Soft As Steel

What is the role of love in leadership? In this episode of the Soft as Steel podcast, host Dennis Doran interviews Deb Martinez, CEO of the Mission of Love Charities, about her experiences in nonprofit organizations and her current work serving homeless and low-income families and individuals in the community. Martinez emphasizes the importance of providing hope to those in need and shares her thoughts on the meaning of love and its role in her work. The conversation also touches on topics such as inclusion, social justice, mental health, addiction, and suicide, as well as federal legislation promoting apprenticeship programs. Martinez believes that leaders should provide a vision for their staff and community that will produce better outcomes for individuals and communities, and that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. Listeners are encouraged to share the episode with anyone who would benefit from the conversation and to check out Doran's book, Soft as Steel.

Dennis' guest this week, Pat Skodje, is known for his leadership built on soft skills in the construction industry. Skodje emphasizes the importance of empathy, peaceful problem-solving, and partnership in the engineering and design industry. He also shares his experience of starting a new operation for Coatings Unlimited, highlighting the importance of recruiting and training younger workers. Skodje believes that by helping others grow in their careers and achieve their goals, you can share the love and build a strong team. The episode emphasizes the importance of soft skills in the workplace and how they can lead to successful projects and relationships with clients.

This episode features host Dennis Doran and guest Vicki O'Leary, a union leader and chair of North America's Building Trade Unions Trade Women's Committee. They discuss the challenges of diversity, inclusion, and social justice in the construction industry, particularly for women and people of color. They emphasize the importance of early education and mentoring programs, as well as the need for more women and people of color in leadership positions. They also discuss the importance of soft skills in the workplace and the need for unions to provide both technical and mentoring skills to apprentices.

This episode features a conversation between host Dennis Doran and guest Christine Merden, a leader in the construction industry with over 30 years of experience. They discuss the importance of soft skills in the construction industry, as well as issues related to women's participation and mental health. Christine shares her experience working on the successful restoration of the Capitol Dome project, highlighting the importance of safety, communication, and team collaboration. They also discuss the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the industry and the importance of addressing mental health. The conversation emphasizes the importance of both technical skills and soft skills in the workplace.

This episode features an interview with Stephen Philipp, the President of Coatings Unlimited, a family-owned company that provides coating and lining systems for various markets. The conversation focuses on the importance of soft skills in business and the value of building relationships with people. Stephen emphasizes the need to prioritize soft skills over hard skills, the importance of communication and understanding in the construction industry, and the power of love in business transactions. He also discusses the benefits of utilizing social media to expand one's network and the qualities that are important for success in business. The conversation ends with praise for Stephen's humility and trustworthy nature.

In this episode of the Soft as Steel podcast, host Dennis Duran interviews John Posilicco, a senior lecturer at Birmingham City University School of Engineering and the Built Environment in England, who shares his thoughts on soft skills in the workplace. Posilicco emphasizes the importance of human interaction and communication in the workplace and how technology can both help and hinder this. They also discuss the significance of diversity and inclusion in the construction industry and the need for effective communication across all levels of diversity. The episode highlights the vital role of soft skills in creating positive workplace cultures and building successful projects.

The Soft as Steel podcast discusses suicide prevention in the construction industry with Cal Byer, Vice President of Workforce Risk and Worker Wellbeing at Holmes Murphy and Associates. Byer highlights the importance of mental health and suicide prevention as a source of sustainable competitive advantage in the industry. He notes that the industry has a multi-generational workforce, and that it has not always been popular to express care for employees. However, he sees a positive shift in the industry, with more companies recognizing the importance of mental health and suicide prevention. Byer also discusses the importance of love, inclusion, and social justice in the workplace and the need for soft skills.

Jeff Granberg, CEO and co-owner of the PD Group of Companies, recently shared valuable insights and experiences in this episode that emphasized the importance of soft skills in leadership. Jeff's journey in the construction industry, including his experience working with street kids, taught him the significance of recognizing one's weaknesses and hiring people with different skillsets. He also emphasized the need for a clear strategy and effective communication in the construction industry.

Sean Strickland is executive director of Canada's Building Trades Union (CBTU) and association of 14 construction trade unions representing 600,000 unionized skilled trades men and women across Canada.

He shares his expertise on improving soft skills and creating a positive work environment. He specifically focuses on the importance of diversity, inclusion, and respect in the workplace. Strickland also highlights the various career opportunities available in the trades and encourages listeners to consider pursuing a career in this field. Sean offers valuable insights and advice for individuals seeking to enhance their soft skills and foster a more inclusive and positive workplace culture.

Nick is corporate director of Project Delivery Services at the Boldt Company. With over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, Nick is very unusual in the fact that his entire progressive and successful career has been built with Boldy. That says something very positive about Nick, and also about Boldt.