In this episode Cynthia speaks with Patrick Chadd, Associate Dean of eLearning at Camden County College. Patrick's fascinating journey to leadership started with nearly 20 years in the military and law enforcement, after which he took the path much less traveled to web design, instructional design, and finally to higher education. Along the way he earned an M.Ed. and Ed.D. He defines his leadership as participative leadership, maintains a guiding principle that "everyone has a voice," and holds ...
Jun 28, 2021•35 min
In this episode Cynthia speaks with Danielle Shoots, Founder and CEO of the Daily Boss Up, former CFO of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and former VP of Finance and Business Operations for the West Division of Comcast. Danielle's unique life experience as an exceptionally young leader and a young mom has led her to a leadership style grounded in vulnerability, transparency, and authenticity. As Danielle shares in the podcast, "Leadership is soul work," and shares her exper...
May 24, 2021•34 min
In this episode Cynthia talks with Dan Hill, emotions expert and facial coder who pioneered the use of facial coding in business. Dan shares a wealth of information regarding what is conveyed through facial expressions, and emphasizes the importance of leaders to both show their emotions and build skills at reading the emotions of others. Cynthia and Dan also talk at length about the role that emotion plays in decision making, and the imbalance between the emotional and rational brain. To connec...
Mar 29, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 13
In this episode Cynthia speaks with Tiffany Grunert, the President and CEO of Morris Animal Foundation. Tiffany's very intentional leadership style is focused on culture, teams, and empowerment. While empowerment is a term that can make some leaders shudder, Tiffany outlines the strengths of an intentional approach. As she explains, clear values, strong interdependence between teams, and the space to make mistakes can empower others in service of the mission of the organization, which drives eng...
Mar 15, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 12
In this episode Cynthia talks with Nicole Trick-Steinbach, Award-Winning International Bravery Coach for women in tech. Nicole shares the framework she uses with her clients to build their bravery and prepare them to step forward in powerful ways. She also talks about the unique challenges faced by women in tech, including the "glass cliff" phenomenon. As Nicole says, "You belong in that room, and if people aren't finding a chair for you, that pull up a folding chair and take your place at the t...
Mar 01, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 12
In this episode Cynthia has a conversation with fellow leadership expert and friend David Cambronne about giving and receiving feedback. In this timely episode, published to align with many companies' performance management processes, Cynthia and David discuss the importance of balancing truth with kindness when giving feedback, as well as the very real fight-flight-or-freeze reactions we have when receiving feedback, and some techniques to manage that reaction. Referenced in this episode: David...
Feb 01, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 11
In this episode Cynthia speaks with Violette de Ayala, serial and social entrepreneur and founder of FemCity® women’s networking groups. Violette speaks about the challenges that women too frequently face in leadership and entrepreneurship: mentorship, mindset, and balance. Throughout the conversation she openly shares her own life experiences and how they have shaped her into the successful businesswoman and leader she is today. To learn more about Violette and FemCity®: Violette's website FemC...
Jan 18, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 10
In this episode Cynthia speaks with Jolene Clark, Founder and Chief People Whisperer at Redhead Momentum. Jolene has expertise in multiple areas of talent and leadership, and is an especially passionate thought leader in the field of team performance. Jolene shares a number of nuggets of wisdom for leaders looking to build high-performing teams, including: The two dysfunctions that impact the ability to get a team to high performance. The most important acts leaders can take to enable team succe...
Jan 04, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this episode Cynthia speaks with Tamra Ryan, the CEO of Women's Bean Project. The theme running through Tamra's leadership journey is one of humility. She talks about the concept of followship--enlisting people to come with you on the journey--and the leader's job of working every day to help other people shine. As she wisely states, leadership isn't a popularity contest, but IS about leaving your ego at the door. Music credit: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io...
Dec 14, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this episode Cynthia speaks with Kim Meninger, executive coach and consultant who specializes in working with women who are dealing with imposter syndrome. Kim's expertise in and passion for this field of work is clear as she discusses: How imposter syndrome is often a fear response. The important role leaders have in recognizing and supporting others who are struggling with imposter syndrome. The false belief that you have to be an expert at everything to be good at your job. To learn more a...
Nov 30, 2020•33 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this episode I speak with John Agostino, CFO at DaySmart Software LLC. John shares his leadership journey thus far, including his personal shifts to find a way to fold his authentic personality into how he leads. The result allows he and his teams to accomplish their goals while having fun. Along the way he's also learned the importance of having the courage of your convictions, how to moderate natural tendencies to let others on the team shine, and the value of consistently working on patien...
Nov 16, 2020•28 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this episode I speak with Jill Hauwiller, founder and principal consultant of Leadership Refinery. Jill shares her thought leadership on executive coaching, especially in her expertise area of emotional intelligence. Jill discusses: Maintaining authenticity through the EQ characteristic of independence. Both the strategic value of and risk of over-indexing on empathy. Recognizing and managing the physical manifestations of our emotional state. To learn more about and connect with Jill: Leader...
Oct 26, 2020•30 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode I speak with Mike Kenney, VP of Sales at ABILITY Network. Mike shares his leadership journey, which started with the direction to borrow his manager's style--a style that wasn't authentic to him. During a transformative development experience, Mike came to realize that he needed and wanted to shift to his natural style of servant leadership. Mike is supportive yet direct, balancing relationships and business results, and this style lays a foundation for sales teams that don't jus...
Oct 12, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this episode I speak with Aaron Zaslofsky, owner of Wheelhouse Communications. Aaron shares his thought leadership on building relationships and earning influence, and provides a number of tangible techniques to both build trust and assess the stage of your business relationships. Referenced in this episode: Development of relationship stage measures by S-A Welch and Rebecca Rubin To learn more about and connect with Aaron: Wheelhouse Communications Aaron Zaslofsky on LinkedIn Music credit: O...
Sep 28, 2020•34 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode I have the honor of speaking with Tish Bolger, CEO of Girls Scouts River Valleys. In this delightful conversation, Tish shares key moments of her leadership journey, including how she learned the skill of assertiveness, the valuable leadership skills that were role modeled for her by an early manager, and the important areas of self-awareness that she works on daily. Referenced in this episode: Jorahi Window White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh The ...
Sep 14, 2020•30 min•Season 2Ep. 2
This episode starts Season 2 of This is How We Lead. In this solo episode, Cynthia explains the foundations of her Legacy Leaders model, and what it means to lead with a balance and blend of strategy, authenticity, pragmatism, and compassion. She shares a story from her own leadership journey, when she got some accurate but hard-to-hear feedback from her manager, Paul, whom she considers her first example and role model of what it means to be a legacy leader. Music credit: On My Way by Kevin Mac...
Aug 31, 2020•12 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this episode I speak with David, an HR leader and mindfulness practitioner, about how he is leading his team and himself--and how he is approaching leadership coaching--during the COVID-19 crisis. The focus of our conversation is on mindfulness, and how we can incorporate it into how we lead ourselves and others. David presents a number of thoughtful questions that he invites our listeners to reflect on, with an emphasis on extending to yourself self-compassion and rigorous honesty. Music cre...
Jun 29, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode I speak with Jessica Whitney, the co-owner of ZOē Productions, an experiential and event production company, about how she is leading her team and herself during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about the value of vulnerability with employees and clients, keeping true to your organizational culture in times of crisis while keeping your team engaged, and the fine art of acceptance. Jessica's attitude and equanimity in the face of incredible uncertainty is a leadership inspiration. Mus...
Jun 15, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode I speak with Grace, a sales leader at a logistics company, about how she is leading her team and herself during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about the value of being transparent with your employees about the cash flow and P&L of the business, especially in times of crisis, and how it to use that as a development opportunity. We discuss expressing gratitude to customers, and the importance of letting go of attachments to process and outcomes. Grace also provides an expert pers...
May 26, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode I speak with Dan, a sales leader at a technology company, about how he is leading his team and himself during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about the importance of having a "service first" approach, empowering your team, and the servant leader mindset of working for your team instead of them working for you. And in regards to self-care, we talk about the practice of watching tape of old sporting events where you know the outcome, something many sports aficionados can relate to. Mu...
May 11, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode I speak with Gayle, an HR leader at a consumer packaged goods company, about how she is leading her team and herself during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about setting new rituals when your old rituals are upended, transparency in communication, the importance of leaders showing vulnerability, and seeing the cultural possibilities in a crisis. Music credit: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way License: http://creativecommons.org/lic...
May 03, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode I speak with Kara, an HR leader at an electronics distribution company, about how she is leading her team and herself during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about setting boundaries to ensure you're putting on your own oxygen mask first, discovering that you excel at executing in a time of crisis, and approaching the work with a foundational belief that if you put people first, the business will follow. Music credit: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/...
Apr 26, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode I speak with Mike, a sales leader at a healthcare technology organization, about how he is leading his team and himself during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about leveraging the crisis-adaptation muscle built thanks to regular weather events to adapt quickly in this situation, providing frameworks to help the team adjust to meet customers where they're at, and balancing a drive for results with the need for interpersonal attention. Music credit: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod Link: ht...
Apr 21, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode I speak with Bob, a sales leader at a logistics technology organization, about how he is leading his team and himself during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about the importance of finding purpose in the work you do through how it contributes to helping others in the current environment, the unexpected creativity that can surface when your team has to work and support customers differently, and a call to action to "Stay better." We also laugh a bit about non-creepy eye contact over ...
Apr 17, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode I speak with Loni, an HR leader at a technology organization, about how she is leading her team and herself during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about the value of being flexible and role-modeling that flexibility, extending grace, and leveraging learnings from the DiSC assessment to help understand how best to communicate with one another, especially when stress is high. Loni also shares--with great vulnerability and honesty--how she's doing, and what she's doing, to take care of...
Apr 14, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In this episode I speak with Dawn, a sales leader at a technology organization, about how she is leading her team and herself during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about the importance of really listening, meeting people where they're at, and focusing on opportunities for development during this unique time. Music credit: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/...
Apr 09, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1
