Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Howard Stone, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Prince George's Community College.  Howard shares the source of his passion for education, love for Leadership Greater Washington and commitment over the years to Prince George’s County, MD.

Some highlights:

• Howard Stone’s focus on public service
• How Howard Stone supported Wayne Curry and helped transform Prince George’s County, MD
• Howard’s love for and commitment to Leadership Greater Washington
• How being rejected for an elected seat made Howard Stone more humble and focus more on serving his community

Also mentioned in this episode:

Ken Duncan, former council administrator Prince George’s County MD

Wayne Curry, former County executive for Prince George's County MD

Artis Hampshire-Cowan, Senior Fellow at Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges

Lionel Lockhart, former County Attorney for Prince George's County MD

Book

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten Book by Robert Fulghum

Connect with Howard Stone:

Howard Stone on Linkedin

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Michelle McQuaid, a best-selling author, workplace wellbeing teacher, and playful change activator. Michelle McQuaid talks about how positive psychology has influenced her perspective on leadership and shares lessons for effectively leading teams and organizations.

Some highlights:

• How Dr. Michelle McQuaid came to positive psychology and the science of behavior change
• Why and how positive psychology is critical to leadership
• How to be an authentic leader by embracing imperfections
• Lessons learned from Carol Dweck’s research on Growth Mindset
• The power of psychological safety in unleashing team performance
• How Dr. Michelle McQuaid uses a learning loop with her team for more effective team communications
• The critical role wellness and wellbeing play in organizational culture
• Dr. Michelle McQuaid’s thoughts on how to navigate through struggle as a leader

Also mentioned in this episode:

Tal Ben Shahar,  author and founder of Happiness Studies Academy
Martin Seligman, Psychologist and father of Positive Psychology
Carol Dweck,  Psychologist and author of mindset
Amy Edmondson, HBS professor and author of The Fearless Organization

Connect with Michelle McQuiad:

Michelle McQuaid’s website

Making Positive Psychology Work 

Michelle McQuaid on LinkedIn 

Michelle McQuaid on Twitter

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Linda Rabbitt, the founder and chairman of Rand Construction, who is recognized as Washingtonian of the Year, and is in Washington's Business Hall of Fame. Linda shares her experiences overcoming breakage and setbacks, and how she used adversity as a motivator to achieve success.

Highlights:

• Why and how  Linda Rabbitt started all over again at age 32 
• Linda Rabbitt’s career at KPMG and how she rose in the organization
• Linda’s bold step into the business world as a partner in the first female owned construction company in the Washington DC region
• How building a support group of women in the real estate industry helped her grow her company and give back to others
• Linda Rabbitt’s battle with cancer as she became chair elect of the Greater Washington Board of Trade
• Linda’s passion for women in leadership and her advice to young female leaders on resilience

Also mentioned in this episode:

Steve Harlan, former Vice-Chairman-International at KPMG

Sherri Turner, Linda’s former business partner

Mark Anderson, partner at Rand Construction

Jon Couch, former president at Rand Construction

Zig Ziglar, author and motivational speaker

Connect with Linda Rabbitt:

Linda Rabbitt on LinkedIn

Rand Construction’s Website

Rand Construction on Instagram

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli talks about the importance of leading with love and why genuine love is critical to leadership and a core essence of leading as a partner-leader. 

Some highlights:

• Mahan Tavakoli builds on the defenition of love and its connection to leadership
• Four essential factors for leading with love
• Mahan Tavakoli shares examples of leaders who have shown genuine care and love for their teams in leading their organizations

Also mentioned in this episode:

Harry Stack Sullivan, Psychologist

David Gardner,  Co-Founder of  The Motley Fool

John Chambers, former CEO of Cisco Systems

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli talks with Steve Harlan, Founder of Harlan Enterprises. LLC, as he shares how he rose through the ranks at KPMG, the role he played on the DC Financial Control Board in turning around Washington DC’s finances and his commitment to the community.  

Some highlights:

• Steve Harlan shares the story of his army days and how he ended up becoming an accountant
• Steve Harlan talks about the importance of asking for help and helping others
• How Steve Harlan ended up in Washington DC and the reason for his commitment to the community 
• Steve Harlan’s involvement in founding Leadership Greater Washington
• Steve Harlan shares the successes and challenges of turning around the finances of Washington DC

Also mentioned in this episode:

John Veihmeyer, former Global Chairman of KPMG

Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington DC Delegate to US House of Representatives

Marion Barry, former Washington DC Mayor

Anthony Williams, former Washington DC Mayor

Linda Rabbit, Founder and Board Chair of Rand Construction 

Books:

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Henna Inam, CEO of Transformational Leadership,  talks about her journey to discovering her authentic self, her book Wired for Disruption and on how to be agile through times of disruption.

Some highlights:

• Henna Inam shared her story of rediscovering her purpose in life
• Henna Inam talks about how to be your most authentic self and how to use that to be a force for good
• The story behind writing the book Wired for Disruption
• Henna Inam discusses the five different types of agility
• Why empathy and self-compassion are critical to lead through disruption
• Leading through shared ownership and shared action

Connect with Henna Inam:

Transformational Leadership Official Website

Transformational Leadership Podcast

Wired for Disruption Book

Henna Inam on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Howard Ross, Author of Reinventing Diversity, Everyday Bias, and Our Search for Belonging, talks about his background, how he started his own consulting firm, and his work on unconscious bias.

Some highlights:

• The story of Howard Ross’ journey of reinventing himself
• The influence of his Jewish heritage and the value of his parents in shaping his life and leadership
• What inspired Howard Ross to write a book about unconscious bias
• Howard Ross on the importance of being open to guidance from other leaders

Also mentioned in this episode:

Michael Amilcar, CEO of Cook Ross Inc.

Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, National Chair of the National Council of Negro Women

John Griffin, Former Head of Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Books

The Practice of Adaptive Leadership by Ron Heifetz

Connect with Howard Ross:

Howard Ross Official Website

UDARTA Official Website

Howard Ross on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Chuck Swoboda, former Chief Executive Officer of Cree, author of Innovator Spirit, and podcast host of Innovators on Tap. Chuck Swoboda speaks in-depth about innovation and how to cultivate it as part of an organization’s culture.

Some highlights:

• Chuck Swoboda talks about his upbringing and how that influenced the kind of leader he came to be
• Chuck Swoboda shares why he left HP to join Cree
• The difference between improvement, invention, and innovation
• Chuck Swoboda’s insights on innovation and how to cultivate a spirit of innovation within a company
• The UFO Test in recruiting talent for your company
• Chuck Swoboda discusses how the crisis can be great for innovation

Mentioned:

Clayton Christensen, author of the book “The Innovator's Dilemma”

Connect with Chuck Swoboda

Chuck Swoboda’s Official Website

Innovators on Tap Podcast

Chuck Swoboda on Forbes

Chuck Swoboda on LinkedIn

Chuck Swoboda on Twitter

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Dr. Mark Bergel, Co-founder of Shared Humanity Project, talks about his incredible life experiences and shares his profound love for humanity and how it molded his character to be the kind of leader he is now along with his vision to eradicate poverty. 

Some highlights:

• Mark Bergel’s upbringing and impact on his service mindset
• How morality created a foundation for successful leadership
• Mark Bergel’s life-changing moment
• How Mark leads the community in supporting his vision of eradicating poverty.
• Leadership to change culture and have a positive impact

Also mentioned in this episode:

A Wider Circle

Jurg Siegenthaler, Prof Emeritus Sociology at American University

David Bohm, Author Wholeness and the Implicate Order

Frederick Taylor, Author Scientific Management

Peter Senge, Author, The Fifth Discipline

Leo Buscaglia, Author, Living, Loving and Learning

Dr. Katherin Phillips, Co-Founder, Shared Humanity Project

Robert Karch, Professor Health Studies at American University

Richard Feynman, American theoretical physicist

Books:

Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra

Dancing Wu Li Master by Gary Zukav

The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge

Connect with Mark Bergel:

Shared Humanity Project

National Poverty Plan

Mark Bergel on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Bettina Stern, co-founder of Chaia Tacos. Bettina shares her experience leading a business through crisis and her plans for growing Chaia Tacos nationally.

Some highlights:

•  Bettina Stern shares how she and Suzanne Simon started Chaia Tacos through a mutual love for food
• Bettina Stern talks about the local food business scene and getting support from the Washington DC community
• How Bettina Stern and Suzanne Simon did not let a skeptic stop their aspirations. 
• How Bettina and Suzanne have led Chaia Tacos through the pandemic
• Using the crisis to become antifragile
• Bettina Stern’s future plans of growing Chaia Tacos

Also mentioned in this episode:

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of “Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder”

Brett Schulman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Cava Group

Freshfarm Market

Connect with Bettina Stern

Chaia Tacos website

Bettina Stern on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website