parents immigrated to the United States and how they positively influenced you through their example of helping underserved communities? Why was starting your own South Asian-inspired athleisure clothing line with a focus on continuing a generational, and cultural origin story so important to you? How has your experience as the Co-President of the Entrepreneurship Club and President's Advisory Council at Princeton informed your views on the impact you can have through innovation and social entrepreneurship? As you reflect on the example set by your parents and grandparents, as well as the opportunities you have through your resources as a rising entrepreneur, how do you hope to be a force for good in the world through your business?

Follow/Get In Touch Visit https://yustha.yoga to learn more

Presented By

B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting

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With nearly two decades of international experience, including nearly twelve years serving in a variety of policy-making and diplomatic roles in Washington, DC, and the Middle East, Mike Mannina joined Atlanta’s disruptive coffee startup Thrive Farmers in 2015 to launch the company’s sister international development nonprofit, ThriveWorx. As President of ThriveWorx, Mike leads the organization to empower farming communities to thrive by creating customized, market-based solutions to poverty. Prior to ThriveWorx, Mike served as the U.S. Treasury Attaché to Saudi Arabia, as an advisor within various offices of the U.S. Treasury Department, and as a staffer at the White House Homeland Security Council, the Heritage Foundation, and the office of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson. Mike is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He holds business and journalism degrees from the University of Georgia and an MA in Strategic Studies/International Relations from the United States Naval War College. He is an active member of his local church in Roswell, GA, a husband, and a father of three energetic children ages nine, four, and two. 

Discussion Topics Can you share your founding story of ThriveWorx and how you arrived at your formula that advances flourishing communities across the globe? How has your experience with this movement informed the way you look at the responsibility of leaders to collaborate and use their influence in the marketplace as a force for good? What was the impetus of the Thrive Farmers leadership team making the decision to become a Certified B Corporation and join B Local GA? How has the B Corporation certification model helped your team score your impact and keep you on track with your mission? Given the intense polarization in our present-day society - coupled with how your global experience informs your leadership - how do you keep your team unified around purpose and mission towards social impact vs getting too caught up in the division?

Follow/Get In Touch Follow Mike Mannina on LinkedIn Visit ThriveWorks.org to learn how Mike’s team is disrupting poverty through market-based, collective action Follow ThriveWorx on Instagram Visit ThriveFarmers.com Follow Thrive Farmers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Presented By

B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting

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Tino Mantella joined Turknett Leadership as President and CEO in October of 2018. Over the course of his career, he has led some of the nation’s largest non-profit organizations as well as for-profit companies in diversified fields such as human and social services, health, and technology. Under his guidance, the Technology Association of Georgia and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago became the largest institutions of their kind in North America. His track record of accelerating impact related to the lives of people, the congruity of teams, and the effectiveness of organizations is evident in his national publication recognized reputation of being a versatile, innovative leader. His current focus is on seeing that the Turknett mission of ‘spreading leadership character around the globe’ is carried out to its fullest extent to impact a greater number of people and leaders.

Discussion Topics How Tino first realized his passion for leadership, coaching, and mentorship. Some of his greatest influences were growing up that shaped his direction and focus on social impact through nonprofit leadership in his early career. How working at the YMCA in inner-city Chicago and helping gang members escape tumultuous circumstances has shaped his views on leadership. The importance of leaders thinking differently about diversity and inclusion. How Tino’s deep experience as an expective in the nonprofit world informed how he leads his for-profit organization towards having an important social impact. The importance of people finding causes they’re most passionate about and going deep in terms of how they serve using their time, talent, and resources for good.

Follow/Get In Touch https://www.linkedin.com/in/tino-mantella https://twitter.com/TurknettLG    https://www.linkedin.com/company/turknett-leadership-group   https://www.facebook.com/TurknettLeadershipGroup 

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B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting

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The vision Ashley Jones had as the Founder of Love Not Lost came from her personal and heart-breaking story. Having a daughter with a terminal illness, and being gifted portrait sessions, Ashley wanted to pay it forward and started offering free portrait sessions to anyone she met with a terminal diagnosis. As she donated more and more sessions, she realized that something greater was taking shape. 

As this shape was forming into a non-profit, Ashley asked three key friends to join her on theboard of directors, whom she knew would have not only the talent, but more importantly, the heart, to get Love Not Lost off the ground with her. Since then, their board, staff, volunteers, and their collective heart to serve has continued to grow.

Ashley and the team at Love Not Lost are on a mission to revolutionize the way we grieve in America. They started by photographing people facing a terminal diagnosis to capture beautiful memories for those they love. Through their photography program, they give each family a hand-crafted custom-designed photo album with the best photos from their session to enjoy and pass along as a legacy. As they photographed more and more families, they kept hearing similar stories: sometimes they were the only ones showing up. Friends, family, communities were disappearing leaving these people feeling alone, unloved, and abandoned by the ones they thought they could count on for support.

As Ashley would speak at events, people would continually come up to her saying things like, “My co-worker just lost a baby, what do I do?” or “My friend’s dad just died, how can I support them?” They saw a community of people who wanted to help and show up for the people they loved who were hurting but they didn’t know how. This inspired them to launch their community support program as well as their corporate care program. You can see some of the Grief & Empathy Tools they’ve created to help equip and empower people to support their loved ones in grief, but there’s more on the way!

Discussion Topics Ashley’s backstory of founding Love Not Lost from the tragic loss of her daughter. How the fundamental question of “how can we love people better?” influences Ashley’s  leadership decisions and team’s mission. How Love Not Lost evolved into providing corporate care programs geared towards helping leaders with grief and empathy tools in the workplace. Ways in which leaders can serve their team members when dealing with traumatic events in their lives like grieving loved ones.

Follow/Get In Touch Follow Ashley on LinkedIn Visit LoveNotLost.org  Follow Love Not Lost on Instagram Visit HowCanILoveYouBetter.com

Presented By

B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting

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Kevin Dunn is CEO of Decisely, a fast growing insurtech company focused on providing integrated benefits and other HR solutions to small businesses nationally. Decisely is owned by Sightway Capital, a leading private equity firm and management company, Galway Insurance Holdings and Decisely employees. 

Decisely is headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, with employees all across the U.S. and clients in all 50 states.

As CEO of Decisely, Kevin is building a new standard in the benefits technology and brokerage insurtech space. Decisely is a partner to brokers as well as a trusted advisor and turnkey SaaS technology for small business in the US. Kevin joined Decisely from Mercer, where he created and implemented the strategy and marketing for Mercer Health & Benefits private exchange technology. Kevin has over twenty-five years of experience in e-commerce and online distribution. He has co-created two start-ups within Fortune 100 companies and built the award winning Delta.com.

Kevin also specializes in merger and acquisition strategies along with business development, negotiation and implementation of processes that have generated over $600 million in annual revenue for multiple Fortune 100 companies. He graduated with a B.B.A. in economics and an MBA from Georgia State University. Kevin also serves on the board of directors at Fiducius, a private equity backed firm based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Discussion Topics Why did you originally start Decisely after a successful career in giant fortune 100 companies? When and how did you arrive at the vision that you could build a business that would reimagine the way brokers and small businesses work together to provide more Americans with affordable healthcare? Why was it important to you and your leadership team to become a Certified B Corporation? How has being part of B Local GA and the B Corporation community influenced your leadership… and, what advice would you have for other leaders who are interested in using their influence and business as a force for good?

Follow/Get In Touch Visit Decisely.com  Follow Decisely on LinkedIn  Learn more about Decisely on BCorporation.net  Follow Kevin Dunn on LinkedIn

Presented By

B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting

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Dan Gordon is currently serving as the Office Executive Director for Jabian Consulting’s Headquarters in Atlanta. His  promotion into this role created a milestone for the firm, as previously only the  founders served in this senior position. Jabian, established in 2006, is an award-winning  consultancy with offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, and Dallas. Prior to Jabian, he  served as Emory University’s Chief of Staff and on the President’s Leadership Team.  Before Emory, Mr. Gordon was the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Atlanta supporting twenty-one direct reports and more than 8,500 employees. Appointed by  the Mayor, and unanimously approved by City Council, Mr. Gordon oversaw all city  operating departments and a $2 billion budget. Mr. Gordon completed more than $10  billion in transactions, helped the city to reach record cash reserves and eight credit  rating increases, co-negotiated one of the largest aviation transactions on record, and  was instrumental in the city’s largest expansion since Buckhead in 1952. He received  the highest Mayoral honor, the Phoenix Award, for his service. 

Prior to the city, Mr. Gordon served as the Senior Vice President of Operations at The  Home Service Store (HSS), a Roark Capital company. In this role, Mr. Gordon oversaw  roughly 750 team members across the country and approximately 40,000 large ticket  installation projects. Before HSS, Mr. Gordon was the Chief Operating Officer of  Extremity Healthcare, Inc. (EHI), a management services company that supports more  than 15 entities and several hundred thousand patient encounters annually.  

In 2007, Mr. Gordon was recruited to become the Director of Business Development  for AMB Group – the management and support services arm for Arthur M. Blank’s  diverse businesses – and Co-Founder and Vice President of the Atlanta Falcons Physical  Therapy Centers (AFPTC), where he worked for more than six years. AFPTC retained all  Center Directors since inception under his leadership and was sold to a public company  in 2013. Mr. Gordon’s other responsibilities included analyzing and structuring a variety  of investments and leading special projects for the Blank Family and Atlanta Falcons.  

Earlier in his career, Mr. Gordon worked at North American Properties in commercial  real estate development and at The Home Depot in the Business Leadership Program and Strategic Business Development. He also played a core role in a $6B private label  credit transaction, still in effect for more than fifteen years. 

Mr. Gordon graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in International Studies. He  later earned his M.B.A. at Emory University in one year concentrating in Finance and  Real Estate. He also completed coursework at Harvard University and the London  School of Economics. He was awarded the Integrity Award by his peers at graduation. Mr. Gordon is a proud graduate of The Lovett School. 

In the community, Mr. Gordon enjoys supporting youth-at-risk and inclusion initiatives  that unite Atlanta. He serves or served in the following capacities: Past Board Chair &  Current Executive Committee Member, Leadership Atlanta Class of 2015, L.E.A.D. Class  of 2009 – Leadership Atlanta, Board Member & Unity for a Difference Co-Chair – Families First, Member – Rotary Club of Atlanta, Member – Society of International  Business Fellows, Trustee – Outstanding Atlanta, Chair – ELC for Children’s Healthcare  of Atlanta, Board Member – Super Bowl LIII Host Committee, Member – 2018 College  Football National Championship, Executive Board of Visitors – Emory University, Board  Member and Treasurer – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, Co-Founder – Grady  Hospital Ambassador Force, Capital Campaign Committee – Atlanta Community Food  Bank, and J-Screen Advisory Board Member – Marcus Foundation. He is also a member  of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2015.  

Mr. Gordon is married to his college sweetheart from Emory. They are the proud  parents of twin daughters and two rescue dogs.

Discussion Topics When was the first time you remembered saying YES in your career that started positive momentum? Why has being involved on numerous boards and serving in the community become such an important part of your life? What questions can leaders be asking of themselves and others that will help them determine where to show up and what to say YES to? What have you learned that it takes to serve successfully on a non-profit board?

Follow/Get In Touch Follow Dan Gordon on LinkedIn

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Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Nelson Davis is the Founder and Leading Partner of Analytic Vizion, a data and analytics consulting firm in Atlanta, GA designed to focus on equipping and inspiring the next generation of data and technology leaders since 2019. Nelson would describe himself as a Believer, Husband to Alyson, Father of four incredible (and crazy) boys, lover of people, hoping to impact the next generation of marketplace leaders for the better.

Discussion Topics What motivated you to become an entrepreneur and start Analytic Vizion despite the fact that you were on a successful track with your consulting career?  What obstacles did you face with building momentum in the very beginning? Why did you create the ‘Consulting Journey’ which essentially informs new hires that your goal is for them to be launched back into the marketplace after 3-6 years? What have you learned about the model of ‘Love. Teach. Launch’ in your hiring process as you’ve been developing emerging servant leaders in your organization?

Follow/Get In Touch

Web: analyticvizion.com Follow Nelson Davis on LinkedIn Follow Analytic Vizion on LinkedIn Follow @Nelsondavis and @AnalyticVizion on Twitter

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Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Kelly Kannwischer empowers momentum in every aspect of her busy life as a leader in 3 high-growth organizations and as a mother to 2 daughters. She’s the co-founder and CEO of Future Church Co., which empowers church ministers and members alike with practical tools and processes to forge their spiritual futures. Kelly has spent her vocational life as a not-for-profit executive, consultant and development professional. Formerly to becoming the CEO of Future Church Co., Kelly founded OptUp Consulting, served THINK Together as the Chief Engagement Officer, and led Vanguard University as a Vice President and President of the Vanguard University Foundation. Today she’s going to share more about how the “two word” technology helps integrate our whole selves and our whole lives so we can lead ourselves and our teams into the very best!

Chat Highlights The “Two Word Technology” helps you find, what’s your one thing all the time? (Taken from The On Purpose Person: Making Your Life Make Sense, by Kevin McCarthy) Family, at work, on the golf course---it applies everywhere! Kelly’s words are empowering momentum, and that’s when she feels great. Knowing where you’re at your best also helps you identify where you will feel your worst, and then you won’t be surprised by it + can tackle it head on. Narrowing your focus to two words is about integrating all aspects of life. Work is a great place to start, but it shouldn’t be where you end--and sometimes it surprises us when jobs work well...or don’t. Doesn’t fit? That’s not failure. Let’s live into the places we fit the best--even if you feel “stuck,” you can still embody your passions wherever you are. Design what comes next! Your Story Matters story-mapping thru www.lifeyounique.com 

Get in Touch

info@thefuturechurch.co

YouUnique Podcast : https://lifeyounique.com/podcast/

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Jonathan is the founder of Faith & Valor, a management consulting firm in Atlanta, GA. He is seasoned strategist, question-asker and pattern noticer with over 15+ years experience in organizational effectiveness, purpose alignment and transformation. Jonathan helps leaders unlock clarity, unravel complexity and elevate the impact they bring to their team, their business and the world. His work spans many industries and covers public and private, big and small, for-profit and nonprofit and government. Jonathan has also worked deeply with B-Corps on their journey to be purpose led. 

Discussion Topics Jonathan’s backstory of raising two sets of twins (only 27 months apart). What Johnathan has learned about the importance of stewardship given his responsibility as a present father to his children and wife. Some of the sacrifices and challenges Jonathan has faced professionally with making stewardship in his family an overarching priority? His future vision and greatest hopes for how his children are empowered to have a social impact in the world. How Jonathan’s leadership role as a father informs his professional life where he helps activate purpose and clarity in the leaders and organizations he serves.

Follow/Get In Touch

Visit Faithandvalor.com  Email jonathan@faithandvalor.com Follow Jonathan on LinkedIn

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Adam W. Boitnott, CEO of Hylaine, is a proud Virginia Tech grad with a love for his family, a passion for technology, and an enthusiasm for sports. Adam recently celebrated 18 years of marriage to his rock-star wife, Dawn, and they have two incredible daughters, Hylton and Maclaine, who are the namesakes of Hylaine.

Fresh out of college, Adam dove into the IT field, finding success at Accenture & Avanade while living in Washington D.C., Seattle, and New York City. Southwest Virginia called him back home to be the Director of Group Services, Technology, and Administration at Shenandoah Life Insurance and, later, the Vice President of Strategy and Operations at NetVentures.

With over 20 years of technologically-driven experience under his belt, Adam took his IT talents to CTS in Charlotte, NC.  In a short 18 months, he grew revenue by 450% and more than doubled the client list. This was all while managing the delivery, sales, and financial reports for the company as well as creating a refreshing culture for his employees that was both exciting and empowering.

Now, enter Hylaine. It’s a company that combines all of Adam’s success in the technology world with his unique perspective of the client’s world.

Even with all the responsibilities that come with starting his own company, Adam still finds time to have fun. He spends a good bit of his free time in basketball gyms and on soccer fields with his daughters, experiencing all the culinary treasures Charlotte has to offer with his wife, attending as many sporting events as possible, and seeing the world with his family.

Discussion How have your past experiences shaped your intentionality as a leader to build your culture at Hylaine around the lack of ego? How do you evaluate whether or not you are personally living up to that expectation as the CEO as well as empower your team to hold one another accountable to that same standard? In what ways have you focused your team on acts of kindness and genuine expressions of compassion towards each other, your clients, and in the community during the pandemic? Amid the weight felt from the pandemic and variety of societal issues we’ve been facing, your team was awarded #1 best places to work by the Charlotte Business Journal. To what would you attribute this achievement?

Follow/Get In Touch

Follow Adam on LinkedIn Visit Hylaine.com and follow Hylaine on LinkedIn

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Muzna Abbas is the author of the book “Letters to My Brown Mother.” As a Pakistani-American daughter of immigrants, Muzna wrote this book as an ode to her own struggles with mental health. She hopes that sharing her insights and those of the people whom she interviewed in her research will encourage others to be more proactive in taking care of their mental wellbeing. 

She is currently a dual-degree Master’s degree student at Georgetown University, pursuing an MBA as well as a Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) with a concentration in International Development. Prior to graduate school, she served as a bilingual teacher (Spanish and English) with Teach for America in Buffalo, NY where she also earned a Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Canisius College.

Muzna is originally from Southern California and is a first-generation Pakistani-American. In her spare time, Muzna enjoys reading, photography, and learning how to cook Pakistani foods. She speaks Urdu, Hindi, and Spanish and is working on learning Arabic soon. Muzna currently resides in the Washington, D.C metro area with her dog, Baxter.

Discussion Why has mental health been a taboo topic in the South Asian (desi) diaspora and how has this shaped your own experiences? What inspired you to embark on the journey of writing your book,  “Letters To My Brown Mother?” What are some of the cultural themes you became more aware of through your research that further deepens the stigma towards mental health in desi communities? How can we be more attentive to mental health concerns with our family, friends, and co-workers across a range of cultural backgrounds?

Follow/Get In Touch

Check out “Letters To My Brown Mother” Pre-Sales Campaign at https://igg.me/at/letterstomybrownmother  Instagram: Book | Personal Twitter LinkedIn  Email

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Senour Reed provides business development and community engagement offerings in the Atlanta market and is the co-author of The Nine Pillars of Business Development Collaboration. With over 40 years of business development and marketing experience in domestic and international markets, Senour brings strategic vision, deep experience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Senour also serves in a number of leadership roles in the Atlanta community.

If you didn’t listen to part one of this chat, go back to this episode first where Senour shares the first 5 of the 9 pillars with our community. We round out unpacking this brilliant framework with the next four pillars in this final episode of our two-part series.

Chat Highlights Pillar 6: Given the ubiquity of social media, why do most organizations fall short of having clear Social Media Best Practices and what can they be doing differently/better? Pillar 7: How have you built a Strategic Advisory over the course of your career and what value has it created for both your clients and your own professional growth? Pillar 8: As a provider, why is it critical to understand the Vertical and Horizontal Sectors and perspectives of your clients? Pillar 9: Why is it important for all companies to be Globally Aware regardless of whether they directly sell their goods or services globally? Bonus Discussion: How has Conscious Capitalism informed the way you look at doing business and feeling fulfilled in your career?

Get In Touch

Follow Senour Reed on LinkedIn.

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Senour Reed provides business development and community engagement offerings in the Atlanta market and is the co-author of The Nine Pillars of Business Development Collaboration. With over 40 years of business development and marketing experience in domestic and international markets, Senour brings strategic vision, deep experience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Senour also serves in a number of leadership roles in the Atlanta community.

This is part one of a two-episode series with Senour where we unpack his brilliant work with the first 5 of the 9 pillars. 

Chat Highlights Pillar #1 Business Development: Why is it so important to embrace the idea that Business Development (the creation of long-term value) is an organizational mission, not an individual or functional one? Pillar #2 Network of Influence: What is a Network of Influence (NOI) and how does it save time while generating better opportunities? Pillar #3 Community of Influence: What is the importance of being involved in a Community of Influence (COI) that cultivates meaningful relationships around service in their local community? Pillar #4 Prospect Relationships Map: How can a Prospect Relationship Map (PRM) become a powerful account-based strategy to growing your business and how can the Global Connect Group (GCG) Prospect Analytic Services (PAS) SaaS product help a business develop a robust prospect list just by entering targeted prospect criteria? Pillar #5 Event Engagement Influence: What is the importance of Event Engagement Influence (EEI) and how has this led to positive outcomes in your career?

Get In Touch

Follow Senour Reed on LinkedIn.

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Lynne is the founder and CEO of Luminate Marketing, a boutique firm that serves traditionally underfunded startups, non-profits, and religious organizations with high-end marketing products for affordable pricing. With an eye on industry best practices and thoughtful partnership, Luminate Marketing’s 8-person team builds long lasting, win-win relationships with their clients. For them, it’s more than marketing: it’s bringing light and goodness to make the world a better place. This chat covers a wide range of topics, all centered around overcoming obstacles as a team.

Chat Highlights What does it look like to ideate new business ideas? How do you tackle market shifts? Why are team expectations so crucial to managing change? How do you implement new systems effectively?

Get in Touch

contact@luminatemarketing.com

www.luminatemarketing.com  

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Lee W. Crump is the Managing Partner of The Crump Group, LLC, a Memphis based Management and IT Consultancy. Previously he served 12 years as the CIO and Group Vice President of Rollins, Inc., an Atlanta based Pest Control holding company with 14,000+ employees world-wide and $2.2 Billion in annual revenue. Prior to joining Rollins in 2009, he served as CIO of Terminix, Inc., the largest and most profitable ServiceMaster subsidiary, located in Memphis, TN.

At Rollins, Crump reported to the Vice Chair & CEO. During his 12-year tenure as CIO, he saw revenue double from $1.07B to $2.16B. Profit margin increased from 11.6% to 16.7%. Rollins stock had a CAGR of 23% and four 3/2 stock splits during this period. Crump was responsible for I.T., the Program Management Office, the Field Administrative Support Group, and was a member of the Rollins Executive Steering Committee. He served as the Rollins United Way Executive Sponsor and led the Rollins United Way Campaign each fall where the company and its employees contributed over $1.3 M annually to United Way 

At Terminix, Crump reported to the President and CEO. During his 10-year tenure as CIO, he saw revenue double from $600M to $1.2B. Profit margin increased from 11.0% to 17.5%. He was responsible for I.T. and the Six Sigma program, serving as the Six Sigma Executive Deployment Champion directing the efforts of six Black Belts. 

Mr. Crump holds the PMP credential from the Project Management Institute and has a long track record of successfully delivering major systems implementations. He has spent over 48 years in IT, equally divided between IT Executive Management and IT Business Consulting.  

While in Atlanta Mr. Crump served five years as the Board Chair for Year-Up Greater Atlanta and was a member of the Board of Directors for PowerMyLearning where he was Resource Development Committee Chair. He served on the Advisory Boards of the GeorgiaCIO Association where he is Board Chair Emeritus, and the Association of Technology Professionals (ATP). He is a past Board Member of Georgia Junior Achievement and CHRIS Kids. He was a volunteer and mentor for Pathbuilders Achieva, as well as Year-Up Greater Atlanta. 

He is a member of the GeorgiaCIO Association, the Project Management Institute (PMI), the Technology Association of Georgia, (TAG), the Association of Telecommunications Professionals (ATP), and the Society of Information Managers (SIM) and American Mensa.

In 2012, Crump was named “Global CIO of the Year” by the GeorgiaCIO Association.  In 2013 he received the Year-Up Urban Empowerment Award. In 2019, Rollins IT received the “CIO100 Award for Innovation”. In 2020 he was named the HMG Strategy “Global IT Leaders Who Matter” and in 2021 received the Global Leadership Institute Award.  

Chat Highlights What are a few of the biggest lessons you’ve learned about human behavior as you reflect on your career? How has that shaped your plans as you move forward into this next chapter or retirement and consulting? When did you realize your calling as a servant to your community and how has your experience working with so many amazing non-profit organizations edified your life? With respect to the issues we face in America around the shrinking middle-class, what are ways that leaders should use their influence to ensure we’re not leaving people behind? Given that you’ve worked hard and received an abundance of resources, why has paying it forward become such a cornerstone of your purpose?

Get In Touch

Follow Lee Crump on LinkedIn

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Steve Brown, is an author, podcast host, and CEO of ROI Online. His expert team helps leaders get their act together online by nailing their messaging, baking it into the right technology, and designing strategic campaigns to connect with their perfect clients. You should read his book The Golden Toilet (even if only for the title!) and listen to his podcast ROI Podcast. He’s been in the marketing world for over a decade, and we’re excited to hear his leadership perspective from the digital space.

Chat Highlights Vivid visions serve as the best long-term planning tool! Drawing a clear picture of “where we are going together” helps you overcome one of the biggest challenges of leadership: getting what’s in your head down on paper so their team can get behind it. You don’t need to know all the details right away.

Get in Touch

chat@roionline.com 

www.roionline.com  

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Nathan Stuck is the Director of Culture & Impact at Ad Victoriam Solutions, a Salesforce consultancy and certified B Corporation headquartered in Alpharetta. In addition to his full-time role at AdVic, Nathan is the co-founder and chair of B Local Georgia, a nonprofit network of for-profit B Corps working together to build the ‘business for good’ B Corp community in the Peach State.

Moved by his desire to help others carve their own path to purpose, Nathan has also helped universities across the state introduce or expand social innovation curriculum, including experiential consulting projects that pair students with companies looking to certify as a B Corp.

Purpose starts with action, and Nathan will not only remind you of that, but he’ll show you how easy it is for you and your company to pursue both profit and purpose.

Nathan holds a BBA in International Business (’04) and an MBA (’17) from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. He also serves his local community as the Vice-Chair of Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful and Chapter Advisor for Delta Sigma Phi’s Theta Chi chapter in Athens.

Chat Highlights What is B Local Georgia and how did you first become involved? In what ways has your involvement informed your leadership in the for-profit business community? What are some myths that hold entrepreneurs and business leaders back from becoming a B-Corp that you can help dispel? Who are a couple of B Local Georgia members who you see having a tremendous social impact today? What’s your future vision for B-Corps?

Get In Touch

Visit Ad Victoriam Solutions: Salesforce® and MuleSoft® Partner that provides multi-cloud consulting services, from strategy to implementation. A Certified Benefits Corporation.

Visit B Local GA: Making a profit and making a difference don’t have to be mutually exclusive ideas. B Local Georgia is a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to and guided by this core principle—but it’s not just talk. B Lab® has created a rigorous set of metrics to measure corporate citizenship, environmental consciousness, accountability, and transparency that every member of B Corp, B Local Georgia member has either met or exceeded.

Follow Nathan on LinkedIn.

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Matt Hufman, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, explores the importance of listening to the best voices to build your leadership. Responding to criticism and building buy-in are crucial elements of being a wise leader. But choosing to spend your energy on the voices that contribute value can help you get a project across the finish line or protect the team’s investment. Distinguish between owning the vision and supporting a vision, and you can find a path forward. Keeping folks engaged is the name of the game.

Chat Highlights Not everything you want to jump into (or listen to) fits the team or projects’ needs. Is buy-in from ownership or management more crucial? How do you figure out where to spend your energy?  When you do something creative, there will always be critics. But what’s far worse? When people don’t care. Apathy kills. Even someone trying to tear you down may have a good piece of criticism you can work with, but any criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from should come with a grain of salt.

Get in Touch

mhufman@intrust.org

www.intrust.org

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Vicki Flier Hudson is the Chief Collaboration Officer of Highroad Global Services, Inc., a company that exists to release the power of diverse teams. She offers keynote presentations, workshops, and organizational strategies for working successfully across differences. Vicki has a strong track record preparing leaders for global and cross-cultural responsibilities. She has brought training and consulting to companies like Procter & Gamble, IHG, UPS, The Home Depot, The Coca-Cola Company, NASA, Martin Marietta, and many more. She is the author of the book Zen and the Art of Offshoring: How to Build a Collaborative and Profitable Team with Your Partners in India, and a recipient of Kennesaw State University’s Instructor of the Year award for International Programs.

Vicki is certified in TTI Success Insights DISC and 12 Driving Forces. She is also a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), a certified facilitator of the Cultural Detective methodology, and a trained coach through CTI (Co-Active Training Institute). Previously, Vicki supervised and conducted training for Distribution and Manufacturing for Immucor, Inc., a worldwide blood bank automation company with affiliates throughout the globe. She also spent several years as a software analyst specializing in multi-country software implementation.

Vicki has lived and/or worked in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Nepal, and Thailand. She developed a knack for riding camels, rickshaws, buses, and cement trucks across the globe, and enduring Indian train rides exceeding fifty-five hours at a time. She has traveled in several countries including Austria, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, and Singapore. She is an active member of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) and Japan-America Society of Georgia, and served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and TAG's International Business Society. In her spare time, Vicki sings and plays guitar in two hard rock bands, Overtime Crew and The Spirit of Rush.

Chat Highlights Can you share your story of how you came to realize your passion for global leadership coaching, virtual training, and cross-cultural training? How has the rise of polarization impacted your story and reframed your vision for how you carry out your purpose through your work? How can we seek reconciliatory justice without condemning or dehumanizing people whose beliefs and actions have been harmful either directly or indirectly to our lives? In what ways have you learned to communicate with people across political, cultural, and social beliefs - particularly when those beliefs are vastly different than your own? What advice would you have for leaders to effectively inspire their teams who have diverse and sometimes polarizing viewpoints?

Get In Touch

Visit High Road Global Services Website Follow Highroaders Blog Watch this powerful story [Video] Using Empathy to Promote Dialogue in a Divided Society by Vicki Flier Hudson Follow Vicki’s Band FaceBook Page: The Spirit of Rush Follow Vicki on LinkedIn

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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John Buglino, Director of Marketing for Optessa, a software company which helps manufacturers optimize production plans and schedules with constraint-driven APS software, shares how empathy can get you and your team through difficult challenges. Especially when it comes to organizational change, creating individual connections can be the key to retention, rallying, and results. A company is never the first priority of an employee because people have to live their lives. So instead of setting up the business as an antagonist, support your people and they will support you.

Chat Highlights Empathetic leadership is becoming sparse, but it’s worth the work to find it! Find empathetic leadership when you’re facing moments of transition. Connecting with your team on a different level than just company work actually produces better results, not just in retention but also performance. Individual conversations are more productive for creating connections. Reach out to each person. Empathy comes from inside; look at the person not the business. Your team always has a reason for doing what they do, so be open to hearing them. Business is only the third priority at best, so the answer for an employee request is “yes” because you will get the best work from supporting the person not assuming priority. Then you can all move forward together. Empathy isn’t being a doormat. It’s having open conversations about boundaries.

Get in Touch

johnb@optessa.org 

www.optessa.com 

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Ananya Jain and Ankit Kukadia are founders of FullCircle LLC. They are building the coolest online Gen-Z community to give and get emotional support via their App

Ananya founded Georgia Institute of Technology’s ‘FullCircle’ in 2017, with a mission to find more resilient ways to harvest renewable energy. Since then, their mission has expanded to tackle the growing mental health crisis and the lack of resources amongst students. Ananya and her team have created a mental health video game, with more than seven countries including the USA, UK, India, Canada, and others to build new technologies and tackle government-related legislation, and most recently are looking at how they can support students affected by COVID-19 through technology. Ananya also uses her own voice and personal experiences to inspire others such as in her TEDx appearance – her compassion and creativity know no bounds. She was recently the recipient of The Diana Award, one of the most prestigious international accolades a young person can receive for humanitarian work and is bestowed annually by the royal family in the UK by Prince William and Harry in memory of their mother, Princess Diana.

Ankit holds a Masters in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Madras. He is a TEDx speaker and co-headed the only team (out of 1500+ teams) selected to represent Asia to Elon Musk at the International Hyperloop Pod Competition organized by SpaceX in July 2019. He and Ananya have teamed up as staunch advocates for Gen-Z mental health and have been featured in the BBC, Forbes and recently covered by JED Foundation and Verizon Media.

Chat Highlights Why did you originally start Full Circle and what was your original focus? Why did you decide to make a dramatic pivot a couple of years ago to focus on mental health technology? What are you struggling with now as an entrepreneur and leader? What are some of the lessons you’ve learned about compassionate leadership?

Get In Touch

Connect with Ananya on LinkedIn Connect with Ankit on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter [Must Watch Video] Ananya Jain: Building a mental health app for Gen Z by Gen Z @ Yahoo Finance Visit https://www.teamfullcircle.org Follow Full Circle on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Tik Tok

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Most businesses realize that their employees are their biggest asset.  Their employees are the face of the company to your customers, the eyes and ears for you as an executive, and what makes and breaks your reputation.

To attract and retain employees, health insurance is the most requested employee benefit.  Yet employers are burdened with huge premiums and decreased benefits.  And when employees choose not to participate because the employee share of the premium is unaffordable, it’s actually worse than not offering anything. 

Believing that small/mid-size businesses & individuals are key to our country’s economic success, Hal is passionate about finding ways to support them.

Current solutions can be innovative and transformative. Hal’s personal attention (supported by the Great South Benefits Group agency) to designing and then helping groups and individuals based on listening to their unique circumstances,  is an extension of his highly effective, client-recommended account management roles in the cable TV, satellite TV, and Internet Service Provider verticals.

Prior to being a benefits broker, Hal worked in Silicon Valley as well as Atlanta, DC, and NJ in technology with innovative companies including Earthlink and DISH Network.  In Atlanta for more than 20 years, Hal is also a sailing instructor, active in the religious interfaith community, a member of the Technology Assn of Georgia, and with his wife, recently fostered their 94th rescued golden retriever.  Hal graduated from ‘the other Orange school,’ Syracuse University,  is married to Alison and has one son.

Chat Highlights How did you come to realize your calling to guide business leaders towards better solutions around our frustratingly expensive and broken healthcare system? What are some of the biggest misconceptions that small and mid-sized business leaders have about the healthcare options that are available to them? What are the biggest pain points these business leaders are feeling when it comes to navigating these options?  In what ways do you approach serving leaders through healthcare education as their guide?

Get In Touch

https://greatsouthbenefits.com The benefits broker agency that Hal is with

www.surgerycenterok.com  Hal’s recommended price transparency benchmark

https://armandalegshow.com Hal’s recommended podcast about individuals fighting the crazy healthcare system

https://hipnation.com Direct primary care in Atlanta and expanding throughout the SE US.

Connect with Hal on LinkedIn

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Shavonne Reed is a marketing and communications expert with more than 20 years of multi-media and marketing experience. She uses emotional intelligence and the happiness advantage principles to facilitate communications skills to develop effective leaders. Shavonne is an unapologetic leader who shows up authentically and is very impactful through her vulnerable style of storytelling. She helps her clients author their own narratives, set strategies, and develop confidence.

Chat Highlights Why did you make a decision to recently rebrand your business towards women’s health marketing? How has seeking wisdom from mentors helped you to shift your focus and be more intentional about how you apply your leadership and business skills towards this why? With respect to finding our calling and purpose as leaders, what significance have you found in the ability to remain open-minded to change and new possibilities to employ your experience towards a greater social impact? How has your story with women’s health issues in your family informed the way you look at your own physical and mental health?  Why is it important for leaders to consider improving self-care? What is guiding your courage today?

Get In Touch

Visit Opuatechnologies.com AND Shavonnereed.com Follow Shavonne on Linkedin @ShavonneReed AND Instagram @_shavonnereed_ Follow Opua Agency on Instagram: @opuaagency

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Brian Holland is the proud husband of Ginney and father of Emily and Duke, and proud father-in-law to Zach (Emily) and Sinclaire (Duke). Through the 1980’s Brian attended Samford University and finished his undergraduate degree at Mercer University. Throughout the 1990s Brian and Ginney moved 2 times as they followed ministry opportunities to Tupelo, Mississippi, and back to Atlanta. During that time, he finished his seminary work at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. After 20 years of serving as Youth Pastor of 3 churches, he founded the first Phoenix Community in Duluth, GA in a Pizza Pub called Pepperoni’s Tavern. At the height of the economic collapse which swept through America from 2008-2013 Brian, along with his great friends and co-founders Jeff Bagwell and Greg Sweatt launched Phoenix Roasters, Inc. #CoffeeThatMatters. This would become the revenue engine that would fund the dream to see the broken and burnt rise up from the ashes of life both here in America and there in the coffee-growing communities around the world. Recently Brian and Phoenix Pastor Britt Mooney, along with all the Phoenix Community pastors published their first book, “Say Yes. How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.”

Chat Highlights How has God led you and the pastors of Phoenix Roasters to do church, business, and missions differently as well as recently publishing your book “Say Yes”? How Brian started his churches over to serve the broken vs the masses and a pivotal moment that gave him the confidence to start The Phoenix Community. How Brian and the pastors at The Phoenix Community became a marketplace ministry through coffee and why. The importance of inviting people into your story and caring about listening to their story as well as Brian’s powerful 3-word framework to organize our story. The mission of Pheonix Roasters as #CoffeeThatMatters and how to get involved.

Get In Touch

Visit https://phoenixroasters.coffee Email Brian@PhoenixRoasters.Coffee OR Emily@PhoenixRoasters.Coffee

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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As a former business consultant helping other companies thrive early on in her career, Carly grew eager to bring about change closer to home. Following her BBA at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and three years in IBM’s Global Business Services practice, she decided to pursue her passion for design through Georgia Tech’s Industrial Design Master’s program where her idea for Strapt eventually took root. Through her own personal experiences and a growing awareness of the menstrual inequity many young women face, she grew determined to apply her passions for both entrepreneurship and design to expanding access to menstrual products. She’s dedicated and excited to grow Strapt and achieve this mission through forward-thinking innovation in the world of feminine hygiene.

Chat Highlights Why do you think traditional tampon dispensers have gone on for so long without a much-needed 21st-century upgrade? Given that over half our world’s population has to deal with feminine hygiene accessibility at multiple points in their lives, where do you start in order to eventually scale your IoT solution into this enormous market? What is Strapt Vending’s key value proposition to both facilities and feminine hygiene brands? Why did you decide to leave your corporate career to become an entrepreneur and attack this problem specifically? What have been the biggest lessons learned thus far since starting Strapt and what’s your long term vision going forward?

Get In Touch

Visit StraptVending.com Follow Strapt on Instagram Follow Carly Simenauer on LinkedIn

Presented By

Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide | Atlanta, GA AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development | Atlanta, GA Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development | Atlanta, GA Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting | Atlanta, GA

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Libie Motchan is the Co-Founder of Fulton, a modern brand of arch support that is launching a comfortable, sustainable, and supportive insole. She is currently pursuing her MBA at the Wharton Business School and previously worked in digital marketing at IBM.

Chat Highlights Why have sustainability and carbon-neutral practices become so important to your manufacturing process and values at Fulton? How have you gone about sourcing the materials and partnerships you needed to manufacture your product? What have been some of the greatest challenges in your entrepreneurship journey thus far? What was the biggest reason you originally decided to pursue your MBA at The Wharton School as well as co-found your own business? As you reflect on how you’ve gotten to where you are today, what has been the biggest lesson learned and area of opportunity looking forward?

Get In Touch

Follow Fulton on their Instagram Visit the Fulton Website

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Mike Morris is a Vice President in the Business Consulting group at EPAM. He leads the Atlanta-based consulting team and has responsibilities across multiple clients.

Mike has over 24 years of consulting experience, having started with Andersen Consulting (Accenture). He enjoyed 15 years with North Highland, where he led the Atlanta office and served as a Group Vice President. Mike also was the co-founder and CEO of Broadgreen Solutions, which he led from 2015 up through the integration of the Broadgreen team with EPAM in 2020. Broadgreen Solutions was a Certified B Corp, which gave away 10% of its consulting time to non-profits and social entrepreneurs.

Mike’s consulting career has allowed him to work with CTOs and CIOs on strategic technology programs, help business executives refine their strategies and processes, and drive successful execution of large-scale change initiatives.

Mike is currently on the board of directors for Hands of Love USA and High Tech Ministries. As an active leader in the Atlanta community, Mike was a member of Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2012 and High Tech Ministry’s Ambassador leadership development program. Mike previously served as President of the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Atlanta, board member of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), and as an advisory board member for Career Spa. Mike graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science. Mike and his wife Kendra live in greater Atlanta with their three children. In his free time, Mike enjoys cooking, travel, trail running, and backpacking.

Chat Highlights Why did you come to the decision to found Broadgreen Solutions as a certified Benefit Corporation and give away 10% of your consulting capacity to non-profits, social entrepreneurs, and B Corps? As a B-Corp, what did you find were the greatest advantages as it related to your mission as well as your for-profit objectives for the company? How did you identify your purpose to fund clients and choose which projects to work on pro-bono? What questions do you still have today about how to have the greatest impact as a certified B-Corp? What possibilities would you imagine there being if more for-profit companies made the same kind of commitments to pro-bono work with a meaningful social impact?

Get In Touch

Follow Mike on LinkedIn EPAM website

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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John Duisberg is the co-founder of Cooleaf in Atlanta, GA, which is an employee engagement platform that helps leaders build a culture of appreciation and performance for their organization. At Cooleaf, John leads revenue generation and overall customer operations. John is married to his wife and best friend, Lauren, and has two awesome dogs!  John is also a leader in High Tech Ministries and leads a local Grace@Work Bible study group.

Chat Highlights What originally motivated you to build your business around improving employee and customer engagement? Why do you think modern-day leaders need to be hyper-focused on demonstrating their genuine appreciation for their team and customers? Can you share an example of a company or customer you’ve seen setting a high bar in their culture around engagement and appreciation? What kind of impact on performance is this having? For leaders who want to build a better culture around employee appreciation, what’s a good starting point?  Employee appreciation day is right around the corner on March 5th and John’s team is generously offering a Free 90 Day Trial of their recognition program. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity!

Get In Touch

Follow John Duisberg on LinkedIn

Learn more at Cooleaf.com

Email mail@cooleaf.com

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Nathan Camp gives directional oversight and strategic leadership to StartCHURCH through his role as the Chief Executive Officer. Drawing from his unique experience in for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Nathan brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to the StartCHURCH team. He is a Board Member for multiple churches and businesses and desires to see churches and ministries equipped and inspired to pursue the dreams that God has put in their hearts. 

Nathan lives in Lawrenceville, GA with his wife, Lisa. He has three wonderful children and a very codependent chocolate lab named Mac.

Chat Highlights What is the greatest impact you’ve seen the pandemic having on your organization and the churches and ministry leaders you serve? Given that many leaders are operating from a place of fear right now, what encouragement have you received to continue to invest in your future? Nathan’s distinction between EARNING vs RECEIVING a living and how that guides his leadership decisions. What “new normals” do you see for churches and ministry leaders once we’ve moved past the pandemic (hopefully by 2022)? 

Get In Touch

Follow Nathan on LinkedIn

Learn more at StartCHURCH.com

Email nathan@startchurch.com

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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With more than twenty-five years in technology leadership roles, Walt Carter specializes in alignment to purpose and technology innovation. Prior to joining HOMESTAR Financial Corporation as Chief Digital Officer and CIO in March of 2018, Walt and his teams implemented technology changes for Primary Capital Mortgage to drive 205% growth in origination volume in just over two years. Before joining Primary Capital Mortgage, his team at Generation Mortgage received accolades from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's, Bloomberg, and MarketWatch for innovative use of technology as a key differentiator for the company. 

Walt is adept at working through complex business challenges and has successfully implemented several enterprise-wide packaged software solutions. Walt is a frequent speaker to professional groups on the topics of leadership, governance, risk management, and compliance. 

After earning a BS in Physics from Guilford College, he began his career as a technical officer in the US Air Force, and over the years he has served in a variety of technology leadership roles with companies such as Fidelity, Gannett, BDM, TRW, and Ajilon Consulting. Walt earned a master’s degree in Public and Private Administration from Central Michigan University in 1991. While at TRW, he won the President's Award for his leadership on their largest commercial project.   Walt was named Corporate CIO of the Year in 2014 by the Georgia CIO Leadership Association and more recently has been named as a member of the Business Transformation 150 for 2020 by Constellation Research. 

Chat Highlights Why is there a false narrative that executive leaders have it all figured out and why is that far from the truth? Explain what Higher Gear CIO does for the Atlanta CIO community and why it was created as a safe haven to openly discuss challenges leaders in this position face. How has Higher Gear CIO been instrumental to your growth as a leader and fulfilling as an actively participating member? Why is forming a community vs competition important for executive leaders in the same geographic market? What does storing up your treasures in heaven mean to you and how does it inform how you leverage your influence as a leader?

Get In Touch

Follow Walt Carter on Twitter and LinkedIn

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Louise Wasilewski is CEO and co-founder of Acivilate, a social enterprise providing rehabilitation software to justice, health, and human services agencies. Pokket helps justice agencies work with human services agencies to improve outcomes for vulnerable people by empowering them to help themselves and find the support services they need. Wasilewski has spent twenty-five years in technology innovation. Wasilewski is a member of the Metro Atlanta Reentry Coalition, the Greater Gwinnett Reentry Alliance, and the National Criminal Justice Association. She has spoken at the American Correctional Association and the American Probation and Parole Association on the use of technology in correctional reentry settings and was published in Policy and Practice, the magazine for Health and Human Services professionals. She is passionate about improving criminal justice outcomes because it is an issue that has affected her family. Ms. Wasilewski holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering from Southampton University and an MBA from Emory University. She holds five patents.

Chat Highlights Touch on why you founded Acivilate in 2014 and the problems you set out to solve in the criminal justice system with your technology solution. What has been your proudest accomplishment over these last 7 years?  How has an unexpected introduction and relationship caused you to rethink your baseline business strategy and make some big changes to your plan recently? Given this experience, what have you learned about focusing on collective impact versus entirely owning credit for successful outcomes as a leader? The importance of open-mindedness from the perspective of a founder and leader.

Get In Touch

Follow Louise Wasilewski on LinkedIn and visit Acivilate.com to learn more.

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Nicole Armstrong is the CEO of TechBridge,  an innovative 501(c)3 charitable, nonprofit organization with a mission to bring creative technology solutions from the robust IT business sector to the vast ecosystem of nonprofit agencies addressing homelessness, food insecurity, living-wage jobs programs, after school education and other critical impact areas. She is a seasoned business executive with more than two decades of experience and a series of successes with the public sector, large and mid-sized organizations, particularly focused on operations and emerging business strategies. 

Prior to joining TechBridge, Nicole most recently served as Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Renaissance Learning, one of the nation’s largest education technology companies. Prior to Renaissance, she was CEO and Co-Founder of Noodle Markets, K-12's first digital procurement platform, and national marketplace.  Nicole also served as President of CORE Education and Consulting Solutions (ECS), Inc., an Atlanta-based leading global education company providing assessments, interventions, and content solutions for districts and states serving Pre-K, K-12, Employability, Special Education, and Higher Education sectors.  Prior to CORE ECS, Nicole was the Senior Vice President of Client Services for Schoolnet, Inc. and Pearson Education.  

Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in Computer Science Engineering from Binghamton University’s Watson School of Engineering and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Maryland University College with a master’s degree in Business Administration.

Chat Highlights How does your entrepreneurial experience in the for-profit sector inform your leadership at TechBridge? What are some top ways that technology innovation leads nonprofits towards exponential, social impact? Can you share some examples from the clients and technology projects you’ve been leading particularly in response to the pandemic? What call to action would you have for non-profit leaders when it comes to thinking about investing in new technology?

Get In Touch

Follow Nicole Armstrong on LinkedIn and visit TechBridge.org to discover ways you can support their community impact through technology innovation.

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

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Jeff Bond shares a brief reflection on lessons learned from our amazing leadership guests in the unprecedented year of 2020.

Get In Touch

Join our leadership community by clicking “follow” on the Chat With Leaders LinkedIn Page

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Matthew Stevens is the CEO of CENTEGIX, an industry leader in crisis and incident management systems. CENTEGIX protects over 1M people across 13 states in 1200 schools, hotels, and government buildings. As CEO Matthew is responsible for company strategy, culture, and reputation. Prior to CENTEGIX, Matthew was the CEO of Corvado, software for Capital Improvement Planning and Execution, and before that the CEO of CloudVault, an eDiscovery, and Compliancehew cybersecurity platform. He founded or co-founded several startups including InfraPoint (now DC Blox) and The Stevens Group, was executive at Atlanta-based Cbeyond (NASDAQ: CBEY now Birch/Fusion Connect), and advised top brands including Coca-Cola, EarthLink, Lexis-Nexis, and Southern Company.

Stevens is a practical operator, focusing on the useful application of emerging technologies to simplify and solve complex business problems.

He is an active member of the Atlanta technology startup ecosystem serving as an Advisor or Board Member to several startups (including Stellar MMS) and active in the community through High Tech Ministries at the Buckhead Church.

Matthew lives in Sandy Springs with his wife of 16 years, Candace, and their 3 children. An avid outdoorsman, he spends what’s left of his free time off-grid’ hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting with his family.

He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Sciences and Management from the State University of New York College at Fredonia.

Chat Highlights The problems his team is solving in public safety with Centegix’s technology solutions, Crisis Alert™ + Contact Alert. The social impact and use cases in K-12 education and other public spaces such as in hospitality, healthcare, and more. How Matthew’s faith and role as a father inform his leadership over these important initiatives that are saving lives. How Centegix is attracting and retaining top talent through their clear mission and purpose. How leaders can use their influence to promote unity and quell some of the divisiveness in today’s polarized world.

Get In Touch

Follow Matthew on Linkedin and Twitter and visit Centegix.com. 

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Chris Cherian the CEO of Gatherly, a spatial video chat platform designed to provide seamless virtual networking events. He is also a senior at The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania studying Finance and Management. When he's not working, he enjoys playing with his Goldendoodle, Gatsby, fishing, and rooting for the Atlanta Falcons (no matter the score!).

Chat Highlights How virtual events are creating opportunities for leaders to engage and build community during the pandemic. How can you ensure that everyone feels equally engaged and valued when you’re running an event comprising both in-person and virtual audiences? What are the top (3-5) ways to ensure you’re going to be successful at creating this equal engagement and successful outcomes from your hybrid events?

Get In Touch

Connect with Chris on Linkedin Email chris@gatherly.io Check out their platform at Gatherly.io

About Our Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization that's bridging the digital divide by putting technology into the hands of underserved Atlanta communities. The need for technology devices and access has accelerated due to the pandemic and Inspiredu makes a positive impact on helping marginalized learners. Through its partners and supporters like you, they help students flourish into 21st-century scholars. Learn how you can support their mission at iuatl.org.

Follow Inspiredu on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Chat Guest

Brian Benn is Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of the Atlanta Housing Authority.  Brian is responsible for the development and implementation of technology strategies that are aligned with and anchored by the overarching strategy of the agency, ultimately supporting the 25,000 households and 55,000 participants served.  Brian studied Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and has a Master of Business Administration degree from Belhaven University.  Brian has a wealth of IT leadership experience in both the private and public sectors including the Department of Defense and NASA where he began his career.  Brian volunteers as an Executive Ambassador for TechBridge, Incorporated, serves on the Board of Directors for the Technology Association of Georgia, the Executive Advisory Board for Atlanta Technology Professionals, the Advisory Board for the Government Technology Special Districts Program, the Greater Atlanta CIO Governing Body for Evanta and serves as board chair for the Technology Association of Georgia's Southeastern Software Association.  Brian is a technology evangelist with a passion for bridging the digital divide.  Brian seeks to be a servant leader – mentoring individuals, promoting development/growth, and empowering others to maximize their potential individually and collectively.

Chat Highlights Why has bridging the digital divide and "digital inclusion" become even more critical as a result of the pandemic at Atlanta Housing and in our community? Share more about your leadership of Atlanta Housing's ACCESS initiative. Where does it stand today and what’s your vision for its ongoing impact? (Achieving Connectivity to Create Equity and Self Sufficiency) What are the three ways you approach ACCESS to ensure it's having the type of intended impact in our community?  Why is social responsibility so important to you as a leader? Why should leaders use their influence and platform to make a difference in their communities?

Get In Touch

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwbenn/

Follow Brian on Twitter at @BWBenn1911

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Chat Guest

In Clancy’s 30-plus years as a successful sales professional, he has quickly risen to the top of three companies, in three different decades, in three very different markets. In each case, he started from a base of zero sales with little technical knowledge of what he was selling. And in each case, he had to build his book of business in down markets for the industries to which he was selling. These results have drawn an endless parade of fellow sales professionals, at conferences and awards banquets, asking for the key to his success. It’s simple, really, he’s made something other than the sale his highest priority, as you’ll learn in his book, Selling By Serving.

You will also learn that he is more than just a successful salesman.  He is fulfilled. Clancy loves his work and takes great pride in it, but he has found a way to achieve sales success without living to work. His work is a means to the life he leads and loves in Southern Colorado with his wife, dogs, and pack goats. It is Clancy’s goal to help others achieve both success and fulfillment in their own lives.

Chat Highlights Why did you decide to write your book? You mentioned being on a journey of self-improvement for over 30 years in a previous conversation. When did you realize that was the intent of that journey and was there a clear beginning story of why you started it? Who has been the most influential in your life that been instrumental in leading you to truly understanding your core values, giftedness, and how you’ve applied that to your purpose of “selling by serving”. What is something that you see salespeople struggling the most within the down economy and how do you think they can overcome these challenges as the world recovers from the pandemic? How can leaders both create a positive culture while driving maximum productivity from their sales teams during these challenging times? 

Get In Touch

Visit http://www.clancyclark.cc/#meet

Connect with Clancy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetclancyclark/

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Chat Guest

Greg is a global people, talent acquisition, and operations leader with proven experience building strategies and execution models that create world-class employee, candidate, and customer experiences. His expertise is in designing and implementing talent solutions that enable rapid growth by focusing on agile best practices, simplification, speed, data, prioritization, and the product mindset (commercial grade!). Greg is a firm believer in the benefits of empowering individuals (personally and professionally), setting a clear vision, and finding a balance between art and science.

He is currently serving as the Vice President of Talent Solutions for Pyramid Systems in Fairfax VA. Previously, he was the Director of Global Talent Acquisition Operations & Insights at Wal-Mart’s corporate office.

Chat Highlights What have you learned about the value of authenticity in your leadership career? Why does the word “recruiter” often come with a negative connotation and what do good Talentpreneurs (as you call your team members) do differently that dispels preconceived notions for someone considering a working relationship with them? Why is empowering your team members important to them and to fulfilling your responsibilities as a leader? You have self-proclaimed yourself as someone who has often set unrealistic goals for yourself beyond the scope of reality. What have you learned to be the downfalls of this trait as well as the areas of opportunity to coach your team members on how to be a top performer?

Get In Touch

Connect with Greg at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstjacques-talentseeker/

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Chat Guest

Erik Nilsen received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport Management at York College of Pennsylvania in 2003 before starting his 17-year career in baseball.  Prior to working for Major League Baseball, Erik worked for the Hudson Valley Renegades (2003-2004) and was a Group Sales representative for the New York Mets (2004 – 2005).  In 2005, Erik brought his passion for baseball and helping people to the Baseball Assistance Team and in 2013, he was promoted to Executive Director.  In this role, he oversees the administration, fundraising, grant management, and marketing. 

He currently resides in Rockville Centre, NY with his wife, Allison, and two children, Helena & Chase.

Chat Highlights Why have you chosen to invest in the last 14+ years in the non-profit sector with the Baseball Assistance Team? What has been the biggest challenge in your leadership resulting from the coronavirus pandemic? How have you typically fundraised for the organization? What’s the importance of grooming leaders within your team and delegating responsibilities? What do you think leaders can be doing in the midst of multiple crises in 2020 to make sure they’re taking good care of themselves, their teams, and the communities they serve while continuing to stay focused on growth?

Get In Touch

Learn more at https://www.mlb.com/baseball-assistance-team. Connect with Erik at https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriknilsen/ Follow Erik at https://twitter.com/erik_nilsen

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Chat Guest

Evan is the Founder of Caffeine Marketing and a small business investor. Caffeine Marketing makes profitable marketing easy for small companies. As an investor Evan helps small companies double and sometimes even triple their bottom line.

Chat Highlights What was the impetus for you founding Caffeine Marketing and why focus on small businesses? Why did you decide to become a Certified Storybrand Guide and what is the significance of the principles this Storybrand process teaches? What are some of the biggest mistakes leaders are making these days in terms of their marketing? What is the importance of spiritual discipline to your personal and professional life as a leader?

Get In Touch

Learn more at caffeine.marketing. Connect with Evan  at https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-knox/ 

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Chat Guest

Joe Barry currently serves as president of AppBarry, LLC with over 12 years of demonstrated history working in the computer software industry. He is skilled in Web Application, Web Services, Cloud Management, DevOps, Automating CI/CD pipelines, and Mobile Application Development. Joe graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science focused on Computer Engineering.

Joe resides with his wife Emily in Atlanta, GA.

Chat Highlights What’s one or two interesting things that people don’t know about Joe Barry? What was your founding story and “why” behind launching your own software consultancy here in Atlanta 6 years ago? What has you most excited about your business today and vision for the future? What’s the biggest issue you’re seeing business leaders having today with regard to their software environment and what strategies are you putting into place to help them overcome these challenges? What advice would you offer if you could go back to when you founded the business that might be helpful to other entrepreneurs?

Get In Touch

Connect with Joe at linkedin.com/in/joseph-barry-7875aa23

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Chat Guest

RICHARD HICKS – CEO & PRESIDENT

Richard Hicks is the CEO & President of inspiredu, as well as a transformational nonprofit leader and speaker committed to improving opportunities for children and helping families improve their socioeconomic status. In his 11+ years with inspiredu, and in his previous roles, Richard has led teams, managed high-dollar projects, and developed growth and fundraising strategies. He has been instrumental in creating relationships and alliances with Fortune 500 companies and with the tech community. Richard has a BA in Information Systems and Communications from Georgia College & State University and serves on the Executive Advisory Board for ATP (Atlanta Technology Professionals) and Advisory Board for Lincoln Tech. In addition to his career at inspiredu, Richard also enjoys volunteering with and supporting other service organizations like the Agape Family and Youth Center. He sees the focus on families and communities as pivotal in our ever-changing world.

ONEISHA FREEMAN – DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMS

Oneisha Freeman is a servant leader who lives by the motto: Work Hard, Do Good. Through her work, she combines her passion for education and technology with a calling to serve under-resourced communities. Prior to joining the inspiredu team as Director of Partnerships & Programs, she served as the director of the Intel Computer Clubhouse where she worked with at-risk youth to help them utilize digital media technology to better their community, connect with their education, and empower them for their futures. Oneisha has facilitated training sessions and events locally, nationally, and internationally for both adults and youth. In addition to her work in the community, she spent 4 years in the United States Army Reserves as a Logistical Specialist. Oneisha is a native of Atlanta and holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Colorado State University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two sons, mentoring youth, and roller skating.

Chat Highlights [Richard] Tell us more about Inspireedu and why the phrase #digitalequity has become the heart of your mission. [Oneisha] Coronavirus has thrust students, teachers, families, and school systems into a whole new world of distance learning. Talk to me about the impact that’s had on your leadership, your organization, and the communities you serve. [Richard] As we look towards the 2020-21 school year and beyond, how are you seeing the “new normal” taking shape in schools and online learning? [Oneisha] Why is it important for other people in the leadership, business, and technology community to help further the mission? 

Get In Touch

Connect with Richard, Oneisha and the inspiredu Atlanta team by visiting https://www.iuatl.org/

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Chat Guest

Over his 20 year career, Tony Robinson has been accountable for the people and performance of engineering teams in everything from the smallest startups to Fortune 50 companies.  A proven innovator and inventor, Tony has led the development of patented machine learning and AI technologies.  He loves to write code and lead teams that make the truly complex stuff easy. Currently, he is serving as the CTO of fusus (www.fusus.com) in Atlanta, GA.  

Prior to his career as an engineer, Tony served two tours in Asia as a highly decorated member of the federal intelligence service.

Chat Highlights Can you give our listeners a high-level overview of your career in leadership and how it led you to where you’re at today as the CTO of fusus? Given your military training in intelligence, you’ve developed a certain skillset around being about to identify people’s weaknesses, which can also be viewed as “areas of opportunity” in the business world. How has this translated into your leadership over technology teams and your direct reports in general? Why is the undiscovered or uninvestigatedlife the worst possible state to be in and what are some habits that leaders can form to ensure they personally succumb to this and that they guide their team members away from falling into this trap as well? Why is it dangerous to lead and manage your team on Key Performance Metrics (KPI’s) alone? What’s an example of a time where you’ve learned its risks? Public safety has been an increasing concern in today’s society and ensuring that facts are obtained through the use of video surveillance in policing. How has fusus been taking a more proactive approach and emphasizing officer, citizen, and community safety?

Get In Touch

Connect with Tony at linkedin.com/in/tony-robinson

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Chat Guest

Stephanie Mitchell is the founder of The Rolling Mat - Mobile Yoga Studio, based in Atlanta GA. Since the start of her mobile yoga adventure, Steph (aka Rollin’ Yogi) has been shaking up the yoga industry by providing well-round, community-driven yoga experiences and corporate wellness programs outside of the 4 walls of a studio!

She is the Yoga Community Leader of  Atlanta! Catch her leading events with her partner The American Cancer Society at various locations in her hometown of Atlanta!. Over the last few years, The Rolling Mat has gained substantial partnerships with large corporations such as Whole Foods, Keller Williams Realty, AT&T, and Healthsource Chiropractic and several breweries in Atlanta by bringing in effective wellness programs through practice and lecture.  Steph has traveled the world, bringing her creative pop-up studio and concepts to festivals, breweries, and other large scale events!

This year, Steph decided to take all of her knowledge and experience from being a small business owner in the yoga industry and put it to good use! Alongside her public events and corporate partnerships, Steph is a Business Mentor who serves to assist other corporate yoga teachers to create their vision and empire while owning their confidence and worth! She also leads monthly workshops in Atlanta and travel locations on mindful strategic planning for yoga and heart-centered businesses.

Chat Highlights The importance of self-care for leaders in order to effectively lead those in their care? Talk to me about how you’ve built your business through community leadership and the importance of serving your community for leaders who are looking for positive ways to grow their business. You talked to me previously about the importance of selfless service and owning your worth. Given the challenging economy, many companies are evaluating their target audience and pricing structures. Can you share more about why owning your worth and delivering your product or service on value is so important? What steps can leaders be taking on a regular basis to ensure the health and wellbeing of themselves and the teams that they lead?

Get In Touch

Online at therollingmatadventure.com Book a free call to learn more about corporate wellness partnerships at therollingmatadventure.com/corporate-wellness-partnerships

Social Media facebook.com/rollinyogi instagram.com/rollinyogi

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Chat Guest

William Warren is an entrepreneur, illustrator, and writer who has spent his career using visuals to help communicate ideas in an effective and enjoyable way. He is the Founder and CEO of The Sketch Effect, a Visual Communication agency that helps make ideas understandable and actionable through animation, live event sketching, and graphic design. The Sketch Effect’s client list includes top-tier brands such as Marriott, Walmart, Microsoft, Chick-fil-A, P&G, and Delta in addition to premier consultancies including Boston Consulting Group, Bain, Ernst & Young and Accenture. The Sketch Effect has sketched for thought leaders such as Steve Wozniak, Brene Brown, Malala Yousafzai, Sheryl Sandberg, Peyton Manning, and more. William lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Monica and young kids, Liam and Gracie.

Chat Highlights Can you share the founding story of The Sketch Effect and what the impetus was for passion for leadership? Why is the ability to tell a good story so important for leaders? One of your core services and drivers of revenue completely dried up with the pandemic because it was related to live events. You mentioned having done a few hundred of these events last year. Tell us how you’ve had to confront the reality of there being no more live events in this season of time and what you’ve had to do to generate cash flow in order to your payroll and business afloat. As an avid reader, you recently have been pouring into a book about masterful crisis management and building resilience through survival. Tell us a little more about why you picked up this book and how it’s been shaping your perspective.

Get In Touch

Visit thesketcheffect.com Follow https://www.instagram.com/thesketcheffect/ and https://www.instagram.com/williamcwarren/

Leadership inspirational reading from William https://www.amazon.com/Endurance-Shackletons-Incredible-Alfred-Lansing/dp/0465062881 and https://www.amazon.com/Shackletons-Way-Leadership-Antarctic-Explorer/dp/0142002364/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=shackleton%27s+way&qid=1591045869&s=books&sr=1-1

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Chat Guest

Tracy Notte is a business-focused Human Resources executive with 15 plus years of comprehensive experience in the facilities services, hospitality, and retail industries. She is a collaborator and hands-on executive with proven success as a leader and business partner. Skilled in Compensation, Payroll, Learning & Development, Change Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Start-Ups, Benefits, Talent Management. Legal Compliance and Project Management.

As a CHRO, Tracy has overseen all aspects of the Human Resources Department to include leading the organization's HR strategies, employee relations, employee engagement, talent acquisition, compensation and payroll, performance and talent management, organizational change management, learning and development, employment law and compliance, HRIS, compensation, and benefits. 

Chat Highlights I’ve loved hearing you speak about how to build teams around trust and treating those around you as an extended family where the culture is collaborative and people enjoy coming to work every day. What has instilled these core values and this beautiful mission in your "professional DNA" and why is it critical, in your opinion, to center your HR leadership around these principles? This pandemic in 2020 has created serious health and financial complications for people everywhere. Organizations now have to rely more than ever on their HR departments to ensure their workforce feels as safe as possible during this unprecedented and unpredictable time while being mindful of the business achieving its objectives. What are the most important things for HR leaders to be focused on right now to navigate this COVID-era? What advice would you have for anyone considering developing their skills as a leader in the HR field in order to do so as effectively as you have?

Get In Touch

Connect with Tracy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracynotte/

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Eddie was born in Baltimore, MD into a family that has struggled with poverty for generations. 

Despite his humble beginnings, Eddie rose above his circumstances to become the first student to ever earn a D1 scholarship in the history of Chesapeake High School – BC. That led to him being the first male in his family to graduate from college when he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business from Bryant University. 

Eddie is a professional speaker with a passion to empower youth and young adults to shed self-limiting beliefs to pursue a life that they’re passionate about living.

Chat Highlights WHY did you decide to write your book Unlock Yourself: How to Earn the Success You were Born to Create? Your message is to educate your audience to know that no one is a product of their environment. How has this mission come into focus through your own story? As a speaker, you’re primarily focused on helping teens and young adults become empowered to own their purpose and future - how have you been able to connect this powerful message to your audience in today’s world? Given the challenges of 2020 around the virus, social distancing, social justice, and political divide - your audience is in the midst of a tremendous amount of uncertainty. What advice would you have for them to keep a positive focus and experience long term success?

Get In Touch

eddiethomason.com facebook.com/thomasoneddie linkedin.com/in/eddiethomason instagram.com/eddiethomason_ twitter.com/eddiethomason_

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Irene is the creator of the Happiness Within Reach program which coaches high-achievers on how to create a more holistic approach to success. This teaches leaders evidence-based techniques to building more meaningful interpersonal connections while simultaneously growing their self-confidence and productivity. She is an ICF, ACC Certified life and business coach who holds two certifications from the University of Pennsylvania on Positive Psychology and is trained in the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy. Irene has helped hundreds of professionals get reacquainted with their hearts most affirming personal and professional desires and supports them to take action despite their fears. Her mission is to remind her clients of their indisputable worthiness and capability of creating an extraordinary life aligned with their highest truth.

Chat Highlights When you were 39, you were earning a 6 figure income, wealthy, but miserable. You decided to seek a life coach and it changed everything. Can you tell us about that? Talk to me about why you talk about identifying core desired feelings being the first step into truly understanding your strengths and purpose. As a life coach, you spend a lot of time building people’s confidence to overcome the fear of failure - an important characteristic to possess as a leader. How do you do that and why do you think that’s so challenging for many people looking to pursue growth in their work/life leadership? What is the importance of identifying your PERSONAL core values and purpose in order to apply that to a fulfilling leadership career and life?

Get In Touch

https://happinesswithinreach.com/meet-irene/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-abbou-0baaa631/ https://www.facebook.com/happinesswithinreach/ https://www.instagram.com/irene.abbou/

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Jeff Davis entered the technology arena in 1992. Experience includes project management, technical consulting, system administration, network engineering, product implementation, and business management. His knowledge of many industry-specific software and hardware platforms has helped secure his reputation as a leader in innovative thinking. He is a servant to people, personable, and thrives on high levels of communication to work closely with customers, vendors, and partners to enable their success. Industry certifications include Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer [MCSE], Cisco Certified Network Associate [CCNA], and various hardware and software products.

He founded Southern Data Solutions in February of 2005. It started out as a partnership for additional income and as the company took on more customers, it demanded his full-time devotion beginning in April 2006. Responsible for creating & managing relationships with vendors, customers, partners, and staff via constant communication and seeking opportunities to improve the process that lead to higher productivity. Identify new prospects and attend meetings consisting of architecture, assessment, or project related. Oversight of the business as a whole and to ensure vision, morals, ethics, and attitude are aligned throughout our culture.

Jeff the person outside of Southern Data Solutions

In his spare time (what is that again?) he is married to his soul mate, Olivia, since February of 2000 and his father to 3 children (Kasey, Alexandra, and Nicolas). He is of Christian faith and is a former Usher Team Captain and remains active as an usher for Highlands Church. He is the only remaining founder of Peach State Challengers, a Dodge Challenger group formed in 2013, that has 500+ members and growing. He created and managed Cars vs Cancer, an annual car show that benefits cancer, which has donated tens of thousands of dollars to benefactors such as Winship Cancer Institute and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He actively creates events and attends car shows and loves to drive. Jeff loves family and is involved in charities that support the care of children such as Jesse’s House, Cops for Kids, and The Place of Forsyth just to name a few. He has served on the board of directors of charities such as Hands Across Atlanta and is always looking for new avenues of helping people. Other hobbies include shooting guns, cars, off-roading, and traveling

Chat Highlights

Tell me more about your backstory into leadership and how you came to founding Southern Data Solutions in the IT Managed Service Provider Space. To what would you attribute the success you’ve experienced over the last 15 years and sustaining now multiple recessions? Jeff talks about the importance of being an encouraging leader In the small to the mid-sized business sector, what does the new normal look like from an IT and business continuity standpoint? What are some of the tough decisions that need to be made by SMB leaders amidst this new reality? Jeff leans into his faith quite a bit and The Lord in his leadership. How has that served his leadership and given him courage and strength to face adversity while remaining hopeful?

Get In Touch

Email Solutions@TheRightMSP.com Visit www.TheRightMSP.com Social Media facebook.com/sdscbiz twitter.com/sdscbiz linkedin.com/company/southern-data-solutions

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Shaun has years of experience that include working for a Fortune 10 telecommunications giant and a global provider of data center services. He currently runs his own IT services practice, Tech and Main (www.techandmain.com). The firm provides Cybersecurity, Contact Center and other technologies to their clients using the “you talk, we listen” model. Shaun’s passion is people and he loves connecting clients to the technology that best fits their business. He is the host of Tech & Main Presents, a weekly podcast that features technology insights and interviews. You can find it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Shaun resides with his wife Donna and daughter Danae in Metro Atlanta.

Chat Highlights Why is it so important for you and me to be having this conversation about leadership around race and reconciliation today? What has your experience been growing up and growing your professional career as a black man and how has all the injustice and unrest influenced your mindset lately? Black Lives Matter is the latest hook evil technology forces are using to persuade people to open email attachments containing malware. Can you break down the root of this evil a little bit and how we can be careful of avoiding this in our businesses? Where do we go from here?

Get In Touch

Facebook @techandmainllc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunsthill Twitter: @streethill IG: @techandmain

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If you think you are communicating enough, do more.  It’s impossible to over-communicate during turbulent times where fast changes and fear is seen and felt.  Jay shares what leaders can do right now to be the leader their teams’ need.

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Dee Ann is a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to retirement in 2018, she was Vice President, Talent and Vice President, Sustainability for Chick-fil-A, Inc. Selected as the company’s first female officer in 2001, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems. During her long career, she worked closely with Chick-fil-A’s founder, S. Truett Cathy, and other key leaders as an architect of their organizational culture. Turner was responsible for thousands of selections of Chick-fil-A Franchisees and corporate staff members. Additionally, she led Talent Management, Staff Learning, and Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Culture and Engagement. Most recently, Dee Ann launched and led the Sustainability function focusing on Chick-fil-A’s strategy to implement sustainable practices at the $10.5 billion company.

Today, she leads her own organization, Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, writing books, speaking to over 50 audiences per year, and consulting and coaching leaders globally. She is the author of the best-seller, It’s My Pleasure: The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture. Her latest book is Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture and Win the Hearts of Customers was released in September 2019 and her new book will release in April 2021.

She is a graduate of Clayton State University with a degree in Management. She also completed executive education courses at Emory University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School. She is a 2009 alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Dee Ann has been married to her husband, Ashley for 35 years and they are the parents of three grown sons. She has served numerous non-profit boards in the past including The Kenya Project, Eagle Ranch, and Proverbs 31 Ministries. She has also served on the board of advisors for Lubbock Christian University and First Care Clinics. Currently, she serves on the board of advisors for Unconventional Business Network Women and the advisory board for the Pure Hope Foundation. When she is not traveling, she can often be found on her Peloton bike in her home outside of Atlanta or on her stand up paddleboard at Lake Hartwell in northeast Georgia.

Chat Highlights What’s the story of how your leadership journey began with Chick-Fil-A and how that’s evolved into writing your 2 books, “It’s My Pleasure” and “Bet On Talent”? Unemployment rates have soared to nearly 15% with BLS predictions as high as 20% in the next 12 months. When you released your book Bet On Talent in 2019, we were celebrating under 2% unemployment. What does drastic change in the world around us mean to employers? Culture can be such a loaded word. How do you define a great culture and what can leaders be doing now to strengthen their own cultures during this uncertain time? You’ve seen multiple economic downturns followed by recoveries in your career. What advice would you have for leaders to better prepare for these inevitable shifts in the future to survive and thrive? What can leaders do today to clarify their purpose, values, mission, and talent strategies while keeping their business moving forward into the recovery phases of COVID-19? 

Get In Touch

Learn more about Dee Ann at deeannturner.com Social Media facebook.com/DeeAnnTurnerAuthor twitter.com/DeeAnnTurner linkedin.com/in/deeannturner .instagram.com/deeannturner

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Jenny Jobson is the Assistant Director at the Midtown Assistance Center in Atlanta. She manages volunteers and staff who assist clients in need of support with rent, food, and other necessities. When the pandemic started to take hold in Atlanta, it became clear that for the safety of the volunteers and their clients, they would need to take everything remote. Jenny talked about the quick changes they made, how they will affect the business in the long-term, and what their plans are for the future.

Chat Highlights: Creating a safe environment before stay-at-home orders were in place Keeping staff and volunteers safe Transitioning volunteers to working remote in 24 hours Putting processes in place that work for everyone regardless of their skillset How these skills and processes will be used even after people can be together again Coming back to the office after this is over Supporting those with food insecurity without traditional resources The power of handwritten notes and cards Check out their virtual book club!

Get in Touch: https://www.midtownassistancectr.org

https://www.linkedin.com/company/midtown-assistance-center/

https://www.facebook.com/themacatlanta

https://twitter.com/themacatlanta

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Karen Cramer is the VP of Community Impact at TechBridge. TechBridge is a national nonprofit with a vision of poverty alleviation through collective action. TechBridge utilizes the generosity of the technology community to transform nonprofits and helps community residents obtain skills to meet the job demands of the technology community. TechBridge and Goodwill of North Georgia’s Technology Career program include technical training, case management, business acumen and financial literacy to help residents obtain skills to meet industry demand and improve their earnings potential. Karen leads TechBridge’s collective action strategy and is passionate about data sharing and building data collaboratives across the broader nonprofit community that allow for the better coordination of services and the matching of service demand and capacity to improve community outcomes. Karen earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from James Madison University and M.S. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin.

Chat Highlights

Karen talks about her background in social work and the journey into leadership at TechBridge. TechBridge has a remarkable career program to build capacity and serve underrepresented populations which Karen shares more about. Many times in economic downturns, technology is one of the first items to be cut by non-profit organizations’ budgets. Karen talks about the importance of technology innovation as a result of the pandemic to meet innovative needs. Like many organizations, TechBridge is operating with a remote team. Karen talks about how they continue to collaborate, get things done, and give each other the grace needed in their personal lives.

Get In Touch

Visit www.techbridge.org Follow at twitter.com/iamtechbridge Connect with Karen at linkedin.com/in/karen-cramer-3151a0a

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With 15 years of experience under his belt, Mike Morris decided to leave and co-found Broadgreen Solutions. While he knew the major players in Atlanta, the non-solicitation agreement he signed upon leaving forced him to use his knowledge of the field and not the network he had built. Taking this path less traveled led to new opportunities and his respect for his agreement showed all his clients his high standard of integrity. 

Chat Highlights: Difficulties with a non-solicitation agreement when going on your own Finding your target and tightening up your marketing messages Working with your network to connect you to your next customer Having your "what can I do" answer ready Attracting people who genuinely want to help

Get in Touch: LinkedIn • @mikemorris2

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In 2006, Beth founded Executive Velocity as an outlet for her trademark enthusiasm and energy for assisting clients with their most valuable asset – their people. Through her proven approaches, she provides expert advice on leadership capabilities and builds succession plans for organizational continuity.

Beth served as a Chair with Vistage, the most prestigious CEO and business owner peer advisory organization in the world for 13 years. As a Vistage Chair, Beth facilitated peer advisor meetings and coached business owners and executives to grow and develop in their roles and careers.

Beth began her career in financial management with Hewlett Packard and later transitioned into account management with Pricewaterhouse Coopers. She developed and managed accounts, honing her skill in providing effective solutions for the diverse needs of clients.

In 1989, Beth co-founded MA&A Group, Inc., with her husband and served as CEO and Chair of the Board. The technology project management consulting firm worked with clients such as BellSouth, SunTrust, Wachovia, and the American Cancer Society to incorporate and implement technological solutions to advance business objectives and achieve greater productivity and profitability. MA&A Group was named a “Pacesetter” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 1997, 1999, and 2000, and was ranked #199 on the Inc. 500 ranking of America’s fastest-growing companies.

Beth is a graduate of Babson College and Harvard Business School’s OPM program. She is certified in Myers Briggs, Hogan, Business DNA, Foundations of NeuroLeadership, Strategic Workforce Planning, and Facilitation and Advanced Facilitation from Leadership Strategies. She is a Certified Managerial Coach by Kennesaw State University and has received the following awards and recognitions: Atlanta’s Top 40 Under 40, Georgia Trend’s “Divas,” and Babson College’s Distinguished Service Award. Beth’s insight and expertise make her a sought-after speaker, and she is featured in numerous industry blogs and publications.

Chat Highlights What’s your backstory and how you found your way into leadership development and executive coaching? How are leaders finding new ways to actually IMPROVE employee engagement despite more adoption virtual working environments? As we move out of the response and recovery phases of COVID-19, how can leaders take what they’ve learned to be positive outcomes, evaluate why they were effective, and apply that when our economy is thriving again? Since we’re all just keeping our seats warm for our future successors, talk to me about the future leaders and how we can best equip them through purpose-driven education and development? 

Get In Touch

executive-velocity.com/meet-beth-miller twitter.com/SrExecAdvisor linkedin.com/in/betharmknechtmiller youtube.com/user/executivevelocity

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Rebecca Kelly is the founder of Accountable Talent. Starting in high school as her "family's accountant," she made it her career working in Atlanta and New York at Deloitte.  The high-pressure environment of the corporate world, led her down a path of addiction that caused her to lose everything she'd built up. After finding herself at her lowest point, she was able to reconnect to the accounting world and then build her business from the ground up.

Chat Highlights: The challenges she faced growing up Working in New York on 9/11 Stress leading to addiction and the downward spiral that occured Building her career back from the bottom Evolving into a teacher and building her business

Get in Touch: LinkedIn • @rkellyaccountabletalent www.accountabletalent.com

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John is the Co-Founder and COO of Maptician, a workplace management platform behind Maptician Flex(™) which is providing new features such as social distancing, staggered scheduling, and contact tracing to help enable a Post COVID-19 workplace. 

John brings over two decades of experience in software development, software services, operations, and executive leadership.

Chat Highlights How have you had to pivot your business to implement Maptician Flex to help employers plan their return to the office? What are some of the common concerns you’ve heard amongst HR and facilities leaders regarding how they reopen?  How have you been able to help homeless shelters as part of your social responsibility platform and challenges that have resulted from social distancing in these environments? How did this come about? Tell us about your journey into this business and leadership opportunity? Share more about how you decided to join a more entrepreneurial business and what advice would you have for anyone considering entrepreneurship?

Get In Touch

Learn more about Maptician at Maptician.com Connect with John on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/johnwichmann

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After years of working in the hotel industry, Mark pivoted to owning his own social media company, ePresence. This move to a completely different work environment meant a change from interfacing with his team in person to a completely remote work environment. While it can be challenging at times, Mark and Chris discuss tools and tactics he uses to build and maintain a strong team environment. 

Chat Highlights: Keep a high touch environment through video chat Incorporating personal into the professional to keep everyone comfortable  Crafting a company culture that includes your mission and vision Using weekly staff meeting to provide training and updates to keep everyone in the loop Evaluating soft and hard skills when bringing in new team member  Talking through issues openly with the entire team Making sure you always ask the question

Tools Discussed: Microsoft Teams StrengthsFinder 2.0  Microsoft To Do Wunderlist

Get in Touch: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram • @epresencemg Website • epresence.me 

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• Kevin Paul Scott has traveled to six continents and spoken to leaders from more than 100 countries.

• Kevin is the co-founder of ADDO, a leadership consultancy based in Atlanta, Georgia. ADDO exists to inspire people today to impact tomorrow.

• In addition to working with businesses and various brands, ADDO has developed the national Chick-fil-A Leader Academy program, the Atlanta Braves Leadership Institute, and other leadership programs from cradle-through-career.

• Prior to founding ADDO, Kevin’s background included non-profit charitable work, business ventures, and politics. After graduating from the University of Georgia, Kevin served on a presidential campaign team and then worked as a representative for a United States Congressman.

• Kevin is the author of three books, including his latest The Lens. In consecutive years, Kevin was named to the “40 under 40′ lists for Georgia Trend and then the Atlanta Business Chronicle. For his leadership and business acumen, Kevin has been featured on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times.

• For fun, Kevin has been cage diving with Great White Sharks in South Africa, trekked Mountain Gorillas in Uganda, and ridden a llama in Colombia.

• However, he most enjoys being at home with his wife and son in Marietta, Georgia to cheer on the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs. Known for his grassroots appeal and southern charm, Kevin speaks extensively at businesses, to educators, and within the faith community.

Chat Highlights

1. Why is there a false narrative that servant leaders have to be “soft”?
2. While considering core values and how that’s been successful for Chick-Fil-A’s Leadership Academy program, how have you had to consider making those principles relevant to audiences/regions where their foundation of values may be different?
3. Kevin’s life and career passion is speaking and writing about leadership. He talks more about his inspiration around leaders having an influence that leads to action.
4. Kevin talks about the importance of always seeking a better perspective as a leader. “How you view things changes how you do things.” He talks about how a changing perspective to lead to radically different results can help us move out of COVID-19 into a brighter future.

Get In Touch

Learn more about Kevin Paul Scott at KevinPaulScott.com

Social Media:
facebook.com/KevinPaulScott
linkedin.com/in/kevinpaulscott
instagram.com/kevinpaulscott
twitter.com/kevinpaulscott

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Ryan Klee is the owner and founder of Ryno Media a boutique content communications agency. His entrepreneur route took him towards a solo-preneuer route. By partnering with other agencies and professionals on big projects, he's been able to take the leap on a lean budget to grow his business. 

Chat Highlights:

• Life as a solo-preneuer
• Holding yourself accountable when you don't have team members pushing you
• Being a people person
• Making learning an active part of your life

Books recommended:

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - https://charlesduhigg.com/the-power-of-habit/
Good to Great by Jim Collins - https://www.jimcollins.com/books.html

Get in Touch
https://www.rynomedia.com

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Tim Visconti, Founder, and CEO of PeopleLift, an employee experience consulting firm that solves the three core problems every growing business faces: engaging, retaining, and attracting top talent. PeopleLift is joining the fight for rapid COVID-19 response by supporting organizations delivering critical supplies to the front lines, providing door-to-door transport or critical goods to at-risk populations, and Empowering the ability for states to scale their testing capabilities.

Chat Highlights

1. How have Tim’s leadership responsibilities changed drastically as a result of COVID-19?
2. Tim’s had to make some tough decisions with his business and re-engaged his team on a different type of mission focused on serving others in need.
3. What are some of the challenges that your business has been tackling in a more non-profit community service-focused mission?
4. How Tim formed relationships with other businesses who have also pivoted to serving critical needs in at-risk populations within a matter of days.
5. Tim talks about how adversity has been a gift and opportunity in his life
6. What changes does Tim see in his business for the long term, the future outlook in the talent acquisition space? His view on not being able to approach business the same way.
7. Tim’s call to action for leaders: recognizing that we may be on the same paths, but we’re not in the same boat. Asking what you can bring to the table? Also, find out who is really aligned with you and empowering those individuals as your tenured team members that you need to keep in your corner.

Get In Touch

Connect Tim at linkedin.com/in/timothyvisconti
More information about PeopleLift at peoplelift.com

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Serial entrepreneur John Boyzo has worked in different roles, on all levels, in a myriad of different industries. His vast experience makes him well equipped to guide and build-up his colleagues, and using the leadership skills he's developed over the years, he has helped team members to find and accept their calling. 

Chat Highlights

• Growing up in the restaurant industry
• Making the switch to real estate
• Moving into a leadership role and tackling those struggles
• Accepting your calling as a leader
• Self-doubt creeping in and how to overcome that fear
• Building relationships that help team members grow professional
• The power of belief in building up people.

Get in Touch

email: boyzojohn@gmail.com

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Stacey grew up with a legacy of building our community and giving back. Her grandparents, an attorney, and a school teacher founded a church and taught people within their community how to read in the basement of the church after work in the evenings.

She graduated from Cornell University in New York. Most of her work has been in the arena of fostering diversity inclusion and empowerment to women, children, and families. In 1999, she joined several families in creating a Sunday School for children to learn their cultural history and build a foundation of self-awareness for cultivating empowerment at an early age. In 2002, she incorporated the program as a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity.

In 2005 she was elected as Council Woman in New Jersey. She served in this capacity for four consecutive years and built a landscape around women empowerment which led to an appointment as a delegate and an invitation to initiate a Political Women’s organization for the county and to serve on NJ’s non-partisan State Political Caucus for Women – ensuring that all parties worked together to promote and secure political positions for women. In 2007, she traveled to India as part of a mission with the NJ State Chamber of Commerce to build global partnerships with Chambers of other countries. They adopted a school to once again help empower disenfranchised children.

Today, Stacey resides with her husband Hollis and they share a hybrid of seven children. She serves as the Executive Director of Every Woman Works, Inc. (EWW) moving women from dependency to self-sufficiency. She also serves her sorority Delta Sigma Theta, her church Zion Missionary Baptist in Marietta, and mentors High School students from the Cobb County community of schools.

Chat Highlights

1. Stacey shares a personal story of how she’s had to overcome adversity in her life to find her purpose and what led her to the leadership role she now holds at Every Woman Works.
2. She said “improbable doesn’t mean impossible”. Stacy discusses the importance of embracing adversity, and how they help women move from dependency to self-sufficiency.
3. What has EWW’s response been to the pandemic and how have they taken a very hands-on organization to operate remotely.
4. What have been the unforeseen positives with the impact you’re having as a result of coronavirus?
5. Stacey talks about authors and other leaders that inspire her leadership and how they empower women through these resources.

Get In Touch

Visit www.everywomanworks.org
Call the office directly at 770-998-3392
Connect with Stacey at linkedin.com/in/staceylghowell

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JJ Koch is the Director SEO at Techwood Digital in Atlanta. Beginning as an SEO analyst, he came up through the ranks to become the director of the SEO team. He took an approach that caused some apprehension at first and in this podcast, he talks about why he implemented the changes that he did and how his team adapted.

Chat Highlights:

• Leading a team of SEOs to best serve their monthly clients
• Changes made to take the team from being reactive to proactive
• Team alignment to get everyone on the same page
• Building trust with employees
• Leadership from the perspective of a people pleaser

Get in Touch
jjkoch@techwood.digital

techwood.digital

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Jason has been active in the staffing industry since 1992. He founded iStaff in 1995, and currently serves as CEO of a regionally based recruiting firm with a national reach that specializes in IT recruiting.

Our mission statement is: "To be salt and light in the recruiting industry by honoring God in all that we do through honesty and integrity."

Jason is active professionally serving as the President of Hightech Prayer Breakfast, is an Elder in his church, and enjoys serving with both local and international charitable organizations.

As President of the Hightech Prayer Breakfast where he oversees both daily operations and the execution of a 1600 person IT-centric leadership networking event that features both a regional and national speaker that shares business insights and their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

On a personal level, Jason also enjoys coaching both baseball and softball. He has has been on mission trips with his church to Guatemala, Uzbekistan and Tanzania.

Chat Highlights

1. Have companies been laying people off too quickly in response to the coronavirus pandemic?
2. What can business leaders do going forward that help better prepare themselves for such sudden shifts in the economy?

3. Importance of good stewardship to the employees of your organization while making prudent business decisions to remain an industry leader

4. Given the spike in unemployment, what has been the impact you’ve seen as it pertains to the staffing industry and IT professionals which is your area of expertise at iStaff?

5. What should leaders be doing now to preserve the unity and culture of their teams? What are some things you’re doing at iStaff to keep everyone engaged, accountable, and attentive to driving that culture and continued business growth?
6. As a CEO of iStaff, President of the HTPB, Elder in your church, and volunteer work for Grace@Work ministry – your leadership crosses into many different responsibilities. How does your faith, values, and leadership principles guide your decisions in all these roles and how do you keep on top of everything?
7. Jason casts a beautiful vision for leaders to all serve with excellence whether that’s in their companies, families, communities, and every day lives. Don’t just mail it in. Let his words soak in, they’re remarkable!

Get In Touch

Connect Jason at linkedin.com/in/jasonsmithistaff
More information about iStaff at istaff.com
Learn more about how to get involved with the Atlanta High Tech Prayer Breakfast and local bible studies in the Atlanta technology and business community at hightechministries.org

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Chad Crowe is CEO at Techwood Digital Consulting. His early challenges with reading and writing spurred a passion for communication. Now, with degrees in both mass and organization communications, he is using these skills as a business leader. His passion for storytelling drives the way that he runs his company and how he works with his customers. 

Chat Highlights:

• The narrative paradigm and how we communicate in stories
• Making sure the communication platforms you use to communicate resonate with your employees
• Growth in a difficult time
• Ways to show customers that you care about them
• Making sure everyone is on the same page with your core values

Get in Touch
chad.crowe@techwood.digital
techwood.digital

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Chat Guest

For over 25 years, Charlie has been a professional angel investor and entrepreneur. His mission is to help entrepreneurs take the next steps in business and life.

10 facts about Charlie (from Paparelli.com)

1. Professional angel investor and co-founder of 12 startups.
2. Invested in over 35 companies in 25+ years
3. Since 1992 focused on helping entrepreneurs start and build their company.
4. Mentors 10 startup founders and advise many more on a daily basis.
5. Offices at the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA.
6. Founder and director of Angel Lounge in Atlanta.
7. Had five exits that netted a 50% IRR (internal return rate).
8. Continually thinks about helping entrepreneurs build the company of their dreams and great value for investors.
9. A recovering alcoholic who, thanks to the recovery process, entered into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
10. Has a God-given passion for entrepreneurs, to love and serve them.

Charlie has 3 core beliefs...

1. There is a reason God puts each entrepreneur in my life. I need to discover the reason and help with the next steps for the entrepreneur.
2. Every day I must intercede in prayer, asking God to share His mercy, blessing, and protection for every entrepreneur who shares their story with me.
3. My investment and mentoring relationships tie my destiny to God’s destiny for the entrepreneur. It is always a wild ride.

Angel investing is a contact sport. It is not about investing in companies. It is all about investing in people and their families. I love it and wouldn’t think of doing anything else. God uses me every day in these activities as an angel investor.

Chat Highlights

1. Charlie’s passion for entrepreneurs and the belief that you really need to be fully in the entrepreneur’s corner is a gift to the community. As a lead investor, he has helped countless entrepreneurs find the money and hit those milestones. He explains the relationship as a “contact sport”?
2. Charlie has over 40 entrepreneur’s on regular zoom calls called “Paparelli Zoom Chats” which he launched recently to support entrepreneurs and foster open dialogue around challenges they’re facing and serve them with encouragement and thought leadership. We asked Charlie to share his inspiration for the idea.
3. Charlie describes his responsibility to entrepreneurs as being a servant, and we ask him to explain that further.
4. Charlie shares more about the types of conversations they’re having in Paparelli Zoom Chats, how the topics are derived, and what his greatest take-a-ways have been.
5. Charlie shares remarkable insight into his belief system and a few powerful ideas as an overall “call to action” for entrepreneurs in closing. You don’t want to miss what he says about what he’s doing on TikTok.

Get In Touch

Learn more about Charlie at www.paparelli.com
Charlie is very involved with the Atlanta Technology Development Center (ATDC) and Atlanta Tech Village (ATV). Check out their websites to learn more about Atlanta’s thriving entrepreneur community.

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Hank Reid is the owner of Lettum Eat and executive chef and food and beverage director at First Baptist Church in Snellville. Having been in the restaurant industry for over 20 years, he took his personal mantra "lettum eat" and brought it to people in need. Just a few months into this new project began, COVID-19 struck the community and now people in the community need his service more than ever before. In just 4 weeks they served 85,000 meals and they aren't slowing down.

Chat Highlights

• Getting food mobile and to the people who need it.
• Being there when disasters happen
• Getting a non-profit organized and bring it to fruition
• Partnering with other churches to expand their operation
• Passing wisdom from generation to generation
• How you can help Lettum Eat get meals to those who need it

Get in Touch

www.lettumeat.com
Email: info@lettumeat.com
Facebook: @lettumeat
Instagram: @lettumeat
Give at lettumeat.com/give-today 

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Chat Guest

Currently serving as CEO of ETS Solutions in Atlanta GA, Jim C. Jarrells is an accomplished entrepreneur whose common-sense approach and analytical instincts have inspired effectual change and notable results for a wide array of organizations. Whether leading a company as CEO, working with corporate giants, or advising other entrepreneurial leaders, Mr. Jarrells excels in strategic development, asset and resource management, operational advancement, and applying technology in the appropriate situations. He applies down to earth, hands-on analysis in every situation. Jim’s uniquely articulate management style has led companies to achieve better prosperity.

Mr. Jarrells is a proven professional with expertise in revitalizing organizations, building corporate equity, and impacting organizational efficiency. He is known to be an effective leader by delivering structure to organizational chaos. As a respected leader with a clear, insightful direction, Jim has achieved noteworthy results throughout his career. During his tenure with the U.S. Air Force, Jim was honored with several military awards to include two Commendation Medals, three Achievement Medals, and one Meritorious Service medal. Jim is also the recipient of the U.S. Air Force Service Medal for his faithful leadership and service during the Persian Gulf War.

Jim is a compassionate and inspirational mentor who believes that high achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation. His most recent accomplishments include leading an Atlanta-based IT consulting company as CEO, achieving double-digit growth for an Orlando, Florida healthcare company, and successfully designing an IT integration strategy for a 260 location healthcare company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia as part of a billion-dollar acquisition.

His earlier accomplishments include a corporate restructuring of the Exstream Software technology platforms which contributed to client confidence by offering consistent innovation of document management products and services. During their 8-year expansion period, Exstream’s corporate footprint grew exponentially worldwide. Jim’s efforts not only increased annual high growth percentages but added a level of profitability that prompted an immense capital injection from a major outside investor. The injection ultimately contributed to the sale of Exstream Software to the largest technology company in the world, Hewlett-Packard.

As an entrepreneur, Jim has exhibited a keen ability to lead and expand technology and business-focused organizations. His style of management is complemented by his robust competitive spirit and keen business acumen. Mr. Jarrells’ strengths include strategic vision coupled with tactical planning and team leadership.

As a man of faith, Jim’s personal credo reflects his approach to his work and his personal life: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13.

An alumnus of Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky, Jim holds a degree in Business with an emphasis in Computer Information Systems. He is a lifelong learner who continually stays connected with current industry trends through various network affiliations, training, seminars, and self-study. Jim is proud to be a group member record holder for the Guinness Book of World Records and holds a U.S. Patent for a cloud-based, radiology utility application, called GenesisVault.

Chat Highlights

1. Responsibility of responding to the pandemic as a CEO and preparing for the new normal.
2. What are the concerns and questions you are hearing from the business leaders you serve regarding their technology and business continuity moving forward?
3. Your core values at ETS Solutions are centered around faith, family, community service, customer service, and trust. Why are these defined core values are so integral to the success of your company and your responsibilities as a leader to ensure they’re lived out?
4. Why is being “bold” and open about your faith so outside of the norm in business in today’s world?
5. Jim shares his call to action for leaders to stay calm and look up - listen for more inspiring words.

Get In Touch

Connect with Jim Jarrells on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/jimjarrells
More information about ETS at www.ETSsolutions.com
Jim loves building new relationships and a cup of coffee. Email him at jim@etssolutions.com and he would love to find some time to buy you a cup of coffee to learn more about you, your perspective on Atlanta culture, and the work you do.

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Derrick Heberling is the NG3 Area Director and Brookwood School Director. After years of coaching high school basketball, he has taken his passion and purpose to NG3 where they believe that lasting and positive changes comes through meaningful relationships. 

Chat Highlights

• What students are missing in their lives
• The need for mentors
• Having adults other than parents that care about you
• Getting kids away from phones to connect
• Helping kids be involved in community service
• Teaching money management

Get in Touch
Instagram • @ng3_organization
Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/ng3GA/
Website • ng3.org

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