Growing up as a son of a college football coach, Don learned some valuable life lessons from his dad. Some were lessons on what to do, and others lessons on what NOT to do. But in the end, Don realized that he had a dad and mom who love him - and that's why he feels privileged. High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence . Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson . High Octa...
Oct 12, 2022•17 min•Season 5Ep. 98
Being a high-octane leader doesn't mean you have all the answers. It doesn't mean you don't have fear, uncertainty, and doubt. It doesn't mean you are confident that you belong in every room. But what can we do when we feel inadequate? Today, Donald Thompson shares his feelings on imposter syndrome, and specifically on the book " Find Your Fierce: Interrupt Imposter Syndrome and Own Your Success ", by Teresa Sande. High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coac...
Oct 05, 2022•20 min•Season 5Ep. 97
Get ready for a JOLT of transformational motivation. Larry Long Jr , the man with the memorable acronyms and boundless energy, is back on the podcast! Today he talks about the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) that he had when trying to decide whether to leave his safe job, how coaching from Kristin Frade helped him get past some of his mindset inhibitors, and his new book, Jolt!: Get Zapped into Intentionality: Rediscover and Believe in Your Inner Greatness . High Octane Leadership is hosted b...
Sep 28, 2022•37 min•Season 5Ep. 96
You've probably heard of "Quiet Quitting" by now. If not, it's an employee's opting out of tasks beyond assigned duties and/or becoming less psychologically invested in work. It's certainly media trendy, but is it a real concern for employers? High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence . Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson . High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Dive...
Sep 21, 2022•15 min•Season 5Ep. 95
After starring at UNC's legendary women's soccer program, Brianna Pinto was drafted 3rd in the 2021 NWSL draft. She's a young soccer star for the NC Courage , and yet she's so much more than an athlete. Today, Brianna talks about the mental health work of Soccer Resilience , representation on and off the field, and why she chose to partner with Adidas. High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence . Order UNDE...
Sep 14, 2022•40 min•Season 5Ep. 94
We have a phenomenal slate of guests, business leaders, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, global HR executives coming up on High Octane Leadership, and we'll intertwine some solo episodes to share what I'm seeing as I work with global executives on building a better workplace and creating high impact team leadership.
Sep 07, 2022•2 min•Season 5Ep. 95
Typically when we think about diversity equity and inclusion, we look at what’s going on in our companies and in our communities - and that’s usually just within the United States. But what happens when our business expands internationally? What happens when we need to communicate effectively with someone from a different country who speaks a different first language? Today in this mini-episode, Don shares his experiences and perspectives on global DEI. The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by T...
Jun 08, 2022•11 min•Season 4Ep. 94
When Angela Franco was a growing up in Columbia, her father would tell her, "Don't think that you're better than anybody else. If you want to go someplace, you're going to have to work for it." That made her upset at the time, but it turned out to be a gift - to keep her grounded and treat others with respect. Now as the DC Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Angela works with companies of all sizes and leaders of all backgrounds to grow the Washington DC business and entrepreneurship commu...
Jun 01, 2022•29 min•Season 4Ep. 93
Today Don chats with two dynamic leaders from Charlotte NC. Dr. Brandon Wolfe , Chief Diversity Officer at the University of North Carolina Charlotte , talks about his role, diversity equity and inclusion in higher ed, and what his work means for the greater Charlotte community. Then later, Greg Brown from the Charlotte Angel Fund comes on to share some of the successes they've had on the Charlotte startup scene, the importance of making diverse connections, and what types of pitches he sees tha...
May 25, 2022•25 min•Season 4Ep. 92
An award-winning startup CEO and founder of Millennial Ventures Holdings , Brandi Baldwin is shaking up the future of business by helping launch social impact brands. In this episode, learn what motivates her and how you can follow in her footsteps to shake up and invigorate your own organization. The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson , and is a production of Earfluence . High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement ...
May 18, 2022•35 min•Season 4Ep. 91
Donald Thompson gave a talk to the MBA students at NC State titled View from the C Suite, where DT shares his thoughts on effective leadership strategies, taking charge during meetings, and how to turn a thousand dollars worth of coffee into a million dollars worth of insight. The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and Executive Coach Donald Thompson , and is a production of Earfluence . High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coa...
May 11, 2022•47 min•Season 4Ep. 90
In the March 2022 issue of Raleigh Magazine, 10 leaders in the Triangle were featured for being fearless in their 40s. From the magazine, "This elite cast is based on fearless ambition. Their monumental life changes prove it’s never too late to embark on a new journey, embrace a new endeavor, start a new chapter or make a difference… and just do the damn thing." Today, Don talks to three of the 10 - Mike Iannelli with Ablr360 , and Jackie Ferguson and Shelley Willingham with The Diversity Moveme...
May 04, 2022•40 min•Season 4Ep. 89
M&F Bank in Durham North Carolina was formed 115 years ago in 1907, which makes it the second oldest Black-owned bank in the United States. It has been profitable 113 out of 115 years, and even had a 108-year streak of profitablility. Such an amazing story, and as we launch season 4 of the podcast, we bring on M&F's CEO James Sills to share the company's story, his views on relationship building in banking, and how we can reduce the wealth gap. Full video filmed from the Earfluence Studi...
Apr 27, 2022•45 min•Season 4Ep. 88
Over the past year plus, Donald Thompson has had a chance to talk with some of the most influential leaders in the Triangle and throughout the world. Today, we share some of the leadership lessons learned from: Kurt Merriweather, The Diversity Movement Adrienne Cole, Raleigh Chamber Sepi Saidi, SEPI Kendrall Felder, Cisco Keith Pigues, Luminas Strategy Matt Sheehan, Exhale Home Loren Shumate, One Source Veronica Kirin, Entrepreneurship Coach The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by The Diversity...
Jul 07, 2021•30 min•Season 3Ep. 88
After growing up in apartheid South Africa and seeing how education suppression led to systemic racism, Lara Stein thought that she would be far removed from that in the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. She was wrong. But she's doing everything in her power to change the world and eliminate systemic racism - in government, in private sectors, and even in artificial intelligence. Boma Global WEBINAR : 3 p.m. New York Tuesday, 29 June = 9 p.m. Paris Tuesday, 29 June = 7 a.m. New Zealand Wednes...
Jun 23, 2021•32 min•Season 3Ep. 87
In Part 2, Exhale Home CEO Matt Sheehan talks leadership lessons he's gained over the years as VP of Redbox, President of Primo Water, and now CEO of Exhale. "You don't need a 'C' on your jersey to be captain," so whether you're a leader by title or not, you'll want to tune in. Part 1: Raleigh’s “Open Source” Network, Growth Mindset, and Power of Diversity: Matt Sheehan WEBINAR: professional development webinar hosted by Don and emmy award winning broadcaster, Tedx & keynote speaker Sharon D...
Jun 16, 2021•29 min•Season 3Ep. 86
Exhale Home CEO Matt Sheehan gave so many quoatables and pieces of wisdom that we had to separate his interview into two parts. On Part 1, Matt gives the life lessons his parents taught him ("The clock of life is wound but once"), why his family chose Raleigh out of all the cities in the world, and what Exhale is all about. The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thompson . Music for this episode provide...
Jun 09, 2021•32 min•Season 3Ep. 85
Deanna Singh has been researching, designing and building solutions to complex social challenges for the last 20 years, but she was born into diversity, equity and inclusion work. As founder of Flying Elephant , a holding company for social impact companies, Deanna is on a mission to build innovative opportunities for underserved communities. In this episode, hear how DEI has impacted her life, how she continues to learn and lead and how she found her purpose. Purposeful Hustle , by Deanna Singh...
Jun 02, 2021•34 min•Season 3Ep. 84
What started as Lindsay Wrege’s school project has turned into her full-time job. Her nonprofit, 321 Coffee , is dedicated to creating an equitable employment space for adults with developmental disabilities. In this episode, hear why inclusion has been important to Lindsay throughout her life and her dreams for 321. Plus, hear Donald answer some of her questions as she navigates being a young leader. Important mentions: NC State Entrepreneurship Center Raleigh Founded The Donald Thompson Podcas...
May 26, 2021•49 min•Season 3Ep. 83
Veronica Kirin scaled and sold her own tech company, and she went through the 70 hour work weeks and a lot of burnout in the process. Now, she coaches startup CEOs and small business owners, who she calls “empire builders,” and helps them scale their own businesses without pushing them past their 24-hour human limit. In this episode, hear Veronica and Donald talk about how small enterprise owners can build more efficiency in their businesses and lives. StoriesOfCOVID.co The Donald Thompson Podca...
May 19, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 82
Just before turning 30, Jeffrey Hawting was an ordained priest traveling from Australia to America to study, but he never went home. After leaving the priesthood, his friend helped him find a job selling office products to the federal government, many of which were made by companies with blind employees. One of those companies was LCI , and that company recruited Jeffrey. Now, he’s LCI’s CEO, and the manufacturing company based in Durham, N.C. has now employed over 300 people that are blind or l...
May 12, 2021•38 min•Season 3Ep. 81
I've been CEO of The Diversity Movement for one year, and in that time I've had some amazing conversations with clients, partners, and team members. We've grown and we've learned, and here are some of my reflections from year one. The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO, The Diversity Movement CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thompson . Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. The Donald Thompson Podcast...
May 04, 2021•23 min•Season 3Ep. 80
Recent research from Edelman reveals that trust is at a low in 2021. Individuals are not trusting their governments, CEOs or nonprofit organizations. And in a world still suffering from racial injustice but beginning to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, trust is key to our overall success. In this solo episode, Donald shares actionable steps we can take to build trust as leaders in our organizations and communities. Edelman Trust Barometer The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO...
Apr 28, 2021•26 min•Season 3Ep. 79
With over 2 million podcasts available, why would it make sense for anyone to start a new one and try to filter through all the noise? As Earfluence CEO Jason Gillikin explains, it's not about making viral hits. Podcasting for business is about networking, building a content engine, and amplifying your expertise. His advice? "Just Press Record." The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO, The Diversity Movement CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thom...
Apr 21, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 78
As the CEO of NC IDEA , Thom Ruhe is on a mission to strengthen North Carolina’s economy through grants and programs for our state’s entrepreneurs with a commitment that no less than 50% of their total time, treasure and talent will support underserved communities, defined as minority, female or rural—and obviously any combination thereof. Recently, the organization has created the North Carolina Black Entrepreneurship Council with a commitment that 100% of all funds and programs designated excl...
Apr 14, 2021•40 min•Season 3Ep. 77
Donald Thompson says that being a former athlete can make you a better entrepreneur, and James Chapman is no exception. Having played basketball throughout his entire childhood, the founder and CEO of Plain Sight , a mobile app for networking with like-minded people in virtual and physical spaces, is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for helping others achieve their goals, too. In this episode, Donald and James discuss what it takes to turn your ideas into a full time job. The Donald Thompson...
Apr 07, 2021•27 min•Season 3Ep. 76
Kayla Merriweather is a powerhouse. A senior at New York University, she’s in the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, concentrating in History and Place through a Black Feminist Lens with a Minor in Spanish. She’s a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar, a Resident Assistant and the President for the Black Student Union. In summary, she’s wicked smart and an example of the type of leaders we need for a better future. To close Women’s History Month, we’re talking about how she practices and te...
Mar 31, 2021•38 min•Season 3Ep. 75
In Durham, N.C., Leonardo Williams and his wife, Chef Zweli, own one of two Zimbabwean restaurants in the country - Zweli's . Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s had to make several innovations and pivots to keep his small business running, but he’s never given up. After partnering with Summit Church to allocate extra food to the his community, he realized the power in connecting individuals from all walks of life to support one another, and he started Activate Durham to do just that. In this...
Mar 24, 2021•16 min•Season 3Ep. 74
Companies hire Will Barfield to fill positions with diverse, qualified employees, not only white men like him. He says that, by being intentional in making sure candidates from all backgrounds are considered, his clients have inclusive and effective teams. In this episode, Will and Donald discuss why having these teams—and surrounding yourself with individuals different from you—is so important and beneficial to personal and professional growth. The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West...
Mar 17, 2021•40 min•Season 3Ep. 73
Before his family moved from Greece to America, Pryon ‘s Igor Jablokov didn’t have electricity in his home—no TV, no radio, no technology. But when he got his first computer, he found his passion. He began a career in artificial intelligence, and he was confused as to why the technology available to him in his lab wasn’t available to everyone else. “No one is going to want a listening device in their house,” people told him. They were wrong. The technology Igor created was acquired by Amazon and...
Mar 10, 2021•40 min•Season 3Ep. 72
