Cascading Leadership - The Show

Jiquanda Nelson was the guest on this episode of Cascading Leadership. She is the CEO of Diversity Window, a technology organization that focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is  a mother of three, a distance runner, and an avid community activist. She also serves on many boards, including the PTA president. Jiquanda discussed her background and origin story, which included her passion for wanting to help the younger generation navigate organizations and environments where they may be the only one that looks different. She also discussed her role as the ultimate hype woman and how she likes to make people feel seen and heard.

Jiquanda shared her experience growing up in a small, diverse town where she was the only black student in the gifted program. She had many friends and was a very sociable person, but still found it difficult to fit in at times. As she grew older, she understood how much her different experiences had shaped her. She realized that the education experience of black students was different and that they often did not get the same opportunities or access to resources as other students. Through her experience, she was able to learn the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and how it can create a more equitable educational system.

Jiquanda grew up in a family that emphasized the importance of taking care of the community. This mentality has been with her throughout her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and she feels it is her responsibility to speak up when she sees someone suffering. Family has been an integral part of her views and values, and has been the foundation for her work.

Timestamps

00:00:00

 Exploring the Origin Story of an Ultimate Hype Woman and Diversity Advocate

00:03:19

 Reflections on Growing Up in a Small Town and Experiencing a Culture Shock at a Historically Black College and University

00:06:37

 The Impact of Family on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work

00:09:17

Conversation on Experiences of Growing Up and College Life at Florida A&M University

00:14:48

Reflection on Working with At-Risk Youth

00:17:46

 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategies with Jiquanda Nelson

00:23:00

Mentorship and Sponsorship: Keys to Advocating for Yourself

00:25:57

Conversation on Communication, Feedback, and Managing Upwards

00:29:35

Conversation on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategies for Business Success

00:35:49

Conversation on Building an Effective D&I Program

00:39:38

Conversation on the Benefits of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace

00:45:17

Building an Inclusive Organizational Culture

00:50:21

Key Leadership Takeaways for Career Advancement

00:53:28

Heading: Creating a Space for People to Show Up at Their Best: The Importance of Doing the Work to Understand Experiences

Music Credit: Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera

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In this episode of Cascading Leadership, Dr. Jim welcomes Ali Al Jabry, the founder of Kwema, to discuss the most important thing to consider as a founder of a startup and why building lifelong relationships is critical to startup success. 

Ali explains that he is Kenyan and Saudi and has lived in five different continents, mainly the Middle East and Africa, for about 10 years.He provides insight into why having strong relationships is essential for success and emphasizes that the US isn’t as safe as some may think. 

Ali highlights the importance of understanding the local market and culture in order to succeed. He advises that founders should be patient and persistent in order to succeed. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the local market, the local culture and the need to build relationships with people who have a good understanding of the region. Finally, he advises founders to always be learning and to stay current.

Ali  is a tech founder motivated by his experience in two very different worlds, the Middle East and Kenya. He and his co-founders came up with the idea of Kwema,  after one of their network friends was kidnapped on her way from the airport to her house. Through his journey with Kwema Ali has learned about safety and security, having lived all over Latin America and the US.

 Kwema, a safety technology company that has developed a badge reel device with a hidden panic button. When pressed, it notifies a user's security team, corporate security team, emergency management team, or 911 of their situation. He shared his story of how the company evolved from an idea that was sparked from an experience of being in a dangerous situation. 

Ali has lived in many places throughout his life - this has allowed him to talk to people about their safety and has opened his eyes to the need for safety technology. He has received a lot of traction for Kwema in different industries in the US. Ali's story of innovation is rooted in a terrifying experience, .

 His immigrant background has helped him stay open minded and venture out of his own community. He believes in investing in cultures and being as local as possible.

Timestamps

00:00:00

 Exploring Innovative Leadership and Disruptive Strategies

00:05:00

 Exploring the Impact of a Global Life Experience

00:10:58

 Professional Growth and Ambition

00:15:50

Lessons Learned from Winning a Startup Competition

00:25:36

"Exploring the Challenges of Launching a Hardware Product

00:34:21

Exploring Solutions to Workplace Violence

00:38:49

Conversation on Building Relationships and Putting People First in Business

00:47:27

Exploring Solutions to Healthcare System Challenges 

Music Credit: Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera

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Summary/Abstract

Dr. Jim welcomes Hamid Bangura to the show to discuss the importance of access to opportunity being the true foundation for success, rather than talent alone. They discuss how it is important to not confuse what makes sense with what drives one to make a difference, as well as why one cannot KPI their way to success if their product is people. Hamid reveals that he has been an independent contributor as a technical recruiter, covering a wide range of skill sets primarily on the IT side, ranging from engineering to executive recruiting. 

Hamid  is a recruitment manager who has been in the staffing and recruiting industry for  years. He has worked in management, director and national roles, and has traveled to other countries such as India to help build branches there. His current role is working for Amazon AWS, where he deals with high-level software engineers and software development managers. He is also responsible for offers and interacting with the business. Hamid immigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone when he was young, with his parents, in search of opportunity. They settled in a small town in Central Illinois.

Hamid Bangura's parents made the decision to immigrate to the United States from Sierra Leone. In Sierra Leone, the quality of education and access to basic necessities like consistent power had been declining, making life there increasingly difficult. Therefore, they decided that the US would offer a better future for their family. He and Dr. Jim also discussed the similarities of their immigration stories, as both of them immigrated at a young age from their respective countries.

 Hamid shares his experience of life in Sierra Leone during the civil war. Hamid's family were still living there at the time and they relied on short wave radio for news. The war lasted 11 years, had a devastating effect on people, and the family tried to help in whatever way they could. Hamid only returned to Sierra Leone in 2017, and saw first-hand the extreme poverty and lack of resources. He also saw that people were still enjoying life and being resilient despite the difficult circumstances. He noted that there is no middle class, only those with money and those who struggle, and that the open-air markets are selling mostly goods from Asia. Lastly, he pointed out that many people lack access to clean water and food, making life even more difficult.

Timestamps

00:01:54

Conversation with Hamid Bangura: A Journey from Sierra Leone to Amazon AWS

00:06:11

Heading: A Day in the Life of a Sierra Leoni During Civil War Conflict

00:09:17

Conversation on the Impact of Civil War and Underdevelopment in Sierra Leone

00:15:14

From the DC Area to Charleston, Illinois

00:18:29

 Navigating Cultural Identity in Central Illinois

00:25:31

Conversation on Immigrant Experiences and Educational Achievement

00:30:00

 Career Paths and Human Capital Management

00:36:00

Adjusting to a Career in Staffing

00:39:17

 Reconciling Metrics and People in the Staffing Industry

00:40:49

"The Benefits of Focusing on Outcomes in Staffing"

00:44:00

 Achieving Success in the Staffing Industry

Music Credit: Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera

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Summary/Abstract

In today's conversation, Terrance Cooley discusses how resilience, adaptability, and a minimalist lifestyle is the key to seizing opportunity and success in life. 

Terrance is  chief information security officer (CISO) and the CPO for the US Air Force.  In his previous role, he was a cyber threat hunter for the Air Force. He has also worked as a IT systems program manager for logistics in Europe. In his current role, he is responsible for the security of the  information systems and ensuring that they are compliant with regulations. He is also responsible for the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program.

Terrance talks about how he is responsible for driving the culture of the organization and ensuring that it is aligned with the strategic mission. He has extensive experience in leadership and management, and he is passionate about creating a positive and productive culture within the Air Force.

Terrance  talks about how his early life was very challenging, with his family moving around a lot and him having to restart his life multiple times. He also talks about how his mother had to bring him to her college classes in order to continue her courses. He talks about how he attempted suicide when he was 12, but it failed and discouraged him from trying again. He talks about how he eventually got more comfortable with change and found his own happiness.

Timestamps

00:00:00

Terrance Cooley: A Resilient Life

00:02:00

A Career in Technical Management and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

00:03:29

The Air Force's Approach to Innovation and Culture Change

00:06:35

The Power of Outcomes

00:08:36

The Importance of a Good Foundation in Life

00:09:52

Terrance Cooley's Journey from Survival Mode to Success

00:12:47

The Importance of a Mentor

00:18:17

My Struggle with Toxic Masculinity

00:19:43

Experience with Depression

00:21:20

Failed suicide 

00:22:50

 Finding His Voice

00:24:44

The Best Years of Your Life? Terrance Cooley Disagrees

00:28:58

The Importance of a Good Work Ethic and Quality Character in the Workplace

00:30:40

The Air Force as a Stepping Stone for Success

00:31:53

The Importance of a Diverse Education System

00:33:27

Career Navigation Lessons

00:37:06

The Career Path 

00:38:35

Leadership Development in the Military

00:45:19

The Air Force's Approach to Maintaining Technical Proficiency

00:46:37

The Benefits of a Minimalist Lifestyle in the Workplace

00:47:59

The Power of Change: Lessons from Terrance Cooley

Music Credit: Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera

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Summary/Abstract

Ashley Brundage discusses her experience in the restaurant industry and how it has influenced her career in leadership development. She talks about her early days working as a server and how her first manager taught her the importance of being a good leader. She also talks about her experience in the restaurant industry in terms of recruiting and retention, and how she has had to reinvent herself in many ways since losing her job in 2008.

 Ashley chats about the foundational elements of empowerment and how to move past the performative empowerment culture that exists today. She also talks about how to build the confidence and resilience necessary to overcome any obstacle.

 Ashley also talks about her unique approach to leadership development, which includes a focus on intersectionality. She explains that her program is designed to help people understand the different ways that people can lead, and how to create a lasting impact.

Ashley  discusses the importance of incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into leadership development programming. She emphasizes that it is important to have a variety of people delivering the educational programming, and that the model should be one that connects with all people. Ultimately, this will help to bring people together and improve team dynamics and outcomes.

Timestamps

00:00:00

Ashley Brundage - Empowering Differences - S3 E 100

00:02:19

Leadership Development Programs: A Conversation with Ashley Brundage

00:03:59

The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Leadership Development Programs

00:07:30

The Impact of Diversity in the Workplace

00:10:07

The Impact of High Turnover in the Restaurant Industry

00:11:44

The Importance of Cultural Respect in the Restaurant Industry

00:14:00

Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace

00:15:38

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

00:17:03

Transgender Woman's Journey to Employment in 2010

00:19:59

How to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Success

00:21:25

Ashley Brundage's Journey to the Top of the Banking Industry

00:26:00

The Importance of Inclusion in the Workplace

00:27:38

The Importance of Internal Capital

00:29:04

The Power of a Vision

00:34:00

Dr. Jim and Ashley Brundage Discuss Career Navigation and Personal Branding

00:36:44

The Importance of Being Pot Committed in Your Career

00:39:53

The Power of Personal Branding in Your Career

00:41:20

The Power of Empowerment

00:43:00

How to Create an Impactful Message

00:48:08

Networking and close down 

Music Credit: Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera

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2023 will be a really interesting year for a lot of reasons. 

The year will begin with us being 6 months into a recession and some geopolitical events that could deepen that recession (the potential consolidation of BRICS will be really interesting to observe). 

The emergence and acceleration of AI in the workplace will have profound impact on the world of work. 

Since everyone is making predictions about 2023, we figured this would be our opportunity to make a bold prediction. 

2023 will be the year that signals the beginning of the end for Google and traditional search engines as we know it. 

This episode will talk about the relationships between Chat GPT, Microsoft, Azure, Linkedin, Google, YouTube, and TikTok and how the shifting sands will signal the end of Google search. 

What do you think of the bold prediction? 

What's your bold prediction for 2023? 

Music Credit: Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera

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2022 was a horrible year for sales effectiveness. 

The volume of outbound outreach ramped up significantly but the results were terrible. 

The response to all of that poor outreach showed up with most reps (close to 70%) failing to meet quota. 

2023 is going to be a year where there are significant economic headwinds and an AI emergence that could signal the end of many entry-level sales roles. 

So what can you do to not only improve your skills but also to drive results? 

The steps discussed in this episode provides an actionable framework for reps to use. 

Music Credit: Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera

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In today's mostly remote, distributed, post-pandemic environment, it's quite common for employees to feel burned out. 

Many organizations experienced record-breaking productivity during the pandemic but it came at the cost of an almost "always on" work culture. 

This obviously led to employee burnout and all the great resets, resignations, reshuffles, etc we saw in 2022. 

This episode covers 5 steps that employers and leaders can take to create a more engaged workforce. 

Let us know what you think. Share this with a friend. 

Music Credit: Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera

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70% of sellers will have missed quota in 2022. Doing the same motions in 2023 will yield even poorer results. 

This episode will cover 5 actionable steps for better sales outcomes in 2023. 

Check it out and share it with a friend.

Music Credit: Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera

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US Employers lose 550 billion dollars a year due to poor employee engagement. 

The 6 steps discussed in this episode will allow employers to deploy a framework that will build an engagement culture. 

Check out the episode. 

Tell a friend.

Music Credit: Maarten Schellekens - Riviera 

Follow us at:
www.cascadingleadership.com
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