Interview with Angie Christopher: Take Risks

Interviewing with Nathan Mellor, Ed.D. is Dr. Angela Passarelli.

Dr. Passarelli is an Associate Professor of Management at the College of Charleston, SC, and Director of Research at the Institute of Coaching, McLean/Harvard Medical School. She also serves as a research fellow with the Coaching Research Lab and an instructor of executive education at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University.

Angela has a long-standing interest in how people, especially organizational leaders, transform as individuals and collectives to realize their full potential. This draws her to topics such as leader development, intentional change, experiential learning, emotional intelligence, organizational neuroscience, motivation, self-regulation, wellbeing, and developmental relationships. Her current research focuses on how coaching relationships support learning and behavior change throughout one’s career. In particular, she is engaged in work that examines how coaching outcomes are shaped by characteristics of the individual being coached, the interaction between the coach and coachee, and competencies of the coach. She also studies the efficacy of coaching interventions for special populations, such as women entrepreneurs, new working mothers, and physicians.

Her work has been published in both academic and practitioner journals such as the Leadership Quarterly, Social Neuroscience, Organizational Research Methods, and the Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research. Angela also serves as a representative-at-large on the board of the Organizational Neuroscience division at the Academy of Management. 

Speaking with Nathan Mellor on the Strata Leadership Show is Peter Arnstein. 

Peter brings a wealth of valuable experience in corporate finance and capital markets to executive coaching for individuals, teams, and enterprises. His approach is action and outcome-oriented. Clients embrace practices that unleash their potential to get past obstacles, aim higher and surpass what they once considered not possible. The path includes identifying and clarifying goals, taking action, being accountable, and following through. Peter is known for his focused enthusiasm, insight, results orientation, and sense of humor to connect deeply and productively with clients.

Drawing upon over 30 years of investment banking experience, Peter partnered with C-suite leaders, owners, and entrepreneurs to advise on and execute strategic transactions requiring integration of a variety of subject matter and skills in a time-sensitive, high-stakes, and risk-laden environment.

Peter cultivated client relationships at Lehman Brothers and PaineWebber (now UBS) in New York, at First Union (now Wells Fargo) in Charlotte, North Carolina, and at Mesirow Financial in Chicago. He was co-head of the mezzanine investment group at GATX Capital.

Peter’s executive coaching is fueled by his interest and curiosity in developing and sustaining leadership throughout an organization and beyond. He finds executive coaching to be a tremendously challenging and fulfilling craft to continue to serve clients on a personal level with the mission of creating greater well-being for many.

Peter earned a BA in Economics from Stanford and an MBA from Wharton (University of Pennsylvania). He is certified as an Executive Coach from UC Berkeley Executive Education and the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute. Peter’s volunteer leadership activities include pro bono coaching for students at the College of Charleston School of Business and The Citadel – the Military College of South Carolina.

Peter enjoys outdoor adventures, swimming, and biking to stay in shape, humor and comedy in a variety of forms, and reading history, biography, and fiction. Peter is married, with three grown children: two sons and a daughter.

Steve McConaghie is the Vice President of Leadership and Training at MorningStar Senior Living in Denver, CO. Steve worked in non-profit for 25 years before transitioning to senior living six years ago. Steve was drawn to MorningStar by its commitment to provide outstanding care to seniors, to Honor God, and to serve the poor. MorningStar operates 30 communities and currently has 12 in development. Steve’s avocation is serving the poor through short-term mission projects. Until recently, he served on the board of directors for Missions Ministries (MM). MM serves the oppressed and marginalized in Northern Mexico through housing, medical, and education support. Steve holds a B.A. in Sociology and M.A. in Business Management. Steve and his wife have been married for 21 years and have two teenagers. Outside of work, he is an elder at his church and a struggling golfer. 

Speaking with Nathan Mellor, Ed.D. on the Strata Leadership Show is Erika Lucas, co-founder of StitchCrew, an organization focused on building a more equitable economy through entrepreneurship. In collaboration with NBA Team the Oklahoma City Thunder, she established an accelerator program to support entrepreneurs in the middle of the country. Erika also founded VEST, a curated community of C-suite women working together to expedite the pipeline of more women in power. As she states in her TED Talk: America's Trillion-Dollar Blindspot, Erika's mission is to help close the funding and wealth gap for women and entrepreneurs of color.

New on the Strata Leadership Show!

Speaking with Nathan Mellor, Ed.D. is Cinthya L. Allen, Chief Diversity & Equity Officer.

In her role as Chief Diversity & Equity Officer, Cinthy a is member of the leadership cabinet within the City of Norman municipal government system.  She is responsible for initiating a new business segment to include the development of mission and vision principles to support Diversity & Equity through pipelines for employee development, volunteerism, community engagement, and expanding educational opportunities to increase cultural awareness and opportunity access–as well as driving EEO and affirmative action policies.

Cinthya’s career has led her to roles of wide-ranging scope.  Her background was formed through a 17-year career at a Fortune 9 Global Company where she led local teams of 25 up to a national organization of 11,000 members.

Her leadership extended internationally and grew deep Diversity & Equity roots with national organizations through Employee Resource Group leadership.  Cinthya then pivoted to a career in academia as a director influencing strategic approaches across a multi-campus, Tier 1 University.  She leads with a servant leadership approach, maximizing collaboration, engagement, and effectively influencing outcomes.

Cinthya has been recognized by receiving the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility’s Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers™ award (2014) and graduating from the HITEC Emerging Executive Program (2015). She has been recognized as a 50 Making a Difference Honoree by The Journal Record (2016) and is a graduate and Lifetime Member of Leadership Oklahoma Class 31. 

Most recently, she was awarded the Achievers Under 40 award by The Journal Record. Cinthya extends her leadership by serving on meaningful local boards, including Junior Achievement of OKC, the Latino Community Development Agency, and is a member of Oklahoma City Rotary Club 29.  She is a native of Chihuahua, Mexico, and a proud University of Oklahoma alumna.

Talking with Nathan Mellor is Valerie Hope, Strata Certified Trainer, Leadership Coach, Professional Speaker, and CEO of Connect to Joy, LLC. 

Valerie is a curious and creative learner, which has set her apart in becoming an accomplished leadership coach and professional speaker. Valerie is also an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business.

For the past 20 years, Valerie’s career has taken her throughout North America, Latin America, and Europe. She’s worked for Up with People, the international leadership program, the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Hyatt Corporation in roles focused on public relations, training, recruitment, and leadership development.

As a world-traveler, Valerie has developed and transformed leaders throughout Latin America, North America and Europe to become more conscious, connected, and creative. 

Valerie is a native Spanish-speaker from the Republic of Panama. She loves Latin dancing, playing tennis and she claims Dallas as her home. She has the cowboy boots to prove it.

Talking with Nathan Mellor is Andrew Robinson, Chief Human Resources Officer for CKE Restaurants.

Robinson joined CKE in August 2019 as Chief Human Resources Officer, overseeing the human resources, internal/corporate communications, assets protection, and corporate facilities functions at the corporate office in Franklin, TN. 

Robinson joined CKE from Starr Restaurants, a James Beard award-winning collection of boutique restaurants. As Chief People Officer at Starr, Robinson was responsible for activating the company’s growth strategy by building organizational capabilities and infrastructure.

Prior to Starr, Andrew spent nearly eight years with TGI Fridays where he managed all HR-related functions to support the 90,000-employee population worldwide. 

Andrew is an alumna of Howard University where he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He also received an MBA in Business Administration from the University of the District of Columbia. He serves as Chair of the Audit Committee for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). 

Mike Beckham graduated Summa Cum Laude from the OU Business College in 2003. 

Mike began his career working with the worldwide non-profit Christian ministry CRU.  Since transitioning to the business world, he has been a part of founding and operating several e-commerce businesses that have cumulatively generated more than 1 billion in revenue. 

Most recently, Mike has served as CEO and co-founder of Simple Modern.  Simple Modern has grown in 5 years to be one of the leading suppliers of stainless-steel insulated drinkware in the world.  Simple Modern is an omni-channel consumer packaged goods company that was built from a digital first distribution strategy.  Its three largest distribution channels are its website, Amazon, and Target.  In addition, Simple Modern is a licensing partner for the NFL, NBA, NCAA, and Disney.

Mike lives in Norman with his wife of 17 years, Heather.  He has two children, Carter (9) and Kenzie (6).  In addition to his work in the business world, Mike is the senior entrepreneur-in-residence for the University of Oklahoma Price College of Business Entrepreneurship Program.

Lee Roland currently acts as the Executive Director of a non-profit, Hope United, a pastor at The Parish in Oklahoma City, as well as a Public Speaker, Education Consultant and Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Southern Nazarene University. Lee has lovingly worked as a public school educator and administrator for over 30 years. He is formerly the proud principal of Tulakes Elementary School in the Putnam City School District. His book, The Fantastic Voyage: A Story of School Turnaround and Achievement by Overcoming Poverty and Addressing Race, wonderfully chronicles the success of his school in a high-challenged community in Northwest Oklahoma City that had previously experienced years of low test scores and poor image before his arrival. 
 
Mr. Roland has always labored exhaustively yet ardently in the field to serve students and teachers with excellence. His dedication and determination are evident as he endeavors to inspire and propel others who serve, to touch lives, and to make a difference, particularly for children.