We like to think we're always in complete control of our thoughts and behaviors. But the fact is, for even the most seasoned leaders, our emotions are often in charge. 

In this episode, we welcome Dr. CK Bray, a cognitive behavioral researcher and founder and CEO of The Adaption Institute. He's an expert on how our feelings and beliefs inform everything we do and say – whether we know it or not. We'll explore the effects of constant stress on the brain, debunk the myth that leaders are always in control of their emotions, and share some strategies for getting our executive function to take back the reins. 

ABOUT DR. CK BRAY Dr. Bray is a cognitive behavioral researcher and the founder and CEO of the Adaption Institute. He specializes in change/adaption, human performance and potential, and their impact on organizations and individuals. He bridges the gap between science, research, and organizations and is known for his ability to take complex research and make it understandable and applicable to clients. Dr. Bray has a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Learning and a second Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational Psychology with an emphasis in the Cognitive Sciences (ABD). 

ABOUT SHANI HARMON Guided by the belief that work can be both joyful and productive, Shani and the Stop Meeting Like This team partner with forward-thinking leaders to reimagine knowledge work in their organizations. As a global thought leader and expert practitioner, Shani inspires leaders to reset the standard for how organizational time is consumed. For more than 20 years, she has consulted with Fortune 500 companies around the world, helping them transform meetings, work practices, and collaboration while eradicating wasteful and mindless activity.

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, we’ve used mechanized metaphors to describe how we work – from “just another cog in the wheel” all the way up to the computer-based concept of multi-tasking. But the fact of the matter is we aren’t cogs – we’re humans. And organizations are complex, living systems solving complex, ambiguous problems every day. 

In this episode, we welcome Renee Cullinan, co-founder of Stop Meeting Like This and now the founder of her new venture, The Dandelion Project. Through The Dandelion Project, Renee works with leaders to create resilient and equitable corporate ecosystems that integrate the needs of all stakeholders. We'll debunk the myth that a successful organization is a well-oiled machine, and explore how shifting our mindsets won’t just improve the human experience of work, but also make us more effective, productive, and ultimately, profitable.

Renee Cullinan has partnered with senior leaders in Fortune 500 companies for over twenty five years as an advisor, creator, and consultant. Her work has long centered on untangling complex topics and causal relationships so teams can make thoughtful decisions about strategy, organizational design, culture, and process. She works side-by-side with her clients to advance their most important ideas and aspirations.

Renee founded The Dandelion Project because she envisions a world in which businesses have a net positive impact. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and enjoys traveling, puzzles, books, hiking, and gathering people together in the backyard.

Guided by the belief that work can be both joyful and productive, Shani Harmon and her team partner with forward-thinking leaders to reimagine knowledge work in their organizations. As a global thought leader and expert practitioner, Shani inspires leaders to reset the standard for how organizational time is consumed. For more than 20 years, she has consulted with Fortune 500 companies around the world, helping them transform meetings, work practices, and collaboration while eradicating wasteful and mindless activity.

Efficiency is Shani’s love language. Her work is aimed at raising expectations and eliminating the barriers that prevent teams from achieving greatness.

"Work" and "play" are generally considered opposites. But what if embracing playfulness could actually make you more productive at work?

On this episode, we welcome thought leader and friend Kelsey Kates, an expert on the neuroscience of how we work best. By day she’s the Global Head of Live Learning at Google, but by night she’s on a mission to create more delight and impact from how we show up. We'll debunk the myth "you have to be serious to do serious work" and understand how a little playfulness goes a long way in cultivating psychological safety, inclusion and belonging, and creativity in the workplace. 

Kelsey Kates is a marketer turned analyst and now in the corporate learning and development space with a ton of passion for re-imagining great learning and education. As a lifelong learner, she just completed her Exec Leadership Certificate in neuroscience for business from MIT. ​She believes deeply in changing the world through more impactful and delightful learning experiences that transform how we show up.

Shani Harmon is the Founder and CEO of Stop Meeting Like This, a professional services firm guided by the belief that work can be both joyful and productive. Her team works side-by-side with optimistic, forward-thinking leaders to unlock the capacity of their organizations through better collaboration. As CEO, Shani’s job is to inspire corporate leaders to reimagine how work gets done and then partner with them to realize that aspiration. For the past 20 years, Shani has consulted with Fortune 500 companies across the globe, helping them transform meetings, work practices, and collaboration while eradicating wasteful and mindless activity. 

The idea that “feminine leadership isn’t strong leadership” is at once ridiculous, outdated, and stubbornly persistent. In this episode, we welcome strong female leader Sara Corya, Vice President of Specialty Medical Affairs Americas at Astellas Pharma US and former practicing psychiatrist, to tear down some of the most entrenched biases about women in the workplace. We'll discuss the real benefits of inclusive leadership, being your authentic self at work while staying aware of the signals you're sending, and why you should never, ever tell someone to "smile more."

Sara Corya is the Vice President for Specialty Medical Affairs Americas at Astellas Pharma US. Formerly a practicing psychiatrist, Sara has spent the past 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, impacting patient care nationally and globally across many therapeutic areas. She is known for creating healthy, high-performing teams and for providing inspiring and compassionate leadership. 

Shani Harmon is the Founder and CEO of Stop Meeting Like This, a professional services firm guided by the belief that work can be both joyful and productive. Her team works side-by-side with optimistic, forward-thinking leaders to unlock the capacity of their organizations through better collaboration. As CEO, Shani’s job is to inspire corporate leaders to reimagine how work gets done and then partner with them to realize that aspiration. For the past 20 years, Shani has consulted with Fortune 500 companies across the globe, helping them transform meetings, work practices, and collaboration while eradicating wasteful and mindless activity.

It could be that the notion "the top priority is always the bottom line" is so outdated, it's hardly worth debunking. But in our increasingly complex world of competing priorities and stakeholder groups, where to focus isn't always so clear. In this episode, we welcome Mary McDowell, seasoned CEO and board member, who specializes in leading companies in times of market and technological change to be the best possible versions of themselves. We tackle building high-quality teams, aligning under a shared purpose, focusing on the customer, and doing good while making a profit.  

Mary T. McDowell is currently a Senior Independent Director of Informa and a Non Executive Director of Autodesk. She previously served as President and CEO of Mitel and CEO of Polycom. She has an unwavering belief in the importance of authentic, hands-on leadership and the power of talented teams to accomplish the amazing.

Shani Harmon is the Founder and CEO of Stop Meeting Like This, a professional services firm guided by the belief that work can be both joyful and productive. Her team works side-by-side with optimistic, forward-thinking leaders to unlock the capacity of their organizations through better collaboration. As CEO, Shani’s job is to inspire corporate leaders to reimagine how work gets done and then partner with them to realize that aspiration. For the past 20 years, Shani has consulted with Fortune 500 companies across the globe, helping them transform meetings, work practices, and collaboration while eradicating wasteful and mindless activity.

Most of our working time is spent in meetings. And if we're honest, many of those meetings are downright terrible. Which means that the bulk of our work life is terrible. By the transitive property, that means a good chunk of our life is...yipes.  

In our new podcast series, Start Leading Like This, we're challenging common leadership beliefs by exploring how they hold up in today's complex workplace. In this episode, Stop Meeting Like This Founder and CEO Shani Harmon is joined by SMLT Engagement Leader Carolyn McChesney to discuss why most of our meetings actually aren't fine, what this costs us, and what we can do about it.

Carolyn McChesney is an Engagement Leader with Stop Meeting Like This. She brings deep experience in leadership development and organizational strategy across a wide range of sectors. Working closely with each client’s unique set of circumstances and goals, Carolyn empowers organizations to transform daily work experiences and drive business outcomes. 

Shani Harmon is the Founder and CEO of Stop Meeting Like This, a professional services firm guided by the belief that work can be both joyful and productive. Her team works side-by-side with optimistic, forward-thinking leaders to unlock the capacity of their organizations through better collaboration. As CEO, Shani’s job is to inspire corporate leaders to reimagine how work gets done and then partner with them to realize that aspiration. For the past 20 years, Shani has consulted with Fortune 500 companies across the globe, helping them transform meetings, work practices, and collaboration while eradicating wasteful and mindless activity.

Think that just because you've increased diversity within your team or at your organization, your work around DEI is done? Think again.

In our new podcast series, Start Leading Like This, we're challenging common leadership beliefs by exploring how they hold up in today's complex workplace. In this episode, Stop Meeting Like This Founder and CEO Shani Harmon welcomes author, executive coach, and consultant Ellen Burton to discuss why representation isn't enough, and why it's critical that leaders set their sights on fostering truly inclusive workplaces.

Ellen Burton is an author, facilitator, and executive coach with deep expertise in inclusive leadership, workplace civility, and leading effective diversity programs. She helps organizations build a culture of reverence to improve wellness, productivity, and profit.

Shani Harmon is the Founder and CEO of Stop Meeting Like This, a professional services firm guided by the belief that work can be both joyful and productive. Her team works side-by-side with optimistic, forward-thinking leaders to unlock the capacity of their organizations through better collaboration. As CEO, Shani’s job is to inspire corporate leaders to reimagine how work gets done and then partner with them to realize that aspiration. For the past 20 years, Shani has consulted with Fortune 500 companies across the globe, helping them transform meetings, work practices, and collaboration while eradicating wasteful and mindless activity.