Shift your mindset, shift your trajectory. Today on the PeopleNova Podcast we chat with a Boston native about his path to shifting his trajectory. Kevin Thai started as an educator then followed his passion to become an Executive Portrait Photographer running his own business. 

Kevin and I chat about striving towards progress not perfection. As many of you know I’m a recovering perfectionist. Perhaps you also feel the pang of perfectionism once in a while. Kevin shares a few suggestions on how to ask for help - yes, something that is hard for many of us. Let’s jump into the conversation with Kevin Thai.  

Kevin Thai

Three Circles Studio

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

https://threecirclesstudio.com/

https://www.instagram.com/threecirclesstudio/

Topics we touch on:

• Progress not perfection
• Asking for help
• Understand how people want to show up in life
• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Fear of vulnerability
• Connecting resources to next generation
• Comic books reflect the culture of a society
• Photography is about getting to know people
• Executive portraits

Resources mentioned:

Duplessy Foundation

https://duplessy.org/

SCORE Boston

https://boston.score.org/

Venture Cafe

https://venturecafecambridge.org/

Vanessa Van Edwards

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_Van_Edwards

Roxbury Innovation Center

https://roxburyinnovationcenter.org/

SLR Lounge Workshop

https://www.slrloungeworkshops.com/

Headshot Crew

https://headshotcrew.com/

Headshot Hot Sauce

https://headshothotsauce.com/

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

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https://www.peoplenovahc.com

Today on the PeopleNova Podcast we bring our humanity to work with us. Many of our listeners are scaling businesses. Today’s episode helps you nurture human centered workplaces. Research indicates companies that invest in the success of employees outperform. Let’s bring the research off the page and into action. With today’s guest, Ashley Kirsner, we discuss techniques based in psychological research to help people interact more genuinely and feel more connected to each other in their daily lives. 

Ashley Kirsner, Founder

Skip The Small Talk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-kirsner-64a36250/

https://www.skipthesmalltalk.org/

https://www.instagram.com/skipthesmalltalk/

Topics we touch on

• How to share feelings that help you feel more connected and seen 
• Ring Theory - find support in a bigger ring 
• Counter feelings of lonely at the top
• Strategies to navigate power imbalance 
• Human centered organizations 
• Interviewing questions and interstitial responses
• Walk talk match - actions aligned with values
• Businesses are made of humans
• Communicate feelings while discussing containment strategies
• Work is not our identity
• Self compassion 

Resources mentioned

Ring Theory

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-xpm-2013-apr-07-la-oe-0407-silk-ring-theory-20130407-story.html

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42397849-burnout

Social Emotional Learning

https://casel.org/

“Won’t you be my neighbor”

https://www.focusfeatures.com/wont-you-be-my-neighbor/

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

Join the PeopleNova Human Capital mailing list

https://www.peoplenovahc.com

Today on the PeopleNova Podcast we have a loving conversation about the soul to soul work it takes to connect with self and others. Yes, love. Love is being truthful and honest. First with ourselves. How do we cultivate self-love? How do we replenish our inner cup of joy? Next with others. How do we cultivate love for others? How do we earn consent for important conversations? 

We discuss a few pragmatic approaches to these and other topics with Adriane Jefferson, Culture and Arts thought leader. Let’s get started! 

Adriane Jefferson

Arts, Culture and Tourism, CIty of New Haven

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriane-jefferson-a3484319/

https://www.newhavenct.gov/arts/default.htm

Topics we touch on

• View people through a lens of empathy 
• Revelations happen at different times for different people
• Pragmatically - what does self love look like?
• Approach anti racism from a place of internalized heart work 
• People uphold systems
• Love is being truthful and honest
• Culture is broader than the arts
• Self work takes accountability
• Decolonizing grant application & funding
• Consent - are we all opting in to what’s happening

Resources mentioned

Million Mask Movement - Ashanti Branch

https://everforwardclub.org/millionmaskmovement

“Cry like a Man” Jason Wilson

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41110784-cry-like-a-man

“Critical Love” Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz

https://www.yolandasealeyruiz.com/

Arts Administrators of Color Network

https://aacnetwork.org/

“By Any Means Necessary Memorial” by Mr. Bing

https://www.blackartdepot.com/products/by-any-means-necessary-memorial-by-mr-bing

The Legacy Museum 

https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/museum

Bonus: “Love is the Way” by Bishop Michael Curry

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52837614

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

Join the PeopleNova Human Capital mailing list

https://www.peoplenovahc.com

Welcome back to the PeopleNova Podcast, I’m Rachel O’Neil. We had an unprecedented start to 2021 speaking of “black swan” events. Today’s episode is part 2 where we continue our conversation with the amazing Donnie Bedney. This two-part conversation started with acknowledging the “black swan” moment of history we are living through. Now we go further with a discussion of intentionally honing your superpower. Because being you is your greatest superpower. Okay, here we go folx!  

Donnie Bedney, Culture Transformation Expert

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

https://twitter.com/DonnieBedney

Topics we touch on

• Team dynamics
• Self fulfilling prophecy
• Authentic self
• Compartmentalize 
• Invest in yourself as you are growing
• Intentionality
• Don’t burst like a pipe
• “Try” does not exist
• Move out of comfort zone
• Effectiveness v efficiency 

Resources mentioned

Art of Burning Man

https://mymodernmet.com/burning-man-art-ted-talk-nora-atkinson/

Behavioral economics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_economics

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

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https://www.peoplenovahc.com

Folx this conversation was so incredible that we had to break it into two parts. This is the PeopleNova Podcast, I’m Rachel O’Neil. Today in Part 1 we discuss how the pandemic is creating a never before seen event in our lives. We are acutely aware of this “black swan” event as we live it every day. Deeply understanding the lasting impact to business and the human side of business while we live it is a tremendous learning moment. 

Let’s get this started with our guest, an extraordinary human, Donnie Bedney. I promise, you won't want to miss part 2, releasing January 2021.

Donnie Bedney, Culture Transformation Expert

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

https://twitter.com/DonnieBedney

Topics we touch on

• Driving change through people
• Attach yourself to a mission or purpose
• People live out the mission of an organization
• Create opportunities
• Remove societal pressure
• Accelerate rate of failure
• “Hire slow” is relationship building
• Attract your tribe

Resources mentioned

Lean Six Sigma

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_Six_Sigma

Black Swan event

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theory

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

Join the PeopleNova Human Capital mailing list

https://www.peoplenovahc.com

Hello everyone! I’m Rachel O’Neil and this is the PeopleNova Podcast. Question. How do you create the maximum opportunity for innovation? Focus on the people, of course! People are the most rewarding aspect of running any business. And the most challenging. There is no script when it comes to people or scaling a venture. There is no correct answer. We all make decisions with imperfect information. We all are improvising as life unfolds before us. 

Listen to our improvised conversation with Kevin Oye as we chat about Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership. 

Kevin Oye, Tufts Gordon Institute

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-oye-209165/

https://gordon.tufts.edu/people/leadership

Topics we touch on

• Empathy is built on trust
• Growth mindset
• Art of Leadership
• Transformative impression
• Learn to make mistakes
• Listening for understanding

Resources mentioned

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy

Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34403537-mindset

“The Social Dilemma”

https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/

“The Unknown Craftsman” 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1105345.The_Unknown_Craftsman

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

Join the PeopleNova Human Capital mailing list

https://www.peoplenovahc.com

Today’s episode of the PeopleNova Podcast we talk about being lucky. Well, we discuss how luck isn’t about waiting for the fancy car to magically appear in the driveway. We talk about the interconnectedness of data points, visualizing what success looks like, and building an intentional network of connections. Not for ulterior motives. Simply to surround ourselves with the type of life we want to lead. We are the narrators for our own life. Why would you let someone else script your life? 

Let’s listen to a fascinating conversation with Angel Silvestrini and understand how not to compromise on the important aspects of our life and work. 

Angel Silvestrini 

Latinx Legal

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

https://www.latinxlegal.com/

https://www.facebook.com/latinxlegal

Topics we touch on

• Have the future point discussion early 
• Identify principles and cherished aspects 
• Introspective look at goals
• Don’t compromise on the important parts
• Shed the people that don’t align with your values
• Choicefully living values
• Doing what you love doesn’t feel like work 
• Hard work but not soul crushing work 
• People process things differently
• Communication is different for everyone 
• Draw the connecting points 
• Visualize what you want to create in the world

Resources mentioned

Techqueria 

https://techqueria.org/

“Good to Great” by Jim Collins

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76865.Good_to_Great

36 questions to fall in Wealth 

https://forms.gle/6wNdc3TPaAufrJMs7

“My Beloved World” by Sonia Sotomayor

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642929-my-beloved-world

Resilient Coders 

http://www.resilientcoders.org/

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

Join the PeopleNova Human Capital mailing list

https://www.peoplenovahc.com

Welcome back to the PeopleNova Podcast, I’m Rachel O’Neil. I thoroughly enjoyed today’s discussion exploring my favorite approach to shifting mindsets with clients: reframe from depleting resources to investing capital. Humans are the most important capital supporting your business. Hence, Human Capital. Regenerative businesses invest in its Human Capital, distribute power when making decisions, and intentionally incorporate stakeholder voices. Sounds like the kind of business that you want to be a part of, huh? I totally agree! Let’s listen to the discussion with Aliana Pineiro to figure out how to create the type of business that regenerates the economy. 

Aliana Pineiro

Boston Impact Initiative 

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

https://bostonimpact.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bosimpact/

Topics we touch on

• Invest integrated capital into regenerative businesses
• Economic justice within the community
• Extractive thinking lead us to the inequality crisis
• Restorative investments
• How is power distributed within the organization?
• Intentional reflection of how to incorporate community voice
• Relational connected aspect of business

Resources mentioned:

BII Businesses You Should Buy From

https://bostonimpact.org/bii-holiday2020/

Forging a post-COVID economy with Nature as our guide

https://theperformancetheatre.com/conversation/forging-post-covid-economy-nature-our-guide

Power Up 3.0 Summit - Amplify Latinx

https://amplifylatinx.co/

Boston Globe Spotlight

https://apps.bostonglobe.com/spotlight/boston-racism-image-reality/

Color of Wealth in Boston; median net worth (Table 9)

https://www.bostonfed.org/-/media/Documents/color-of-wealth/color-of-wealth.pdf

Black owned Business

https://www.theblackownedbusiness.org/about

Poll: Most Small Businesses In Mass. Have Lost At Least 25% Of Their Income

https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2020/07/23/poll-massachusetts-small-businesses-revenue-loses-closures

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

Join the PeopleNova Human Capital mailing list

https://www.peoplenovahc.com

Have you visited a Financial Therapist before? This week’s episode of the PeopleNova Podcast we chat with the first one I ever met. We know that most humans have an emotional relationship to money. We know which of our friends calculates their dinner bill to the exact amount. We know which family member is always keeping up with the Joneses. The fascinating part of our conversation is how pure economic models never took into account the human brain making money decisions. 

Join this week’s episode to chat about how to grow Black prosperity with our guest, George Blount. 

Dr. George Blount 

Founder, nBalance Financial

https://www.nbalancefinancial.com/

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

https://www.instagram.com/nbalancefinancial/

Topics we touch on

• Emotional relationship to money
• Asking for help 
• Blueprint exists for inclusive economy
• Resiliency
• People drive the economy
• Psychology overlaid with economics

Resources mentioned:

Black Wall Street

https://youtu.be/nc7lXBL9mng

Freedmen’s Bureau

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedmen%27s_Bureau

Greenwood District

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwood_District,_Tulsa

Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19007111-yes-to-the-mess

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

Join the PeopleNova Human Capital mailing list

https://www.peoplenovahc.com

What if it’s not about choosing our battles? What if it’s about something else? Today on the PeopleNova Podcast we chat about that “something else”. Perhaps it’s about choosing how to manage de-energizing conversations. We chat with a Female Founder building a technology platform while not losing sight of the deeply human interaction. We formulate a recipe for navigating discussions that drain our energy level and how to recoup that energy so our leadership has a positive ripple effect. Let’s tune in to the conversation with Thuli Hlongwane.

Thuli Hlongwane

Founder, Prim-U

https://prim-u.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/prim-u/

https://www.instagram.com/prim_uapp/

Topics we touch on

• People are not algorithms
• Self care before serving others
• Genuine self
• Opportunity despite uncertainty
• Prepare for discussions that drain energy level
• Human need connection 
• Community support
• Imposter syndrome 
• Listening 
• Choose how to respond
• Everyone has an origin story
• We are all learning
• True and honest to oneself

Resources mentioned

Ripple effect

https://youtu.be/ZpUrBDQwrnY

Serenity Prayer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer

How the 5 Fingers Got Their Names

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/74308/how-5-fingers-got-their-names

Diversity, Inclusion And How To Dress For The Uphill Battle At Work, With CEO And Model Aaron Walton

https://www.forbes.com/sites/shanesnow/2019/04/30/diversity-inclusion-and-how-to-dress-for-the-uphill-battle-at-work-with-ceo-and-model-aaron-walton/#6859bda55375

We would love to hear from you! 

Send us your questions about organization culture, leadership development, or shifting your mindset. We will answer in future episodes of the podcast. We also welcome your suggestions for a guest. 

[email protected] 

Join the PeopleNova Human Capital mailing list

https://www.peoplenovahc.com