Grow Strong Leaders Podcast - podcast cover

Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

Meredith Bellgrowstrongleaders.com
In the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast, host Meredith Bell interviews business leaders who are committed to their own growth and the development of their people.
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Episodes

185: From College Professor to Developer of Leaders

What’s it like to discover your true calling? Laura Coons, Ph.D., began her career teaching at the college level and then transitioned to the corporate world…and that’s where she found true joy. Laura bubbles over with enthusiasm when talking about her work, and you’ll hear that in our conversation. Laura is the Senior Director of Learning at Frontdoor, a company that’s on a mission to make home ownership simple. Throughout her career there’s been the thread of servant leadership. She’s truly pa...

Sep 27, 202240 minEp. 185

184: How We Show Up Changes Everything

What’s it like to hire, coach and fire based on your company’s Purpose, Values, and Mission? Clate Mask knows the answer because that’s exactly what he and his team at Keap are doing every day at Keap. And they’ve built a positive culture where everyone takes ownership and personal responsibility for their actions. Clate is the co-founder and CEO of Keap (formerly Infusionsoft), with the mission of simplifying growth for millions of small businesses worldwide. Clate’s passion for small business ...

Sep 23, 202241 minEp. 184

183: Living the Law of Giving and Receiving

Is there really a LAW of Giving and Receiving? Indeed there is, and Cynthia Kersey describes exactly how it’s worked in her own life…and how it can work in yours. Cynthia shares the research and benefits around the power of giving. You’ll love the way she and her team live this every day at The Unstoppable Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring that every child on the planet has access to the life-long gift of education. Cynthia embodies her message, and she’s integrated giving and contr...

Sep 20, 202244 minEp. 183

182: Use Ethical Hacking to Get into College or Land Your Dream Job

What can you do to stand out among 100s of applicants for college or a job? Anthony Berryhill shares brilliant insights for making sure your application is compelling. His strategies worked in his own life, helping him get admitted to prestigious universities like Stanford and Yale and land a high-level position in one of the country’s largest investment firms. This is a man who started life as a resident of New Orleans’ 9th Ward, a neighborhood wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. You’ll be inspired...

Sep 16, 202240 minEp. 182

181: A Strong Sense of Belonging at Work

Imagine if your manager said this to you at your annual performance review: “I just don’t think you belong here.” Dr. Beth Kaplan heard those words, and that one sentence shattered her confidence in the moment. It also led her to pursue deep work in the area of belonging in the workplace. This conversation will give you a greater appreciation for the need that each of us have to belong, and what leaders can do to create that environment. Beth is currently the global head of leader development an...

Sep 13, 202242 minEp. 181

180: A Leader Who Checks His Ego at the Door

What does it look like when you “Put People First?” My guest Mark McNally describes what how it works in his company, and it starts with listening to learn from the people around him. He’s a leader who isn’t afraid to say he loves the people he works with. Mark is the Founder and Chief Nobody at Nobody Studios. He’s been involved in 15 start-ups over the course of his career, so he knows a thing or two about what it takes to create and maintain a successful business. I love the emphasis he puts ...

Sep 06, 202230 minEp. 180

179: The Role of Wellbeing in a Thriving Culture

What can an organization do to make sure Wellbeing is an integral part of the culture and not a stand-alone program? Mari Ryan describes exactly what she does with clients to help them achieve this goal. She shares important, practical strategies along with the “why” behind them. Mari’s definition of Wellbeing is the best, most inclusive I’ve ever heard. Our conversation is a “must listen” for any leader committed to creating a workplace where people thrive. Mari is a workplace well-being strate...

Aug 30, 202238 minEp. 179

178: Leadership Is Not about Position or Title

What does it take to become a truly effective leader, one people want to follow? Pat Lattore has thought deeply about this question and has been involved in developing strong leaders for the past 45 years. In this conversation, he shares brilliant insights about the roles that influence, emotional intelligence, and culture play in the shaping of leaders. Pat served in various leadership roles inside organizations and then founded his consulting company P.A.L. Leadership, LLC, in 1992 to: provide...

Aug 26, 202244 minEp. 178

177: The Importance of Letting Go for a Leader

Would you have the courage to make the necessary changes if you realized your company or team was no longer working the way you’d hoped? Jonathan Keyser faced that challenge in his company, and he had the awareness and courage to tackle it head-on. In this riveting conversation, Jonathan shares the struggles he experienced in identifying the changes that were needed, acknowledging his contributions to the situation, and the three core lessons he learned. You’ll connect with his transparency and ...

Aug 23, 202246 minEp. 177

176: How Michelin’s ICARE Model Creates Open Communication

How does a company with 100,000+ employees worldwide create a culture that everyone buys into…and more importantly, lives by? Marie-France Lechasseur explains how Michelin’s ICARE Model provides a common ground for the way people treat each other across the organization. You can feel her passion around these shared values and behaviors throughout our conversation! ICARE is an acronym for Inspiring, Create Trust, Awareness, Results, and Empowerment. Marie-France is a Human Resources Business Part...

Aug 19, 202245 minEp. 176

175: FedEx: A Company Preparing Its People for the Future

What if a company prepared upcoming leaders for their new roles and set them up for success on Day 1? That’s just one of many ways FedEx takes care of its people. My guest Tamera Maresh-Carver describes with great enthusiasm the programs and benefits in place to ensure everyone has an opportunity to advance their career. Tamera is the Managing Director of Employee Development, Innovation, and Organizational Strategy at FedEx Express. Her responsibilities include global leadership development, em...

Aug 16, 202240 minEp. 175

174: The Cost of Not Paying Attention

Did you know that 91% of employees report that their manager doesn’t listen to them? Janine Hamner Holman shares this startling statistic along with many others in a conversation that will convince you why listening should be the #1 skill that’s taught, practiced, and mastered in the workplace. Janine is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and expert on conscious leadership, DE&I, organizational development, neurobiology, and what it takes to attract and retain world-class talent....

Aug 12, 202245 minEp. 174

173: Hire the Right People and Reduce Turnover

What if you could reduce turnover to 5% or less? My guest Jaime Jay has done that in his own company because he makes sure he hires the right people. Jaime is the founder and managing director of Bottleneck Distant Assistants. Since 2006 his company has been sourcing Distant Assistants from the Philippines. They support entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, C-level executives, founders, and other professionals who are doing the wrong things so they can focus on their best work instead. Jaime is a U.S. Ar...

Aug 09, 202246 minEp. 173

172: Empowering Women to Create Greater Impact

Did you know that women lost 36 years of progress in 2020 alone? That’s a startling statistic from the World Economic Forum, and Jane Finette is committed to reversing that trend. Jane is the Founder and Executive Director of The Coaching Fellowship, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of young women leaders in social and environmental change. Jane has dedicated her life to achieving equality for women — empowering them to create impact and build the world of tomorrow, today. S...

Aug 05, 202243 minEp. 172

171: Leadership Is a Way of Life, Not a Position

What would your life look like if you were guided by these three leadership principles: Be present, stay conscious, act compassionately? My guest Teresa Roche lives those principles every day and guides others to do the same. You’ll love the important insights Teresa shares about her key learnings in her own journey as a leader…and as a human being. Teresa is the leader of the Human Resources team for the City of Fort Collins, and she has more than thirty years of experience working as an execut...

Aug 02, 202245 minEp. 171

170: How UC Berkeley Transformed Performance Reviews and Built a Coaching Culture

What if you could turn your performance review process into a real development opportunity? Angela Stopper, Ph.D., describes exactly what she and her team at UC Berkeley did to accomplish this amazing transformation. Angela is the Chief Learning Officer and Director of People and Organization Development at the University of California, Berkeley. She is responsible for the team that creates and delivers campus-wide learning initiatives supporting supervisory, management, functional, and technica...

Jul 29, 202247 minEp. 170

169: The Power of Compassion and Connection in Healthcare

What does powerful leadership in healthcare look and sound like? My guest Liz Bruno describes the qualities and behaviors that matter most when creating a culture where everyone thrives. You’ll want to catch every minute of this interview because Liz drops wisdom bombs throughout our entire conversation. Liz is the Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at Baptist Health System in Jacksonville, Florida. She’s an advanced practice psychiatric nurse who’s held leadership positions in learning a...

Jul 26, 202242 minEp. 169

Alain Hunkins

Did you know that only 23% of people think their leaders lead well? How did we get to the point that employees have such low confidence in their leaders? Alain Hunkins understands what people are looking for, and why the approach of previous generations of leaders is not the answer. He talks in a compelling way about the three C’s that are required—Connection, Communication, and Collaboration. They form the basis of his excellent book, Cracking the Leadership Code. Alain is CEO of Hunkins Leader...

Jul 22, 202239 minEp. 168

167: How to Prioritize Civility in a Divisive World

What does it take to create a workplace where civility is a core value that’s lived every day? Sejal Thakkar tackles this topic head-on with clients, based on her experience as a former employment law attorney for corporations and as a human being who’s been on the receiving end of uncivil behavior. Sejal is on a mission to educate and empower people to create a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. She’s a 2x TEDx speaker shedding light on two vital topics: “The Pain, Power,...

Jul 12, 202244 minEp. 167

166: Know Better. Be Better.

Can you imagine what it’s like to grow up in a home with a famous father and travel the world meeting celebrities and leaders of other countries? As the son of Hall of Fame boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, Ray Leonard Jr. doesn’t have to imagine it. He lived it. Ray Jr lives by a four-word creed taught to him by his grandfather: “Know better. Be better.” And he practices this every day as he strives to be 1% better than the day before. You’ll love the simple routine he follows each evening to assess his...

Jul 08, 202236 minEp. 166

165: Your Relationships: Money and People

How would you describe your attitude about money…and how well you’re taking care of the people who matter in your life? Get ready for some radical ideas about these topics from my guests, husband-and-wife team Dr. Shawn Dill and Dr. Lacey Book. Chiropractors by profession, Shawn and Lacey are founders of The Black Diamond Club, a community of 600+ service professionals who have a desire to reach more people and make a bigger impact while creating the lifestyle they dream of. You’ll discover: The...

Jul 05, 202244 minEp. 165

164: Think & Grow Rich – The $5 Million Secret

Did you know that Napoleon Hill only revealed half the secret for creating success in his classic book, Think and Grow Rich? My guest John Mitchell studied the book for months in his quest to dramatically increase his income. He discovered and tested the full secret, and he shares it in our conversation. This technique caused his own income to go to $5 million a year, after 20 years of low six figures a year. You’ll discover: Why working harder is the wrong approach if you want to increase your ...

Jun 28, 202243 minEp. 164

163: A Culture Where People Feel Safe and Valued

What can you do to make sure your company avoids being part of the Great Resignation? Maurice “Moe” Rondeau has specific suggestions you can adopt, based on what he and his team have done to build community and high performance. Moe is Vice President of Learning & Development at WinnCompanies, a real estate property development and management company in the Boston area. He has a diverse 25+ year background in global learning and organizational development. Moe’s multi-industry experience pro...

Jun 27, 202235 minEp. 163

162: Purposeful Leadership and Sacred Power

Description What leadership lessons can we take away from the Elders in traditional communities around the world? Eboni Adams Monk has first-hand experience living with and learning from these wise individuals, and we uncover several of them in this inspiring conversation. Eboni is Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Excellence at a specialty chemical company. She draws from her studies with Elders to inspire transformational leadership and life-changing growth so others can succeed at wo...

Jun 21, 202237 minEp. 162

161: Why EQ Matters More than IQ for Leaders

What does it look like when the CEO of a publicly traded company treats people as the company’s #1 asset? Phil Gallagher does just that. He’s an extraordinary leader whose motto is, “When people feel good, they do good.” Phil is the CEO of Avnet, a publicly traded company with annual sales north of 20 billion dollars and more than 14,000 employees worldwide, and ship to 140 countries. They’re #167 on Fortune 500. You’ll discover: The value of self-awareness in a leader’s growth How Phil develope...

Jun 14, 202240 minEp. 161

160: How to Unlock the Potential in Others

What does it take to help people unlock their true potential? Peter Walmsley is masterful at doing this, and you’ll learn the key approaches he’s taken over the years. Peter has lived and breathed everything my podcast is about, so I know you’re going to value the insights and ideas he shares in our conversation. Peter is the Senior Vice President of Organization Effectiveness at Scopely. He’s a highly committed leader with extensive experience in global organizations covering the U.S., Europe, ...

Jun 10, 202238 minEp. 160

159: How to Identify the Mouse in the Room

We all know about the “elephant in the room.” But what about those less obvious thoughts and feelings you might be having? My guest David Wood describes them in his captivating new book, The Mouse in The Room – Because the Elephant Isn’t Alone. You won’t want to miss out on the mice he names during our conversation…and the simple 3-D process you can use to determine if you want to bring them up. We’re at a time when our world needs more vulnerability, transparency, and connection. David’s experi...

Jun 09, 202244 minEp. 159

158: Craft Your Unique Story and Land Your Dream Career

Want to stand out from every other candidate when you’re being considered for a new position or a promotion? Debra Olshan Cooper is a genius at helping clients answer the question: “Who are you?” You’ll find out the exact approach she uses with clients to uncover their true talents and passion. She’s a masterful storyteller herself, as you’ll hear in the many client examples she shares. Debra is the founder of Your Career Design Lab, which mentors and coaches college graduates to excavate their ...

Jun 07, 202248 minEp. 158

157: When Love, Passion & Accountability Are a Company’s Core Values

What’s it like to work in a company whose core values are practiced daily by leaders and employees alike? Christopher Lind paints a clear picture, describing the positive impact on relationships and results. Christopher is Chief Learning Officer at ChenMed. He’s a globally recognized, digital-first leader in learning and workplace technology with a career at the intersection of people, business, and technology. He’s the founder of Learning Sharks and host of the Learning Tech Talks Podcast. You’...

Jun 03, 202242 minEp. 157

156: What It Means to Lead from the Core

What if every CEO understood that their title really stands for Chief Environmental Officer? My guest Jay Steinfeld makes the case that the #1 role of a CEO is to create a culture that helps people thrive and achieve their potential. He should know. His company maintained an astonishingly low turnover rate of 8% throughout his years of leadership. Find out how this exceptional leader built a healthy workplace that encouraged people to evolve continuously, experiment without fear of failure, expr...

May 31, 202246 minEp. 156
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