Poyee Chiu of UpSpiral Leadership interviews Matthew Mangino and Susan Lubalin. Matthew has spent a lifetime leading, coaching, and inspiring individuals at all levels to collaborate and excel in teams. He is the co-founder and CEO of Legacy Teams, a consultancy that offers clients evidence-based insights and field-based applications to help their teams achieve peak performance. He is passionate about helping leaders and teams find “the zone.” His research on effective leadership and high-performing teams can be found in widely-read publications like Primal Leadership by Daniel Goldman and The Organizational Development Journal. Matthew works with various professionals, non-profits, and Fortune 500 companies, including Johnson & Johnson.
Susan Lubalin is the HR Manager of K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel, a doggy daycare and boarding facility in Fairfield, NJ. In addition to her work, Susan is a passionate volunteer. One of the many places she offers her volunteer services is Pace University, where she recently served as President of Lubin School of Business Alumni Association Board of Directors. Susan is also a member of the Rotary Club of the Caldwells in New Jersey and is the third woman in the world to hold the office of President of the Rotary Club, which has historically been a men-only club.
[00:30] Introducing Matthew Mangino and Susan Lubalin
[04:07] The Vision of the Rotary Club
[06:10] How the Rotary Club is Changing the World and the Caldwells
[14:26] How the Rotary Club is Rallying their Members and Communities
[26:59] What the Club has taught Susan and Matthew about Themselves
[33:52] Lightning Round: A Series Of Brief Questions
[43:47] The Flip: “Change is hard. It’s not worth it.”
The rotary club is a global non-profit with the slogan “Service Above Self.” It originally started as a place where men could network and has grown into a major social change agent. The club has been instrumental in eliminating polio worldwide. Their work includes the empowerment of women, global health, access to resources, and beyond. On a local level, the club helps business professionals and leaders.
Matthew identified strongly with the “Service Above Self” intention, and after being recruited by Susan, he joined the Rotary Club to give back to his town. Susan got involved with the Rotary Club in 2015 after her work as a teacher, broker, and in HR, where she found a passion for helping people. In the Caldwells, the Rotary Club intends to revitalize and develop the town after the pandemic slump.
Susan has learned the value of positivity, honesty, and showing up. Matthew has learned that he has skills and processes from the corporate environment that he can easily apply to his volunteer work. His ability to fine-tune a team or organization and encourage a group of people to commit to a shared vision has been invaluable.
The Leadership Trait the World Needs Most Right Now
According to Susan, the leader that the world needs most right now can motivate and appreciate people and invest in them. According to Matthew, the leadership trait that the world needs most right now is courage and the ability to inspire and listen.
The Thing that Susan and Matthew Believe that Almost No One Else in the World Believes
Susan believes that mistakes should be viewed as a learning experience and not as failures. Matthew believes that despite our many missteps, on the whole, the world is improving.
The Mindset Reset: “Change is hard. It’s not worth it.”
Even though change can be challenging, Susan believes that the rewards make it worth the effort. For Matthew, change is still difficult, but he believes that change is rooted in the human need for learning. So, change is necessary.