R.O.G. Return on Generosity

63. Bill Strahan - Allowance of Micro-Failures

63. Bill Strahan - Allowance of Micro-Failures
“I think the number one thing is the allowance of micro failures. The allowance of small mishaps with neither the sense that they're being cataloged or that they're being stored. Or that they are being levered in a particular meeting or particular project in, in general.”
Guest Info:
Bill Strahan leads the Human Resources function for Comcast Cable. He has responsibility for all aspects of Human Resources including talent, compensation, benefits, learning, employee, and labor relations. Bill has been involved in various aspects of Human Resources work for over 35 years. He began his career with over a decade of work at Macy’s Department Stores and Riggs National Bank. The second decade of Bill’s work included practicing law in Washington, D.C. in the area of Compensation and Benefits –mostly in the context of mergers and acquisitions and in initial public offerings. For nine years, Bill was a consultant and manager at Mercer HR Consulting. Bill holds a B.A. in Religion from Villanova University, and a Juris Doctorate from the George Mason University School of Law. He is an Active Member of the Virginia State Bar. Along with his wife and two sons, Bill resides in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Favorite Quote:
“Remember Bill, when you get angry... you get stupid." — Marie Strahan
 
R.O.G. Takeaway Tips:
Three things come to top of mind when I think about how to apply what Bill taught us in our own lives. One - Accept Micro-failures. Two -  Conduct generous meetings. Three -  Innovate through empathy 1. Micro-failures, are normal, human and daily imperfections. Accepting others, and our own, micro-failures is an act of generosity. Let it go. Learn from mistakes, share your learning with others. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Learn from the mistakes of others, you’ll never live long enough to make them all yourself.” 2. Conduct generous meetings. Be thoughtful in the ways you ask the question, or set the context, so the person you’re asking can win. Call out their name, recap the point of the conversation you want them to weigh in on. Thoughtfully ask others to participate in a way that enables them to confidently shine. It’s a triple win: it’s good for the person, you model generous leadership and the meeting will be more productive and enjoyable. 3. Empathy as a catalyst for innovation. True innovation is a byproduct of empathy. We first need to humble ourselves to others. Ask empathic questions like: Where is the system not working for them? What’s the gap? Allow your genuine curiosity to guide the discussion. Ask quality questions.  Seek to find the gap and collaboratively create the solution toward progress. This week, let your and others micro failures go; thoughtfully ask questions in meetings so others can shine and leverage empathy as a catalyst for innovation. 
Resources:
Bill Strahan on LinkedIn (in/WilliamStrahan)
William Strahan Comcast Bio
Jobs.Comcast.com
Coming Next:
Episode 64, we will be joined by Me, Shannon Cassidy
 
Credits:
Bill Strahan, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.

62. Joze Piranian - Radical Self-Acceptance

62. Joze Piranian - Radical Self-Acceptance
“The fear of being rejected or being judged for sounding different, got in the way. And that's an interesting parallel that can be understood through one of my favorite metaphors that I speak about in my talks. And that's the idea that everyone stutters. That inner stutter could be the fear of rejection. The fear of failure or the fear of even the fear of success. And these are all inner stutters that act as roadblocks. And ultimately that shrink our destined by stripping away countless possibilities.”
Guest Info:
Joze Piranian is a lifelong stutterer turned International Speaker helping people who hold back turn fear into action so that they overcome their “inner stutter” and unlock their true potential in life. After avoiding speaking almost entirely growing up in Beirut due to a debilitating stutter, Joze has won the Inspirational Speaker of the Year award and has performed stand-up comedy in 3 continents and 3 languages (he stutters in 6 of them!). Having graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a Bachelor of Commerce and with a Master of International Business from Queen’s University and IPADE in Mexico City, Joze worked as a project manager at a multinational in Toronto and New York prior to leaving the corporate world to face his biggest fear. He has since delivered hundreds of stand-up comedy and speaking engagements around Inclusion and Resilience at organizations, conferences and educational institutions. Joze is also a graduate of the Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. With more than 3,000,000 views on his speech  featured  on Goalcast, Joze has also been featured on TEDx, Forbes & NowThis.
Favorite Quote:
“The Best Way Out is Through It.”  —  Robert Frost
 
R.O.G. Takeaway Tips:
Questions to consider, thanks to what we learned from Joze:
What’s your inner stutter? What area of your life is a block or challenge for you? 
       The first step: Identify your inner stutter. What is it? 
       The second step – Own it. Embrace it. 
       Third step: take deliberate action to work with your inner stutter.
 
      2. Own your uniqueness! Practice radical self-acceptance. What does radical self-acceptance look like for you? Look in the mirror and celebrate all that you are, exactly as you are.
Until next week, stay generous everyone!
Resources:
JozePiranian.com
Joze Piranian on Linkedin (in/JozePiranian)
Joze Piranian on Instagram (@YesWayJoze)
Joze Piranian's TEDx Event
Forbes Feature: Conquer Your Inner Stutter With Comedian And Keynote Speaker Joze Piranian
Coming Next:
Episode 63: we will be joined by Bill Strahan, EVP Human Resources for Comcast Cable
 
Credits:
Joze Piranin, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.

61. Dr. Omolara Thomas Uwemedimo - Practicing Medicine and Self-Love

61. Dr. Omolara Thomas Uwemedimo  - Practicing Medicine and Self-Love
"We have a lot of women who are moving out of caring for in medicine because one, the places they've been taught are the quote unquote safe places at larger institutions are really difficult. And then, we've a lot of times have been taught that we can't actually create our own spaces, you can't build your own practice it's gonna need this much capital or the big giant healthcare organization is going to eat you up anyway. It shouldn't have to look like this"
Guest Info:
She is a board-certified pediatrician for over 15 years and an academic faculty for over a decade, mentoring women physicians of color. She is CEO and founder of Melanin, Medicine & Motherhood as well as the CEO of Strong Children Wellness. She is an expert on medical racism, addressing equity for women physicians in healthcare, and eliminating health inequities for marginalized children and families. Her work has been featured on NBC News, Essence.com, Newsweek, NPR and many others.
Favorite Quote:
“When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak...and that visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the source of our greatest strength.” - Audre Lorde
 
R.O.G. Takeaway Tips:
Dr. Omolara invites us to ask ourselves some important questions, for ourselves:
What brings you joy? 
Are you seen? How well do you see others?  
What needs to adapt in your life? 
Join us next week for Joze Piranian a lifelong stutterer turned Forbes featured Global TEDx Speaker on Inclusion and Resilience.
Until next week, stay generous everyone!
Resources:
Dr. Uwemedimo's Bitly
MelaninMedicineMotherhood.com
Email: hello@omolaramd.com
Dr. Uwemedimo on Twitter (@dromolara)
Dr. Uwemedimo on 
Melanin, Medicine & Motherhood on Youtube 
Melanin, Medicine & Motherhood on Facebook
Melanin, Medicine & Motherhood on Instagram (@melaninmedicinemotherhood)
Melanin, Medicine & Motherhood Events
 
Coming Next:
Coming Next: Episode 62, we will be joined by Joze Piranian.
 
Credits:
Dr. Omalara Tomas Uwemedimo, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.

60. Jerry Won - Authentic Storytelling

60. Jerry Won - Authentic Storytelling
“To tell people, ‘Hey, I think your story matters. And I want to use my platform, which is a privilege that I have to be able to share your story with other people.’ There's no better than that. I think is the most humbling thing that anybody can hear. For somebody to say, I think your story matters because for so long we all deal with imposter syndrome and self-doubt, and that's regardless of what you look like.” 
Guest Info:
Jerry Won is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and host who has worked with some of the world's most recognized brands in corporate and higher education. He speaks on a variety of topics including authentic storytelling, personal branding, and the Asian American experience in the workplace.
He is the Founder & CEO of Just Like Media, an Asian American storytelling company whose podcast brands include Dear Asian Americans, MBAsians, The Janchi Show, and Asian Podcast Network; partnerships include McDonald's, US Census 2020, and US Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Prior, he was a Senior Strategy Consultant at Accenture and sales leader at start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. Jerry has a BS from USC Marshall and an MBA from Michigan Ross, where he served as President of the Student Government Association. He currently serves on the Marshall Volunteer Leadership Council and Alumni Association of University of Michigan's Asian/Asian American Pacific Islander Affinity Club. Along with his wife Kyung and his two children, Jerry lives in Southern California.
Favorite Quote:
“Hakuna Matata” - The Lion King Movie
 
R.O.G. Takeaway Tips:
What are elements of our identity? Here are twelve to consider for yourself: 
Family and relationships
Talents and abilities
Race, ethnicity, cultural heritage
Defining moments and experiences
Gender orientation
Beliefs and values 
Physical appearance and characteristics 
Education 
Occupation 
Age 
Roles 
Jerry recommends we greet each person with curiosity as opposed to judgment. How could we not? Be curious about yourself. Be curious about others. It’s amazing how remarkably similar we all are, yet none of us are the same. Know your worth + value others.
Join us next week for Dr. Omolara Uwemedimo. She’s a medical professional who experienced her limits. Since then she has dedicated her work to medicine, self-love and empowering others to build businesses and make a difference.
Until next week, stay generous everyone.
Resources:
JerryWon.com
Jerry Won on Instagram (@jerryjwon)
Jerry Won on LinkedIn (in/jerrywon)
Jerry Won on Twitter (@jerrywon)
JustLikeMedia.com
Dear Asian Americans
Community Highlights: Meet Jerry Won of Just Like Media
 
Coming Next:
Episode 61, we will be joined by Dr. Omolara Thomas Uwemedimo
 
Credits:
Jerry Won, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.

59. Shakeel Bharmal - Quality Questions

59. Shakeel Bharmal - Quality Questions
“Everyone's got a different motivation…For some, I could see that it was a desire for human connection. It was, they wanted to be able to work with other people like them that cared about similar things and be part of a community of people that was giving and caring. So that was what they wanted. Others wanted a greater meaning from their life…To contribute to. And so for them, that was the motivation to be involved with this because somehow through a little bit of effort, they can go out and make an impact on some, for others.”
Guest Info:
Shakeel is the founder of Oceanblue Strategic, a coaching firm focused on improving the competency, character and commitment of leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals as they embrace the business challenges and opportunities of the next 20 years. He is also a senior member of The Summit Group, a global sales transformation firm with a quarter century history helping Fortune 1000 firms grow revenue and create value for their largest clients. As a practicing executive coach he is one of the founding members of the Ivey Academy Coaching Network at the University of Western Ontario's school of business.
His leadership experience includes serving as COO with the AKDN, a global international development organization, general manager of global logistics, and director of marketing and sales effectiveness at Purolator. Other experiences include: management roles in the retail and wholesale oil & gas sector; teaching supply chain and general management at the University of British Columbia and Gold Platinum Institute in Russia; and as a strategy consultant to clients in aerospace, automotive, aviation, energy, internet and transportation industries.
Shakeel holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, where he graduated as Valedictorian. He is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Favorite Quote:
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer
 
R.O.G. Takeaway Tips:
     Ask quality questions:
     Low Quality Questions:
          Why can't I?
          Why didn’t I?
          Why haven’t I?
          Why do I?
          Why don’t I?
     High Quality Questions: 
          How will I?
          How can I learn from this?
          What will motivate me to…
          What is causing me to…
          What am I learning about my reasons for not…
     Practice intentionally using more “what” or “how” questions with yourself and others.
Resources:
ShakeelBharmal.com
Shakeel Bharmal on LinkedIn
OceanBlueStrategic.com/team
The Navigating Disruption Podcast on Apple Podcasts
The Navigating Disruption Podcast on Spotify
 
Coming Next:
Episode 60, we will be joined by Jerry Won, storyteller, brand builder, and Founder & CEO of Just Like Media
 
Credits:
Shakeel Bharmal, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.

58. Deborah Hart - Seeking Feedback

58. Deborah Hart - Seeking Feedback
“I don't think of myself as anything to do with my title. But that means something to people. When you call and you take time out of your day, that they consider very busy to ask them how they are.”
Guest Info:
Married to Shel, they are proud parents to twins, Axel & Soleil. And she is a Stepmom to: Dylan, Ashley, and Austin. In the community, Debbie enjoys volunteering and spending time with her “mommy tribe.”
Originally from Rochester, New York, she earned her undergraduate degree from Rollins College in Organizational Behavior with a minor in Business Administration. To remain centered, Debbie focuses on her faith and fitness. She begins each day filling her soul and ends the day with gratitude.
Started with Disney on the College Program as a Magic Kingdom Merchandise Hostess.
Prior to 1999: Leadership roles in Attractions, Merchandise, and Custodial at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including Guest Satisfaction/Cast Excellence Manager. This parlayed into her first “official” role in Human Resources as a Guest Satisfaction/Cast Excellence Consultant for Resorts & Parks.
From 1999-2007: Human Resources leadership and expertise supporting multiple business units, including: Resorts, Downtown Disney, Magic Kingdom, Disney Cruise Line, Professional Services, Worldwide Services, and HR Services & Compliance.
From 2007-2017: Director of Experience Services for Walt Disney World, including: Guest Correspondence (letters), Guest Information & Collateral, Resort Call Center, Operations Measurement, and Operations Planning. She was a key strategic partner to the Walt Disney World Senior Leaders for large-scale transformation efforts.
From 2017-2019: General Manager at the Magic Kingdom, generalist focused leadership for: Tomorrowland, Main Street / Park Arrival, and Merchandise Line of Business.
From 2019-2021: Vice President of the WDW Cast Experience team, leading Workforce Management, Operations Training, and efforts focused on enhancing our Site-wide Cast Experience.
Favorite Quote:
“We do not remember days, we remember moments” — Cesare Pavese
 
R.O.G. Takeaway Tips:
Seek Feedback
Offer Feedback
Make personal connections
Resources:
Deborah Hart on Twitter (@DebbieBellavia)
Deborah Hart on LinkedIn
 
Coming Next:
Episode 59, we will be joined by Shakeel Bharmal, Teacher, Mentor and Coach and CEO of OceanBlue Strategic Advisors
 
Credits:
Deborah Hart, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.

57. Wade Thomas - Heart-Based Culture

57. Wade Thomas - Heart-Based Culture
“When you handle that at a heart-based way, we help learn, help them learn from mistake. You move past the finger, pointing to what do we learn? That's where we really get to innovation because we can really wrap it up around that kind of failure to handle it in a compassionate and empathetic way.” 
Guest Info:
Wade Thomas is the founder and principal of Aim to Win, a consultancy focused on bringing out the best in high performing individuals, teams, and organizations. Wade has over 20 years of experience in leadership and talent management areas, most recently as the Chief Human Resources Officer for Meritage Homes Corporation. A graduate of Stetson University, he also has an MBA from Indiana University and further executive education from the University of Michigan. 
He is a true business consultant who believes that championship level individuals and organizations thrive as a result of strategically leveraging their strengths, developing strong habits, and navigating interpersonal dynamics. Wade found his niche quite by accident. Working in sales for a national retail chain, he discovered that, while growing revenue was rewarding, what really excited him was developing talent and watching careers take off. This inspired Wade to pursue an MBA with a focus on Human Resources. 
Working as a senior Human Resources executive for industry-leading manufacturing and service companies has given Wade terrific insight. In tune with how career trajectories are shaped and maintained, he knows first-hand the inner workings of the business world, which enables me to provide practical, actionable coaching expertise. This corporate Human Resources experience sets him apart — so many coaches and trainers rely solely on their own personal business experience to craft their theories and approaches to career development.
 
Favorite Quote:
"We > Me" — Unknown
 
R.O.G. Takeaway Tips:
1. Compassion
Create our own heart-based culture with compassion and empathy. Compassion literally means “to suffer together.”  Care enough about other people and listen to their story.  Empathy is the ability to sense other people's emotions and imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. Cognitive empathy invites us to consider the perspective of another. 
 
2. Get to Know Your Team
Get to know every member of the team.  Choose one person a week - or month. It will be worth the effort.
Resources:
Wade Thomas on LinkedIn
Aim to Win Podcast
Aim to Win Heart Based Coaching
From the Heart: Achieve Epic Results With an Approach That Works by Wade Thomas
 
Coming Next:
Episode 58, we will be joined by Deborah Hart, Vice President, Food & Beverage and Merchandise, Development, Optimization & Standards for The Walt Disney World.
 
Credits:
Wade Thomas, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.

56. Mia Ives-Rublee - Accessible Voices

56. Mia Ives-Rublee - Accessible Voices
“If you are an organization that wants to be extremely open and welcoming to the disability community, you shouldn't go for the bare minimum. You should be attempting to be as accommodating and open as possible because that's going to bring in more talented individuals who are excited about working at your location.”
Guest Info:
Mia Ives-Rublee is the director for the Disability Justice Initiative at American Progress. Prior to coming to American Progress, she advocated for disability justice and inclusion at nonprofit organizations and businesses across the United States. She has worked with Women’s March, Families Belong Together, DC Action Lab, Adoptees for Justice, Fair Fight, People’s Collective for Justice and Liberation, and numerous other progressive organizations. Best known for founding the Women’s March Disability Caucus, Ives-Rublee helped organize the original Women’s March on Washington in 2017. The Women’s March was one of the first large-scale events to have certified deaf interpreters on stage. Ives-Rublee’s work pushed for better access to disability accommodations at progressive events and more policy platforms inclusive of the disability community. For her work on the Women’s March, Ives-Rublee was named by Glamour magazine as one of 2017’s Women of the Year Award. She was also recognized by She the People as one of 20 Women of Color in Politics to Watch in 2020 and awarded the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Social Work. 
Mia Ives-Rublee worked on several political campaigns during the 2020 cycles. As a North Carolina community regional organizing director for the Elizabeth Warren Campaign for President, she communicated policies and organized events around specific issues affecting the disability and Asian American communities. She volunteered on Warren’s Disability Policy Group, helping shape the Disability Policy Platform and developing the campaign’s private event accessibility toolkit. During the general election, Ives-Rublee worked as the field director for Down Home NC to encourage rural residents to vote. She also worked with the Asian American Advocacy Fund and the Georgia Disability Vote Partnership to help elect Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and the Rev. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) during the 2021 special election. For six years, Ives-Rublee worked as a vocational counselor at the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services to help disabled people obtain substantial employment and connect with services in their communities. She researched alternative mental health diversion programs at UNC Chapel Hill in 2015 and, in 2017, was the confidential assistant to Commissioner Chai Feldblum at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. At the Ford Foundation in 2019, Ives-Rublee created a Disability Inclusion Toolkit for nonprofit organizations. Ives-Rublee holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in social work from UNC Chapel Hill.
 
Favorite Quote:
“Need to make sure people with disabilities are at the table when policy is being made." — Mia Ives-Rublee
 
R.O.G. Takeaway Tips:
1. Policies
Does your organization have an employee handbook?If so, what does your employee handbook say about hiring people with disabilities?What does it say about accommodations?How will you learn more about ADA, SSI, SSDI and Medicaid for your disabled employees? As Mia says, "Make sure people with disabilities are at the table when policy is being made." 2. Accommodations 
Does your current process include a question to the candidate about accommodations? During the interview, how do you inquire about what accommodations may be needed? Once hired, what accommodations do you offer? What could you offer? Consider how inclusive the interview, hiring, onboarding and employment processes are and how you can make them even better.
Resources:
Mia Ives-Rublee on LinkedIn
Mia Ives-Rublee on Twitter (@SeeMiaRoll)
Ford Foundation Disability Inclusion Toolkit
Sienna Heights University 2018 interview with Mia
She the People - Mia Ives-Rublee
Meet Mia Ives-Rublee: An Endorphin Junkie Who Made The Women’s March Accessible
Mia's Meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris
20 Questions for Disability-Inclusive Employers
 
Coming Next:
Episode 57, we will be joined by Wade Thomas, CEO Aim to Win, Author of From the Heart: Achieving Epic Results Through Building a Heart-Based Culture of Compassion and Empathy
 
Credits:
Mia Ives-Rublee, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.