Rebels With A Heart

Benjamin Higgins, Co-Founder of Generous International and veteran of ABC’s hit series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, joins the Rebels Leader Series to share his journey of finding a way to use his “gifted” platform for good and how he aims to bring light, energy, and an intentional message of connection and hope in everything he does.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

BIO: Ben Higgins, a veteran of ABC’s hit series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, won over the hearts of loyal viewers with his refreshing vulnerability and willingness to share himself fully. Following his appearances across franchises, Higgins has embarked on numerous ventures, entrepreneurial and otherwise, grounded in faith, a sense of hope for humanity, and a mission to help organizations connect more deeply with their employees and customers.

Higgins co-founded Generous International in 2017, a for-purpose company dedicated to raising money to create jobs, feed children, improve education, and empower communities to eliminate poverty around the world. He additionally founded the podcast, Hope Still Wins, where he sits down with influential thought-leaders to discuss topics ranging from faith and music to mental health and racial injustice. Each guest shares personal stories that have shaped their current view on hope, and are meant to serve, inspire, and connect us — challenging and helping us all to become a better world, together.

Outside of his socially conscious work, he maintains a relationship with his loyal Bachelor fanbase through the iHeartMedia podcast Almost Famous, which he hosts alongside fellow former contestant Ashley Iaconetti. To date, they’ve accumulated over 80 million downloads.

In 2021, Higgins became an author with his first book Alone In Plain Sight, which focuses on reconnecting with yourself, others, and God.

Ben currently resides in Denver, CO, with his wife and best friend, Jess. Whether it’s showing up well in his marriage, making business decisions, doing a keynote speech, writing a book, or hosting a show, Ben aims to bring light, energy, and an intentional message of connection and hope.

Follow Ben on Instagram→ @higgins.ben

Links:
https://thebenhiggins.com/
https://generouscoffee.com/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400221358?tag=nelsonbooks-20
https://open.spotify.com/show/4fmrbb0nRR4qyMl30bNFA7?si=338f1c0916ff4daf&nd=1
https://open.spotify.com/show/2xYHA17Bs3W30eS01c0gcL?si=58f92702e89b4842&nd=1

Jake Merriman, former CEO at Abundant.is, joins the Rebels Leader Series to openly and poignantly share his journey in finding his ‘true north.” It is an unexpected path with new, interesting realizations we can all use.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

BIO: Jake Merriman, former CEO of Abundant.is, has found his purpose in teaching, uniting, and guiding the world’s servers, entrepreneurs, and investors, who are the true stewards of humanity.  He is excited to usher in cutting-edge transformational mediation technology for the aquarian age - and to reveal and to celebrate the sacred in each and every one of us.

Today, Jake’s primary mission is to be an embodiment of the Mahalo Method, by maintaining and transmitting its consistent power. He also enjoys meeting, mentoring, and bringing these tools to the world’s servers, who can immediately put them into their practice and make the greatest of impacts.

Follow Jake on LinkedIn→https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-merriman-666a798

Links:
https://jakemerriman.com/

In this episode of our Rebels Leader Series, Andrew Sykes, CEO of Habits At Work, provides a powerful tale of how his youth and being an immigrant has ended up shaping his outlook on business today.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

BIO: In addition to leading the Habits At Work team, Andrew is a Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is also part of the Kellogg Sales Institute Executive Education Team, where he teaches the award-winning course “Entrepreneurial Selling,” ranked as a Top Ten course in the US by the prestigious Inc. Magazine.

Andrew is a co-author on The 11th Habit, which distills the work of the Behavioral Research and Applied Technology Laboratory (BRATLAB). This research (and book) shows which habits truly matter for sustained high performance, competitive differentiation, trust building, and organizational growth, along with how to help people to practice those habits.

Follow Andrew on LinkedIn→https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsykes1/

Links:
https://www.andrewsykes.com/
https://habitsatwork.com/
https://www.amazon.com/11th-Habit-Company-Culture-Performance/dp/0998023507

Joe Mechlinski, CEO of SHIFT, joins our Rebels Leader Series and offers strategic insights on how to find a viable path in the face of adversity.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President & Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

Show Notes:

The Why: 1:40
Joe’s Influences: 6:30
Fostering Connection: 10:40
It Takes A Village: 10:48
Behavioral Conditioning: 16:55
LATCH: 21:31
The Job Description Of A CEO: 30:25
Where To Find Joe: 36:20

BIO: Joe Mechlinski, Founder & CEO of SHIFT, is on a mission to change the way we work. He helps leaders and organizations disrupt outdated norms, build engaged workforces, and use technology to unlock human potential. SHIFT is a tech-enabled management consulting firm and is nationally recognized as a ‘Best Workplace.’ 

Joe’s approach to business and life is rooted in the soil of adversity. Growing up with food insecurity and intermittent, unstable housing, Joe was able to play football for Patterson High School in Baltimore, Maryland – a move that ultimately earned him a place at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University.

Follow Joe on LinkedIn→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemechlinski/

Links:
https://www.joemechlinski.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Shift-Work-Joe-Mechlinski-audiobook/dp/B07SD7369B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1H9F3E18TVE25&keywords=shift+the+work&qid=1652986591&sprefix=shift+the+work%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Regardless-Businesss-Industry-Government/dp/161448435X

Kudos to this Rebels guest for initiating a massive nationwide project, known as the Grand Challenge, to end the persistent stigma around mental health issues.  As a professor of leadership and management courses, as well as his scholarly role with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (University of Utah), Glen has a distinct understanding on how people can make a difference in others' lives. This conversation further explores his path on the actual design, creation, and leadership needed to create such a project with purpose.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Living in 13 different countries with deep experience across 7 industries, Sissi has enjoyed a wide variety of cultures and quickly learned people are not linear. Tune in to discover Sissi's unique ideas to co-create, solve, and transform corporate issues into viable solutions - all while boosting an organization's culture.  

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Empathy is a super power, as Courtney has found in her rich journey of being a Master Coach. Empathy allows us be in a place of understanding vs. assuming, and expands into conversations that wouldn't otherwise have words.

Discover in this conversation how you to hone your mind, your senses and be intentional, be tactical in the way you show up for your people.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

As a trusted partner for over 60 years to the world’s most exciting employee-owned foodservice brands, the roots of Henny Penny's success actually stem from its culture. With his immense passion and leadership, Rob shows us what is truly takes to grow and sustain a successful company with a thriving culture that is fulfilling for every generation. You'll also enjoy learning how to expand an organization's culture to include your extensive stakeholder base, now and for the future.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

We all set out to make a difference, live meaningful lives. Yet, for some of us, life can take turns and dictate our destiny. With the grief, tragedies, and illnesses our Rebels guest has faced, including his own cancer fight, Ben has found new purpose from the No One Dies Alone program to his own strategic HR initiatives. This conversation is sure to bring inspiration and ideas to replicate and live your own life to the fullest with additional meaning and purpose.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Throughout her journey, Jean has experienced multiple times, in multiple ways what she describes as disruptive detours. In turning each corner, each detour has shed new light on her life and her life's path.  Today, Jean has found her ultimate life of purpose through leading Virgin Unite, an entrepreneurial foundation that builds collectives, incubates ideas, and re-invents systems for a better world. Enjoy this sneak-peek into their initiatives, as well as Jean's story to support you in finding and navigating your own purpose.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.