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Using Crisis As A Springboard For Growth – With Luis Velasquez, MBA/PhD

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One of the most significant challenges of leading yourself and others is encountering a major crisis you’ve never faced before. What does it take to not only survive but to use crisis as a springboard for growth?

Pam Harper & Scott Harper speak with author Luis Velasquez, MBA/PhD, about how drawing on "ordinary resilience" can help you adapt and thrive in the face of crisisOur guest this week shares a deeply personal story of how he was able to draw upon his resilience to literally reinvent his life and career as the result of a brain tumor. He is Luis Velasquez, MBA PhD, a Silicon Valley Executive Coach and a facilitator at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Luis’ new book, “Ordinary Resilience: Rethinking How Effective Leaders Adapt and Thrive,” was published in June 2024.

Luis was born and raised in poverty in a country riddled by Civil War. He’s a brain tumor survivor, ultra-marathon runner, and an Ironman Triathlete. He coaches leaders worldwide to turn challenges into opportunities, and the Harvard Business Review and Fast Company regularly feature his strategic thinking. He’s also spotlighted in Dorie Clark’s bestseller book “The Long Game.”

How are you going to use what is happening now so you can come back on the other side in a much better way? — Luis Velasquez

This week on Growth Igniters Radio:

  • Why Luis says a major crisis can become “the best thing that ever happens to you”
  • A story about how Luis’ brain tumor led him into a whole new life he’d never have imagined otherwise
  • The mindset it takes to tap into the power of what Luis calls “ordinary resilience”
  • Three immediately useful ideas for building ordinary resilience to survive & thrive in the face of a crisis

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How Helping Others Feel Respected Can Change The Game – with Gena Cox PhD

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Did you know that even if you’re shaping a culture based upon respect, others may misinterpret well-intended encounters in the rapidly changing business environment? Finding new ways of helping others feel respected can change the game.

Pam Harper and Scott Harper speak with Gena Cox, Ph.D. about new ways to look at perceptions of respect and how helping others feel respected can change the gameThis week, we’re revisiting our Fan-Favorite conversation about new ways to look at perceptions of respect with returning guest Gena Cox, PhD. She is an organizational psychologist, speaker, executive advisor, author, and CEO of Feels Human, LLC. We first spoke with Gena after the publication of her award-winning book “Leading Inclusion: Drive Change Your Employees Can See and Feel.” Her latest ebook is “25 Ways Anyone Can Help Build a Culture of Respect at Work.”


Previously, at IBM and Perceptyx, Gena advised leaders in the Fortune 500 and other large global companies to build psychologically healthy and engaging organizational cultures that drive business outcomes. A noted voice on human-centered leadership, Gena shows executives how to stop using 2019 behavior to address 2023 workplace challenges.

Respect is in the eye of the beholder. — Gena Cox

This week on Growth Igniters Radio:

  • Why leading to shape a business culture based upon respect can be challenging
  • A story about how our encounters with others can be interpreted as respectful or disrespectful
  • The mindset it takes to live into the aspiration to help others feel respected
  • Three immediately useful ideas for helping others feel respected

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How Can “Showing Up” as a Leader Impact Innovation?

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What does it take to consistently “show up” as a leader who can engage employees, customers, partners and other stakeholders?  And how can this impact innovation?

Pam Harper & Scott Harper speak with Innovator, Keynote Speaker, and Futurist Dave Wendland about what it looks like to consistently “show up” for employees, clients, and other stakeholders. They discuss the positive impact this can have on innovation and business performance.Our guest this week, Dave Wendland, was recently featured in an article as an example of a leader who consistently “shows up” for others. He is an Innovator, Keynote Speaker, and Futurist with over 30 years of background in the consumer packaged goods industry. As vice president of strategic relations and one of the co-owners of Hamacher Resource Group, he is passionate about optimizing results across the retail supply chain.

Dave has connected, counseled, and offered business-improvement solutions to a variety of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and technology providers. He’s also a frequent industry speaker and a regular contributor to media, including Forbes.com, ChainDrugstore.net, Drug Store News, Chain Drug Review, and Healthcare Distributor. He also serves as a BrainTrust member of RetailWire.com and a guest blogger on DrugStoreNews.com.

Consistency comes from having a belief system founded on core values that don’t change, regardless of outside forces. — Dave Wendland

This week on Growth Igniters Radio:

  • Dave’s take on what it looks like to consistently “show up” for employees, clients, and other stakeholders
  • Why Dave was featured in his client’s article as a “leader who consistently shows up”
  • The most important aspect of “showing up”
  • Immediately useful ideas for leading to consistently “show up” for others

Resources for This Episode:

Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success

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Leadership Insights from A Silicon Valley Disruptor

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What can it take for your company to be the disruptor and not the disrupted?  In this Fan-Favorite episode, we speak with Silicon Valley legend Feyzi Fatehi, CEO of Corent Technology, Inc., about his award-winning approach to human-centric leadership and what he calls his “leadership operating system.”

Pam Harper & Scott Harper speak with award-winning Silicon Valley disruptor Feyzi Fatehi, CEO of Corent Technology, Inc., about his "Leadership Operating System."Feyzi is a technology visionary, inventor, innovator, and entrepreneur. He received the 2019 CODiE Lifetime Achievement Award, which has previously been bestowed on Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Bill Gates. This recognized his significant long-term contributions to the software industry as well as for his industry leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy. Feyzi has given talks at Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, and UC Irvine. He was featured in Forbes as a disruptor in the software industry, and is author of the book “Democratizing SaaS,” on how Corent’s breakthrough technology is poised to transform the software industry.

You cannot scale your business any faster than you can scale yourself. | Feyzi Fatehi

This week on Growth Igniters® Radio, we discuss:

  • The most profound influence on Feyzi’s approach to human-centric leadership
  • Why Feyzi believes it’s important to “upgrade your leadership operating system” as the world keeps changing
  • The principles of what Feyzi calls “leading from the inside out”
  • Immediately useful ideas for applying Feyzi’s lessons for becoming a disruptor in your industry

Resources for This Episode

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The Surprising Truth About Transformational Leadership – With Dr. Gloria Burgess

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What does it mean to be a transformational leader as the world keeps changing?  This is not just a philosophical question. It has very real top-line and bottom-line implications regarding your decisions, actions and outcomes.

Pam Harper and Scott Harper speak with Dr. Gloria Burgess about some of the less obvious truths about transformational leadership in a changing worldThis week we discuss the surprising truth about transformational leadership with Dr. Gloria Burgess. She’s the CEO of Jazz Inc. and executive director of the Lift Every Voice Foundation. Gloria inspires and equips leaders to integrate the arts with leadership. She enjoys collaborating with Fortune 50 companies, small businesses, NGOs, and nations. Her clients include Microsoft, Boeing, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Maxwell Leadership Team, the South African Embassy, and Panama’s office of the President. Gloria’s books include Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside and Pass It On.

Every single person has the ability to be transformative and to be a leader. — Dr. Gloria Burgess

This week on Growth Igniters Radio:

  • How Gloria’s philosophy of “wearing your soul on the outside“ has evolved over time
  • Gloria’s perspective on the surprising truth about being a transformational leader in a changing world
  • A story from Gloria’s experience illustrating the artistry of transformational leadership in a major corporation
  • Three immediately useful ideas for fostering transformational  leadership

Resources for This Episode:

Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success

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What Does It Take To Stand Out From The Competition?

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Pam Harper and Scott Harper speak with brand strategy CEO Barry Labov about standing out from the competition and his new book, "The Power of Differentiation"What does it take to stand out from the competition in a crowded marketplace? Our guest, Barry LaBov, provides unique answers. He is the multi-award-winning President and CEO of LaBov Marketing Communications and Training. His book, “The Power of Differentiation,” will be published on June 25, 2024.

In this week’s podcast, we revisit our 2023 conversation with him when he was writing his book. We discuss his mission to help brands and products stand out from the crowd, not just in customers’ eyes but also in the hearts and souls of employees and other key stakeholders. One of the ways he does this is by applying many of the lessons he learned from leading his successful band, “Mark Urgent,” in the 1980s. Their song “On a Night Like This” was featured on American Bandstand and reached the Billboard Charts.

Barry is a two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and a member of the Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame. His company has been honored with nearly 100 national and regional awards. Its list of blue-chip clients includes Harley-Davidson, The Macallan Scotch, UPS, and Audi, as well as small and midsized firms.

“If you want to differentiate your brand, do not confuse that with thinking you need to be superior. You need to be unique. — Barry LaBov

This week on Growth Igniters Radio:

  • A lesson Barry learned from leading his rock band band that applies to how you can differentiate your company
  • How Barry’s company applies the concept of “jamming” to helping clients achieve unexpected levels of creativity and innovation
  • How can leading with a “rock band” mindset help a company attract and retain high quality employees
  • Three immediately useful ideas for leading your company like a rock band so you can distinguish yourself from the pack

Resources for This Episode:

Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success

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How “Deep Listening” Can Be a Leadership Superpower – with Oscar Trimboli

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Are you looking for additional ways to engage with employees, customers, partners, investors and other critical stakeholders?  If so, consider that impactful, transformative communication comes from more than how you shape your message. Our guest, Oscar Trimboli shares that  “deep listening” can be what others have called a “leadership superpower.”

Oscar Trimboli is a keynote speaker, host of the Apple award-winning podcast “How to Listen,” and author of the book “How to Listen: Discover the Hidden Key to Better Communication.” His other books are “Deep Listening – Impact Beyond Words” and “Breakthroughs: How to Confront Assumptions.”

Through his work with chairs, boards of directors, and executive teams, Oscar has experienced first-hand the transformational impact leaders can have when they listen beyond words. He believes that when leadership teams focus their attention and listen, they will build organizations that create powerful legacies for the people they serve — today and, more importantly, for future generations.

It’s not what you say, it’s what they hear that matters the most. — Oscar Trimboli

This week on Growth Igniters Radio:

  • The implications of Oscar’s research: the majority of people surveyed believe they are better listeners than they really are
  • Oscar’s perspective on the most important aspects of listening for deeper understanding
  • A story from Oscar’s experience with the power of deep listening in a business setting
  • Three immediately useful ideas about how to “listen to be heard”

Resources for This Episode:

Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success

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Staying In Synch With Your Life’s Purpose

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Many of us start the New Year with good intentions and a sense of purpose. But as the year goes on, life happens, and it can be challenging to stay in sync with the purpose you originally envisioned. That’s why making the time for what we call “checkpoints” can be so valuable. It’s a good way to reflect on what matters and why it matters NOW. If you’re living life in synch with your purpose, keep going. But if you’re not living life in synch with your purpose, this is an opportunity to make necessary adjustments.

Pam Harper and Scott Harper discuss ways to stay in sync with your life's purpose despite everyday demands and revisit tips from our conversation with Kuda Biza

Start your “checkpoint” by listening to this week’s Quick Take episode. In addition to sharing our own thoughts, we include three immediately useful ideas for consistently connecting and living into our life’s purpose. These were taken from our conversation with Kuda Biza at the beginning of 2024.  Listen to the full conversation by going to the link under Resources (below).

Kuda is a compelling speaker who inspires audiences to take action, achieve dreams, and impact social change through purposeful entrepreneurship. Kuda is also the author of The S.P.E.A.R Method, Five Simple Steps to Balance Success and Fulfillment. 

Checking in on your purpose daily is a good way to reflect on what matters and why it matters NOW – Pam Harper

This week on Growth Igniters Radio:

  • The challenge of acting into your sense of purpose in the face of everyday demands
  • The keys to setting purpose-driven goals and implementing a daily purpose practice
  • Immediately useful ideas for leading with the power of purpose

Resources Mentioned:

Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success

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Are you influential or an influencer? With Nancy Mendelson

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One of our friends recently sent us a thought-provoking article titled “Influencer or Influential: Which Would You Rather Be?”  This question resonated with us because we’re seeing a growing number of CEOs who are also taking on the role of “Influencer-in- Chief.”   While sharing thoughts and ideas about various issues through social media can help you connect in new ways with employees and other stakeholders, it’s also worth considering how your communication as an influencer can work together with being influential.

Pam Harper & Scott Harper speak with author & advisor Nancy Mendelson about being influential in leadership roles, particularly in the age of social media.This week, we discuss this issue with the article’s author, Nancy Mendelson. She’s the Founder and CEO of NEM Global, a global consultancy that focuses on helping clients define, articulate, and communicate their unique voices. Nancy is also co-founder and columnist for Hertelier, an online media platform that enlightens and inspires women in hospitality to pursue, navigate, and nurture their careers.

As a career communicator, Nancy has held key positions in hospitality, broadcasting, publishing, advertising, and production. She has worked with major corporations and global brands. An award-winning writer who has ghostwritten several books, she has published numerous articles in trade and mainstream media. She served as Executive Producer for the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference for 12 years. She’s also taught a graduate course in the Marketing of Destinations at the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. Nancy is on the Board of Advisors for Accelerate Women Leaders in Travel.

You can’t be all things to all people, but you can reach people in a variety of ways. — Nancy Mendelson

This week on Growth Igniters Radio:

  • The key distinction Nancy sees between being an “Influencer” and being influential
  • Nancy’s perspective on how understanding your agenda and being sensitive to context impacts your ability to influence
  • A story from Nancy’s experience in the hospitality industry illustrating the essence of being influential
  • Three immediately useful ideas for increasing your influence as a leader

Resources for This Episode:

Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success

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What is Your Resilience Plan? – with MH Pelletier PhD, MBA

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If you’re like many of the top leaders we work with, you have a can-do attitude that enables you to take on tough issues and do what it takes to exceed expectations. You assume that you’re resilient. But in the face of unrelenting demands, anyone can burn out and not even realize it.

Pam Harper & Scott Harper speak with MH Pelletier, PhD, MBA, about how highly successful people can benefit from developing a personalized strategic resilience planThis week, we discuss this challenge with Marie-Hélène Pelletier, PhD, MBA, also known as “MH.” Her book, “The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health,” was released in February 2024.

Throughout her career in business management and psychology, MH has spearheaded a dialogue on the crucial issues of leadership resilience and workplace health. Drawing on her extensive background in corporate, insurance, governance, and public sectors, she brings national and international perspectives and expertise on mental health and resilience as a key pillar of overall health. MH is also a bilingual practicing psychologist with over 20 years of experience in clinical psychology and advisory workplace psychology. She holds a Ph.D. and an MBA from the University of British Columbia.

MH is a Member of the Global Clinical Practice Network of the World Health Organization, and past Director on the boards of the Canadian Psychological Association and the International Association of Applied Psychology. She is the author and co-author of numerous industry and academic publications and has won numerous academic and industry awards.

Resilience is not a given – you need a strategy. — Marie-Hélène Pelletier

This week on Growth Igniters Radio:

  • The factors that can unintentionally put highly successful people at risk of burnout
  • The reason MH say that rather than being a trait, resilience is a resource that can be developed
  • Why MH says “taking a strategic approach to developing a resilience plan is good business”
  • A story of a CEO who increased her productivity through developing a personal resilience plan
  • Three immediately useful ideas for designing and developing a custom resilience plan

Resources for This Episode:

Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success

Thanks for listening to Growth Igniters® Radio. If you enjoyed this episode, spread the good word! Just leave a quick review wherever you get your podcasts and share on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Join us on Facebook and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website