The xMonks Drive

How does one walk the path of giving hope of life to people, while losing his own brothers to suicide? That is Dennis Gillan for you, folks! 

The xMonks Drive brings to you the story of Dennis Gillan who turned his misery into a mission. Listen to him, as he takes us on his personal journey of being a reluctant warrior, masking his grief for 16 years to establishing his own suicide prevention foundation–Half A Sorrow.

Dennis Gillan is an ordinary guy with an extraordinary story of loss, perseverance, and healing. Dennis helps tear down the walls of silence which have surrounded the issues of mental health, depression, and suicide. He infuses his passion and humour into a tough subject which touches everyone in the audience.

Dennis Gillan is a thought leader on the topic of Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Advocacy. He travels internationally speaking, raising awareness, and opening up the conversation of mental health. He is the Executive Director of Half A Sorrow Foundation.  Dennis has been deeply touched by suicide after the losses of two of his brothers to suicide 11 years apart. After years of sitting on the sidelines, he jumped into helping those in need by working on the suicide prevention hotline when he lived in Chicago. After moving to South Carolina, Dennis got involved with several non-profits that take on mental health issues and this allows him to lobby lawmakers and raise awareness by sharing his story.

Dennis has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from West Virginia University and a work history rich in influence and persuasion.

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com

Every business is bound to go through instants of ambiguity as it evolves. During that process, leaders who can guide employees through difficult situations and show them how to handle recurring issues can have a significant impact. 

In this episode with Umar we will explore ways to look at today's challenges through the lens of adaptive leadership.

Umar is a growth and transformation management consultant and Adaptive Leadership facilitator with over 15 years of experience of working with public and private organizations in more than 20 countries around the world. Umar brings an intimate knowledge of implementing changes in the world's most difficult places as Liberia and Sierra Leone as well as advanced context as Singapore. He is currently based in Seattle, USA working towards finalizing his book on leadership challenges in Kyrgyzstan and broader Central Asia. He recently launched his own consulting “Ordo Leadership” (www.ordoleadership.com) which provides bespoke leadership and change management facilitation to private and public sector clients. 
As Global Business Development Advisor recently and before that as Director of Central Asia Region and Head of Teaching Faculty of Center for Asia Leadership Initiative, Umar taught senior executives using Adaptive Leadership Framework in more than 25 occasions tailored for private companies in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Singapore.

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com

The ability to communicate eloquently and effectively is a skill. However, relatively few of us are aware of this or actively work to hone this skill.
 
One of the crucial elements of communication is ‘listening.' Unless we are good listeners there is no way we can be effective communicators. However, the human mind is fickle and fleeting. Every 7 to 10 seconds, our minds wander, our listening skills degrade, and communication breaks down.

In this episode, Oscar Trimboli will tell us about the art of listening. So listen carefully!

Oscar Trimboli is an author, host of the Apple award-winning podcast Deep Listening and a sought-after keynote speaker. Along with the Deep Listening Ambassador Community, he is on a quest to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace. Through his work with chairs, boards of directors, and executive teams, Oscar has experienced first-hand the transformational impact leaders can have when they listen beyond words. 
 
He believes that when leadership teams focus their attention and listening, they will build organizations that create powerful legacies for the people they serve – today and more importantly, for future generations. 
 
Oscar is a marketing and technology industry veteran working for Microsoft, PeopleSoft, Polycom, and Vodafone. He consults with organizations including American Express, AstraZeneca, Cisco, Google, HSBC, IAG, Montblanc, PwC, Salesforce, Sanofi, SAP, and Siemens. 
 
He is the author of how to listen - discover the hidden key to better communication - the most comprehensive book about listening in the workplace, Deep Listening - Impact beyond words and Breakthroughs: How to Confront Assumptions 
 
Oscar loves his afternoon walks with his wife, Jennie, and their dog Kilimanjaro. On the weekends, you will find him playing Lego with one or all his four grandchildren. 

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com

Have you ever wanted to fly an aircraft and serve your nation?  This time on The xMonks Drive we have with us Retd Air Vice Marshal Nicodemus Manohar Samuel to talk about his journey as a pilot in the Indian Air Force.

This podcast attempts to raise awareness of the remarkable Indian Air Force.

Samuel has superannuated as an Air Vice Marshal from the Indian Air Force after a career spanning 36 years, the best part of which was involved in aviation-related Operations, Experimental Test Flying and Defence Procurement related activities.

As a pilot in the IAF, he had flown extensively all over India, in the Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, as part of the two scientific expeditions in Antarctica, and in Congo as part of the United Nations. These also included tenures as a Flying Instructor and a Senior Test Flying Instructor.

In the higher ranks in service, his expertise in test flying was utilised repeatedly for Defence Procurement-related activities, and he handled a number of projects for the IAF in various appointments at HQ and the Ministry of Defence. I was also appointed to manage Transport and Helicopter Operations at the highest level in Air HQ, and Joint Operations at the HQ IDS.

Samuel has retained his interest in academics and obtained a Master's degree in Defence Studies and Management Studies, as well as a Master of Philosophy in Business Management, also serving as a Head of Faculty at the College of Defence Management. He uses this experience to give talks on Leadership at various forums in the Corporate sector.

While not working, he is either cycling, painting, reading or involved with music.

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com

Some people are born on third base—they inherit money, marry into wealth, or win a lottery. The rest of us must hit base (and occasionally strike out) in our quest to amass our own money. And this is what a true entrepreneur's journey involves. However, the question is: How far would you go to sate your thirst for knowledge and become an Indian solopreneur?

This podcast with Purva Aggarwal (Founder of Good Good piggy and one of the participants of Shark Tank, India) is a special homage to all the parents who gave their kids the freedom to forge their own paths in life.

Purva is the first female soloprenuer in India and third globally to enter the 'children's online banking & wallet' space with her startup called Good Good Piggy. As India's first disruptive EdFinTech start-up for pre-teenagers- Good Good Piggy positions as a digital piggy bank and behavioural rewards platform...doubling up as an investment channel to form good habits while contributing towards their financial security. Purva is also the Ambassador of the India Chapter of Women in Tech, an international non-profit (head-quartered in Paris, France) dedicated to promoting greater diversity in tech. She is also a Financial Analyst at a private equity investment advisory firm in London and a writer, under mentorship with a leading publication for institutional investors. 

In 2020, Purva was selected to join the ImpactGen Talent Program at Kairos Society Europe, a global community of celebrated young leaders who are using entrepreneurship and innovation to find solutions to the world's greatest challenges. With her academic background in Investment Banking and Finance, Purva is also a researcher in the field of Mergers and Acquisitions. Previously, she has worked as a business development specialist with management consultancies (including Sameer Mittal & Associates, now part of Intertrust Group) and international organizations in trade and policy making, including the Global Policy Insights-AI Policy Lab and the International Trade Council, India. She has also delivered risk-based internal audits, business process reviews, internal financial control (IFC) and IT general control (ITGC) reviews for leading organizations such as BDO India and Grant Thornton. 

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com

You may have heard of mindfulness, or the capacity to be fully present in the moment, which can offer a variety of advantages. According to general mindfulness research, these advantages range from reduced stress and sadness to elevated levels of focus and happiness.

But what does mindfulness really mean? And how can you spot it and make use of its many advantages? One method to fully experience the present moment and incorporate that awareness into daily life is to practice mindfulness meditation. What are the other ways we can practice mindfulness? Here is all you require to get going.

Brett is the host of the Language of Mindfulness and Organizational Mindfulness podcast. He is a professional speaker, trainer, coach, an author, and specializes in mindful communications. Brett has distilled a lifetime of deep study and practice into mindful communications in his training, lectures, and writings. He has a degree in interpersonal communications, has taught meditation to many hundreds of people, and has studied the mindful presence and communications for many years in such schools as Hakomi (somatic, mindful psychotherapy), The META institute (Mindful Experiential Therapy Approaches), The Mindfulness Coaching School, and others. He founded the Quest Insitute mediation center in Dallas Texas.

In addition, Brett has launched several businesses and is deeply technical having worked for Microsoft as a Sr. Technical Evangelist and Worldwide Technical Readiness Manager for Microsoft Online Services. Before and after joining Microsoft, he was named by Microsoft as "most valuable professional" and wrote software for organizations like Fresh Produce Sportswear and the Texas Rangers baseball team. He was CTO for a startup that went on to get several rounds of funding. In addition, he developed and taught classes on-site for organizations like Citibank, Ford, State Farm, Progressive, and many other Fortune 500 companies.

Now he focuses on helping professionals learn the power of conscious, mindful communication. In all of his work, he's concluded the key skill any person can study to improve their professional and personal lives - is mindful communication. He says "the limits of what we can achieve personally, professionally, and even as a people - is bounded by our ability to effectively communicate".

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com

Life doesn't come with a manual, and no matter how long we spend "in the womb," when it's time to go out into the big wide world, we still don't seem to know what's going on.

And occasionally all we need is someone to talk to. Prayer is a way of getting in touch with the essence of things, more so than simple talk, despite its own strength. It is the best listener you can ever discover. 

In this episode with Agapi, we travel the bridge between our soul and humanity with the power of prayer.

AGAPI STASSINOPOULOS is a best-selling author and speaker who inspires audiences around the world. In one of her first books, Unbinding the Heart: A Dose of Greek Wisdom, Generosity, and Unconditional Love, she shares the wisdom from her life’s adventures and experiences. In her latest book, Wake Up to the Joy of You: 52 Meditations and Practices for a Calmer, Happier Life, she takes readers on a journey and inspires them to let go of what doesn’t work and instead create the lives they really want. Agapi was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and then moved on to receive her master’s degree in psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Her two books on the Greek archetypes, Gods and Goddesses in Love and Conversations with the Goddesses, were turned into PBS specials.

In her newest book, SPEAKING WITH SPIRIT: 52 Prayers to Guide, Inspire, and Uplift You, Agapi presents a non-denominational guide to harnessing this power of prayer in your life and using it to find connection, peace, and gratitude. She is currently conducting workshops for Thrive Global, a company founded by her sister, Arianna Huffington, to help change the way we work and live. Agapi has spoken and conducted meditations at many organizations and companies including The Today Show, L’Oreal, Accenture, SAP, LinkedIn, Pandora, Google, Nike, Weight Watchers, PepsiCo, Starbucks, Global Citizen Company, Museum of Modern Art, ABC Carpet & Home, Women’s Health Magazine, Paul Mitchell, NYU, Gympass, and Hearst Communications amongst many others such as podcasts with Deepak Chopra, Lewis Howes, Maria Menounous, Sharon Salzberg, and more. She brings home the importance of self-care, practicing gratitude, generosity and self-love to enhance performance and productivity so we can experience happiness and fulfillment. She divides her time between New York and Los Angeles and was born and raised in Athens, Greece. FIND HER online at www.WakeUptotheJoyofYou.com 

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com

Who we are is how we lead. It’s not just about what we do in the world when it comes to leadership; it’s also about who we are. Take a minute to consider whether it is possible to divorce one's identity from the roles we play. I don't believe so.

You need to have a solid understanding of who you are as a person and how to use that knowledge to your advantage as a leader. You may assess your leadership strengths and weaknesses using this knowledge to become a more effective leader. Then, you can work to improve your weaknesses while enhancing your strengths.

A sought-after keynote speaker, facilitator, coach and author, Alain Hunkins helps leaders achieve performance goals, more easier.

His work connects the science of high performance with the performing art of leadership. Leaders trust him to help unlock their potential and expand their influence, leading to superior results, increased engagement, higher levels of retention, and greater organizational and personal satisfaction. He has a gift for translating complex concepts from psychology, neuroscience and organizational behavior into simple, practical tools that can be applied on the job.

With his Master’s in Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Professional Theater Training Program, and a BA from Amherst College, Alain is on the faculty of Duke Corporate Education, ranked #2 worldwide in 2019 by Financial Times on its list of customized Executive Education programs. He also serves on the Academic Advisory Board for the New Delhi Institute of Management and has lectured at UNC Kenan-Flagler’s business school, Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology, UMass-Boston College of Management and Columbia University. Alain was invited to Den Helder, Netherlands to give a TEDx talk called "The Basic Truth Most Leaders Neglect.

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com

The world needs women leaders - from running big organisations to running countries. Gender-equal leadership will prompt a more efficient and integrated society.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that women enter the workforce in relatively equal numbers to men, their ascent to the top can be more difficult and slower for them. But this did not stop Mrs. Sangeeta Talwar. She broke the barriers and the biases and helped in launching an iconic brand like Maggie.

Sangeeta Talwar is acclaimed as the first woman in the Consumer Products sector in India and has blazed several new trails. In a career spanning over 30 years, Mrs. Talwar has worked across large businesses of European, American, and Indian corporations. She largely worked with the private sector in India & in Switzerland as well as spearheaded the implementation of a national-level, Social sector - World Bank-funded project in Rural India. She has multifunctional exposure across the disciplines of Marketing, Sales, Human Resources and General Management and has built familiarity both with urban as well as rural India.

🔗 Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com

Humans are social beings who crave connections, trust, and belongingness. People strive to connect with other people about ideas, feelings, and experiences that matter to them and that they may share with others because they don't like to feel alone in what they are experiencing.

Thus, building communities becomes crucial for fostering connections between people and creating the infrastructure needed for these interactions to happen. This is what we discuss in this episode with Luca.

Luca Buchholz is based in Berlin and is a Global Community Manager at Camunda. She has built a support program for Camunda’s network of global meetup organizers over the past three years. In this episode, at The xMonks Drive she discusses everything you need to know about building a community.

🔗 Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334

Website: https://xmonks.com