4 of 4 in the 'Creating Space for Collaboration' series.

In this week's episode, Gregg concludes the four-part series on creating collaborative spaces with a special guest, Allie Idzik Heifetz. Allie shares a story about her experiences with event planning and collaboration. She emphasizes the importance of customer experience, creating inviting spaces, and leaving people with a positive feeling. Gregg and Allie also discuss the need for kindness and grace in collaboration and the importance of paying attention to the unique needs of each event.

Allie Idzik Heifetz, a Madison, Wisconsin native and Edgewood College graduate with a degree in Communications, boasts a diverse skill set encompassing events, community engagement, arts, and graphic design. Her impressive career journey led her to the position of "Boss Lady" at Project Kinect, where she excelled in event planning, marketing, community engagement, and social media management. Notable events she oversaw included Wisconsin’s Best Bloody Mary Fest, Social Change Forum, and the Badger Bioneers Conference.

Further enhancing her expertise, Allie worked as an assistant and production coordinator at MoonLab Productions in Los Angeles, where she gained valuable experience in executing high-budget events and activations for prestigious clients at venues like Coachella, The Rose Bowl, and Summerfest. Her work ethic combines Midwestern values with a Los Angeles professional mindset, creating a unique and effective approach to her work.

Follow Allie Idzik Heifetz on:

#CollaborativeSpaces #EventPlanning #CommunityEngagement #PodcastJourney #KindnessInCollaboration #CustomerExperience #CreativeSpaces #WorkEthic #20minutecollaborations

3 of 4 in the 'Creating Space for Collaboration' series.

In this episode, Gregg invites Angela Bukenya to talk about her experience in Uganda, where she opened a space for collaboration with a community of women. She initially planned to work with 15 women but ended up with hundreds of women. She highlights the importance of identifying gatekeepers, carefully entering communities, and protecting integrity during the collaboration process. Angela emphasizes the need to add value to existing initiatives within a community and how to empower people to achieve their goals step by step. She encourages listeners to consider how they can make a positive impact in the lives of others and collaborate to improve communities.

Angela Bukenya is an experienced professional with a strong background in public administration and health services, aiming to leverage expertise in project and program management, as well as supply chain and logistics, to drive organizational excellence. Proven leadership capabilities, coupled with a track record of successfully delegating and managing projects, contribute to optimizing efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of initiatives. Backed by a robust foundation in disparities research and diverse management, I am dedicated to propelling an organization's vision and mission to new heights through continuously collaborating with similar mind sets and adopting flexibility throughout the process. 

Follow Angela Bukenya on LinkedIn:

2 of 4 in the 'Creating Space for Collaboration' series.

In this week's episode, Gregg welcomes Mai J. Lo Lee, a long-time friend and collaborator. They discuss the importance of collaboration and Mai's journey from their college days to her current role in diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Mai shares insights from her experience growing up as a Hmong ginseng farmer and how it has shaped her approach to collaboration. She emphasizes the significance of recognizing and respecting individual needs when creating inclusive spaces. Mai also discusses the value of humility, continuous learning, and the importance of inviting diverse perspectives to the table. She reflects on those who have mentored and role-modeled collaboration for her and how she aims to pay it forward by inviting others to participate in collaborative efforts.

Mai J. Lo Lee (she, her, hers) has worked in advocacy, diversity, equity, and inclusion for the past 15+ years. She is active in her local community and the state of Wisconsin.

Recently, Mai was awarded the prestigious Women of Influence Award where she was recognized as a Difference Maker – Community by Insight on Business. In 2021, Mai was appointed to serve on Governor Evers Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion for the State of Wisconsin, and in 2020, Mai was named one of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Asian American Leaderships by Madison 365. In addition, Mai has been recognized and received many awards for her excellence in community outreach, collaborative achievement, and professional pursuits.

Mai is active in her regional community and the state of Wisconsin. Mai sits on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Public Radio Association, Green Bay Botanical Garden, and Toward One Wisconsin (T1W) Statewide Conference planning committee.  

In her spare time, Mai loves to hike the many trails of Wisconsin and is an active cyclist on her Peloton. She enjoys reading and writing, doing D-I-Y home projects and her many attempts to organize her home. Born in the Ban Vinai Refugee Holding Center in the Loei Province of northeastern Thailand, Mai was raised in Central Wisconsin with her nine siblings and both parents on a farm where her family raised chickens and grew ginseng. She now calls the Fox Cities her home where she and her partner raise their child.  

You can follow Mai J Lo Lee on her LinkedIn:

1 of 4 in the 'Creating Space for Collaboration' series.

In this week's podcast episode, host Gregg interviews Adam Kahane, an expert in collaboration and facilitation. Adam shares a story about facilitating a workshop in Hawaii involving native and non-native Hawaiian leaders. The workshop aimed to construct scenarios about possible futures for Hawaii, addressing divisions around environment, culture, politics, and more. Adam emphasizes the importance of working in partnership with insiders and outsiders and highlights the increasing need for effective collaboration and facilitation in today's world.

Adam Kahane is a Director of Reos Partners, an international social enterprise that helps people move forward together on their most important and intractable issues.

Adam is a leading organizer, designer and facilitator of processes through which business, government, and civil society leaders can work together to address such challenges. He has worked in more than fifty countries, in every part of the world, with executives and politicians, generals and guerrillas, civil servants and trade unionists, community activists and United Nations officials, clergy and artists.

Adam is the author of Solving Tough Problems, about which Nelson Mandela said: “This breakthrough book addresses the central challenge of our time: finding a way to work together to solve the problems we have created.” Kahane is also the author of Power and Love, Transformative Scenario Planning, Collaborating with the Enemy, and Facilitating Breakthrough.

Adam is a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2022 he was named a Schwab Foundation Social Innovation Thought Leader of the Year at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

#collaboration #adamkahane #reospartners #facilitation #spacecreation #collaborationskills

We're getting ready for our four part series on why creating space is so important in collaborations. Gregg has been on a fun summer journey lately that had a lot of prime lessons on how do we create space. This involved going to see Stevie Nicks, a weekend with his nephews, the next cohort of The Life Cycle of Collaboration, and ending with P!nk in Milwaukee. We have lessons to learn from all of our unintentional collaborations. The lessons on space making are some of the most important to learn.

Find tickets here for Everything You've Wanted to Ask a Sex Therapist: https://projectkinect.square.site/live-twenty-minute-collaborations

Sign up for the next cohort of The Life Cycle of Collaboration beginning October 3: https://projectkinect.square.site/workshops

#collaboration #collaborationcoach #stevienicks #pink #spacemaking #holdingspace

In this week's podcast episode with Monica Mims, the discussion revolved around collaboration, leadership, integrity, and self-care. Monica shared her journey from challenging beginnings in Madison, WI, to becoming a marketing professional at American Family Insurance and being a board member at YWCA Madison. She highlighted the importance of integrity in collaborations, emphasizing that staying true to oneself and influencing oneself positively is key to showing up authentically. Monica also spoke about the value of empathy and self-awareness in fostering successful collaborations. She debunked the notion that self-care compromises integrity, emphasizing that leaders and organizations are increasingly recognizing the significance of self-care for personal well-being and improved productivity.

Monica Mims is a dynamic professional and community advocate based in Madison, WI. Originally from Chicago, she has established herself as a leader and influencer through her dedication to integrity, collaboration, and self-care. Monica's journey began with overcoming challenges in Madison's community, and she found inspiration in the powerful women around her who became her mentors and role models. As a marketing professional at American Family Insurance, Monica orchestrates impactful events and virtual experiences. Monica's involvement as a board member at YWCA Madison and her active engagement with various community organizations showcase her dedication to empowering others. Monica's passion for promoting positive change and her ability to inspire those around her make her a remarkable force in her community and beyond.

You can also find her at Dream Bank on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9am - 5pm

In this week's podcast, Gregg interviews Afra Smith, founder of The Melanin Project. They discuss Afra's journey in finance, entrepreneurship, and advocating for wealth literacy. The conversation emphasizes collaboration, vulnerability, and extending grace. Afra shares a story about handling a challenging situation with a leader, highlighting the power of grace and creating safe spaces for dialogue. She also explores the importance of accountability, responsibility, and intentional engagement with marginalized communities.

Afra Smith is the Founder & CEO of The Melanin Project.  She is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, financial wellness coach and creator of the AODEC financial wellness strategy which she uses to teach behavioral approaches to build wealth.  The Melanin Project’s programs support building generational wealth through advocacy, personal empowerment, and financial wellness coaching. Afra holds a Master’s in Business Administration, Bachelors in Gerontology and she is a graduate of ACRE (Associates in Commercial Real Estate).

#20minutecollaborations #VulnerabilityMatters #ExtendingGrace #WealthLiteracy #PodcastConversations #IntentionalEngagement #EmpowerWomen #DiversityandInclusion #LeadershipInsights #CreatingSafeSpaces

Welcome to another exciting episode of the podcast, where Gregg dives deep into the art of collaboration and the power of creating space for meaningful connections.

In this episode, special guest Dana Sidebottom, shares her inspiring journey of collaboration to find the perfect home during the pandemic. Exploring the importance of asking the right questions, embracing high-risk, high-reward situations, and the value of a facilitator, you'll gain valuable insights for fostering successful collaborations in both personal and professional spheres.

Dana Sidebottom is a public engagement expert and accomplished facilitator. In both her personal and professional lives, she is committed to building inclusive, supportive communities and is particularly interested in the intersection between art, language, and human connection. She can be found at ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/dana-sidebottom-912843255⁠ or by calling her name three times into a well under a full moon.

In today's episode, Gregg had the privilege of sitting down with Tanya, a remarkable Leadership Coach who has an inspiring story to share.

Tanya is a Leadership Coach who came to coaching after years and years in an outwardly successful but ultimately unsatisfying career in advertising. She logged the hours, delivered the goods, and shook the hands of satisfied clients time and again. She kept waiting for the deep-seated feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction to arrive, but they didn't.

She also suffered, a lot, from a myriad of "not good enough, not smart enough, not ready" beliefs. Any success she enjoyed, she chalked up to someone else having made a mistake. She thought it was just a matter of time before they found out she was a fake.

As it turned out, Tanya had been suffering from the Imposter Complex⁠. (You too? You're in exquisite company). She just couldn't quite get out of the rut.

It took the passing of her mother to get her "unstuck." After her mother left, Tanya heard — really heard — her lifelong mantra for the first time: Don’t Postpone Joy.

You can find more from Tanya, by following the links below:

FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT GREGG'S UPCOMING WORK

Gregg is excited to welcome part of his Los Angeles family to the show and one of his favorite DJs, DJ Asha. This episode talks about her journey to LA and how the life of a DJ came about. The story she shares has nothing to do with being a DJ however, it does demonstrate a beautiful collaboration that we can all relate to.

ASHA can be found rockin’ crowds in the world’s biggest clubs. Regularly spinning in London (her hometown), Australia, Croatia, Dubai, Greece, (for P.Diddy), Italy, and Russia; plus most recently New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami and Hollywood. ASHA has hosted the LA Pride festival 6 times.

Her style of radio presentation has received critical acclaim, and she’s interviewed some of the world’s biggest stars including Will Smith, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Samuel L Jackson, Juliette Lewis, Alicia Keys, and the late Amy Winehouse. Recently ASHA has teamed up with leading British music producer /songwriter 2AM to co-produce several top Dance remixes which are being spun all over the world by tastemaker DJs.

Follow DJ Asha:

Website: djasha.com

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLi47Xt6Q5Up-KwmKdPhNGA

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djasha

Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/djasha/

Other 20 Minute Collab episodes referenced in this episode:

Episode 7 - Dan Lutz: Car Troubles Part 1 (https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cLbArMWyIKgiB6ceXuGOD?si=08598e26213d4d31)

Episode 1 - Dina Nina Martinez and Honesty (https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Gbdav1AUYezlWOXAKZNZE?si=25aef948ed064b0d)