OC Talk Radio

In Part 2 of our interview with Steve Cholas, Vice President, Business Development for BIG ZETA, Steve reminisces about what drives passion in your career, which he attributes to engagement with what you do. For Steve, the electronics industry is dynamic and evolutionary. “Everything you do, every day, has been developing years prior to that moment…how can you not get excited about being a part of something that has the potential to change people’s lives? And you were there before it ever came to market.” Steve observes that the talent set needed for an organization to thrive in this constantly changing environment is completely different than what worked 10 years ago. Today’s ecosystem is much broader than it’s ever been and the industry as a whole is lacking in momentum to develop the talent necessary to move the needle. Aging C-Suite leadership whose career didn’t evolve during this digital era must commit to recruiting and retaining "data scientists" who can competently distill the exponential analytics available to us into actionable solutions to not just keep up but to thrive. During the interview, Steve also reflects on his early women mentors and the impact they’ve made on his personal and professional success, and invites young talent to get in touch with him at [email protected]. Support the show (http://www.womeninelectronics.com)

In Part 1 of our Leader in Highlight with Steve Cholas, Vice President, Business Development for BIG ZETA, Steve shares nearly four decades of insight into digital transformation in the electronics industry and the kind of leadership it takes to make sure a company isn’t left behind. With 80% of the channel still trying to connect through outdated methodologies, Steve reflects on how a commitment to talent-diverse ecosystems ensures organizations stay competitive. Steve entered the industry in the 80s as a marketing rep at a time when semi-conductors were hitting their stride. Says Steve, “For someone not educated in the electronics, to earn their marketing attention I had to learn their business. And to realize I was now a part of the DNA of new devices and technology was super exciting!” And for Steve, the excitement has never stopped. Now he counsels companies to pay attention to this swiftly moving digital engine, because “if you’re not a part of it, you’re out of it.” Hear more from Steve in Part 2 of his interview.Support the show (http://www.womeninelectronics.com)

Show Notes  On our show with Lindsay Davis today we explore the very core of human existence. I think we can best sum it up with the words of psychologist Phil Sutherland, “As human beings, before we are anything else, we are a “burning ball of desire.” Lindsay and I probe the ROLE of burning desire in every single move we make. We ARE desire. We express desire. Without desire we are barely more than automatons. But with desire we are hungry. We are fruitful. And we can find extraordinary pleasure and productivity in life. And why should our lives NOT be pleasurable and productive? Let’s find out in my conversation with business, life and performance coach, Lindsay Davis. You can contact Lindsay at [email protected] Get Lindsay’s Path to Possibility Journal at http://thepathtopossibilityjournal.com/ For more with Charlie Hedges please visit www.thenextchapter.life

Ryan Weiss is the President of Effective Performance Strategies, specializing in driving organizational change and high performance by aligning three core components: purpose, people and process. He is a global executive with decades of experience spanning the Americas, Europe, and Asia. 

Ryan has successfully founded 3 companies, and worked as a global executive leading hundreds of people, managing a $500 million product portfolio, and developing a passion for organizational change. He serves on multiple boards of educational, profit, and non-profit institutions. For more information on Effective Performance Strategies go to https://epszone.com/

Everything changes when one is introduced with the title of “Pastor” or “Reverend” or “Father” or “Preacher.” An individual self-consciousness seems to invade the social space, consistently altering the subject under discussion. People somehow seem obligated to qualify themselves, dropping a sentence or two about their spirituality, church attendance, or lack thereof. Frequently there may also be a reference to childhood upbringing, ethnic traditions, or family practices.

Since I was often introduced to such a title, I was self-conscious of the expectations. I was now the church or religion representative as the discussion twisted to a disagreement or disillusionment with “organized religion.” Over the years, I usually discovered I was in agreement with the person expressing their discontent and fully understood why they chose to disengage. 

While I have never taken a poll, I certainly have a lot of anecdotal evidence to conclude people’s primary distaste for organized religion is founded in what they perceive as hypocrisy. Leaders allow themselves to be perceived as more holy, more together, closer to God, and wiser than the average Joe. It can be quite off-putting, but it is also very seductive. Who doesn’t want someone with an into God? Why listen to sermons if the one preaching it doesn’t have something you don’t have?  

But then the hammer comes down, and the stories unfold. This preacher didn’t know how to keep his pants on. That leader, she had her hand in the till. The neighbor always going to church was rude to me.

In some ways, this whole discussion can get mundane to me. I’ve had it hundreds, if not thousands of times. That’s sad, but cause it isn’t mundane. It is so the opposite of what the Bible teaches from beginning to end, perhaps nowhere more prominently than in the leading figure of Old Testament Israel, King David.

Let’s find out more from our two guests today, who I will introduce in a moment after an excerpt from their work “The Odyssey of King David” read by D. Paul Thomas.

ChurchHurtsAnd.org

Sky Cassidy is CEO of MountainTop Data and co-host of the If You Market podcast. MountainTop Data, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, has been providing data services for B2B marketing for almost two decades. With an unrelenting commitment to quality, they were the first company to guarantee the accuracy of their licensed data and business emails.  They provide marketing lists, data cleaning, data appending and data maintenance services. Their data services have been used by some of the world’s biggest brands across a multitude of various industries from multi-national telecommunication companies to office technology, to PR firms and more. for more information on MountainTop Data go to https://www.mountaintopdata.com/

Ed Lee is co-founder and partner of Wahoo's Fish Taco, responsible for the expansion and development of what has become one of the most iconic fast-casual restaurant brands in the United States. With more than 35 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, he has helped his co-founding brothers Wing Lam and Mingo Lee establish Wahoo's as a pop culture mainstay in California and beyond. In addition to 

forging partnerships with renowned brands like Quiksilver, Billabong, Hurley and Vans, Ed has ensured Wahoo's consistent brand presence at high-profile surf, sporting and music events such as the X-Games, Vans Warped Tour and Coachella among others. An active supporter of many national and local community-based events, Ed serves on the board of various non-profit organizations including California Restaurant Association and Vocational Visions. He is also frequently invited to speak and give lectures at various universities including University of Southern California and University of California, Irvine, as well as his alma mater Vanguard University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business. In 2018, Ed was named One of OC's Most Influential by the Orange County Register. For more information about Wahoo Taco go to https://www.wahoos.com/

Omri Traub is the Co-Founder and CEO at Popcart, a shopping assistant tool helping thousands get the best prices online every time. Before that, he was VP of Engineering at Oracle where he led the Endeca team, acquired by Oracle in 2011 for $1.1B. Popcart is Omri’s third startup. He lives in Brookline, MA with his wife and four children. For more information about Popcart go to https://www.popcart.com/

Show Notes  Today we have an important discussion with therapist Jamie Lerner on the value of taking care of yourself. Our thesis is this: if you don’t exercise intentional care for yourself, you will be absolutely no good to anyone else. On this show Jamie and I are keenly interested in the details of self-care, both emotionally and tangibly: What exactly can you do on a regular basis to build your own emotional bank account so that you have plenty to give to others. A bit of background on Jamie Lerner: After earning her MSW at Loyola University, Jamie Lerner spent several years in private practice, working with adults and couples. As a therapist she continues to explore the many avenues to maintaining a balanced and happy connection with yourself and others. She has developed what she refers to as an integrative approach to well being.  You can reach Jamie at www.jamie-lerner.com For more with Charlie Hedges please visit www.thenextchapter.life    

Part 2 of our interview with Adam Norwitt, Amphenol Corporation’s President and CEO, highlights meaningful insights into leadership based on his personal experience as well as Amphenol’s signature Culture of Entrepreneurship. Adam shares his thoughts on compassion, curiosity and communication as the underpinning of a leader’s success, as well as the critical role mentorship plays in the success of an organization. Adam and WE Founder and President Jackie Mattox reflect on the passing of TTI founder Paul Andrews and the many ways he was a personal and professional role model in the electronics industry. Adam considers how the backdrop of the pandemic has unwittingly informed employers about the necessity of creating flexible, healthy work environments to meet both personal and global crises. The conversation takes a deeper dive into the future of women in electronics and muses over the question of “substance versus success” and what truly motivates people to perform.Support the show (http://www.womeninelectronics.com)