In this episode of Climb, the Confident Leader podcast, host Rahul Karan Sharma interviews Mike Todasco, an innovation leader with a diverse background in finance and AI. Mike shares his journey from a failed startup to leading innovation at PayPal, discussing the importance of mindset shifts, embracing failure, and building a culture of innovation. He emphasizes the role of AI in enhancing productivity and the need for leaders to recognize and encourage innovative efforts within their teams. The conversation concludes with rapid-fire questions that reveal Mike's personal insights and philosophies.

Key Takeaways

Mike's journey includes significant pivots from finance to AI.

Embracing failure is crucial for personal and organizational growth.

Taking a sabbatical can provide clarity and direction.

Innovation can be simple and doesn't have to be grand.

Recognition of innovative efforts can motivate teams.AI tools can enhance productivity and creativity.

Leaders should foster an environment where failure is discussed.

Mindset shifts are essential during career transitions.

Innovation culture requires intrinsic motivation and purpose.

Personal growth often comes from life-changing events. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mike Tosado and His Journey04:37 Mindset Shifts Through Career Changes07:27 The Importance of Taking a Pause10:40 Building an Innovation Culture in Organizations13:28 Embracing Failure as a Path to Innovation16:37 Leveraging AI in the Workplace19:26 The Evolution of Jobs with Technology22:07 Grounding Principles for Leaders25:32 Final Thoughts and Rapid Fire Round

About Guest: Mike TodascoMike Todasco is a former Innovation leader at PayPal who previously navigated significant career changes after starting in finance and launching a failed startup venture. He currently serves as a Visiting Fellow at the AI Center at San Diego State University, where he focuses on making Artificial Intelligence accessible and helping people use AI tools to enhance their lives and careers. He also writes and advises companies in the AI space. Connect with Mike on Linkedin @https://www.linkedin.com/in/todasco/

About Host: Rahul Karan SharmaRahul Karan Sharma is a Forbes Coaches Council member, keynote speaker, and creator of the globally recognized CLIMB™ Framework for Confident Leadership. As the founder of Steady Steps LLC, he empowers organizations and individuals to grow through mindset transformation, leadership clarity, and the development of sustainable team culture. 🔹 Rahul works with: First-time managers and emerging leaders; Organizations navigating transformation; Universities preparing students for career success 🔹 Author: Be Action Oriented & Habits4Miracles 🔹 Get Rahul's book Be Action Oriented: https://habits4miracles.com/jumpstart Host: The CLIMB – Confident Leader Podcast 🔹 CONNECT WITH RAHUL 🔹 Website: www.rahulkaransharma.com 🔹 Instagram: @preparewithrahul 🔹 Facebook: PreparewithRahulSharma 🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rahulkaransharma 🔹 X (Twitter): x.com/rahulphr 🔹 TikTok: @preparewithrahul #leadershipdevelopment #organizationaldevelopment #leadershippodcast #careerclarity #changeleadership #leadershipshipTransformation #aspiringleaders #theclimbframework #rahulkaransharma #YoungProfessionals #leadershipjourney #nextgenleadership #workplaceculture #KeynoteSpeaker #leadershipsoundingboard #SteadyStepsLLC #entrepreneurship #leadership #mindset #energy #personalgrowth #empowerment #leadership #stressmanagement #mindsetshift #burnout #self-awareness #patience #self-leadership #personaldevelopment #transformation #resilience #boundaries #scaling #emotionalintelligence #teambuilding #businesssuccess #personalfulfillment #aiforleaders #futureofwork #ai

Summary 

In this episode of The Climb, host Rahul Karan Sharma interviews Arjun Sharma, a seasoned leader in talent acquisition and management. Arjun shares his unexpected journey into leadership, the challenges he faced transitioning from an individual contributor to a leader, and the importance of understanding team dynamics. They discuss the CLIMB framework for leadership development, the mindset gaps in young professionals, and the significance of coaching in career development. Arjun emphasizes the need for ownership in one's career and offers valuable advice for students and entry-level professionals. 

Takeaways 

Leadership can happen unexpectedly, often through mentorship. 

Transitioning to leadership requires a significant mindset shift. 

Understanding individual motivations is key to effective leadership. 

The CLIMB framework helps leaders navigate their development stages. 

Burnout can occur during transitions; awareness is crucial. 

Coaching can provide guidance for those seeking career direction. 

Young professionals often lack seriousness in their career pursuits. 

Instant gratification can hinder long-term career success. 

Taking ownership of one's career is essential for growth. 

Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. 

Chapters 

00:00 The Accidental Leader's Journey 

08:12 Mindset Shifts in Leadership 

14:55 Navigating Leadership Frameworks 

21:12 Career Development Coaching Insights 

27:39 Advice for Young Professionals 

About Guest: Arjun Sharma, COO, The Career Company

 Arjun Sharma is a Corporate leader with 18 years of overall experience in Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Business management, and Operations. A Certified Purpose Coach, NLP Coach and Emotional Intelligence Coach, passionate about empowering people and teams on a transformational journey. Please connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunsct/About Host: Rahul Karan Sharma  

Rahul Karan Sharma is a Forbes Coaches Council member, keynote speaker, and creator of the globally recognized CLIMB™ Framework for Confident Leadership. As the founder of Steady Steps LLC, he empowers organizations and individuals to grow through mindset transformation, leadership clarity, and the development of sustainable team culture.  

🔹Rahul works with: First-time managers & emerging leaders; Organizations navigating transformation; Universities preparing students for career success  

🔹 Author: Be Action Oriented & Habits4Miracles  

🔹 Get Rahul's book Be Action Oriented: https://habits4miracles.com/jumpstart 

 Host: The CLIMB – Confident Leader Podcast  

🔹 CONNECT WITH RAHUL  

🔹 Website: www.rahulkaransharma.com  

🔹 Instagram: @preparewithrahul  

🔹 Facebook: PreparewithRahulSharma  

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rahulkaransharma  

🔹 X (Twitter): x.com/rahulphr  

🔹 TikTok: @preparewithrahul  

#leadershipdevelopment #organizationaldevelopment #leadershippodcast #careerclarity #changeleadership #leadershipshipTransformation #aspiringleaders #theclimbframework #rahulkaransharma #YoungProfessionals #leadershipjourney #nextgenleadership #workplaceculture #KeynoteSpeaker #leadershipsoundingboard #SteadyStepsLLC #entrepreneurship #leadership , #mindset , #energy , #personalgrowth , #empowerment 

In this episode of the Climb, the Confident Leader podcast, Sara Roccisano shares her transformative journey from a successful career in investment banking to a path of self-discovery and personal empowerment. After facing multiple job losses and burnout, she embraced her authentic self and founded Embolden Adventure, an encouragement platform aimed at inspiring others through personal and professional development. Sara discusses her experiences in the Ivy League, the challenges of corporate life, and her transition to authorship, highlighting the importance of resilience, self-empowerment, and finding the right fit in leadership.

Key takeaways

• Sara transitioned from a high-pressure corporate career to self-discovery.
• She emphasizes the importance of finding one's authentic self.
• Job loss can lead to unexpected opportunities for growth.
• Ivy League students often face immense pressure and self-doubt.
• Resilience is built through overcoming challenges and setbacks.
• Self-empowerment comes from within, not from external validation.
• Sara's writing journey began with travel journaling during commutes.
• The right fit in a job is crucial for personal happiness.
• Embolden Adventure aims to inspire personal and professional transformation.
• Life is short; it's essential to follow what brings joy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Sara's journey to Self-Discovery

14:12 The Journey of Writing a Book

24:53 Overcoming Layoffs and Finding Resilience

30:24 Emboldened Adventures: A New Path

36:23 Final Words of Wisdom

About Guest - Sara RoccisanoSara Roccisano is a former investment banker and renewable energy finance professional turned world traveler, international speaker, author, and the founder of Embolden Adventures, an encouragement platform that inspires personal, professional, and spiritual development through these extraordinary times of change and transformation. Sara brings a unique mix of optimism, effective communication, and a strong sense of connectedness, enabling her to wonderfully motivate individuals and groups. To Learn more about her please visit: www.Emboldenadventures.comAbout Host: Rahul Karan SharmaRahul Karan Sharma is a Forbes Coaches Council member, staffing industry specialist, keynote speaker, and creator of the globally recognized CLIMB™ Framework for Confident Leadership.As the founder of Steady Steps LLC, he empowers organizations and individuals to grow through mindset transformation, leadership clarity, and the development of sustainable team culture. 🔹 Rahul works with First-time managers and emerging leaders, organizations navigating transformation, and universities preparing students for career success. 🔹 Author: Be Action Oriented and Habits4Miracles 🔹 Get Rahul's book Be Action Oriented: https://habits4miracles.com/jumpstart Host: The CLIMB – Confident Leader Podcast 🔹 CONNECT WITH RAHUL 🔹 Website: www.rahulkaransharma.com 🔹 Instagram: @preparewithrahul 🔹 Facebook: PreparewithRahulSharma 🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rahulkaransharma 🔹 X (Twitter): x.com/rahulphr 🔹 TikTok: @preparewithrahul#leadershipdevelopment #organizationaldevelopment #leadershippodcast #careerclarity #changeleadership #leadershipshipTransformation #aspiringleaders #theclimbframework #rahulkaransharma #YoungProfessionals #leadershipjourney #nextgenleadership #workplaceculture #KeynoteSpeaker #leadershipsoundingboard #SteadyStepsLLC #entrepreneurship #leadership , #mindset , #energy , #personalgrowth