We want our workplaces to be these amazing places to work, where everyone is happy and it’s like a fairytale. And as much as we all love the magic of Disney, the workplace is not Disneyland. We need to let it go. Our workplaces are messy, and this episode’s guest is no stranger to leading into the unknown.

Vivian Acquah joins the podcast to share how happiness for the employee experience is the goal, not the ending. Additionally, Vivian and Chris talk about how leaders can look beyond their scope to learn and grow, the importance of wellness, humanizing the workplace, and authenticity for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Vivian is a multi-cultural and multi-passionate leader, focused on inspiring and empowering others to be their best selves through wellness and her work in DEI. Vivian is the head of Viva la Vive and Amplify DEI, where she’s making a global impact on humanizing the workplace.

Connect with Vivian Acquah

Website: https://vivalavive.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianacquah/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vivalavivenl?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VivalaViveAmsterdam

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivalavivenl/

People First Partner: WorkSmart

Creativity is good for business! With their hands-on virtual experiences using creativity and play, team development and leadership training is never boring - always inclusive and highly engaging. Click "We're Virtual" on www.worksmartadvantage.com to bring a program to your organization.

Creative Master Class Info

Worksmart is hosting a Creative Innovation™ Master Class for leaders in the corporate and non-profit sectors - so more people can have access to the impact of bringing creativity to work!

The objective of this 4-part course is for leaders to learn some creative tools they can take back to their teams to overcome challenges and vet opportunities. This also gives people a chance to have their voice heard and collaborate in new ways. 

You can find all details here on the Registration Page.

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Do you truly understand the impact that you have on this world? When we think of degrees of separation, the same goes for our actions. Our actions have a huge ripple effect, and that’s why motivational and keynote speaker, Scott Mason, comes onto the podcast to discuss the importance of building a better purpose-driven self.

In this episode, we talk about the core competencies of leadership, mentoring ourselves, underrated leadership skills, and the impact we have when we build a purpose-driven life.

Connect with Scott Mason

Podcast: https://www.purposehighway.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smason1/

Website: https://www.scottmasonllc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.scott_mason/

People First Partner: WorkSmart

Creativity is good for business! With their hands-on virtual experiences using creativity and play, team development and leadership training is never boring - always inclusive and highly engaging. Click "We're Virtual" on www.worksmartadvantage.com to bring a program to your organization.

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Have you ever seen a really awful presentation? Contrast that with one that has been beautifully designed. Jack Chan, Founder of Mad Creative Beanstalk knows the hustle and hard work that goes into building a startup, and in his work, he’s helping those startup leaders find their voice and convey their stories, often through presentations.

We got to talk about the importance of storytelling, turning your employees into your biggest raving fans, how to get your message through to employees, and the importance of standing in solidarity against racism.

Connect with Jack Chan

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-chan-wj/

Website: https://madcreativebeanstalk.com/

People First Partner: TrainXtra

TrainXtra provides virtual and on-site training programs, specifically tailored to meet your organization's needs on a variety of topics, including civility, sexual harassment prevention, anti-bullying, unconscious bias, and diversity and inclusion. For more information, please visit www.trainxtra.com

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Chris here doing a solo episode because, you know, it's Thanksgiving here in the USA.

I have to thank everyone for listening and supporting this episode, it's been an incredible experience so far and I can't wait to share more conversations in the future.

In this episode, I talk about how you can build a culture of gratitude, as well as what I'm thankful for.

Please check out these People First Partners:

• Van Lai-DuMone, Founder of Worksmart
• Baily Hancock, Leader of the Collaboration Coalition
• Kristin Sherry, Founder of YouMap
• Sejal Thakkar, Founder of TrainXtra
• Oleg Lougheed, Executive Director of Overcoming Odds
• Vivian Acquah, Leader of Amplify DEI
• John Carlson, DEI Consultant and Host of #No B.S.
• Mila DeChant, DEI Consultant and Host of Heartship - The Now of Leadership

Thanks again and please make sure you subscribe!

Julio Muhorro comes onto the Leading People First podcast to discuss how our mindsets as leaders can change and determine how we show up for our futures.

While talking about Julio's work as an award-winning entrepreneur making an impact larger than himself, Julio and Chris talk about evolving identities, generational needs and values, and organizational transformation to impact the employee experience.

Connect with Julio Muhorro

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliomuhorro

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliomuhorro/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliomuhorro

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliomuhorro

Website: https://www.coffeechat.co/mentor/in/J%C3%BAlioMuhorro

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Victor Marsh is a PHD Candidate in Organizational Behavior at the University of Colorado Boulder’s business school where he’s studying the challenge of innovation in organizations that face intense pressure to conform to existing diversity program templates.

Victor and Chris talk about diplomacy, scrapping unconscious bias training in favor of task forces, cancel culture, intersectionality, psychological safety, and giving employees time to engage in social justice issues.

In this second part of the episode, Victor shares his story, the misconceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion, how we can shift our approach to DEI, and how to address and approach racism in our society.

Listen to Part One:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a89d9287-1efa-4b5a-b837-f2b6945325e3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vicmarsh

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicmarsh/

Our Partners

TrainXtra.com provides virtual and on-site training programs on a variety of topics including unconscious bias, diversity and inclusion, sexual harassment prevention, and civility. Learn more at www.trainxtra.com

Amplify DEI is an online library of information from nearly 70 international DEI experts with over 130 sessions. Learn more about DEI and sign up here: https://go.amplifydei.com/?ac=otYOFnWj

Subscribe to The Leading People First Podcast and follow us on:

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Victor Marsh is a PHD Candidate in Organizational Behavior at the University of Colorado Boulder’s business school where he’s studying the challenge of innovation in organizations that face intense pressure to conform to existing diversity program templates.

Victor and Chris talk about a wide variety of topics based on the research and study of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and society.

In this first part of the episode, Victor shares his story, the misconceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion, how we can shift our approach to DEI, and how to address and approach racism in our society.

Listen to Part Two:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f2a7078a-9b1c-4f47-934c-7f088bce8556

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vicmarsh

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicmarsh/

Our Partners

TrainXtra.com provides virtual and on-site training programs on a variety of topics including unconscious bias, diversity and inclusion, sexual harassment prevention, and civility. Learn more at www.trainxtra.com

Amplify DEI is an online library of information from nearly 70 international DEI experts with over 130 sessions. Learn more about DEI and sign up here: https://go.amplifydei.com/?ac=otYOFnWj

Subscribe to The Leading People First Podcast and follow us on:

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Gabrielle Botelho joins the Leading People First podcast to share her experiences in creating a more human-centric culture in organizations.

There are many different ways to approach the various facets of the employee experience, so Gabrielle and Chris discuss topics like building trust while remote, leaders being role models in the organization, and keeping organizational culture when physical connection is lost.

Connect with Gabrielle Botelho

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellebotelho/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/developyourself.br/

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Ben White, face of Ben Talks Talent and Director of Talent Services at Titus Talent Strategies joins the Leading People First podcast to share how recruiting is the first impression of the employee experience that candidates and why it's important to create a positive experience.

Ben and Chris also talk about lessons in leadership, the role recruiting firms play in talent acquisition, and how companies need to focus more on employee engagement.

Connect with Ben White

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwhitecir/

Website: www.http://gettingthejobhq.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbZTfDwLrq_sl77NYfvnvhQ

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Yvonne Alston, founder of Indelible Impressions, joins the Leading People First podcast to share how leaders can create and indelible mark on those they lead.

Yvonne and Chris discuss how leaders' actions go far beyond their intended audiences, and that ripple is something to be aware of. They also discuss the culture of innovation and disruption, authenticity, consumer intelligence, and how servant leadership is an important part of the employee experience.

Connect with Yvonne Alston

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnealston/

Website: https://www.indelible-consulting.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indelible_impressions_cons/

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