Dr. Luis Velasquez is an entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast who helps leaders better understand what their organizations need to communicate in order to be successful. A former scientist, his academic career was interrupted by a brain tumor that he survived, not once, but 3 times. He is currently writing a book, Beyond The Fear, an autobiographical account, and research-based guide for overcoming fear, finding strength, undergoing change, finding passion, and building relationships.

Luis started his career as a scientist in fungal genetics and plant genomics until a brain tumor affected his cognitive capacities. He now calls himself a ‘recovering scientist’ who has dedicated his life to his family, endurance athletics, and, to coaching leaders to achieve positive, sustainable, and measurable results at interpersonal, and organizational levels. He also facilitates the Interpersonal Dynamics class at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and writes for Harvard Business Review Ascend.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Luis was raised in Guatemala during the Civil War and what life was like for him as a child living in poverty.
• His educational journey that began when he had a scholarship opportunity to attend college in the United States, then returned to Guatemala for three years and was later able to return to the US to earn his undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. degrees.
• Luis’ experience with his first brain tumor, feeling like he failed miserably after recovering from it, and how he had to make significant career changes as a result.
• How Luis’ entry into the coaching profession occurred serendipitously during a job interview and how he has since been helping people adapt and thrive reflecting on his own experiences and his science background.
• His unique and positive perspectives on the challenges and experiences he has encountered.
• How his drive to succeed comes from his desire to raise his two children to be kind, strong, confident, and “to bloom where they are planted.”

Links:

• Luis Velasquez on LinkedIn and Twitter.
• www.beyondthefear.com
• www.velascoaching.com



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