Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker

Dr. Deb Mashek, PhD is an experienced business advisor, professor, higher education administrator, and national nonprofit executive. Previously Full Professor of Social Psychology at Harvey Mudd College. She is the author of Collabor(h)ate: How to build incredible collaborative relationships at work (even if you’d rather work alone). Named one of the Top 35 Women in Higher Education by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, she has been featured in media outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, Business Week, The Hechinger Report, and Fortune. She writes regularly for Psychology Today.

Deb is the founder of Myco Consulting LLC, where she speaks, advises, and provides professional development to those seeking to build better workplace collaborations.

learn more at www.ericbrooker.com & www.myco.consulting

 

My guest today is none other than Sarah Wells.

Sarah is an Olympic hurdler and Pan Am Silver Medalist and has learned how to overcome hurdles both literally and figuratively. During her pursuit of the London Olympics, she was sidelined for months just the year before due to injury, but was able to finish as an Olympic semi-finalist and one of the youngest competitors in the field. There is a whole other story about when she pursued her second Olympic games, but we will save that for our conversation today.

Outside of competitive sports, she coaches people to pursue their goals through the Believe Initiative, an organization she founded on—fittingly—a message of resilience. Through the Believe Initiative, she has helped over 120,000 students across North America understand the importance of being resilient and the power of believing in themselves. In the corporate world, she has worked with organizations such as Salesforce, Deloitte, Proctor and Gamble, Kraft-Heinz, Bell Media, and RBC on how to build more resilient teams through keynotes and customized workshops. 

Sarah recognizes not everyone is going to have that, teacher, coach or person in their lives, who believes in them, so the Believe Initiative was created in 2017 to be that person for as many people as possible.

Find more at www.ericbrooker.com and www.believeinitiative.com

 

Kelly Dolan is our guest today and is the president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). In this role, she leads the strategic vision for the organization’s long-term growth, impact and delivery of mission. Additionally, she provides strategic guidance for system-wide programs that support millions of children and their families each year in 62 countries and regions around the world. 

The mission of RMHC is to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families.

Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com or www.rmhc.org.

 

Melanie Sodka is a human behavior enthusiast helping overwhelmed people who are over-committed and distracted.

She’s a podcaster and an international speaker who addresses Capacity Management.

Through her structures and frameworks, she reveals how our addiction to distraction is literally breaking down our bodies. Her research and trademarked tools have helped tens of thousands in managing their personal capacity while staying out of burnout and doing more of what they love.

For many years, Melanie has been engaging and shifting the perspectives of her audiences in the classroom, boardroom and conference rooms.

A TEDx speaker, Melanie designs custom talks and virtual series to serve her clients. She is also an experienced lead facilitator for national conferences as well as an EMCEE for various events.

Melanie is also pursuing her dream of writing a book where she shares true stories and a suite of tools, including her very own Egocake™  Framework, intended to guide people through the discovery of their personal capacity and ultimately how to respect it.

Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com or www.melaniesodka.com

Capacity Creator Podcast can be found at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capacity-creator-are-you-sabotaging-your-capacity/id1402078246

Julie Battilana is the coauthor of Power, for All: How it Works and Why it's Everyone's Business, Building on decades of teaching and research, Power, for All offers an analysis of power that transcends the individual, the organizational and the societal levels. Given how rich and complex the concept of power is, Battilana researched across disciplines including sociology, social and evolutionary psychology, management, political science, economics, law, history, and philosophy. By lifting the veil on power, revealing what it is, and how it works, Battilana aims to unleash the potential for all to build and use power to effect change at home, at work, and in society.

 

Julie Battilana is the Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Business Administration in the Organizational Behavior unit at Harvard Business School and the Alan L. Gleitsman Professor of Social Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School, where she is also the founder and faculty chair of the Social Innovation and Change Initiative.

This show is dedicated to her journey. This conversation is what we make it. 

Find more at www.ericbrooker.com or https://online.hbs.edu/courses/power-influence-positive-impact/ or https://sici.hks.harvard.edu/teaching-trainings/power/

 

A conversation many of us are trying to avoid is the discussion with our kids about what is happening in Ukraine and Russia right now.

Dr. MaryRuth Hackett joins Counsel Culture as a returning guest to give us meaningful advice on how to have this conversation with kids of any age.

Dr. MayRuth Hackett earned a PhD in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Lifespan Development. She is the host of the popular Parenting Smarts Podcast where she offers parenting tips and insights based on theory, research, and her own practical experience as a wife and mother to four children. Dr. Hackett blogs at Parenting With Peer Review, and is a regular contributor at both www.spiritualdirection.com and blessedisshe.net. An Arizona native, she and her husband live in Tempe, Arizona with their four children who range in age from 10-19 years old. 

Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com

 

My guest today is Nate Randle the CEO of Gabb Wireless. If you are unfamiliar, Gabb Wireless provides safe tech to kids. With a mission to protect children, Gabb® Wireless is the first cellular network designed especially for kids.

Optimist. People-first leader. Team builder. Collaborator. Brand storyteller.

Husband and father. Golfer. Fly fisherman. Music enthusiast.

His career includes twenty-plus years in sports and tech marketing, brand building, and sales growth at leading brands like Nike, Callaway Golf, the Utah Jazz, and Qualtrics.

This show is dedicated to his journey.

This conversation is what we make it. This is counsel culture.

Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com or www.gabbwireless.com 

 

Jim Reid knows what it takes to build a high-performing culture and successfully lead organizations through tremendous change and growth. An accomplished executive and trusted advisor to seven CEOs, Jim has navigated significant change and immense pressure to build winning teams that outperform competitors. He has coached, advised and developed thousands of aspiring leaders who have gone on to deliver extraordinary results and to make the world an even better place.

Originally trained as a military pilot, Jim built his expertise working alongside some of the best thinkers on leadership including Jim Collins, Jeffrey Pfeffer, John Kotter and Dave Ulrich. Recognized in 2021 as one of the 50 Best Executives in Canada by The Globe & Mail’s Report on Business Magazine, he brings credibility, insight, and integrity to shape a framework for leadership based on five timeless principles that if understood and lived, are almost guaranteed to get you to a better place in your life.

Jim’s new book ‘Leading to Greatness’ comes out today! It combines the best research on high performance with over 30 years of observing what the very best leaders do differently to excel.

In Leading to Greatness Jim provides an actionable, practical playbook for all leaders to take their leadership in work and life to the next level. 

Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com & https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimreidchro/

Sasja Chomos is the President of Dynamic Achievement, a consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations achieve excellence through mindset and culture transformation. With a passion for leadership and organizational development that results in high performing teams and amazing customer experiences, Sasja helps businesses accelerate their
performance by engaging and inspiring their people. Her areas of expertise include leadership and team development, optimizing peak performance, creating agile and resilient organizational cultures, and customer service excellence.

Today, we discuss the implications of a toxic culture including talking about her father who took his own life 18 years ago.

This show is dedicated to her journey. This is Counsel Culture.

You can learn more at www.ericbrooker.com & https://www.dynamicachievement.com/

The LinkedIn post we discussed is here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sasjachomos_leadership-psychologicalsafety-linkedin30daysprint-activity-6888842347573063680-TWMm

The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-8255.

Lindsey Pollak is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading career and workplace experts.

She was named to the 2020 Thinkers50 Radar List, which honors the top global management thinkers whose work is shaping the future of how organizations are managed and led.

Her latest book is a response to the Covid crisis: Recalculating: Navigate Your Career Through the Changing World of Work was published by HarperCollins in March of 2021. Her other books include The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace, Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders and Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World.

Lindsey’s speaking audiences and consulting clients have included more than 250 corporations, law firms, conferences and universities. Her advice and opinions have appeared in such media outlets as The TODAY Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, NPR and now, Counsel Culture.

 

More at www.ericbrooker.com or www.lindseypollak.com 

 

Kris Sokolowski is our guest today. This is one very difficult conversation about a stage 4 cancer diagnosis in June of 2021 and his journey since. A conversation about hope, attitude, and faith. A conversation about Kris taking a leadership role in his own life.

Kris is a husband, father, and example to many of us and lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kris just purchased his tickets to Pamplona Spain 2 days ago to Run with the Bulls. What is behind this trip and other trips he has taken all over the world?

Let's find out on today's episode of Counsel Culture.

Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.cnn.com/travel/article/terminal-cancer-travel-wellness/index.html & https://www.caringbridge.org/public/krissokolowski

Today's guest is Paul Epstein. Paul is a globally renowned expert on how purpose impacts everything we do— and he’s got the wins to show for it. Paul has spent nearly 15 years as a pro sports executive for multiple NFL and NBA teams, global agencies, and the NFL league office. He’s transformed numerous NBA teams from the absolute bottom in league revenue to top-two in financial performance. He’s broken every premium revenue metric in Super Bowl history as the NFL’s sales leader. On top of all that, he’s also opened a billion-dollar stadium, helped save the New Orleans NBA franchise, and founded the San Francisco 49ers Talent Academy.

But Paul’s achievements aren’t just the result of strategic career moves, and they’re not measured by trophies, financial success, or achievement. They’re directly connected to the moment he found his Why— the purpose that drives him in everything he does and provides fulfillment, impact, and a legacy worth leaving behind.

Find more at www.ericbrooker.com | https://paulepsteinspeaks.com/ | https://whyinstitute.com/purpose/

Kara Goldin joins the show today! Kara is the Founder of Hint, Inc., best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. She has been named one of InStyle’s Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, Fortune's Most Innovative Women in Food & Drink and EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. The Huffington Post listed her as one of six disruptors in business, alongside Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Kara has successfully navigated the world of large companies and startups in many industries including media, tech and consumer products. In addition, she understands retail and direct to consumer well. She is an active speaker & writer and hosts the podcast The Kara Goldin Show where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs and other disruptors across various industries. Kara’s first book, Undaunted, published by Harper Leadership, was released in October 2020. She lives in the Bay Area.

Follow Kara on all social handles @KaraGoldin

learn more at www.ericbrooker.com

Known for his authentic style and passion as a Leadership & Personal Development Coach and Mentor, this Queens, New York native is an empowering speaker who infuses hope, positivity and action into each and every conversation. Pierre’s personal approach encourages people to achieve their desired results through the power of positive thinking

Pierre develops leaders, managers and athletes by instilling a heightened sense of confidence and honing their ability to work effectively in teams through self-awareness, self-exploration, and acceptance.

Today we run the gambit in this conversation from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the leadership crisis we talk about race in the workplace, we cover it all!

 

Find more at www.ericbrooker.com & www.pierrecamp.com

 

Brian Ahearn is a dynamic international keynote speaker, author, coach, and consultant. He specializes in applying the science of influence in everyday situations.

Brian’s passion is to help you achieve greater professional success and enjoy more personal happiness. He does this by teaching you how to ethically move others to action using the science of influence. Always looking to perfect his presentation skills, Brian does improv comedy and occasional acting. This enables him to have fast-paced, lively and engaging presentations.

This show is dedicated to his journey.

 This conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture.

Find more at www.ericbrooker.com & www.influencepeople.biz

 

Today my guest is Dr. Caroline Brookfield. Caroline is a Creativity Speaker, Veterinarian, and Author!

Caroline believes that if everyone took small, unconventional actions to embrace their inherent creativity, we could change the world. Caroline dances on the line between art and science, thrilled to discover that we don’t have to choose.  Veterinarian, researcher, and stand-up comedian, she delights in using humor and immersive experiences, backed up with research and data, to sway the most reluctant creative. She is always up for a challenge, like learning guitar, rock climbing, getting her kids to eat vegetables, surfing, meditation retreats with sniper rifles. You know, the usual stuff. 

Caroline received honors for her veterinary degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, is a certified level 2 Creative Problem Solving facilitator, and holds a Certificate of Professional Management from the University of Calgary, where she lives, Her lectures go unheeded by her family. The dog listens, sometimes.

Find more at www.carolinebrookfield.com and www.ericbrooker.com

 

Sunny Lawrence is my guest today. Sunny is a Utah native and is married to James Lawrence, AKA, the Iron Cowboy. Together, they have 5 children.

Today we talk about the journey she has taken with James and the sacrifices she has made to support his journey. More specifically, the leadership it took to support James along the way in the 50/50/50 as well as the Conquer 100.

Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com

Tammy Heermann is an award-winning leadership expert sought out by some of the world’s top companies for her programs that accelerate women’s advancement. For over twenty years, she has helped change thousands of mindsets around what it takes to lead, both self and others.

Today, we talk about her journey as well as her book; Reframe Your Story: Real Talk for Women Who Want to Let Go, Do Less and Be More - Together

Find more at www.ericbrooker.com & www.tammyheermann.com

Our guest today is Karin Hurt, co-author of Courageous Cultures. 

The book and her practice help human-centered leaders resolve workplace ambiguity and chaos, so you can drive innovation, productivity, and revenue without burning out employees.

I know. You’ve brought in leadership consultants before. You and your managers learned some theory, but then everyone got sucked back into the whirlwind of day-to-day operations—and nothing changed. It was frustrating and damaging to morale. Let’s get it right this time.

learn more at www.ericbrooker.com or www.letsgrowleaders.com

 

Our guest today comes to us from the UK. Colin Hunter is an Author, Mentor, Coach, and the Founder and CEO of PotentialSquared, an international business that specializes in Leadership Development, creating playgrounds of innovation and disrupting the way people are led. 

Find more at www.ericbrooker.com or www.https://www.potential2.com/