Flourish in captivity

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Keywords

Resilience - Kidnap - Trauma – Change – Challenge – Recovery – Healing – Depression – Stockholm Syndrome

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Gloria Londono shares her traumatic experience of being kidnapped and held in captivity when she was 25 years old and how the experience led her to leave her country and immigrate to the US. Gloria reveals how she developed an attachment to one of her captors due to the Stockholm syndrome and the challenges she faced after her release including a lack of proper support and therapy from her family.

She also recounts her journey seeking employment in the US and talks about the resilience and persistence she needed to apply for 40 jobs before securing a position in a hardware store. She also discusses her subsequent job in a produce company where she overcame language barriers with the help of her manager to improve her communication skills. She eventually started her own business and then met her ex-husband. Together they built a successful company before she decided to leave the company to pursue her interests in coaching and writing.

Gloria's has experienced trauma, depression, and anxiety and she shares the coping mechanisms and tools she used to manage her symptoms, including journaling and therapy. She also talks about how writing her book, "Flourish in Captivity," about her traumatic experiences and journey towards healing, was a significant part of her recovery process.

Action items

You can find out more about Gloria at https://www.glorialondono.co/ Her memoir is Flourish In Captivity and she also has her own podcast, The Unbreakable Life with Glory, which offers audiences seeking healing and peace a blueprint for growth, forgiveness, gratitude, and hope.

 You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

 

Resilience for reinvention and change

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Keywords

Resilience - Change – Growth – Reinvention – Mental Health – Social Media

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Nina Sossamon-Pogue, shares her diverse career journey, from being part of the USA gymnastics team to a being a news anchor and Emmy award winning journalist. Nina discusses the importance of change, resilience, and adaptability for personal growth and innovation, with a focus on embracing novelty and maintaining a positive outlook. She also talks about the challenges women face in the US, strategies for managing mental health and social media in the face of criticism, and the implications of social media on public discourse and personal privacy.

Main topics

  • Why we resist change but need to embrace it for personal and professional growth

  • Reinvention and its significance in our lives

  • How setbacks or changes can prompt a recalculation of route to something new

  • The challenges women face in the US in relation to societal expectations and the role of media

  • Managing mental health and social media in the face of bullying and negative comments

  • The implications of social media on public discourse and personal privacy.

  • Learning from past mistakes and focusing on strengths.

 Action items

You can find out more about Nina at https://www.ninasossamonpogue.com/ or through LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram 

 You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

 

The Wrong Calamity

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Keywords

Resilience – Change – Coping Mechanisms – Shifting Perspective – Reframing Challenges – Narrative Building 

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Marsha Jacobson, an author, teacher, and writing coach from New York, shares her life story, and how she overcame her challenging childhood, abusive relationship, and personal struggles to build a successful career and a fulfilling life. She discusses her experiences with vulnerability, resilience, and personal complexity, how she felt unprepared for challenges and how she overcame them.

She also discusses her resilience, her journey from teaching to consulting, and her experience in non-profit management and about her second husband's struggle with PTSD that ultimately led to their separation.

Main topics

  • The importance of embracing change and transitions as part of personal growth.

  • Adopting coping mechanisms such as "tiny experiments" and writing fake headlines to shift perspective.

  • Reframing challenges as learning opportunities.

  • "Narrative building" as a strategy for reframing challenges.

Action items

You can find out more about Marsha at  https://marshajacobsonauthor.com/about/ Her memoir, The Wrong Calamity, is her debut book.

You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Managing change effectively

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In the modern business world, the one constant is change. It’s essential for growth, adaptability, and long-term success. Organisations that embrace change with a well-thought-out strategy that involves key stakeholders are able to unlock new opportunities and overcome challenges more effectively. This was undoubtedly true during the pandemic when organisations were tested as never before. Some showed how well and how quickly they could navigate change, but many others found the fast-moving circumstances far more difficult to deal with.

Organisations that thrive are ones that can respond to an ever-changing environment but the ability to change has to be built into an organisation so it can deliver and adopt to change both in the present and future.  This requires change capability, the comprehensive and dynamic way organisations adapt, learn, and innovate, to manage change effectively. Combining leadership, culture, engagement, and strategic alignment it ensures an organisation remains resilient and responsive in an ever-changing business world.

Change capability is not just about dealing with occasional changes, it reflects a more fundamental and ingrained capacity to continuously evolve and thrive. It means an organisation can navigate its way through different types of change and respond to internal and external shifts. It shows how capable an organisation is of delivering long term change with minimal disruption to its operation and its stakeholders.

This of course makes the ability to manage and adapt to change an essential skill for any business leader. Driving change requires leaders who are adaptable and able to prepare their organisation to withstand external pressures and then come out fighting. Leaders who can’t deal with a rapid rate of change quickly lose their credibility and fail to achieve the required results. Its therefore imperative that organisations ensure that the critical capability skills of its leaders are competitive and relevant.

In today’s complex business environment organisations and leaders need the ability to navigate change. Building sustainable change capability can ensure that changes made to the structure, operation, or culture of an organisation are accepted and long-lasting, that leaders are proactive, innovative, and resilient in the face of uncertainty, and contribute to the long-term success of their organisation.

Breaking free from addiction and crime

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Keywords

Resilience – Addiction – Transformation – Trauma – Positive Change - Connection

 In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Don Cummins, a transformational coach, speaker, and author, discusses his journey of overcoming addiction, rebuilding his life, and finding success in a professional career after serving a 20-year prison sentence for bank robbery.

Don shares his experiences of overcoming addiction and rebuilding his life and discusses how trauma and a desire to fit in led him down a destructive path of drug use and criminal behaviour. He emphasises the importance of self-acceptance, support, insight, and of recognising when you reach the bottom in making positive change and highlights the need to address underlying issues rather than solely focusing on addictive behaviours.

Main topics

  • Why hitting rock bottom can be the turning point in making positive change.

  • Why you need support, insight, and self-awareness to make progress.

  • The challenges of re-entering society and finding a job after prison

  • Why it’s difficult to relate trauma experiences with others who haven't been through it.

  • Finding understanding and connection with people who have shared similar struggles.

  • Finding true purpose and meaning

Timestamps

1: Introduction and Background - Overview of the podcast episode and introduction of the guest, Don Cummins. Don briefly shares his background and what he does as a coach - 00:05-01:41

2: From Trauma to Prison - Don discusses the traumatic experiences he went through as a youth and how it led him into a cycle of addiction and involvement with the criminal justice system. He shares that this ultimately resulted in him serving a 20-year prison sentence for bank robbery - 01:41-02:03

3: Rebuilding a Life - Don talks about his journey of recovery and the challenges he faced in rebuilding his life after being at the lowest point. He emphasises the importance of support, gaining insight, and discovering one's true purpose and meaning - 02:03-03:10

4: Unpacking the Downfall - Don Cummins reflects on the factors that contributed to his downfall, acknowledging that it is a complex process to unpack. He mentions the struggle of staying clean and employable, and the emotional challenges he faced - 03:10-05:02

5: Gaining Resilience - Discussion on the importance of support, gaining insight, and developing resilience to overcome difficult circumstances. Don shares his perspective on hitting rock bottom and how it can be a turning point for positive change - 05:22-07:05

6: Rebuilding Relationships - Don talks about his experience in rebuilding relationships and finding understanding and connection with others who have shared similar struggles. He shares how counselling and communication skills helped in improving his relationship with his partner - 07:28-09:25

7: Sharing the Journey Through Writing - Don discusses his motivation to write a memoir, "The Prison Within: A Memoir of Breaking Free," to share his story and help others who may be going through similar challenges. He talks about the impact of his book and his upcoming book, "Awaken, Connect, Transform: The Universal Path to Happiness and Success.” - 09:25-14:23

8: The Universal Path to Happiness and Success - Don explains the concept of the universal path to happiness and success, emphasizing the importance of connection and recognizing our interconnectedness. He invites listeners to explore his work and learn more about his books - 14:23-21:41

9: Conclusion and Call to Action - Final thoughts on the power of resilience and the potential for personal growth and transformation - 21:41-24:10

Action items

  You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

 

Renee Joyal – Living beautifully

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Keywords

Resilience - Wellness – Lifestyle Change – Self-healing

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Renee Joyal, a newly published author and wellness enthusiast shares her personal journey with lupus and how she made lifestyle changes to overcome it. She emphasises the importance of nutrition, exercise, and self-healing practices in maintaining good health and also talks about having a holistic approach to health instead of restrictive diets.

Renee discusses her approach to wellness, emphasising the importance of focusing on both physical and mental health and shares techniques for strengthening the mind, such as journaling and meditation, which can help in handling life's challenges.

Main topics

  • Making specific lifestyle changes to overcome autoimmune disease.

  • The functional medicine practices Renee implemented in her life.

  • How being in an abusive relationship affected Renee’s health and autoimmune disease.

Timestamps

1: Introduction. The host welcomes the audience and introduces the guest, Renee, who is a newly published author and wellness enthusiast. Renee talks about her passion for helping people expand their health journey - 00:02-01:03
2: Overcoming Life's Obstacles. Renee discusses how to overcome life's obstacles, live healthily, feel good, and enrich your life to live it to the fullest. 02:12-02:29
3: Renee's Health Journey. Renee shares her personal health journey, including her debilitating illness, Lupus diagnosis, and how she made lifestyle changes to improve her health - 02:29-07:31
4: Focusing on Healing. Renee talks about her focus on healing and what she added to her life to make it better and live fully without restriction - 09:16-11:32
5: Strengthening the Mind. Renee discusses the importance of strengthening the mind and shares techniques such as journaling, meditative experiences, and empowering mind techniques - 11:32-17:56
6: Live Beautiful Book. Renee talks about her book, Live Beautiful, a compassionate balance guide to everyday wellness and well-being. She shares where to find it and discusses the rewarding process of writing and connecting with the community - 17:57-20:43

Action items 

 You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Thinking differently about disruption.

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Keywords

Resilience - Change - Transitions - Disruption - Changing Narratives

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Linda Rossetti, a business leader and pioneering researcher on individuals’ experience at the crossroads of their lives discusses her work in helping people respond to disruptions in their lives. Linda emphasises the importance of thinking differently and responding with hope and expansion and explains the differences between changes and transitions. She also highlights the emotional response that accompanies change and disruption, acknowledging its significance alongside practical considerations and touches on the limitations of traditional change management approaches before suggesting a new narrative around disruption and transformation.

Main topics

  • The power of changing narratives and shifting from a chronological narrative to a value-based narrative.

  • Why educating people about the options and new perspectives during times of disruption can be enlightening.

  • The importance of anchoring on things that hold meaning or value in times of transformation.

  • Why we need to ask new questions and explore different narratives to move forward.

  • The different levels of response to change.

  • Focusing on the practical and emotional aspects of transformation.

  • Why people should see disruption as an opportunity to engage more of themselves and amplify their voices.

  • Why there is a need to change the way society responds to disruption.

 Timestamps

1: Welcome and introduction - 00:02 - 00:19
2: Traditional ways of responding to disruption - 02:06 - 06:51
3: The power of transformation - 08:03 - 10:03
4: Changing the narrative - 12:16 - 14:09
5: Leadership and change - 15:18 - 19:58
6: Empowering individuals to respond - 21:47 - 24:38
7: Addressing values and the book "Dancing with Disruption" - 26:39 - 28:48
8: Conclusion and contact information - 29:59 - 30:26

Action items

You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Navigating an organisational pivot

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Keywords - Resilience - Organisational Pivots - Change - Personal Growth

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Jason Shen, an executive coach with a focus on resilience and reinvention who is renowned for guiding entrepreneurs through crucial transitions.  A former national champion gymnast Jason faced multiple setbacks including layoffs, lawsuits, company failure, and traumatic knee injuries, so he understands what it takes to adapt and overcome adversity!

Jason talks about the importance of continuous learning and personal growth and talks about his background in the commercial world, including working in marketing roles and starting companies. The conversation focuses on organisational pivots and the importance of making changes earlier rather than later and Jason emphasises the need for leaders to adapt their leadership approach during these transitions. They also touch upon personal resilience and how taking care of physical and creative/emotional needs is essential. Cultural considerations are mentioned, such as differences between men and women's expressions of emotions or vulnerability based on Eastern/Western philosophies.

Main topics

  • The concept and process of organisational pivots

  • The impact of founders in organisational pivots

  • The relationship between resilience and pivots.

  • Cultural considerations in coaching

  • Exploring different coaching approaches

Timestamps

1: Introduction and Background - 00:02-00:44
2: Understanding Organisational Pivots- 02:17-04:06
3: Navigating Organisational Pivots - 04:06-06:23
4: Developing Leadership Capacity during Pivots - 07:21-07:30, 07:55-08:59
5: Cultural Considerations in Pivots - 09:46-12:07
6: The Cycle of Learning and Support - 14:46-16:02
7: Overcoming the Fear of Not Knowing - 16:35-17:32
8: The Role of Coaching in Organisational Change - 20:37-22:19
9: The Path to Pivot Book - 22:19-23:41

Action items

Jason’s book is called "The Path to Pivot," or find out more at jasonshen.com

You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Using anger for positive change

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 Keywords

Resilience – Anger – Change – Abuse – Personal Growth – Speaking Up

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Alyse Maslonik shares her inspiring story of overcoming poverty and domestic abuse to become a successful advisor. Despite facing numerous hardships in her life, Alyse maintains a positive perspective by focusing on the good people and communities around her. She discusses the importance of resilience, how anger can be transformed into a tool for growth, how past experiences shape us as people, and how women are often discouraged from expressing anger. She shares her personal experience with abuse and how she had to transform her anger into something positive.

Alyse also highlights the need for funding social programs to prevent future problems and save lives and touches on the societal pressures that prevent women from speaking up for their rights and changing the status quo. The mission of her organisation RedefinED Advisors is to redefine education in the United States, particularly for underprivileged students. The organisation raises funding for public school students who are failing due to lack of resources and provides scholarships for those experiencing financial hardships or trauma.

Main topics

  • The idea of resilience and how it can be learned.

  • How anger can be used as a tool for good.

  • The importance of learning from past experiences.

  • RedefinED Advisors, and their work in the education sector.

  • The need for action and creating actionable items to create change.

  • Why women are discouraged from expressing anger

Timestamps

1: Introductions Russell introduces Alyse Maslonik. They briefly discuss Elise's upcoming appearance on the news and her recent achievement. Elise talks about her background and starting her life in a domestic abuse shelter. - 00:00 to 01:50

2:  Resilience and Overcoming Adversity. Russell and Alyse discuss the importance of resilience. They talk about how people can rise above difficult backgrounds and use their past experiences to propel themselves forward. Elise shares her own story of going through a criminal trial after experiencing abuse. They discuss the idea that people should not be ashamed of their anger. - 04:46 to 13:49

3: Redefining Education and Scholarships. Alyse talks about her organisation, RedefinED Advisors, and their mission to provide scholarship funding for underprivileged students. Russell and Alyse Elise discuss the importance of education and scholarships. They briefly touch on Elise's upcoming book. - 25:08 to 29:46

4: Taking Action and Creating Change. Russell and Alyse discuss the need for action to create change. - 31:07 to 32:39

Action items

You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.  

Tired of change? How change fatigue can contribute to burnout.

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In the modern business world, the one constant is change. It’s essential for growth, adaptability, and long-term success. Embracing change with a well-thought-out strategy that involves key stakeholders, allows organisations to unlock new opportunities and overcome challenges more effectively. But what happens if you become tired of change?  If there is just too much of it?

Change fatigue is a phenomenon that arises when people feel overwhelmed by continuous changes in their work or personal lives. It’s the exhaustion, resistance, or negative response that individuals or organisations experience when they are subjected to too much change, too quickly, or too frequently.

The majority of people have an innate need for stability, order, and regularity. Frequent and rapid change, whether its organisational restructuring, leadership changes, process alterations, technological implementation, or any significant modifications in someone’s work or personal life, can make them feel overwhelmed and unable to adapt and cope effectively. Constant exposure to frequent changes can also lead to high levels of stress and frustration whilst adapting and adjusting to new situations or increased job demands can be emotionally and mentally draining. It can also create an unstable work environment, with a lack of predictability and security, and decreased feelings of control over one's work. If these changes are not communicated effectively or employees do not receive adequate support, training or resources, an individual's resilience can be further depleted making them susceptible to burnout as well as to change fatigue!

Burnout of course can develop independently from change fatigue, but both can be mitigated by the creation of supportive work environments that offer resources for coping with change and provide opportunities for employees to have a sense of control and autonomy over their work.

Business change, when managed effectively, can bring positive outcomes and benefits for organisations. By addressing the issues around change with empathy, understanding, and a well-considered approach, organisations can increase the likelihood of successful change management and foster a positive and resilient workforce who remain healthy, motivated, and productive, even amidst constant organisational change.


Connecting inquiry

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Keywords

Resilience – Science – Spirituality – Positive Change

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Susan Bauer-Wu discusses her background in nursing and meditation research and how she became President of the Mind and Life Institute. This is an organisation co-founded by the Dalai Lama in 1987 that aims to bring science and contemplative wisdom together to better understand the mind and create positive change in the world. In her work with Mind & Life, Susan has championed “human-earth connection” as a priority.

Susan began her career as a registered nurse specialising in oncology and end-of-life care, and later completed PhD studies in psychoneuroimmunology. She has held leadership, teaching, and clinical positions in non-profits, higher education, and health care, and is the author of Leaves Falling Gently: Living Fully with Serious & Life- Limiting Illness through Mindfulness, Compassion & Connectedness.

Main topics

  • Connecting inquiry with important issues in the world today, including climate change.

  • Reversing climate crises through heart-based practices.

  • Bridging science and contemplative wisdom to create positive change in the world.

  • The need for resilience and political will in addressing climate change

  • The challenges of changing capitalism and overcoming prejudice against women like Greta Thunberg.

Timestamps

1:  Introduction of speakers. Susan introduces herself and her role in Mind and Life Institute- 00:00-01:54
2. Mind and Life Institute.  Susan talks about Mind and Life as an incubator for meditation researchers, shares the history of the first Mind and Life dialogue and talks about the 35 years of archival footage that Mind and Life has recorded - 02:08-04:03
3. A Future We Can Love. Susan talks about the importance of connecting inquiry with real-world issues - 06:31-07:34
4. The urgency of the climate crisis - 08:34-09:30
5. Susan talks about her latest book; A Future We Can Love - 20:45-22:37
6. The Climate Emergency feedback loops videos - 22:10-22:37
7. Capacity for Change. The capacity for humans to change their behaviour - 26:40-27:34.
8. The concept of wonderment or awe - 27:34-28:22
9. Taking Action. The importance of taking action - 28:22-29:18

Action items

To learn more, please visit Mindandlife.org.
Purchase Susan’s latest book A Future we can Love.

 You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.  

Making remote management work

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 Keywords - Resilience – Working Remotely – Travelling - Change - Remote Works

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Ali Green, a digital nomad who has been traveling full time since 2017, shares her experiences of working remotely and living a life of constant change. She talks about how she learned to keep in touch with her company while traveling and how she found success as an employee, freelancer, consultant, and writer. Ali also discusses the challenges of building deep relationships while constantly on the move and emphasises that it's possible to find your tribe even when you're not physically around them. She shares her most challenging experience in Asia where being far from her support system made her feel isolated at times.

Finally, she reveals some of her top experiences so far as a digital nomad- including skydiving in Brazil and organising a trip to Japan for remote co-workers which helped deepen their bond despite never meeting again in person.

She is also the co-author of the book "Remote Works: Managing for Freedom, Flexibility and Focus," which discusses her experiences with remote work and travel. She emphasises the benefits of embracing a resilient mindset to navigate the challenges that come with this lifestyle, such as language barriers and cultural differences. The book offers practical advice for managers on how to effectively lead remote teams and maximise productivity.

Main topics

  • Ali's top three experiences while traveling.

  • How Ali developed resilience while traveling and working remotely.

  • The future of remote work.

  • How to form and maintain connections while traveling.

  • The importance of having a support system while traveling.

  • The challenges of working remotely and managing a team in different time zones.

  • The benefits of asynchronous communication in remote work.

Timestamps

1: Introduction and Background 00:02-03:17
2: Early Childhood Experiences 03:35-04:42
3: Professional Struggles 05:52-06:44
4: Nomadic Lifestyle 06:55-08:15
5: Top Experiences 12:46-15:47
6: Remote Work 19:01-22:16
7: Conclusion 23:30-24:27

Action items

   You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.  

Contagious burnout?

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No one is immune to burnout. It’s something that can affect people across every sector and discipline, and it’s also something that's on the rise.

The classic signs of burnout, mental exhaustion, disengagement, negativity, cynicism and reduced productivity are well established and, although we generally think about it as something that affects individuals, it can be contagious!  Contagious burnout refers to the phenomenon where an individual’s burnout symptoms are spread to their colleagues or team members. This type of burnout contagion usually happens after there has been some sort of organisational change such as large-scale redundancies, cuts to budgets, policy reviews or alterations to the management team. In the face of such change, employees may experience feelings of fear, confusion, frustration or anger.

If leaders do not address this, burnout may develop in team members who work closely together which can impact the entire team's wellbeing and productivity. It can also create a culture where working long hours and sacrificing personal time is normalised, creating pressure for others to do to do the same and further contributing to the spread of burnout within the team.

To prevent contagious burnout, it’s essential to prioritise self-care, encourage open communication within the team, and ensure that workload and responsibilities are distributed evenly. Employers can also provide resources for employees to manage stress and offer support for those experiencing burnout. By addressing burnout early and proactively, teams can create a culture of wellbeing and prevent burnout from spreading.

Contagious burnout is incredibly disruptive and costly for both the individual and organisation. For the employee, it can lead to presenteeism, absenteeism and a variety of physical symptoms. For the organisation it can mean high staff turnover, lower productivity and ultimately reduced profitability.  Whether looking at contagious burnout from a corporate or individual perspective, the need should be to focus on strategies that will have a deeper impact and create lasting cultural change.

Changing times. Leadership in the entertainment industry.

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Keywords: Resilience – Leadership – Empathy – Entertainment Industry – Executive Coaching

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Dawn Kohler a writer and executive coach in the entertainment industry discusses how media and entertainment are going through cataclysmic change right now due to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon. This has kept her busy coaching leaders who struggle to develop themselves and their teams during times of uncertainty or turbulence. She discusses the evolution of leadership styles in the industry and the focus on empathy and accountability, and also touches on the importance of proper nurturing in parenting and how organisations can value the wisdom of elders while embracing diversity for growth.

Main topics

  • How the media industry reflects our society and shows how it has moved forward.

  • The evolution of leadership style and approach behind the screen.

  • Why adults need to hold space for somebody and listen to the acknowledgment of somebody being hurt by something they unintentionally or intentionally did.

  • A generational shift towards people who are resilient is happening because of leaders' great intentions with zero competence.

  • Building resilience means having the ability to get things wrong and put things right.

  • Why organisations should value the wisdom of the elders and have good mentoring programs.

Timestamps

1: Introduction to Dawn and her work as a writer and executive coach (00:00-01:34)
2: How Dawn found her path in the entertainment industry and her success dealing with the human dynamic during times of change (01:51-03:07)
3: The role of entertainment in reflecting society and representing different sectors of the population and emotional issues (03:38-05:56)
4: The evolution of leadership style or approach (06:01-07:01)
5: The power of communication and social media in giving viewers the ability to share their opinions and bring things to the surface (07:11-08:12)
6: The importance of empathy and acknowledging hurt when unintentionally or intentionally offending someone (12:07-14:11)
7: Dawn's work as an author and her latest book, "The Messages," which is a memoir that tells the underbelly of her own story (14:19-18:37)
8: The need for resilience and the importance of learning the ability to get things wrong and put things right (19:48-23:00)
9: The value of wisdom from elders in organisations and the importance of passing down corporate history (23:08-24:59)
10: The importance of escalation and having challenging conversations in organisations (24:51-26:14)

Dawn is also the author of three books, including her latest memoir "The Messages," which discusses her personal journey through severe abuse in childhood, which led to a shift in perspective and ultimately into the field of executive coaching.

Action points

  • Learn about Dawn at dawnkohler.com

  • Read Dawn’s book ‘The Messages. A Memoir’

   You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.  

Weathering the Storm: How Resilient Businesses Can Adapt to Climate Change by Katie Pierce

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Adapting to the effects of climate change requires resiliency, not just from governments and businesses, but also from individuals and their everyday commuting habits. It is the only way we can build a sustainable future while weathering the storm. For businesses, adapting to climate change goes beyond protecting the environment. It also means surviving and thriving in the future. 

In this article, we will discuss how resilient businesses can stand strong in the face of climate-related challenges. 

Why Resiliency Matters in Adapting to Climate Change

Resilience is crucial in adapting to the impacts of climate change. It means having the capacity to bounce back quickly when we're knocked down.  Resilience is necessary to withstand extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes, and to reduce the potential for long-term harm. Building resilience can also help mitigate the impacts of climate change in the long term. Investing in resilient infrastructure, such as green roofs and permeable pavements, can protect communities from flooding and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Resilience is not a luxury, it's a necessity if we want to adapt to the challenges that lie ahead. It is needed to create a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

Risk Assessment and Management

In today's rapidly changing climate, a savvy business understands the imperative of risk assessments to confront potential environmental challenges. But it's not enough to simply check the box and move on. To truly fortify their resilience, a wise enterprise invests in analysing these risks with a discerning eye, prioritising them based on their potential impact. Only then can they craft effective risk management plans, ready to withstand even the most daunting of scenarios. Yet, it doesn't end there. A truly resilient business remains nimble, consistently updating its risk assessments as new data and insights come to light. This adaptability allows them to stay ahead of emerging risks, a crucial asset in today's ever-changing landscape.

Adaptation Planning

In the face of an ever-evolving climate, a resilient business recognises the need for targeted adaptation plans designed to suit the unique risks they face. These plans go beyond just identifying potential threats. Instead, they leverage specific changes to operations, infrastructure, and supply chains to reduce vulnerability and build enduring fortitude. With such foresight and agility, a savvy enterprise can not only weather the storm but thrive in the midst of uncertainty, carving out a path to sustainable success.

Diversification

A truly resilient business understands the importance of diversification - in operations, supply chains, and beyond. By broadening their horizons, they reduce their dependence on any single geographic region or resource, effectively insulating themselves from the impacts of climate change. This means looking for alternative sources of raw materials and energy or even exploring new markets altogether. Doing so not only mitigates risk but also sets a business up for sustained growth and prosperity. In today's ever-shifting landscape, a willingness to adapt and explore new horizons is not just smart business - it's essential for survival.

Innovation

A resilient business doesn't just rely on old strategies to weather the storm of climate change. Instead, they cultivate a culture of innovation - one that encourages employees to think outside the box and develop novel solutions to complex challenges. By embracing emerging technologies, business models, and approaches, such an enterprise stays ahead of the curve. They adapt to evolving conditions and identify new opportunities that arise as a result of climate change. Through a willingness to experiment and explore new frontiers, a forward-thinking business can not only survive but also thrive. In the process, transforming adversity into opportunity and charting a path to long-term success.

Collaboration

Resilient businesses don’t just go it alone - they understand the power of collaboration. By working hand-in-hand with other stakeholders - from governments and NGOs to local communities - a savvy enterprise can develop the effective strategies needed to tackle the long-term challenges of climate change. Fostering collaborative partnerships and engaging with relevant stakeholders allows a business to tap into valuable insights and support. In turn, this builds the resilience needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.

In short, the path to success isn't a solitary journey - it's a shared one. It’s built on the foundations of trust, partnership, and the willingness to work together towards a common goal.

Climate-Related Financial Disclosure

The disclosure of financial risks and opportunities related to climate change is known as climate-related financial disclosure. It is an essential tool for businesses to manage their exposure to climate change risks and identify opportunities for growth and innovation. Resilient businesses recognise the importance of climate-related financial disclosure as it helps identify and mitigate climate change risks. It also provides stakeholders with a better understanding of the company's exposure to climate change. Climate-related financial disclosure also helps companies demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and responsible environmental practices, attracting investment from environmentally conscious investors.

Summing Up

Climate change presents significant challenges for businesses of all sizes and industries. However, by building resilience, businesses can effectively adapt to these challenges and position themselves for long-term success. 

If you want to learn more about resiliency in business, contact QED.

Guest Author

Katie Pierce is a teacher-slash-writer who loves telling stories to an audience, whether it’s bored adults in front of a computer screen or a bunch of hyperactive 4-year-olds. Writing keeps her sane (most of the time) and allows her to enjoy some quiet time in the evening before she walks into a room of screaming kids (all of whom she loves dearly) the next morning.

Choosing joy. The life we should be living.

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Connie Monroe left corporate America in 2012 and now runs her own coaching company where she helps people get through big life events. Connie had no plan to work in finance it was something she just fell into. Having put herself through university she had a lot of student loads to pay back and her cousin was working in large company with lots of vacancies. It was the dot.com boom and she thought she’d go there and then figure things out.  She didn't enjoy the first three years at all but she then became a manager and her role changed. She was actually managing people which she started to enjoy.

 She was working in client services and she came to realise that many people went into those positions for other reasons. She had fifteen people in her team and at least ten of them were there for other intensions - they wanted to go the trading floor, wanted to get into HR or didn't want to be processing every day. The other thing she found was that after two or three years people were getting lazy. Her question was why are you still here, is there a way we can we help you to move on? The most satisfying thing for her was to help someone move on and bring someone new in.

People get stuck for many reasons but life is not a rehearsal and there is no reason to not be happy doing what you’re doing. As a manager, if your people aren’t happy they are not going to do good work. Connie stayed in her role for sixteen years because she enjoyed trying to help other people through coaching and personal development. Eventually though she realised she needed to find a way out for herself. She hired her own coach in 2011 and had a session once a week for about twelve weeks. Her coach came up with some different scenarios, the favourite being to combine her love of writing with her love of mentoring to write a book.

Since that time the online sphere has really boomed and now allows us to do far more things online. Most of the people she now helps are in a career transition and she uses her Joy Method which asks where are you on your journey and what is your relationship with others. After you look at those two things, you can look at you and how you fit in.

Connie feels she had very good role models in her life. Her mother brought her up after her father left when she was nine. Her mother went back to school to become a nurse so was a huge hero to her. She also had a cheer leading coach who really believed in her so she had people in her life who put her on the path to help other people. When she came out of university, she worked with a headhunter who tried a lot of different things for her including fashion and publishing but told her the one industry she wouldn't put her in was finance. When Connie told her that was what she was going in to she was told she would be miserable which of course she was. 

Connie now lives in Costa Rica with her partner who she has been with for eighteen years. When they were dating in 2007 they went there on vacation and really loved it. They kept comparing it to everywhere else and in 2008 an opportunity came up to work there for a while. They brought a house there in 2012 and over time spent more time there until they moved there permanently in 2017.

Some people never have a sense of awakening but if you’re not happy to get out of bed and face your life then it's a sign you’re stuck. People can throw themselves into their professional life because they’re not happy in their personal life whilst others seem externally happy but know something is missing or not quite right. Some people never realise it but if you’re on the wrong path something will be tapping on your shoulder.

Often what brought you joy as a child has a thread that keeps you going back. It can be something really obvious. One of Connie’s friends was very ill as a child and now works in the medical field. There is a feeling that we should be somewhere else and if you keep this down for a number of years your brain will eventually start telling you that its OK, this is where your comfortable. However, if you start telling it I need to find a way to get out of here it can be a lot better. Most of us are living a fraction of the life we should be living.

You can find out more about Connie at http://monroecoaching.com Her book is ‘Holding onto Joy Through Abandonment & Divorce’

   You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions. 


Approaching change

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Joe Caruso is a leadership coach who advises CEOs and leadership teams to optimise what they do and how they do it to get what they what in the fastest most efficient way possible. Most of the time if we are left on our own, we do more and more things that are less and less important to the customer. We become lost on our own thoughts and it becomes hard to think objectively about ourselves.

Any time we define a problem, we’ve immediately defined all the solutions our mind can’t consider just by the definition we choose. This type of thinking usually requires a candid experience assessment and a candid exchange of ideas.

Joe feels we need to move away from problem orientated thinking to solution orientated thinking and be able to think back to what could this could be or what else could this mean. These are the kind of questions that once a CEO speaks and gives their definition, people it as gospel. People will tell you that they like change but don't change anything. We tend to become too static in a dynamic world especially in market places that are changing every day.

We’re changing all the time cognitively, mentally and emotionally so the problem is perhaps management practices. The process of being changed or managed through change. Change is a problem in itself but change by its very nature is something we are very good at. The problem is how we approach change. The way we define it is the problem. The last thing people or businesses want to do is change identity.

Any time we define anything in our external world we use ourselves as the foundational context. Who you are affects how you define something. We start with the mind and a simple question is who am I or what have I become. Everything starts with how we think. Narrative is the foundational understanding of who I am. The more we learn about our own narrative the more we can recognise the narrative of others.

It’s about creating a corporate culture based on a compelling narrative that allows us to make sense of the world.  The first thing you need to do to create compelling is Identity. Something that everybody can agree with. Who are we as a collective mind? What problem are we trying to solve? What is our process? A leadership team is the best of what their profession is. But that's not a team that's just the top of the different divisions in the organisation. There has to be a trust and candor where everyone is able to talk on all areas. The CEO job is not to create excellence, it’s to create an environment where excellence can thrive.

 Find out more about Joe at www.carusoleadership.com,

  You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.

Leadership skills for the smartest person in the room  

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Christian Espinosa is an entrepreneur, a cyber security engineer, a certified high-performance coach, a professor, and a lover of heavy metal music and spicy food. He’s also an Air Force veteran and Ironman triathlete. Christian used to value being the “smartest guy in the room,” only to realise that his greatest contribution to the fight against cybercrime is his ability to bring awareness to the issue through effective communication and leadership training. Christian is a speaker, coach, and trainer in the secure methodology, helping to make the smartest people in the room the best leaders in the field.

Christian has spent almost 30 years in cyber security, initially in the military before forming his own company in 2014.  He found that most of the problems he had in his company were not because his staff lacked technical skills or processes, frameworks or procedures, it was because they didn't have people skills. He was hiring staff because of their technical aptitude and not looking at the cultural fit or their interpersonal skills and this opened him up to the problem or challenge that faced the whole industry. He realised that this was a recurring problem and one he needed to solve in his organisation - to bring back people skills to compliment his staffs already high IQ.

Christian feels that a lot of people want to proliferate the idea that if you are super smart, rationally smart with a super high IQ that you don't have any people skills. This idea has been tolerated for so long that it has become mainstream and acceptable but like any other skill it is something you can learn. A lot of people who are super high IQ will brag about how smart they are but, if you are super smart, you should be able to learn people skills. Somehow though they are resistant to this, perhaps because it is outside their comfort zone

When he looked back at his own career Christian realised he was trying to be smarter than other people. He realised that he was part of the problem and thought that if he could improve people skills or emotional intelligence it would help him go further in his career. Additionally, when you own your own business you have to also manage your team and use a different skill set than just hands on the keyboard. With your own business you need to be very practical, show empathy and insight, be able to explain and communicate and deal with conflict. These are often referred to as emotional intelligence or soft skills but they are not soft skills, they are fundamental to leadership.

Christian feels there should be a programme around developing leadership skills that tie into people skills and emotional intelligence.  A lot of companies will take their best engineers or technicians and promote them to a leadership position without giving them any training  - they assume that because they were good in a technical role they’ll be good in a leadership role.

They are however two dramatically different skillsets. If you are going to promote someone to a management or leadership role there should be a lot of training and awareness that just because someone is good as an operator it doesn't mean they'll be good as a leader.  Christian feels there is a difference between leadership and management. Leadership is about leading yourself first and then leading and influencing others to accomplish something whilst management is about keeping everything on track and less about influencing people.

There is also a feeling that as we skill leaders up to be more sensible and rounded, somehow their rational side diminishes as we improve one the other falls away.  In the past technical staff wouldn't want to take a leadership role because their technical skills would reduce and they would become obsolete. This needs to change. The technical skills will still be there because they maintain the high rational intelligence but they are just adding the people skills. You can pick up the technical skills again if you need to but if you add well developed people skills you will be an awesome leader because its rare for someone to have both skill sets

There has also been an idea that if you promote your best technical or sales person and put them into a management role, it’s somehow seen as a lesser career. Perhaps this is because those skills are more transferable or easier to acquire but you can always fall back into your technical side if management doesn’t work out but these things are massively important in themselves

Cultural, life and people skills and emotional intelligence has an infinite shelf life. Technical skills though have a finite shelf life because there will be new technology and updates. From a investment of time perspective, it makes more sense to learn skills that are always going to be applicable in a broader spectrum, skills that will help you across everything otherwise you are pigeon holing yourself into one specific thing.  If you develop people skills then they will applicable for the rest of your life. Dealing with conflict or having crucial conversations will be situations that will play out for the rest of your life. That’s why they have an infinite shelf life. If you get better at a specific cyber security tool or a specific technical aspect at some point that thing will change and the skill set become obsolete.

The first thing Christian learned about emotional intelligence was the awareness that he was part of the problem. We all want to be understood, appreciated and significant and in the past he felt significant by knowing more, being faster and by achieving more but he realised once he had the awareness that he was causing conflict with relationships by always trying to outdo somebody. He was never able to belong to anything because he was always trying to achieve more than everybody else. Reflecting back on his own journey was pretty sobering but he now has awareness but the awareness needs to be actionable or it doesn't really matter – knowledge is not power unless you can do something with it.

We all have unique skill sets and the goal of a leader is to work harmoniously with those skills. A lot of this requires a baseline level in people skills. We don't need to develop everybody to the maximum but if you are going to collaborate, communicate and deal with conflict it helps if we have some tools especially if someone isn’t used to having these sort of conversations. If we can communicate effectively, we are working on the solutions to the challenges, which in turn help the overall organisation.

Christian’s book ‘The Smartest Person in the Room’ is available here or you can find out more able Christian at https://christianespinosa.com/

  You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.
 

Undefeated Woman

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Desange Kuenihira is the CEO and founder of unDEfeated, a non-profit organisation that provides education for underprivileged youth and supports single mothers in developing entrepreneurial skills so that they can start successful businesses to support their families.

Originally from Democratic Republic of Congo, at the age of two, Desange and her six siblings moved to a refugee camp in Uganda. In that camp, she had to fight for the life she wanted. She was told repeatedly that she was meaningless and that her only potential worth was the dowry a much older man who would pay to marry her as a pre-teen. Many of her friends were forced to marry strangers and have their children. Typically, the marriages wouldn’t last long, and soon the women returned to their parents with children, a ruined reputation, and no options for their futures.

Desange lived in Uganda for twelve years as a refugee before moving to the U.S. and becoming a U.S. citizen. Although she still faced many problems, she built her life in Utah and having people who believed in her potential meant she was able to determine her own future. She studied at the University of Utah and gained a Bachelor of Science in criminology and a Bachelor of Science in health, society, and policy, with a minor in entrepreneurship and pre- business.

Desange was one of the lucky ones and was given an opportunity to have a different future when she went to the United States but she always remembered the girls left behind. She founded unDEfeated for her friends and the countless young women in Uganda who don’t have someone valuing their worth. Her story of resilience and courage reflects the hardships faced by women in Uganda who often experience sexual abuse, poverty and child marriage and she hopes to break the cycle of poverty by creating opportunities for women to start and operate their own businesses.

Desange believes that education is the key to success and this is what will help Uganda move past being a poor country with an emerging economy and also close the significant educational disparity between men and women.

Find out more about Desange at Speakundefeated.org or her book Undefeated Woman is available at https://www.amazon.com/Undefeated-Woman-Desange-Kuenihira/dp/1956072063

    You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.

Redefinng midlife for women

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Jacqueline or Jack Perez runs a digital platform dedicated to normalising ageing for women through highly curated content and women driven brands. Jack feels that ageism is the last ism left and it's the one we do mostly to ourselves.

Jack feels that it’s something that happens to a lot of women when we start to look in the mirror at a certain age and don't particularly like what is reflected back to us.  It could be a line, a wrinkle, a sag or an age spot but we start to feel ‘less than’ and to internalise bad self talk that we are not as valuable. In North America there is also a very user centric culture so it adds to the feeling of being devalued over time.

There is currently a big push in society around the science of longevity. This can be a challenge as we are often not very good at knowing how to live as we get older, primarily because we are very family centric. Kids grow up and leave home and you’re left with a relationship that's slightly festered over the years or on your own and wondering what do you do next. Both women and men in their 50’s are thinking that they could have 30 or 40 years of this, but 30 or 40 years of what?

In the UK we’ve seen what’s known as 3rd age phenomenon which is rethinking that.  There is a big zeitgeist of people who are excited by this stage in their lives, have been liberated from everything else, are old enough not to care sometimes but also to have the wherewithal to think ‘OK what could be next?’ They are looking for a source of information, a friendly face or place that relates to them where they and say ‘this is something that I could do or someone who I could be’.

At the moment we are in a unique position. The average lifespan of a white woman in the early 1900’s was 51. Although there were people who lived to their 80s or 90s this was not as a cohort or large sector of the population. Now is the first time that there is a very large number or a high concentration of people in this space. The Baby Boomers, the Gen X’s and now even the older Millenials are all entering this space and the exciting thing is that we get to define what that seed change looks like and the new paradigm. Women are hungry to look for the modeling of ‘what can my life look like in my 60s 70s and 80s?’ This is why Jack built the platform and brought together global thought leaders on the topics that are important to women in the extra years that they didn’t get 100 years ago.

The idea of having a community of liberated free thinkers seems to be quite exciting. Every day a new article gets pushed out about a relevant topic. It doesn’t shy away from the tough subjects but deals with them in an empowering, kind and productive manner. It’s not about shaming or scaring anyone rather its about providing valuable information that's actionable in the different areas. For example, if you’re looking in your closet as a 55 or 58 year old and asking ‘can I wear any of the stuff I used to wear when I was in my 30s or 40s?’ There are articles about fashion in mid life and beyond and article about skin care and makeup. The best place to start is the About page. Just scroll down so you can access articles from women around the world and find the topic that's relevant to you.

Jack found that when she was going through menopause herself she couldn't find any positive relevant information to help her so she started the platform because she didn't want other women to feel alone or scared. Loneliness and isolation are leading indicators of longevity – you will live longer if you have connections with other humans. Neither smoking, drinking nor being obese are not as dangerous to your health as being isolated and lonely.  They are also major causes of depression and also dementia. In a world where we are more connected we are increasingly isolated.

Jack earned her MBA from the University of Chicago and was then hired by Hewlett Packard in San Francisco where she worked for several years. She wasn't really corporate material though so in 1999 she left the corporate world and started a PR and marketing business with her then husband. It was the heyday of the late 90s with .com bubble and lots of venture capital money. It was a very buoyant environment but not at all sustainable in the longer term. Jack became a single mum late in life so started working in smaller companies in fractional executive roles that helped her spend more time with her child. She then went through the menopause and that's when she realised she needed to do something not for her but for everyone else!

There does seem to be a reappraisal of ones life at the time of menopause and there is science behind this. It's a time when women lose a lot of the hormones that make them maternal and want to take care of people. Post menopause many don't feel as maternal as they used to. Jack didn't realise just how tied she was to that feeling, need, drive or biological imperative. She had no idea how critical, crucial or all encompassing it was until it dissipated. Women can also become more vibrant at this time of life so if there is a mismatch in a relationship it can become more evident and, in the US, the highest number of divorces are issued by women aged 50 and above. There seems to be a lot of women who at 50 just say ‘I don't want to be married to you any more’ perhaps because the dream has changed or been fulfilled in a way.

The idea that we should be empowered to go out and start a new life is exciting. The problem and opportunity with a youth culture is that older people are often seen as wiser and are used as mentors. Younger people want to gain an edge and this often comes from people who have been there and done it before. Interestingly, the platform attracts younger people as well as the target market with half of the audience being under 45. Jack feels that this is because they are curious about what is coming so they are empowering themselves by learning.

You can find out more about Jack at www.kuellife.com or info@kuellife.com

    You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.