DNA Of Purpose

I'm thrilled to introduce Joey Mak, the CEO Of Chicago Blend. Chicago:Blend is a nonprofit organisation working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion  in Chicago’s venture capital and startup community. They measure the VC diversity gap, help underrepresented professionals secure VC jobs and are building a growing community of investors who share our commitment to improving the industry.

Before joining Blend in 2021, Joey was the vice president of programs at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, where he created their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative and oversaw the Chamber’s COVID-19 economic recovery task force. He served as director of innovation & economic development for the University of Illinois System and as a deputy director at the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. 

Today Joey and I embark on a journey through the critical landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion in venture capital. We'll explore the personal narratives driving this mission, dissect the challenges hindering inclusive cultures, and highlight the imperative role diversity plays in investment decisions. Along the way, we'll uncover success stories of underrepresented founders, delve into strategies for fostering diverse corporate cultures, and address biases in both hiring practices and technology. 

Takeaways

• Increasing diversity in the venture capital space is crucial for providing more opportunities to underrepresented founders and entrepreneurs.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just checkboxes but essential business practices that lead to a more resilient and innovative organisation.
• Creating a diverse and inclusive corporate culture requires intentional effort and a focus on business strategy and goals.
• Unconscious bias can perpetuate a lack of diversity and equity in investments, but strategies like expanding networks and setting up inclusive processes can help overcome this challenge.
• Fostering diversity in technology involves ensuring diverse voices are included in the design process to avoid biases and create inclusive products and services.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Pondering Questions

03:08 Personal Journey and Purpose

06:19 Importance of Diversity in Business

07:44 Defining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

09:35 Challenges in Creating Diverse and Inclusive Cultures

11:43 Addressing Challenges in the Startup Ecosystem

13:31 Lack of Diversity in Venture Capital

16:35 Success Stories of Diverse Founders

20:01 Creating Diverse and Inclusive Corporate Cultures

22:20 Overcoming Unconscious Bias

28:55 Technology and Addressing Biases

36:10 Fostering Diversity in Technology

39:24 Exciting Trends in the Industry

43:03 Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Learn More About Joey: https://www.chicagoblend.org/

Book Your IGNITE Discovery Call: https://www.rebeccamaklad.com/advisor

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Today’s guest is Andrew Leitch, and he has combined his expertise as a psychotherapist with a deep understanding of ancient indigenous wisdom and the latest scientific breakthroughs in fields like neuroscience and epigenetic's to co-found Brave Spaces. Drawing on the latest scientific insights from neuroscience, epigenetic's, psychotherapy, and global indigenous wisdom, Brave Spaces facilitate programs that provide the tools, insights, and support you need to start living a life of connection and purpose.

In this conversation, Rebecca and Andrew discuss the keys to living a purposeful life and creating brave spaces. They explore the importance of being yourself and uncovering your unique gift, as well as the integration and embodiment of personal growth. They also delve into the concept of courage and transformation, and how it relates to the programs offered by Brave Spaces. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the power of knowing who you are and how to connect with Brave Spaces.

Takeaways

• Purpose is an energy that guides personal transformation and service.
• Self-awareness is the starting point for understanding purpose.
• Self-regulation involves influencing one's operating system and being aware of emotions.
• Connection is essential for living a purposeful life.
• Purpose can be viewed as an embodiment and an intuitive guidance system.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the DNA of Purpose podcast

02:39 Andrew Leach's work with Brave Spaces

06:28 Andrew Leach's unique journey and the golden thread

10:24 The influence of Indigenous wisdom on Andrew Leach

19:13 The five keys for creating a more connected and purposeful life

27:33 Self-awareness as the starting point

33:30 Self-regulation and influencing one's operating system

40:31 Connection and the importance of the heart

45:33 Purpose as an embodiment and energy

49:08 Being Yourself and Uncovering Your Gift

52:39 Integration and Embodiment

56:17 Courage and Transformation

58:58 Brave Spaces Programs

01:01:36 The Power of Knowing Who You Are

01:02:42 How to Connect with Brave Spaces

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Seeking purpose is a universal desire, yet it's crucial to question whether we're embarking on this quest with the right perspective. While starting with 'why' aids in directional and strategic planning, it's akin to setting a goal. Real purpose, the kind that profoundly influences our behaviour, motivates us intrinsically, and shapes our habits from the core, begins by delving into who we are—aka our DNA Of Purpose.

Understanding purpose as an integral part of our identity allows us to gain insights not only into our own motivations but also into those we lead. It becomes the catalyst for mobilising change and fostering progress.

In today's podcast episode, we are joined by two incredible guests, Dan Gregory and Kieran Flanagan, co-founders of The Behaviour Report. With decades of expertise in advertising, they have transitioned their focus to help leaders, teams, and organisations decipher and lead human behaviour. Explore with us as we decode the true essence of unlocking our DNA Of Purpose.

Visit www.TBR.news or connect with @TheBehaviourRpt to delve deeper into the cutting-edge research on Behavioural Trends & Strategy, and gain insights to navigate the realms of personal development, motivation, and fulfilling, purpose-driven lives.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:25 What Question Is Guiding Your Work?

00:08:54 What Is The Behaviour Report?

00:11:56 Decoding Purpose Through Human Behaviour

00:16:59 Why Maslow's Is A Myth

00:21:01 Apple Started Not With Why But Who

00:24:35 Collaborative Leadership

00:30:31 How Stories Can Unite Us

00:41:05 What Sucks Corporate Genius

00:45:00 Working With The United Nations & The Power Of Words To Change The World

00:54:09 Why We Have Care Fatigue

00:56:46 The Behaviour Gap

00:57:00 AI and Human Behaviour

01:02:07 Unlocking The Core Four Personality Types

01:03:18 Leveraging Our Strengths and Weaknesses

01:11:44 End

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NEW YEAR - NEW EPISODE! As we kick off the year, consider this: How can you unlock your team's full potential at work? And as a leader, how can you deepen your responsibility to nurture your community—ensuring happiness, a sense of belonging, and letting everyone know that their daily contributions truly matter?

Why? Because as the world evolves, the consistent heartbeat of your organisation is its people. Aligning that heartbeat with your operational strategy is crucial today and in the future.

In today's podcast, we speak with Catrin Lewis, a global trailblazer in employee experience. A globally recognised, multi-award-winning culture and transformation specialist, Catrin shares insights, tools, and strategies to unleash your people's power and change the world at work. Cat, as she is affectionately known, is the founder of her own consultancy, also aptly called CAT, which stands for Culture and Transformation. Through her work, she empowers leaders to unleash the full potential of their people, acting as a catalyst for positive change in the workplace.

She is also the former Head of Global Engagement and Internal Communications at Reward Gateway, who has helped more than 4,000 of the world’s leading companies in 23 countries make work better via an employee engagement platform. She is also an HR Advisor for Tenzing, the go-to investor for ambitious entrepreneurs looking to scale tech-enabled businesses.

Our conversation with Cat unveils many valuable insights. In a world where metrics often overshadow meaning, she advocates for a fundamental shift, urging business leaders to see themselves as community leaders. She also emphasises that the true potential of any organisation lies in the fulfilment of its people, highlighting the crucial role of purpose, belonging, and trust.

Overall, this conversation felt like catching up with an old friend and had a great flow. Cat's passion for her work shines through, showcasing why she's a true pioneer not only in making work a better place but also in changing the world at work by focusing on the human heartbeat of any organisation.

Catrin Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catlewis33/

The Monster In The Office: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7txA4BwA8Og

CHAPTERS 

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:18 Breaking Down Leadership Hierarchies

00:05:35 Cat's Purpose

00:08:12 The Disengagement Danger Zone

00:11:04 Scaling Up HR Tech

00:12:15 Decoding Employee Engagement

00:15:22 Does purpose in the workplace matter?

00:16:38 Can you measure meaning?

00:20:09 The Art Of Listening To Your People

00:27:04 In an age of tech do you human skills matter?

00:30:26 Hybrid Working

00:35:47 The Intersection of HR and ESGS

00:38:37 The Future Of Leadership

00:43:52 Employee Wellbeing

00:55:51 What matters the most

00:59:11 End

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In today's episode, we delve into the crucial topic of recognising and recovering from burnout.

Take a moment to pause and reflect: Have you been stuck in robot mode? Do you feel like you're merely existing rather than truly living? Are you struggling to set boundaries, drowning under an overwhelming to-do list? If you resonate with these questions, you're not alone. Many individuals invest all their energy into striving for perfection and pleasing others, only to end up drained and overwhelmed. The consequence? It becomes almost impossible to experience a genuine connection to purpose.

In our second conversation with Penny Locaso, we explore how her journey has evolved, unveiling her wisdom on preventing burnout and sparking joy. Previously, we delved into her book 'Hacking Happiness' and the Art of Intentional Adaptability. Now, Penny has shifted her focus to supporting busy women, empowering them to feel alive and present in their lives again. A quick overview of Penny's expertise: she is an exceptional coach, TEDx and professional speaker, author, Singularity University faculty member, and yoga teacher. Currently pursuing studies in psychology and training with renowned expert Dr. Gabor Maté in Trauma Therapy, Penny brings a wealth of insights to help you navigate the path to well-being and purposeful living. Join us in this insightful conversation on building resilience, setting healthy boundaries, and reigniting the joy in your life.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Who Am I At My Essence

04:16 Penny's Purpose

10:23 Presence Matters 1

1:32 The Myth Of Being Busy

16:17 Rebecca's Personal Burnout Journey

17:52 How To Notice Burnout

22:16 Productivity Has Become The Disease

26:14 The Art Of Boundary Setting

30:07 The Default Behaviours That Lead To Burnout

37:05 Vulnerability

42:11 The Role Of Trauma - Gabor Mate

50:21 Parenting 53:35 Compassionate Enquiry

56:11 End

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Today's guest is Andrew Winston, a globally recognised expert on megatrends and how to build companies that thrive by serving the world. His views on sustainable business strategy have been sought after by many of the world’s leading companies. He was selected for the Thinkers50 list of the top management thinkers globally, and he has appeared in major media such as Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Time, BusinessWeek, New York Times, and CNBC.

Andrew's latest book, "Net Positive" written in collaboration with one of the world's most prominent purpose-driven CEOs, Paul Polman, is the topic of today's conversation. In short, the book challenges fifty years of corporate dogma, stating that businesses can no longer focus solely on short-term profits or ignore humanity’s biggest challenges.

Net Positive lays out the principles and practices of next-generation companies that deliver the scale of change and transformation the world desperately needs—and today, that is exactly what we will be exploring.

https://andrewwinston.com/

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Meet Dr. Leyla Acaroglu, a transformative force challenging conventional perspectives on the world. As an award-winning designer, sustainability provocateur, social scientist, and entrepreneur, Leyla is the mastermind behind the Disruptive Design Method.

Her contributions span educational experiences, toolkits, and social enterprises, all aimed at shaping a sustainable, circular, and regenerative future. A distinguished mainstage TED speaker and LinkedIn Changemaker, Leyla earned the title of UNEP - Champion of the Earth in 2016 for her impactful work in advancing science and innovation for sustainability.

She serves as the founder of the UnSchool, Disrupt Design, the CO Project Farm, and Swivel Skills—an enterprise-level sustainability skills development platform. Complementing her entrepreneurial ventures, Leyla holds the esteemed position of Chief Circular Designer for Circular Australia. Embark on a journey into new perspectives. Join us for an insightful episode of the DNA Of Purpose Podcast with the remarkable Dr. Leyla Acaroglu.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:01 Leyla's Personal Story

00:09:47 Indigenous Thinking

00:12:41 The 'Truth' About Climate Change

00:21:18 What Is The Circular Economy?

00:29:15 Sustainable Leadership

00:35:19 Life Cycle Assessment and Mapping

00:39:56 Waste Management Crises

00:48:49 The Opportunities For Sustainable Business

00:56:44 The Takeaways

00:58:46 The End 

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Cali Ressler, a prominent American author and consultant, has made an enduring impact on the realm of work with her groundbreaking ideas in workplace flexibility and performance management. As a co-founder of the pioneering Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE) concept, she challenges traditional norms by shifting the focus from evaluating employees based on hours worked to emphasising performance and results. Teaming up with Jody Thompson, Cali co-authored the influential book "Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It," delineating the principles of ROWE and illustrating how it can revolutionise organisations, fostering improved productivity and heightened employee satisfaction. Cali Ressler's work seamlessly aligns with the evolving landscape of work, addressing themes of organisational change, business purpose, and innovative work models explored on this podcast. A testament to her influence, Cali earned recognition from Dan Pink in his book "Drive" as one of the six individuals who genuinely "get it," placing her alongside luminaries like Peter Drucker, Jim Collins, and Gary Hamel. This acknowledgment underscores the profound impact of her work in reshaping the future of work. Without further delay, let's extend a warm welcome to Cali on The DNA Of Purpose Podcast.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caliressler/

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Today, we tackle a critical question: What truly sparks a thriving community? If you're an innovative change-maker, a purpose-driven leader, or an entrepreneur propelling an idea forward, this episode can transform your approach to rallying individuals around a core mission. The key to effective mobilisation lies in understanding that purpose is not just a noun; it's a verb—an action that brings people together. Meet David Spinks, a passionate expert in the world of communities, known for his insightful newsletter and the author of 'The Business of Belonging.' David has advised and trained organisations like Facebook, Waze, Salesforce, Airbnb, and Google in community strategy. Today, we explore the importance of community, the intricacies of leadership in community building, the SPACES Model for community success, strategies for behavioural change, the role of Artificial Intelligence in community building, and the intersection between remote working, communities, and nourishing our social diets. David's wealth of experience and passion for bringing people together will guide us in exploring the art and science of community building. Dive into the conversation with David Spinks and discover the keys to building meaningful, thriving communities.

Sign Up To David's Newsletter Here: https://davidspinks.com/

Purchase The Business Of Belonging: https://davidspinks.com/book/

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I'm thrilled to introduce today's guest, a top figure on my guest list since the inception of this podcast - Aaron Hurst, the trailblazer in the purpose movement and a pioneer in purpose-driven leadership. Best known for his influential book, "The Purpose Economy," Aaron predicted the ascendance of purpose as a key driver of economic growth and innovation. As the mind behind the term 'Purpose Mindset,' he partnered with NYU to develop the first commercial measure of employee fulfilment. Leading national and global studies on purpose in the workplace and higher education, Aaron collaborated with major corporations and universities. As the founding CEO of Imperative, a venture-backed startup, Aaron introduced the first employee purpose profiling technology. This groundbreaking innovation has empowered hundreds of thousands to identify and embrace their purpose at work. Today, the platform serves as a vital peer-coaching tool, connecting and developing employees in the face of evolving work trends. In addition to Imperative, Aaron established the Taproot Foundation in 2001, catalyzing a massive $15 billion pro bono service market across the US and contributing to markets in over 30 countries. His accolades include recognition from institutions like Ashoka and the Manhattan Institute, and he has authored the 'Purposeful CEO' series for Fast Company. Aaron's insights have graced platforms such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg TV. Our in-depth discussion today navigates the DNA of Purpose, unravelling the rich tapestry of Aaron's life and highlighting pivotal moments that shaped his purpose and passion. We'll debunk myths, trace the evolution of the purpose economy since 2014, and explore the intricate connections between purpose, leadership, and the future phase of global economics—and much more.

Website: https://purposeeconomy.com/

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

01:28 The Evolution Of The Purpose Economy

05:26 Aaron's Background Story

10:41 What is purpose?

14:55 The myths about purpose

18:34 Why relationships and cause matter to purpose

20:43 The timeline of the purpose economy

28:25 Circular Economy versus Purpose Economy

31:31 The Purpose Mindset 36:15 Mindfulness

39:31 Purpose Driven Leadership

44:42 Personal Growth and Transformation

47:29 The Billboard Statement

49:37 End

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