The Rethink Leadership Podcast

Guest: Jennifer McCollum Former CEO of Linkage, a SHRM Company; Author of In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO Jennifer McCollum is the former CEO of Linkage, a SHRM company, where she oversaw the strategic direction and global operations of the leadership development firm. With a mission to “Change the Face of Leadership,” Linkage has dedicated 35 years to advancing women and accelerating inclusion in leaders and organizations. Linkage has been consistently ranked a top 20 training company, providing assessments, training, coaching, consulting, and conferences. Jennifer is an acclaimed speaker, consultant, and author. Her new book, titled In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO, was released in November 2023. Charity: This episode is in aid of Safe Shores in Washington DC , supporting children's advocacy center https://www.safeshores.org/ #to which we have made a donation. Safe Shores provides survivor-centered services and support for children affected by abuse in DC and works to end child abuse and neglect as the DC Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America.

Guest: Jevon Wooden Certified Coach, Business Consultant, Speaker, Podcast Host, Author, and Army Veteran Jevon Wooden is a certified coach, business consultant, speaker, podcast host, author, and Army Veteran, driven by a passion for leadership, growth strategy, and aiding motivated leaders and businesses in reaching their objectives. His academic journey includes a master's degree in cybersecurity from Fordham University and an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. As a recipient of the Bronze Star for his courageous actions during a bombing attack at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Jevon's leadership extends beyond conventional boundaries. His innovative business growth and personal development ideas have gained recognition in leading publications such as Entrepreneur, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, Foundr, Forbes, and Verizon. Charity: This episode is in aid of ‘The Center For Youth’ | https://www.centerforyouth.net/; a charity supporting young people in the US in realizing their full potential, by creating opportunities, removing barriers and promoting social justice. We have made a donation as a thank you to Jevon for joining us

Guest: Mette Johansson Author, Keynote Speaker, and Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur Mette Johansson worked in leadership roles for multinational corporations over 15 years before founding MetaMind, a training consultancy providing learning programmes in the people side of leadership skills. Mette is the author of two Amazon bestsellers; "How to Make Yourself Promotable: 7 skills to help you climb the career ladder", as well as the co-author and ideator of “Unleash Your Voice, Powerful Public Speaking for Every Woman” Her new Book: ‘Narratives – The stories that hold women back at work’ is out now and available through bookshops everywhere. Mette is the Founder and relentless driver and Chair for KeyNote Women Speakers. Charity: This podcast is in aid of KeyNote Women Speakers, a non-profit directory of female speakers on a mission to bring diversity to speaking stages around the world. We have made a donation as a thank you to Mette for joining us.

Guest: Julian Reeve Founder & CEO of Perfect Equilibrium™ Inc. Critically acclaimed for his work on the Broadway smash-hit musical Hamilton, Julian is a Keynote Speaker and Burnout Specialist committed to disrupting society’s attitude to work and achievement. He graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, before embarking on a highly successful career as a musician and entrepreneur, performing to millions around the world while founding four thriving businesses in the creative sector. Julian’s commitment to his work lead to a stress-induced heart attack when he was just 43 years old. This event inspired extensive research into the current trends for achievement and the exploration of alternatives, with his findings providing the foundations for his TEDx Talk on Perfectionism and a children’s book on the same subject. His work has been featured in numerous leading publications, and he regularly appears on top 200 podcasts and other media outlets. Charity: We have made a donation to https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ as a thank you to Julian for joining us; and proudly make this episode in aid of this incredible organization.

Guest: Donna Serdula Founder and President of Vision Board Media Donna Serdula is the founder and president of Vision Board Media, a professional branding company that helps leaders and companies tell their unique stories on LinkedIn and beyond. Bringing dynamic brand storytelling to those who need it and empowering people to dream big – that’s her passion as much as her expertise. Donna has authored two editions of LinkedIn Profile Optimization FOR DUMMIES and has been featured on Forbes, Business Insider, Time’s Money Section, Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, LA Times, NBC, SiriusXM Radio’s The Focus Group, and many other news outlets. Charity: This episode is in aid of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without borders) https://www.msf.org/ who are supporting those who need it the most in areas struck by famine, war and displacement. We are proud to have made a donation to this magnificent organisation as a thank you to Donna for joining us.

Guest: Jim Murphy Agile Leadership Guru, Military Veteran, Entrepreneur and Renowned Author Jim (Murph) Murphy is the founder and Chairman of Afterburner Inc., a prominent management consulting and leadership training firm consisting of over 80 accomplished military professionals, both current and former. Having served as an F 15 Fighter pilot and Instructor in the U.S. Air Force, he established Afterburner in 1996, and is now the author of seven insightful books covering a spectrum of topics, from leadership and management development to veteran career transition. He stands as a globally acknowledged thought leader in agile continuous improvement, a pivotal aspect of Afterburner's acclaimed Flawless Execution methodology to foster results, bridge execution gaps, and expedite their individual, team, and organizational performance. Afterburner's excellence has been lauded with six Inc. Magazine's fastest growing company awards, and inclusion in Forbes Magazine's Small Giants List. They've engaged with 85% of the U.S. Fortune 50 and numerous Global 1000 corporations spanning 24 countries. This episode is in aid of https://www.check6.org to which we have made a donation as a thank you to John for joining. This fabulous foundation has assisted hundreds of veterans in need to pay their bills, get medical attention, find jobs and so much more. They also continue to provide an unforgettable experience to children battling serious illnesses.

Cordell Carter, Esq. Diversity Leader Cordell has helped 10K+ worldwide professionals, executives, and investors through his leadership at the Aspen Institute in areas such as the Socrates Program, Project on Belonging, and Festival of the Diaspora. These international programs offer educational forums and opportunities for leaders to learn from each other, create important partnerships, and equip themselves to promote diverse, equitable opportunities and belonging for everyone. Cordell has achieved $6M+ in philanthropic and private support since 2016 and has held leadership roles with the TechTown Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, among others. In June 2021, President Joe Biden appointed him as Commissioner to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. Cordell has a large following on Instagram, where he shares posts about democracy, diversity, equity, entrepreneurship, and technology for the greater good. Charity: We have made a donation to the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED) as a thank you to Cordell for joining us. Find out more about how this wonderful organization of professionals leads, directs and manages affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity programs. https://www.aaaed.org/.

Marika Massager Consciousness Researcher, teacher and advisor | Founder of ConsciousLeadership.org Marika Messager is the CEO and Founder of ConsciousLeadership.org which helps leaders to stay sharp, relevant, confident, and have great presence in their business. This is about achieving full leadership consciousness according to Marika and we will be discussing what conscious leadership is, why it’s important and how leaders can best cultivate this discipline – and the all-important benefits of doing so. This is particularly important when considering challenges and opportunities like toxic leadership, workplace culture, awareness of the difference in a team (generation gap, gender stands, DEI) the potential of members in a team, and much more. Charity: This episode is in aid of the First Responders Children’s Foundation, based in New York. https://1strcf.org/ . This wonder organization supports the children and families of first responders who have been killed or injured in the line of duty. We have made a donation as a thank you to Marika for joining us. .

Dr Tan Bee Wan is a social worker, social entrepreneur, lecturer and consultant. She is also the Executive Chairman of Integrative Learning Corporation (ILC) Singapore, an international consulting & management development group; and ACE Seniors, a social enterprise with the mission of empowering 50+ years old and enabling them to remain relevant and a source of inspiration for their community. Prior to leading Integrative, she was the Executive Director of the Singapore Council of Social Service and Community Chest of Singapore and CEO of Tsao Foundation. She is adjunct lecturer for SUSS and NUS Business School; designing and teaching social leadership, social innovation, social enterprises and CSR, fundraising and philanthropy for the Master in Nonprofit Management, Master of Community and Social Leadership, and NUS-MBA Programme. Charity: This episode is in aid of Aces Care Ltd a charity in Singapore reinventing ageing in supporting 50+ year olds to remain relevant and inspiring for their communities and colleagues.

Ally Stone CEO and Founder of The Inspired Leader Ally Stone has been a partner and leader in the hospitality industry since 2005. During that time, she was integral to developing 15 successful businesses and teams. She bases her leadership style on what she has come to call “Inspired Leadership.” the approach elevates team thinking beyond everyday problems and obstacles, building instead on quality in group and individual connection for lasting effect. Ally has worked with thousands of leaders from all levels of organizations, and in 2022 was awarded the Transformational Leader Award by The Universal Women’s Network and recognized as The Most Inspiring Leadership Development Company by A. I. International. Ally is also a certified Meditation Teacher, a Heart Math Resilience Mentor, and an ICF Certified Coach working towards her Master's Certification. Charity: We are pleased to make this episode in aid of Little Warriors https://littlewarriors.ca/. A Canadian national charity focused on the awareness, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse. Little Warriors also advocates on behalf of and with child sexual abuse survivors. We have made a donation to this great cause as a thank you to Ally for joining us.

Julian Hamood, President, Trusted Tech Team Julian Hamood is the President of Trusted Tech Team (TTT), the leading Microsoft Cloud solutions provider. With 16+ years of expertise in IT solutions, licensing consultations, and customer relations, he has been awarded with all six Solutions Partner Designations. Julian led the company's exponential growth, doubling revenue for three consecutive years. Outside of Trusted Tech Team, Julian actively volunteers and sponsors Project Youth OC, empowering underprivileged and at-risk youth through counseling, mentoring, and professional development. Charity: This episode is in aid of "Oscar & Ma" – a non profit social enterprise founded by Scott Green, an Orange County entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and philanthropist. This wonderful organisation actively creates employment opportunities for people who are experiencing significant barriers to entry into the job market. www.oscarandma.com

Jim Hughes Founder, Untamed Through his unique, outdoor-focused brand of coaching, events and speaking, Jim has helped leaders and teams reconnect with themselves, others and their work. Leveraging his extensive life experience, that encompasses everything from running a multimillion dollar engineering business in Australia, to skiing the world’s longest giant slalom race wearing only a g-string and pretending to be an electrical engineer for eight months, he approaches his work how he approaches life…with energy, commitment and fun. He takes leaders out for walks and talks and opens up authentic discussions. We discuss more about this, Jim’s background and his core beliefs that we can all reconnect with ourselves and find new paths to uncover. Charity: Help For Heroes (https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/) Help for Heroes is a British charity which supports members of the British Armed Forces community with their physical and mental health, as well as their financial, social and welfare needs.

Iliana Oris Valiente Managing Director and Innovation Lead at Accenture Canada Iliana Oris Valiente, CPA, CA, is an accomplished corporate executive, innovation and emerging tech pioneer, startup investor, respected board member, published author, and sought-after global public speaker. With a clear vision and unwavering determination, she is a thought leader on a mission to cultivate a future encompassing overall technological and societal trends, with a focus on the future of work, life, and human-centered approaches. Iliana is currently the Managing Director and Innovation Lead at Accenture Canada, working with senior executives and boards to support their strategic transformation journeys. She leads multi-disciplinary teams across design, data, and technology, focusing on emergent areas such as metaverse/blockchain/web3, sustainability, AI, and cross-industry initiatives. Charity: This episode is in aid of the charity ‘When We Band Together’ to which we have made a donation as a thank you to Iliana for joining us. Iliana recently volunteered, with her niece, at one of their refugee centres in Lesvos, Greece - an island hard hit by the refugee crisis. https://www.wwbt.org/ - The charity does amazing work around the world and we thank them for their amazing efforts.

Matthew Brackett Leadership Coach, Consultant, Educator and Speaker Matthew Brackett - With more than 30 years of experience in the field of personal, professional and intercultural leadership development, Matthew is MUCH more than an executive coach. Matthew has a broad international and intercultural experience in leadership, educational and consulting roles in Italy, Ireland, England, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico as well as having been a special Staff Officer and Chaplain in the United States Navy serving both with Sailors and Marines. He is a passionate educator and speaker about managing the human element in personal, professional, intercultural and organizational contexts. We discuss the differences between coaching, mentoring, counselling and being a confidant, their importance and when to use them, pulling on Matthews experience in the US Navy, as a Chaplain and as a Corporate leadership swiss army knife ! Charity: This episode is in aid of UNICEF, as a thank you to Matthew for joining us. We have made a donation to this fantastic organization which works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. And they never give up.

Julie Perkins is an entrepreneur, author, and the Founder of Wyseminds, where she helps other female leaders and entrepreneurs scale, grow, and find success in their businesses. She is passionate about creating a more equitable entrepreneurial future. Her 30 year career in business included launching and building Specsavers in Northern Europe, leading it to market dominance in the Netherlands. Now, Founder of Wyseminds and author of the book The Wyseway; Julie’s focus is around Purpose-led business growth. With her stated mission and passion to help female entrepreneurs find purpose-led growth on their own terms. Charity: This episode is in aid the Macmillan cancer charity, https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ specifically in support of their amazing front line nurses and workers in the fight against cancer, and in support of the care for those going through it.

Courtney Orange 🍊 Wellbeing Motivational Speaker & Content Creator, 🍊Award Winning Entertainment Agency Owner: Courtney Orange is a former 6x times national gymnastics champion, Commonwealth Games competitor, street performer and an award-winning entertainment agency owner. Now better known as a Wellbeing Motivator. Over 200,000 individuals, in the education system, communities, organisations and through various events, have been motivated and inspired by Courtney's WELLBEING ENERGISER workshops & PEAK PERFORMANCE RESILIENCE talks and keynotes.

Gerald J. Leonard is the President and CEO of Turnberry premiere, also the Publishing Editor, founder and CEO, of the Leonard Productivity Intelligence Institute. Gerald is also a professional musician, and brings his experiences of playing bands and in concert halls to the business context, in how leaders and teams can build productivity, engagement, motivation and high performance. With a passion for helping others reach their full potential, Gerald has established himself as a leading figure in the field of productivity intelligence. He has been featured as a guest on notable platforms such as NPR and Jack Canfield’s show, among others. Gerald’s third book is out now: “A Symphony of Choices: How Mentorship Taught a Manager Decision-Making, Project Management and Workplace Engagement — and Saved a Concert Season”. Free Resources For Listeners: https://productivityintelligenceinstitute.com/rethink/

Emma Donovan is an established professional with 15+ years of experience in brand strategy, content writing, and entrepreneurship. Emma’s ability to identify and seize an opportunity has played a significant role in her entrepreneurial journey so far. In 2010 she opened a pop-up for backpackers during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa; in 2014 she co-founded Yellow Door Collective, a marketing and events agency; and in March of 2021, she co-founded Dapper – a brand studio focused on how the human experience shapes brand development. For more information, visit: https://becomedapper.com/rethink-leadership-podcast/ Charity: This episode is in aid of The Blue Sky Foundation in South Africa as a thank you to Emma for joining us. blueskyfoundation.co.za believes every child in South Africa has a right to a decent education and an opportunity to acquire the skills needed to support a family. Their mission is to unlock the financial and other resources which will allow community organisations to address inequality.

Dan Sodergren Futurist, serial tech startup founder and media commentator, Dan Sodergren is digital marketing, technology and Artificial Intelligence(AI) expert working with clients, partners and associations to help them become more aware of the implications and applications of generative AI, now and into the next few years. As a futurist, Dan is a regular tech spokesperson on the BBC, both TV and Radio. Dan’s main passion, as you may expect, is all about the future. Be that the future of marketing, or the future or work or how technology AI will change the world, in all walks of life, business and as an industrial movement in its own right. Find out more about Dan at www.dansodergren.com

Dez Rock is the CEO of SIEMonster, and a neurodivergent leader. Dez knows that having ADHD has been anything but a detriment to her career – her ability to see the world as a puzzle (and manage all of the pieces) has made her an exceptional leader. Dez has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and now fully focused in on her own business, SIEMonster, a software company based in the US, dropping out of law school to start the company several years ago. Dez knows that a start-up requires a person who can always fight all fronts without losing perspective and making things personal; and this is where she excels. And her ADHD superpower enhances that as we discuss.