Ronderings

From uncovering a hidden family history to empowering a new generation of AAPI leaders, Eddie Shiomi shares how reclaiming his past reshaped his purpose and deepened his approach to leadership, storytelling, and civic engagement. In this heartfelt and historically rich conversation, Eddie joins host Ron to trace a remarkable lineage stretching from Okayama, Japan to the United States and beyond. He reflects on his great-grandfather Kaishi’s immigration in 1883, his family’s harrowing wartime experiences across Manchuria and Tokyo, and the extraordinary Senate bill that eventually reunited them. These revelations, discovered through his grandmother’s autobiography and a decades-old family binder, transformed Eddie’s understanding of identity and reminded him that “who we are is who we were.” What began as a personal exploration evolved into a professional philosophy. Drawing from years in public service, including work with the California State Assembly Speaker and leadership roles at Coro New York, Venture for America, and Apex for Youth, Eddie learned that effective leadership begins with curiosity and empathy. Now as Chief Operating Officer of AAPI LEAD, he helps cultivate that ethos at scale by spotlighting the stories of local and municipal AAPI officials and reminding listeners that character development is not just for fiction; it is the heart of authentic leadership. Together, Ron and Eddie reflect on the intersections of ancestry, politics, and creative expression, exploring how storytelling humanizes civic life and strengthens communities. They discuss the growing visibility of Asian Americans in culture and politics, the challenges of sustaining inclusion across diverse identities, and the urgent need for solidarity amid global uncertainty. Through Eddie’s lens, understanding history becomes not an act of nostalgia but a roadmap for resilience and unity. Tune in to hear an inspiring journey through generations that bridges art, activism, and ancestry, and rediscover why knowing each other’s stories may be the most powerful form of leadership we have. Chapters 🎙️ 00:38 Meet Eddie Shiomi and His Journey of Resilience and Activism 📘 01:08 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com/ 🌏 02:54 Eddie’s Family History from Japan to America 🌿 15:26 Discovering Family Roots and Reconnecting 💡 20:32 Lessons in Leadership and Character Development 🖋️ 23:27 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org 🏛️ 25:12 Exploring the World of State Government ✨ 26:07 Spotlighting Local Elected Officials 🤝 27:36 Personal Stories Shaping Political Impact 🌪️ 30:40 A Personal Journey Through Political Turmoil 🌍 40:24 If you are a leader or a changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org 🎧 53:06 Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.org Links Website: https://www.aapilead.org/ Instagram:@aapi_lead Instagram: @eddieshowme Check out AAPI LEAD’s work, follow Eddie Shiomi on Instagram, and explore how his leadership journey continues to shape a more connected, story-driven future for AAPI communities everywhere. Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Books That Matter: http://booksthatmatter.org Genius Discovery: http://geniusdiscovery.org Podcasts Matter: http://podcastsmatter.org Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Ron’s book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

From education reformer to grassroots organizer, Justin Cohen shares how his journey from privilege to protest shaped his mission of mobilizing fathers for social change. Justin Cohen grew up in New Jersey surrounded by educators, with a teacher for a mother and a superintendent grandfather who exposed him early to the inequities baked into the school system. After building a successful career in education leadership and policy, Justin faced a turning point during the national reckoning on race and policing following the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. What began as technical policy work evolved into a deeper calling toward community organizing, where Justin sought to pair grassroots energy with clear demands for justice. That shift led him to work with Campaign Zero and New York’s abolitionist movement, including the No New Jails campaign, experiences that reshaped how he viewed the balance between movements and policy. In 2024, while helping organize support for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, Justin launched Dads for Kamala, an experiment in organizing fathers around political engagement with authenticity, humor, and vulnerability. That effort has since grown into Dads for All, an apolitical organization dedicated to tackling universal challenges like childcare, housing, and family economic security. In this conversation, Justin unpacks the role of masculinity in social change, arguing that fathers represent an untapped force for collective action. He discusses why men often struggle with vulnerability and communication, and how simple practices like side-by-side connection or small acts of organizing can help combat isolation. With honesty and humor, Justin shares how his own fatherhood journey grounds his activism, from advocating for universal childcare to modeling gentler, more restorative ways of being a man. Listeners will walk away inspired by Justin’s clarity, authenticity, and determination to build a culture where fathers are not only present in their families but also powerful agents of community transformation. Tune in to hear his story and learn how Dads for All is reframing what leadership and care can look like. Chapters 🎙️ 00:38 Meet Justin Cohen, Co-Founder of Dads for All 📚 01:07 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com/ 👨‍🏫 02:52 Justin’s background and early career ⚖️ 05:01 From education to social justice 👨‍👩‍👦 08:35 The birth of the Dads for All movement 🏠 14:05 Universal childcare and family economic security ✍️ 23:54 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org 🌸 28:58 Honoring generations of women’s work 👩‍💼 29:13 The modern family workforce 🌞 30:51 Finding joy and rest in daily life 🧘 34:00 The power of meditation 💬 37:50 Emotional vulnerability in men 🚀 40:58 If you are a leader or a changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org 🎧 53:44 Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.org Links JustinCcohen.com Instagram - @juscohen Homepage: https://dadsforall.com/ Bluesky: @dadsforall.bsky.social Threads: @dadsforall Instagram: @dadsforall Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dads-for-all/ Dads for All: https://dadsforall.substack.com/ Spinning Plates: https://spinningplate.substack.com/ Check out Justin Cohen’s work at Dads for All, connect with him on Instagram, and explore his writing on Substack to engage with his vision for family, community, and social change. Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Books That Matter: http://booksthatmatter.org Genius Discovery: http://geniusdiscovery.org Podcasts Matter: http://podcastsmatter.org Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Ron’s book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

From immigrant to bestselling author and global keynote speaker, Sheena Yap Chan shares her journey of reclaiming identity, building confidence, and amplifying Asian women’s voices through media, leadership, and visibility. Growing up Chinese-Filipino and moving to Toronto at just seven years old, Sheena faced cultural shame and a painful lack of representation in the media. For years she tried to conform to Western standards, only to realize that denying her heritage kept her small. By reclaiming her identity, she found the courage to launch The Tao of Self-Confidence podcast, which has since become a top-ranked show with over 1.3 million downloads and 800+ interviews. Her story is one of bold pivots and transformative resilience. Leaving behind a 12-year office job, Sheena followed a calling to create meaningful work, even when that meant challenging cultural and family expectations. The pandemic became another turning point, when she co-created Asian Women Who Boss Up and landed a Wiley book deal, despite battling imposter syndrome. The result was The Tao of Self-Confidence and later Bridging the Confidence Gap, both written against the odds and now widely recognized for their impact. In this conversation, Sheena offers practical wisdom on confidence-building, from reframing failure to embracing her “ready, fire, aim” approach. She dives into the cultural conditioning and gender norms that often silence women, and explains why visibility is not vanity but necessity, especially for those navigating leadership and entrepreneurship. Her insights on healing intergenerational trauma, saying yes to opportunities, and using AI as a tool for growth provide a roadmap for women to reclaim agency and step into their own power. Listeners will walk away inspired to challenge outdated narratives, embrace visibility, and start taking bold steps toward their own version of leadership. Tune in to hear Sheena’s remarkable story and gain the tools to bridge your own confidence gap. Chapters 👋 00:39 Meet Sheena Yap Chan Empowerment Leader and Author 📚 01:26 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com/ 🌏 03:20 Sheena’s Journey Embracing Identity and Overcoming Challenges 🌟 05:54 The Power of Representation and Visibility ✍️ 07:03 Writing and Publishing Sheena’s Book Journey 💡 08:48 The Importance of Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 🎤 11:21 Sheena’s Career Arc From Office Job to Public Speaker 🌱 12:52 Cultural Challenges and Personal Growth 🧒 16:18 The Impact of Early Experiences on Confidence 🔑 21:09 Bridging the Confidence Gap Key Takeaways 👩‍💼 26:28 Empowering Women Leaders 📖 26:45 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org 🚺 27:31 Cultural Challenges for Female Leaders 🤝 31:32 Women Supporting Women in the Workplace 🌐 35:02 Support for Leaders and Changemakers at geniusdiscovery.org 📝 35:43 The Book Writing Process 🤖 39:28 Embracing AI and Technology ⚖️ 46:01 Finding Joy and Balance ✈️ 47:29 Travel and Culinary Adventures 🎙️ 53:25 Start your own podcast with podcastsmatter.org Links Website: sheenayapchan.com Social Media & Resources: All Sheena’s links Check out Sheena Yap Chan’s website, explore her books The Tao of Self-Confidence and Bridging the Confidence Gap, and connect with her across platforms to start building your confidence through visibility today. Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Books That Matter: http://booksthatmatter.org Genius Discovery: http://geniusdiscovery.org Podcasts Matter: http://podcastsmatter.org Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Ron’s book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

True leadership is the ability to bridge gaps, translate perspectives, and foster respect, ensuring that every voice—from the visible to the unseen—is valued and heard. William (Bill) Murphy is the Chief Operations Officer for Indianapolis Public Schools, where he drives operational excellence to support academic success in one of Indiana’s largest districts. He previously led Enroll Indy, served as Vice President of Louisiana Schools for IDEA Public Schools, and was Chief School Support Officer for Jefferson Parish Public Schools, where he helped raise the district's state rating from a D to a B. With experience as a school principal, teacher, and consultant, Bill has shaped educational systems and founded programs like the Center for Resilience, supporting children with severe mental health needs in New Orleans. Bill shares his journey from upstate New York, his transition to Indiana during the pandemic, and his upbringing in a loud Irish Catholic family, which shaped his direct, loving communication style in both his work and family life. He shares the happiness of being the dad of three Black boys and how his wife’s quieter Southern upbringing contrasts with his. He notes that being in a biracial marriage means constant learning and adapting. Bill is grateful for the loving people in his community because they are crucial for the support he receives in raising his sons, particularly Black male mentors who step in to guide his children in areas he cannot. Learning humility and navigating the challenges of interracial marriage is crucial for his family, and they foster open communication about everything. His story about adopting his middle son is a miracle in itself. In work, Bill is a universal translator between departments, so all can have a mutual understanding. Cultural and professional differences between teams can be huge, but decency, respect, and appreciation for each other—especially in silent roles—work like a charm. K-12 education reform, in his opinion, has challenges on the ground versus rhetorical lobbyists and commentators’ way of doing things rather than taking care of students and systemic solutions. The heart of justice is truth-telling—justice on the smallest or largest scale can’t happen without truth. Let’s be more truthful in our relationships and societal progress. Show notes: 🇮🇪 Loud dynamics within Irish Catholic families: love language is conflict – protecting and moving each other forward. 01:02 👰🏽‍♀️ Living in New Orleans and learning between spouses in biracial families: the loving group of Black men who helped his sons. 08:55 😤 Important conversations and strategic planning in a multicultural marriage: comments on the streets and bad experiences. 15:40 😅 Bill’s unusual “Why Teach for America” story: being split 50/50 between charter schools and district schools. 25:03 🤩 The value of invisible roles: treating all people with respect. 31:32 🧞‍♂️ Communication across departments and being a universal translator: preventing chaos and being a strategic fixer. 36:29 😩 Education and career pathways in K-12 reform: is the same thing happening in education as it is in the working class? 40:37 😇 The Anam Cara – spirit friend: Bill’s adopted son Kiran and the miraculous flow of events. 47:08 💎 Bill’s RONdering: The heart of justice is truth-telling – go to therapy and find what is thriving for you. 51:52 🎨 Bill’s love for tattoos: Black and Irish culture, pop culture, and Game of Thrones tattoos. 💙 Show love for people in operations work: make someone’s day. 57:10 Links Web: www.myips.org LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/william-murphy-edd-64857390 Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Ron’s book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

It’s not about perfection out of the box—it’s about learning to learn and growing through the process. Dr. Donnell Butler is the Founder and President of Prelude, a nonprofit that partners with employers and schools to create work-based learning experiences, helping students from lower-income backgrounds gain professional skills, explore careers, and achieve economic freedom through paid internships. With over 20 years of experience, he has focused on improving college and career outcomes for underserved communities, previously serving as a dean at Franklin & Marshall College, where he co-led initiatives that significantly increased diversity and graduation rates. A first-generation college graduate from the South Bronx, Dr. Butler holds a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall and a Ph.D. from Princeton University. He serves on the board of the Relay Graduate School of Education and is a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow. Growing up in the South Bronx, combined with a love for learning and academic success, shaped Donnell’s path into the K-12 education world. Living abroad as an "army brat" (thanks to his stepfather's military service) exposed him to different cultures and educational systems. Donnell embraced his love for learning and was determined to create a better life. His mentors—teachers and other adults—guided him and his passion for education and mentorship eventually led him to shift from accounting to working in higher education, particularly at Franklin & Marshall College, where he focused on helping students from underrepresented backgrounds succeed. One challenge newer generations face is the lack of early work experiences, and for both Ron and Donnell, many of the skills needed for success came from on-the-job experiences rather than formal education. That’s why Donnell is so passionate about teaching both employees and young people the value of combining education with real-world experience. He believes in the transformative power of this combination, which is why he founded Prelude—a nonprofit that provides paid work opportunities to high school students. Skills like interpersonal communication, time management, and problem-solving can only truly be learned in a real-world context. Building supportive environments where students can learn, make mistakes, and grow is essential for their development and confidence. Let’s keep moving forward—let’s show them they have the power to change the world. Show notes 🗽 EdLoc members and friends: Ron and Donnell share the same passion for sports. 02:20 🪖 Donnell is originally from the South Bronx: He moved frequently and traveled the world until he was 10 years old. 04:55 🏫 Learning in Department of Defense schools: being different but not shy to put in extra effort. 08:10 👦🏾 His first beating was due to his success in school: building a path that would be different from working for the army. 11:00 🏆 Being drawn to mentors and adults: double majoring in college in sociology and accounting. 14:30 🧠 College access and success guru: all the amazing people who changed his mindset. 23:20 🥅 Two-thirds of teenagers had a paid job in the eighties: today, most internships are unpaid, and there’s a lack of work-based learning experiences. 27:24 💰 Ron’s experience as a pharmacy assistant for $4 an hour in 1988: The superpower of learning through trial and error. 32:54 🤑 Structure and regime of working and learning: the power of a paycheck and developing young people. 43:40 💎 RONdering: Understand kids and encourage mistakes—keep moving forward, just like babies learning to walk. Celebrate all the wins. 48:00 Links: Web: www.joinprelude.org LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/school/connectwithprelude Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Ron’s book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

Show Notes: 🇩🇰 Mathias grew up in Denmark and he was a purpose-driven person his whole life: from business and eco-consulting to teaching. 03:38 👨‍🏫 Having no tool for teaching children in need: founding WOOF and supporting the well-being of his students. 07:20 👩‍🏫 Lea’s experience with the power of community and serving: Teach For America and teaching in Singapore. 11:27 🤯 Working in StudentsFirst: state-level advocacy – decentralization issues and seeing many districts are K-8, not K-12. 15:53 🐘 Allies for Educational Equity work: the elephant analogy and WOOF work. 18:44 🧠 We learn from opportunities to make mistakes: anonymous input of 70,000 kids globally is an important asset for learning. 25:24 🏆 Growing and scaling of the product is sometimes not easy to predict: Allies for Educational Equity and Innovation of 2025. 29:03 💊 Well-being as a ‘means to an end’ in the US: students are reporting anonymously how they are doing and the results are shocking. 34:05 😇 Lack of meaning in our life: finding a deeper connection and what drives your classroom. 39:54 🫂 Emotions need to be validated. 43:51 🤓 Preventing the loss of new generations: create space for safe learning. 47:03 💎 Episode Ronderings: Find a way or make one: it is possible with the right tools. 50:43 Links: Website: www.planetwoof.io LinkedIn, Lea: www.linkedin.com/in/leacrusey LinkedIn, Mathias: www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-probst-25510b12 Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Ron’s book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

Mohan Sivaloganathan is a founder of Harmonious Leadership, a keynote speaker, consultant, and coach. He is also known as the “Batman of Social Impact” and at night he is a hip-hop artist. Throughout his career, Mohan has supported local and national organizations in orchestrating sustainable transformation and systems change across corporate social responsibility, education, civic engagement, and philanthropy. He is passionate about breaking down the false choice between well-being and performance - an antiquated leadership ideology that inhibits people and organizations from advancing their boldest social impact ideas. Mohan shares his incredible journey from a fierce, driven leader to a "kingmaker" who uplifts others. Rooted in his Sri Lankan parents' immigrant story and legacy of service, Mohan realized that maturity, humility, and joy in seeing others succeed are pathways to becoming a mature leader and overcoming his anxiety. For Mohan, traditional notions of masculinity require deep conversations. Vulnerability and empathy are essential to redefining what it means to be a man today. His concept of Harmonious Leadership is different. For him, true impact comes from balancing self-care, purpose, and performance. Don’t wait for others to create opportunities for you; instead, take the initiative to create your own spaces—places where you can be authentic, connect with others, and express yourself fully. Show notes timestamps: 🇱🇰 Growing up in Sri Lankan immigrant family: finding success through service but not forgetting their roots. 02:06 🦸🏽‍♂️ The journey from becoming “a hero” and “king” and becoming a “kingmaker”. 10:01 🏀 Basketball and leadership: I’m not only here to score - alpha males and shifting his view. 14:29 🏆 Archetypes of people to learn from for Mohan: Justin Cohen and solidarity in “Dads for Kamala” campaign. 24:11 💪🏽 Redefining masculinity and challenging traditional stereotypes of masculinity: Silly Sensitive Men playing Uno event. 31:14 ⚖️ Balance of self-care, purpose, and performance to survive or to thrive: the concept of harmony in Harmonious Leadership. 38:10 🫂 Reflecting on wisdom and consciousness: important keynotes, coaching, and acts of love with people. 44:64 💎 Mohan’s Rondering: Being in the rooms where everything happens and creating your own spaces for connection and expression. 48:23 Links Connect: www.linkedin.com/in/msivaloganathan Website: www.harmoniousleaders.com Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo

Niloy Gangopadhyay, is a passionate educator, and leader who for over 20 years has been addressing inequities in public education as a systems, school, and nonprofit leader. He began his career as a 2002 Teach For America corps member in San Jose, California, and now serves as TFA’s Vice President for the 35th Anniversary Summit. Previously, he led state-level initiatives for at-risk students at the Texas Education Agency and co-founded Success Preparatory Academy, a K-8 charter school in New Orleans. His upbringing rooted in his parents' immigrant values of education and service—shaped Niloy’s commitment to becoming a leader in public service. Sports taught Niloy the importance of teamwork, culture, and data-driven decision-making. Our education system expects first-year teachers to perform at the same level as seasoned educators, and feedback compared to other professions is minimal. Feedback is essential to help teachers grow and improve, and Niloy shares how a strong culture in schools is directly connected with student success. How to redesign feedback systems in education to better support teachers? Technology, such as AI and video analysis, to provide asynchronous feedback and help educators reflect on their practice might be the key. Niloy is passionate about the importance of ensuring people feel appreciated, supported, and valued (ASV) in their work, and how understanding what motivates individuals can unlock their potential. Let’s connect with our team members on much deeper levels to discover the hidden powers. Show notes timestamps: ☃️ The impact of trauma and the feeling of not having a home: holidays are challenging for educators. 01:56 🇮🇳 Niloy immigrant parents who placed a premium on education. 04:51 👨🏽‍🏫 He knew he wanted to work in public service early on: gaining experience with Teach For America. 07:08 🏫 Moving to New Orleans: facing the initial challenges of taking over a failing school. 12:27 😍 His parents were very focused on community service and education. 21:15 🏈 Sports teams and leadership are similar: starting quarterback and first-grade teacher. 27:51 👂🏽 Coaching and feedback are critical in life, sports, and education. 30:24 📈 The importance of using exemplars to showcase the impact of coaching and feedback on teacher growth. 40:11 🆒 The positive impact technology can have on culture, organizational success, and individual growth in education. 48:03 🌸 Teach For America’s Summit: a well of inspiration for K-12 education. 49:21 💎 Niloy’s Ronderings: Making sure people are appreciated, supported, and valued to unlock the potential of individuals by understanding and addressing their unique challenges. 55:21 Links: Connect: www.linkedin.com/in/niloy-gangopadhyay-76a438159 Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Ron’s book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473

We need to create a high bar where the bar is to care about both people and performance. They are not dichotomies; they support each other. De-Lea Deane-Allen is the founder and CEO of Higher Bar Leadership LLC, dedicated to helping organizations create transformational work environments where all people can thrive. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher, school leader, and C-level executive, she specializes in leadership development, change management, and equity, driving significant improvements in representation, engagement, and performance. She is a Pahara Fellow, ICF-certified coach, and adjunct coach with The Management Center. Raised by her father from Guyana and her mother from Barbados, De-Lea experienced two contrasting approaches to education that shaped her. Her experience in sports and athletic running, helped her find her confidence and shaped her belief that the power of mindset is more than half of the success. Her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion is huge. She took on roles focused on creating leadership pipelines and systems for advancing leaders of color. Supporting leaders of color and creating the conditions for them is something she is very passionate about. De-Lea advocates for a "higher bar" in leadership: performance with care for people and long-term sustainability. She is urging leaders to trust their intuition and recognize that the environments they create are just as crucial as the results they aim to achieve. Show notes: 👫🏽 Child of Caribbean immigrants: the influence her parents had on her education is huge. (01:59) ☀️ A high bar and mindset, combined with love, is the perfect combination for good leadership. (04:06) 🏫 Private school education in a diverse community: Her experience as an athlete and the power of mindset on sports results. (05:39) The power of connections: When she realized her passion lay in education. (10:55) 🌟 De-Lea's changes and results in leadership: The different environments people build. (13:30) ❓ Why people of color are underrepresented in leadership positions: Her DEI work and success in retaining leaders. (18:30) 👩🏽‍💼 Starting her own company: A combination of executive coaching and supporting leaders one-on-one. (20:52) 🏃🏽‍♀️ Motherhood and challenges with the lack of teachers: The level of stress and getting back to running. (22:30) 🧘🏽‍♀️ Connection between wellness and leadership: Prioritize wellness, even in small ways, and business success will be affected too. (26:35) ⚡ Higher bar and a need to redefine success: Not thinking short-term, but focusing on long-term sustainability and care for people. (32:18) 🎯 Providing space to identify your foundational values from your early years: Leaders need to share vulnerability and find their strength. (40:26) 💎 De-Lea's Rondering: Conditions matter, so pay attention to them just as you do for performance. (49:10) Links: Website www.higherbarleadership.com Subscribe https://dda.kit.com/a0568c379e Get in touch www.linkedin.com/in/ddeaneallen Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo

True success isn’t just about individual achievement; it’s about the collective rise of our communities. Analiza Quiroz Wolf, CEO of Women of Color Rise, coaches diverse leaders, including social entrepreneurs and C-suite executives. She recently published The Myths of Success: A Woman of Color's Guide to Leadership, drawing on research and stories from her podcast, Women of Color Rise. Analiza is a former non-profit CEO, U.S. Air Force Captain, Fulbright Scholar, and graduate of the Stakeholder Leadership Governance Institute. Analiza has experience serving on nonprofit boards and hopes to serve on a corporate board. As a daughter of Filipino immigrants, she shares three major phases in her life: assimilation, self-discovery, and healing. Chasing the "American Dream" and facing cultural pressures to fit into a predominantly white society took a toll, causing her to hide her true self. Then, Analiza’s self-discovery led her to deep healing and specific experiences from which she now sees the world. Her analogy of babies in the river and the value placed on demographics highlights the flaws in our system’s thinking and approach. In K–12 education, Analiza advocates for a system that encourages critical thinking, empathy, and communication, allowing students to explore their identities and beliefs. That is why she is so focused on coaching leaders of color and creating supportive communities. Collective success, community, and empathy are fundamental for creating equitable and inclusive environments for all of us to thrive in, and Analiza is a great showcase of that. Show Notes 🇵🇭 Analiza's story is a typical Filipino immigrant story: it was all about assimilation. 04:05 🎭 It was also a traumatic story of hiding behind a mask: she lost herself. 06:18 👧🏻 Growing up, it was all about being seen but not heard: following orders and achieving perfect grades. 09:56 👧🏻 How Analiza got from the number one brand school in the world to working in education. 14:53 🏫 She used her education to work on starting and scaling schools. 19:16 👩🏻‍🏫 Analiza is a multi-sector leader: education systems need to get stronger. 22:26 👉🏻 The system isn't broken; it's designed to be this way: the K-12 ed system is about exploiting poverty. 27:12 🏷️ When the system sees a person, based on demographics, there's automatically a value placed on them. 30:45 ⚠️ When we are enough, it provides critical thinking, communication, and creativity to solve whatever issue we're facing in our community. 34:03 😇 It's much easier to survive when you're in a community. 38:26 🤓 Today, Analiza is in coaching: she approaches it with a cultural lens, as a woman of color and minority. 41:52 📙 She named her book, The Myth of Success: A Woman of Color's Guide to Leadership. 45:04 🌺 Her faith has opened up so much for her, personally, but also as a leader: it allows her to take risks and really go for what she believes. 46:31 💎 Analiza's RONdering: no matter what challenges you face in life, come back to yourself. 52:25 Links: • Myths of Success Book: bit.ly/mythsbook • Podcast: analizawolf.com/womenofcolorrise • Website: analizawolf.com • LinkedIn (Analiza): www.linkedin.com/in/analizawolf • LinkedIn (Women of Color Rise): www.linkedin.com/company/bossmamas Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo

Summary: Language has the power to connect people, to move hearts, and to do good in the world. David Nungaray is a co-founder of Gente Empowerment Network but is actually a forever dual language teacher and principal at heart no matter what his current work title is. The children and families he worked with as an educator are one of his guiding forces in the work he continues to do in education. As a son of Mexican immigrants, a native Spanish speaker, a gay educator, and a first-generation college graduate, he felt on his skin the lack of the system. David’s story begins with his family’s immigration from Tijuana, Mexico, to the U.S., where they faced challenges due to being undocumented. After a car accident at a young age that left David in a coma, his family’s struggles continued. Despite these obstacles, David excelled in school, thanks to the support of key teachers. He is very passionate about the importance of bilingualism as an asset, not just for students like him who grew up speaking Spanish and struggled during Proposition 227. It is very sad to see that nothing changed for generations in the USA and that 92% of our students are still experiencing programs that are not going to help them. David hopes to continue making an impact on multilingual education policy and practice, advocating for increased access to bilingual education programs and helping students like him thrive. Language brings cultural exchange, understanding, and power to the community. We should all respect different cultures and the enrichment they are brining to our lives. Show notes: 🪄 David is a magician of LinkedIn: he is destined for big things. 1:11 🧒🏻 He is the first child of an immigrant family from Tijuana, Mexico: a car accident completely changed his life. 03:45 🗣️ Learning English was hard for him: he grew up during Proposition 227. 05:34 😎 Teachers who poured faith, learning, and patience into David. 08:52 ⭐ The value of bilingualism and languages other than English: 12:13 🤯 Political nature of language: some people were punished for speaking other languages besides English. 15:41 🏆 Circle of champions around David: his parents, his husband, and various mentors and friends who have supported him throughout his career. 19:27 😇 Learn to be direct with people: help from his amazing family and leveraging direct talk from them. 21:33 🏡 Moving from San Antonio to California: harnessing time with his parents and family. 27:01 👔 David’s coaching work around navigating job searches, interviews, and salary negotiations: Latiné often underestimate themselves. 31:07 ⚡ Power in asking for what you need: understanding advocacy for yourself. 35:36 🆚 Job hopping and the negative attitude towards it: blaming the individual rather than looking at the system. 37:36 🤓 Shifted to a leader role at 17, becoming a principal at 25: David took all opportunities given to him. 40:37 🌈 Take that leap: being a queer man in Texas without protection. 46:06 💎 David’s RONdering: You can’t pour from an empty cup – take care of yourself and find balance. 54:48 Links Connect: www.linkedin.com/in/david-nungaray-a4a47115 Gente Website: www.genteempowerment.com Gente Instagram: www.instagram.com/genteempowerment Gente TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@genteempowerment Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo

Raj Thakkar is the author, Founder & CEO of Charter School Business Management (CSBM) as well as FOREsight Financial Services for Good. He is an expert on nonprofit and charter school finance and has presented countless financial best practices workshops across the country. He poured all his knowledge into the book Fiscally Secure: Prepare, Protect & Propel Your CHARTER SCHOOL with Responsible Financial Management to help people learn all the steps in handling finances properly. Raj is sharing his story from a helper in a family convenience store to a finance pro and how he transformed his career as an Indian immigrant into something he is passionate about. He is passionate about responsible financial management, both personal and professional, and Raj highlights the importance of surviving audits in the charter school finance landscape. His book is a detailed guide to fixing all the ‘symptoms,’ and he shares some of those in the episode. Like every entrepreneur with experience through hardships, Raj realized that having your circle of champions, surrounding yourself with smart people, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance is the key. He loves yoga, Orangetheory, running, and being active. The power of great people and his community groups helped him during the most difficult times. Raj says that responsible financial management is possible for everyone and is eager to teach these principles to children from an early age. Show notes: 👨🏽‍💼 Raj runs the finance and operations for many charter schools across the country: realizing he is a money guy and he landed in finance. 04:11 👦🏽 He got interested in finance as a kid by helping his father run a convenience store. 05:58 👂🏽 In his journey, he did a lot of listening: his first contract was with the New York City Charter School Center. 08:41 💸 Finances in charter schools: you have to survive your audit. 14:44 📘 Raj wrote a book called "Fiscally Secure: Prepare, Protect, and Propel Your Charter School with Responsible Financial Management." 17:28 ⚠️ Merging OPS and Finance departments in charter schools is the #1 symptom of a bad finance organization: Raj’s book is the solution for all symptoms in simple terms. 18:27 ⭐ Vision is nothing without execution; Raj has a fantastic leadership team and groups that are helping him. 27:39 💪🏽 Advice Raj would give to young Raj: just keep learning and have huge dreams. 33:41 🏃🏽‍♂️ Entrepreneurs have to take care of their bodies: Raj ran the NYC marathon four times and goes to Orangetheory regularly. 37:43 💎 Raj's RONdering: responsible financial management is possible in your life if you know the components. 42:39 Links Connect: www.linkedin.com/in/raj-thakkar-135b172 Get a Book: www.a.co/d/9RkcI4b Website: www.csbm.com Fiscally Secure: www.csbm.com/fiscally-secure Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeron Instagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

We know who we are, but we get away from it. Kendrick Harris is an NYU alumnus, retired Air Force officer, and former business leader with experience in real estate law, construction, and a former lawyer. He is a business owner of the Distinguished Chef and a top-notch chef. Kendrick is sharing with us his powerful testament to resilience, self-discovery, and transformation. After time spent at NYU, where Kendrick was deeply involved in student leadership and community service with Ron, he took an unexpected path, joining the Air Force as an officer. His military experience, earning a master's degree at Harvard, brought him to leadership positions. Still, his life took a dramatic turn when a series of poor decisions led to his disbarment and criminal charges. He realized that the only path was forward by confronting his mistakes and rebuilding his life from the ground up by pursuing his long-forgotten passion—cooking. His story of redemption, perseverance, letting go, and centering shows us that one's mistakes do not define them. During his difficult times, Kendrick found motivation in the stories of others who had faced and overcome their own challenges and hardships while becoming the best versions of themselves. His passion for bringing equity to culinary arts, learning the history of amazing Black chefs of America, and bringing the elegance of the cooking experience to everyone is just amazing. The recipe for finding the way out of the darkness or despair is waiting for you in this amazing episode. Notes 🍎 NYU Alumni and CPS: helping kids, students, and serving the community. 02:17 ✈️ Starting active duty with the Air Force: Kendrick was sent to Harvard to get a master's degree even though he planned to go to law school. 05:15 😇 We hold onto things we think we want: moments where you need to go in yourself and let go. 11:07 ⚖️ After the military, he went to law school: rebuilding life after getting disbarred. 12:53 ⚡ Getting back to himself through serving others: his love of culinary arts. 16:41 ⭐ Clashing with your parents but pursuing their respect: working in Michelin-starred restaurants and being the only Black man in it. 21:29 ☯️ Virtual coaches that affected Kendrick’s change: inspiring stories from people who went through a lot. 25:33 👨🏾‍🍳 Kendrick created The Distinguished Chef Lifestyle Brand: Hercules Posey and James Hemings were amazing Black chefs in the 1700s. 32:50 ☯️ His mission is to capture the elegance of the cooking experience: wanting amazing food to be tasted by minorities as well. 39:54 💎 Kendrick’s RONdering: your identity is not defined by your mistakes or your flaws. 42:53 Links: Connect with Kendrick: www.linkedin.com/in/kendrickharris About Kendrick: https://about.me/kendrickharris Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedistinguishedchef Facebook www.facebook.com/distinguished.chef.9 Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeron Instagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Why are we resting on proficiency in education? Tanji Reed Marshall CEO and Principal Consultant of Liaison Educational Partners. With more than 2 decades of experience in the classroom, district, and organization level, she has a lot of gems to share. The problem of educational inequities, and how certain groups of students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have historically been underserved and misinformed by ineffective teaching methods. The system has too many pockets and gaps - it has to change so it can serve all students suitably. Dr. Tanji advocates for classroom leaders to have skills and tools, but also a mindset to provide the best possible education for all students. Dr Tanji provides a framework for transformative change in education, emphasizing learning, critical thinking about roles in education, planning, applying, evaluating, and integrating practices. The importance of literacy and the need for proficiency and mastery in education is a must and if all other industry has it, education should have it too because every student has the potential to achieve high results. Notes: 📖 RONdering as a word in Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 01:54 👩🏾‍🏫 Starting in retail and switching to education: 03:02 😃🙍🏾 Why do we get so upset when we talk about numbers and education? 09:49 🤯 Moving to North Carolina: changing the standards that are set so low. 13:23 🏆 Going to a Catholic high school and having amazing teachers - Tanji’s circle of champions. 17:22 😍 Literacy and power of reading is important for advanced math: becoming district literacy coach. 23:51 🆚 Proficiency vs Mastery - proficiency is not enough and we need to put more effort into all kids. 25:00 ⭐ The three-queuing system is banned in some countries and literacy has to become a right in Massachusetts. 33:39 ⚠️ Tanji’s five strategies and four environmental types: integrating practices and changing the system. 39:37 🤔 We are ok with kids being failed: a value disparity in education. 44:27 ⚖️ A nationwide misalignment between values and practices in education. 49:58 💎 Tanji’s RONdering: naming the truth on where we are so we can go the way wa want to be. 51:22 📙 Tanji’s book, free course and newsletter. 😇 Too many pockets in education and we don’t want that. 54:30 Links: Newsletter: POWERfully Curious (newsletter) Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416631453/ Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeron Instagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Jacquelyn Davis is a nonprofit leader and transformative advisor to philanthropies who dedicated her life to the education sector and social impact. Her life and career are led by constant learning and curiosity. She has launched many organizations and initiatives. EDVolution, a boutique consulting she founded has worked with many national foundations – including the Gates Foundation, the Overdeck Foundation, New Schools Venture Fund, the Wallace Foundation, the Walton Foundation, the Rainwater Foundation, the Alice B and James A Clark Foundation, and the Kern Foundation, among others – and numerous education social impact organizations – including Teach For America, New Leaders, and many more. Growing up in the South in a segregated community with socially conscious parents who taught her that not every family has the same opportunities, Jacquelyn learned from an early age to stand up for what she believes in and bear the cost of it. She witnessed systemic differences and inequalities, and while the changes her family wanted, began at home, Jacquelyn continued to carry the same passion for diversity in her life and work, moving forward. Today we are facing a national crisis because 70% of kids can’t read by third grade and over 60% of schools in America are not using curriculum based on science-based research on how the brain learns. Sadly, prison beds in this country are based on reading levels, and still, things are not changing. A new entrepreneurial journey for Jac started when her dyslexic son learned to read using a board game she created. Clever Noodle as an additional tool, can help kids around the country fix their reading issues. The public education system must provide education for all kids so they can become high-quality readers and open up the doors to their lives and possibilities for their future. We all have a call in this. Notes: 🎙️ Being curious about people: learning from many experienced interviewers like Jacquelyn how to talk to people, helped Ron become a podcast host. 01:43 ⭐ Born and raised in Texas: her dad was a lighthouse of integrity. 02:45 😍 No strangers - all were welcome in their house: nurturing acceptance, desegregation, and having very progressive parents. 05:00 👎🏾 Growing up in the South: a difference and an inequality that was systemic being created. 11:22 ⚡ Don’t complain about it - do something about it: The family volunteered for homelessness and food insecurity. 18:06 👧🏾 Jac’s educational path started with school rehabilitation and college for scholarships: when a girl plans her funeral. 20:11 🤓 Startup is a very ambiguous space: you need to know if you are wired to learn everything about everything. 24:17 🏆 Jac’s circle of champions: parents, English teacher, health teacher, and amazing friends who influenced her. 27:54 🧠 Clever Noodle creation: her son was struggling with learning how to read during COVID so Jacquelyn learned how the sequential process in the brain works and created a board game for reading. 35:26 🔥 National crisis on literacy: finding the sweet spot with supplemental products but also science-based reading curriculums in schools - we need multifaceted solutions. 40:07 😇 “Mama, I know you are teaching me how to read but it is ok, because it is fun.” 46:20 ✍️ Summarizing and synthesizing complex brain functions are getting developed when we write. 50:38 🤯 Our prisons are full of people who were not taught to read: they are capable but the system is not interested. 55:11 💎 Jac’s RONdering: Stay clever and stay curious to grow opportunities. 57:54 ⚠️ Spread literacy by donating games to families and schools. 58:40 Links: Website: www.clevernoodle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleverNoodleGames Insta: https://www.instagram.com/clever_noodle/ Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Twitter:...

Our belief systems are often perpetuated by the members of our community. A 1991 Vassar graduate, Diane Robinson is a filmmaker and recognized education leader with over 25 years of experience working in the US and globally, helping start and grow social enterprises. Beginning her career through Teach for America, Diane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, a Master of Arts in multicultural education from California State University, and a Doctor of Education Leadership from Harvard University. Diane made her first film, The Young Vote, which follows a group of students and activists through the 2020 election, unprecedented social unrest, and a global pandemic, which is now used for the civic development of young people at schools and colleges. Diane believes that films are a great way to change narratives that come out of beliefs and stories and that there is much power in films being used to cultivate new sets of beliefs. Everything we want in life - the things we want to achieve, our environment, and our beliefs - they all start with us! 🇯🇲 Diane grew up in Jamaica in the 70's, in a very tumultuous time. 3:52 👧🏽 She went to public school in NY and racial and socioeconomic justice became a part of her DNA. 8:12 👩🏽‍🏫 Teach For America spoke more to her than the law she was studying. 10:19 🍎 Growing up in NY means you have a very diverse group of friends. 15:56 👉🏽 How important it is to believe in yourself: Diane's school counselor experience. 20:29 ⚠️ If you want to learn about America, you should teach in a low-income classroom. 27:12 🤔 Belief is a huge part of change: our belief system is stuck. 30:55 😥 Cultural competence: the available data is very intellectual, and it doesn't feel right. 33:43 💲 Low-income kids oftentimes have to work twice as hard because their parents can't pay for them. 38:42 🙃 Our belief systems are sometimes perpetuated by members of our own community. 40:02 🧠 Diane went to Harvard in her late 30's: the importance of understanding the education systems, business, and government. 45:30 🇨🇳 Her experience in China: the strength of their culture benefits education. 48:17 🎥 Turning to film: creating a documentary about young people and voting. 50:32 🎬 Her film made a big impact in schools and communities: we need engagement, voting is not enough. 55:51 💎 Diane's RONdering: everything starts with us. 58:48 🎯 Anything you want to create in the world, first you have to create it within yourself. 1:00:56 Links: The Young Vote: www.videoproject.org/the-young-vote.html Connect with Diane: www.linkedin.com/in/diane-robinson-6417255 Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeron Instagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Being able to step back and observe what is going on around us is often an undervalued skill! Surabhi Lai is rooted in the belief that we can create a better future of work that is rooted in our humanity and collective belonging. Multi-passionate with a strong sense of curiosity, Surabhi uses empathy and strategy when she coaches job-seekers, entrepreneurs, and organizations to help them create a better work future. Surabhi is pursuing a PhD in Leadership and Change, where her research is focused on understanding the ecosystem of belonging in the workplace. Fascinated by large group settings, Surabhi seeks out people who are not in a conversation with anyone and looks to introduce them to someone she knows. Surabhi will look to strike up a conversation at the bar or by the food table, becoming the connector at events, pursuing her goal of making people’s lives better, predominantly in the workplace. We spend so much time in workplaces - how can we make them better, for us to be able to give our best? Notes: 🍎 You can't navigate a big place like New York City without building your micro-communities. 3:04 😇 Surabhi's connection with New York City: different people and languages. 5:29 🗽 New Yorkers will move you out of their way, but also they will stop and help. 8:56 👧🏽 Surabhi grew up in D.C. in a pretty diverse school. 13:13 🍀 Surabhi was bridging spaces, doing some translation: being curious, and observing. 18:09 🤓 Surabhi loves to be the connector at events: she is fascinated by large group settings. 23:35 ⚠️ Different social roles: the importance of name pronunciation. 27:55 🤗 Her work is all about making people's work lives better. 31:54 👉🏽 That laws and policies are written to incentivize businesses and organizations. 35:09 🤯 If you don't feel good at work, then, you are not giving your best at work. 37:55 📣 Efforts to diversify neighborhoods: we should all have a megaphone. 40:20 💎 Surabhi's RONdering: how do we take all those megaphones to make it a movement? 44:12 Links: Website: www.surabhilal.com IG: @slcollabventures LI: www.linkedin.com/in/surabhilal SIPS & Leadership: www.surabhilal.com/sips-leadership Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeron Instagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Good leadership requires you to always be a student! From humble beginnings in golf caddying to becoming New Mexico’s Deputy Secretary and Secretary of Education under Gov. Susana Martinez (R) from 2016-2019, Christopher Ruszkowski is a social studies teacher by trade, recently appointed Distinguished Policy Fellow at the Hoover Institution. Having spent a year in South Africa, Christopher trained as a teacher, spending his first years first in and last out in the school, taking his responsibilities seriously, especially as a rookie. In his 20 years of working within education and education reform, Christopher has a wealth of experience in school systems, as well as figuring out how to develop expertise in all the moving pieces of the system. Believing that you must always remain a student, Christopher has worked under a mentor, working on being informed and gaining an understanding of why things are moving in the way that they are. The early bird catches the worm - there is value in a hard day’s work! Notes: 🇺🇸 Christopher's family origin: first-generation American working-class story. 4:16 🤓 The story of how Christopher got into golf caddying. 9:02 🍀 His evolution from a caddy beginner to a trusted confidant and advisor. 13:43 🧑‍🏫 The beginning journey with Teach For America: a transformative year in South Africa. 18:46 🌍 Making the world a better place: he couldn't do it without some form of frontline service. 21:29 🏫 Middle school experience: what went on in his classroom, was a microcosm of what was happening in the education sector. 25:41 🎓 All the different education contexts Christopher was involved in. 29:15 🎯 Always be a student to be good in a leadership position. 36:19 🤯 There is such a dramatic difference in education in different cities today. 40:30 👀 It often takes an outsider to see what's going on, but you need an insider to implement it. 46:31 💎 Christopher's RONdering: it's still about the blue-collar day. 51:45 Links: Connect: christophernicholasruszkowski@gmail.com Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeron Instagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Sharing our stories and spending time with each other can prolong our lives! Bryan Setser is a seasoned executive edupreneur with three decades of results in K-12, higher education, non-profit, and for-profit organizations. His expertise equips leaders, teams, and organizations with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be ready for any future. Having worked as a teacher, principal, and even as the inaugural Chief Quality Officer at the Baldrige Award-winning Iredell-Statesville district, Bryan has lent his expertise as a leader of solutions practices, operating as a partner and principal at 2Revolutions and RPK Group, collaborating with numerous higher education clients. Bryan believes strongly in creating a culture of belonging, which can come through sports, music and movies, but also through social experiences and diversity. Bryan focuses on helping men build more empathy and compassion to themselves first and foremost. There is evidence that suggests being on athletic teams can help one’s body and mind; working as a team and looking out for each other allows for connections to build. Today is the first day for whatever your purpose is - let’s reignite our purpose! Notes: 🤔 Reflecting on the different identities we have as men of different generations. 4:20 😇 Bryan is a Wayfinder: he helps leaders, teams, and organizations navigate their paths. 9:11 🎓 He had many different roles in education: curiosity drove him in all the roles. 13:35 👉 One of Bryan's drivers is a fundamental distrust of the status quo. 16:51 🎦 Finding out people's core values through music and movies. 20:23 🥘 How food connects people and creates the social experience. 24:13 🌸 All the successful people believe that we have a chance to turn things around. 31:09 🎯 Creating a culture of belonging through diversity. 35:52 💪 Thoughts on the future of masculinity. 42:42 🥋 Sports can also help create leaders and understand team relationships. 47:19 🍀 Bryan has been using new technologies since 1995: amplifying tech with humanity. 50:05 🤖 The value of AI: how to make it meaningful. 53:39 🥅 In our lives, AI will be mostly applicable in biomedicine. 1:01:17 💎 Bryan’s RONdering: we're going to have to reignite around purpose. 1:04:10 Links: Website: www.setsergroup.com LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryansetser/ FB:https://www.facebook.com/SetserGroup TW: https://twitter.com/setsergroup IG: https://www.instagram.com/setsergroup/?hl=en Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeron Instagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

You can be both a happy human and a strong one! Mike Montoya is the CEO and Founder of Stronger Consulting. A 30-year education sector veteran, Mike is an expert in helping organizations design, manage, and improve educational programs for young people. Mike’s identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a person of color has shaped his entrepreneurial journey, as he educates non-profit organizations to act strategically on behalf of children. Mike grew up feeling the stress in an ultra-conservative area, but found that he had adults in his life who would allow him to just be himself. Part of the reason Mike got into his career in education, was that he had people around him when he needed them; Mike’s goal is to support the successes of young people through similar things he experienced as a child. We need people’s wellness and their identities being included - this is the foundation of everything! Notes: 👦 Mike grew up in conservative Colorado as a Catholic, gay kid. 2:34 😇 His career choice was partly influenced by adults who helped him find safe spaces while growing up. 4:09 ✌🏾 The Youth Development space develops you as a whole human being. 8:17 🥇 The Broad Center: a framework for what adults need to show up to lead inside school systems. 10:55 🏫 K-12 education has shaped Mike's entrepreneurial journey of Stronger Consulting: the influence of his identity. 16:32 🤯 People usually didn't believe that he is a person of color. 19:11 🪅 Mike's parents helped him to assimilate: the importance of his connection to migrant workers from Mexico. 22:30 🎯 Stronger Consulting’s approach is unique because of the diversity of its people. 26:32 💎 Mike's RONdering: to achieve success for children, have we been skimming away a little bit of their humanity? 30:01 💚 We need the foundation of love and wellness: people's well-being and their identities being included. 33:36 Links: Website https://strongerconsulting.com/ Connect with Mike: www.linkedin.com/in/mmsc Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeron Instagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron