Winning Teams

The world is an ever-changing place with diverse people and cultures. Starting out as a way to promote multicultural marketing, The Diversity Movement has become so much more. The Diversity Movement was founded in late 2019, but with Covid-19 and the many ongoing racial injustice events in the United States in 2020, its mission has become even more important.

Today's guest is Kurt Merriweather, the head of products and co-founder of The Diversity Movement. He is an accomplished product strategist and marketing executive with a passion for helping leaders and organizations identify and implement growth strategies. With over 20 years of experience, Kurt has worked for global brands like Discovery, AOL, Procter and Gamble, and was VP of Strategy and Transformation at Walk West.

In this episode, Kurt and I discuss the positive impact DEI has on every business and the steps The Diversity Movement is taking to ensure DEI is a part of your company's culture.

• Covid-19 and Racial Injustice as Catalysts in 2020
• Understanding Multicultural Marketing
• The Cost of Having a Toxic Culture
• Leading a Diverse Team
• The Hard Data That Supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in the Workplace
• The Broadness of Diversity - It's Not Just Race
• The Right People, Policies, and Practices
• Understanding the Leadership Differences to Unlock Potential
• Removing Barriers for Full Participation
• Customer Focused Business of the Present vs. Product Focused Business of the Past
• Engagement With a Purpose
• The Role of The Diversity Movement in Transformation
• eLearning Courses Provided by The Diversity Movement
• Kurt's Book Recommendation and Daily Ritual

Kurt Merriweather, Head of Products at The Diversity Movement and a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE), is an accomplished product strategist and marketing executive with a passion for helping leaders and organizations identify and implement growth strategies. Before co-founding The Diversity Movement, Kurt was VP of Strategy and Transformation at Walk West where he was responsible for leading the consulting and strategy practice and developing new business concepts and ventures. His approach to advising clients and developing strategy blends a unique combination of creative thinking and data analysis. With over 20 years of experience, Kurt has worked for global brands like Discovery, AOL, and Procter & Gamble, where he developed technology products and solutions, created go-to-market strategies, led multidisciplinary teams to spinout new ventures, and received a patent for developing a streaming media application.

To reach Kurt, go to The Diversity Project's website: https://thediversitymovement.com/

• The Diversity Movement Website
• The Diversity Movement Courses
• Kurt Merriweather on LinkedIn
• Kurt Merriweather on Twitter

Connect with John Murphy:

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High-performers are constantly dreaming and working towards lofty goals. That's great, but what our guest today points out is that the gap between a high-performer's ability and their dream is vast. What can we do as goal-oriented, high-performing leaders to continue growing, adapting, and succeeding?

To help answer that loaded question, I am thrilled to welcome back Tevis Trower. Tevis is no stranger to A Life and a Living Podcast, but this time she comes as a new author of the book The Game Changer's Guide to Radical Success. Not only is this book a fabulous tool for leaders to make changes but also to sustain the energy to see themselves through to the end. By the end of today's episode, you will feel invigorated and excited to start converting your imagination into daily actions and heightened self awareness so your goals are even more attainable.

• Vulnerability as a Strength for a Leader
• Tevis's Passion and Inspiration for Writing Her New Book
• The Gap Between a High Performer's Ability and Their Dream
• How Tevis Coaches and What Questions She Asks
• Romanticizing Others' Success
• The "It's Never Enough" Mindset and the Ego
• Converting Imagination Into Daily Actions and Heightened Self Awareness
• Self-Reflection Ideas and Practices
• The World's Desperation for True Leadership
• Education as Everyone's Responsibility
• Weekly Game Changer Chats with Tevis Trower
• Tevis's Book Recommendations and Daily Routines.

Tevis Trower is the author of The Game-Changer's Guide to Radical Success and is a sounding board, thought leader, and wisdom cultivator for organizational leaders globally. Considered a pioneer in the field of cultural transformation, in 2002 Tevis bootstrapped Balance Integration and has expanded and refined the company's services into a broad spectrum of modalities to align leadership and optimize humanity in the workplace.

To reach Tevis, go to her website: https://www.balanceintegration.com/

• The Game-Changer's Guide to Radical Success by Tevis Trower
• Tevis Trower on LinkedIn
• Balance Integration Corporation Podcast
• Game Changer Chats and Events with Tevis Trower
• Tevis Trower on Twitter

Connect with John Murphy:

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With Covid hitting the United States in early 2020, leaders across the country were forced to make many changes. Fast forward to now and we are still dealing with those changes. How have leaders fared during this challenging time and how can we learn from those leaders who have found success?

Today's guest on A Life and a Living Podcast is Daniel Freeman, founder and CEO of Genius Talent. Genius Talent is a staffing and recruitment firm headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. In today's episode, Daniel discusses the company's plans being completely thrown up in the air with Covid and how he navigated his team and his clients. He also shares with us the challenges he faced, the challenges his team faced, and how the needs of his clients changed. Daniel's clever approach is sure to inspire.

• How Daniel "Swiveled" Instead of "Pivoted"
• How to Handle the Changing Needs of Clients Through Deeper Conversation
• Adjusting Goals and Objectives During Trying Times
• Showing Empathy Through Problem Solving
• Leading a Faith-Based Company Through Covid
• The Things That Most Challenged Daniel This Year
• Trusting Your Team to Deliver
• The Adjustment to Working Remotely
• Looking Back, What Daniel Would Change About His Approach to the Pandemic
• Self-Doubt Versus Resilience
• Daniel's Outlook on the Future of the Workplace and Recruitment Industry
• Positive Impacts of the Pandemic
• Strengthening Relationships

Daniel Freeman is the founder and CEO of Genius Talent, headquartered in North Carolina and serves clients throughout the US. Genius Talent is a full-service staffing and recruitment firm specializing in IT, healthcare, industrial, and finance & accounting resources.

To reach Daniel, go to Genius Talent's website: www.geniustalentgroup.com

• Daniel Freeman on LinkedIn
• Genius Talent Home Page
• Genius Talent on Instagram
• Genius Talent on Facebook

Connect with John Murphy:

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• Twitter
• Website

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As we continue to navigate the workplace during the Covid-19 pandemic, guidance in leadership and employee communication is a must. That's why I've asked Pete Rawlinson to join us again on A Life and a Living Podcast. Pete has spoken with us before and his insight on engaging and connecting employees is so inspiring.

Pete Rawlinson has twenty years of experience in technology marketing and is the Chief Marketing Officer at Workvivo. In today's episode, we discuss many ways that Pete has connected with his team, what has worked and what hasn't worked, and how we can increase our effort as leaders to make meaningful connections.

• Enabling Employees Feel Connected with Workvivo
• How Pete's Company Adjusted Quickly at the Start of Covid
• Accommodating Employee Needs When Working From Home
• Continuing Emotional Connection Over a Distance
• Checking In Instead of Checking Up
• The Increase in Workvivo Use Through Remote Work
• Bringing More Humanity and Transparency to the Workplace
• The Long Term Considerations of Working From Home
• What Pete Learned About Himself and His Team
• Increased Effort to Connect
• Underestimating the Adaptability of Employees
• Pete's Ideas of What the Future of the Workplace Looks Like

Pete Rawlinson has twenty years of experience in technology marketing and is the Chief Marketing Officer at Workvivo. Workvivo is a workplace communication platform for employees designed to engage and connect team members.

To reach Pete, go to Workvivo's website: www.workvivo.com

• Pete Rawlinson on LinkedIn
• Workvivo Home Page
• Workvivo on Twitter
• Workvivo on Facebook
• Workvivo on Instagram

Connect with John Murphy:

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• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Website

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Do you have what it takes to be a transformational leader? Well, first we need to unpack this idea and define what it means to be a transformational leader, and I have just the right guest in mind for that.

Nick Jankel is our guest today on A Life and a Living Podcast. He is the founder of Switch On Now, an educational service that supports individuals to transform their biggest problems in life, love, and leadership with their unique courses and programs underpinned by neuroscience-based and heart-led methodology. Nick calls himself a "Transformation Geek" but has also been called a "Transformation Guru." He is also a motivational speaker and successful published author with his most recent book being Now Lead the Change which outlines transformational leadership.

Our conversation today is fascinating and you can expect to learn what it means to be a transformational leader. What are the characteristics of a transformational leader and how can you embrace them? Because right now, it isn't just a nice thought - it's essential.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

• Nick's Journey That Led Him to Being a Thought Leader
• What It Means to be a Transformation "Geek"
• Rapid Change, Adaptation, and Uncertainty
• How You Can Show Up Differently to Support Growth
• Academic Leadership Versus Management
• The Two Types of Innovation in Business
• Now Lead the Change as Nick's Framework
• Adapting Business Models While Staying Safe
• Transformational Leadership During the Covid-19 Pandemic
• The Importance of Reflection
• The Characteristics of a True Transformational Leader
• How to Avoid Getting Stuck Without Clarity
• Nick's Book Recommendations and Daily Routines

About Our Guest:

Nick Jankel is the founder of Switch On Now, an educational service that supports individuals to transform their biggest problems in life, love, and leadership with their unique courses and programs underpinned by neuroscience-based and heart-led methodology. Nick calls himself a "Transformation Geek" but has also been called a "Transformation Guru." He is also a motivational speaker and successful published author with his most recent book being Now Lead the Change which outlines transformational leadership.

To reach Nick, go to Switch On Now's website: www.switchonnow.com

Connect with Nick Jankel:

• Switch On Now Website
• Switch On Now Keynotes
• Switch On Now on Facebook
• Nick Jankel on Twitter
• Nick Jankel on LinkedIn
• Now Lead the Change: Repurpose Your Career, Future-Proof Your Organization, and Regenerate Our Crisis-Hit World By Mastering Transformational Leadership by Nick Jankel

Connect with John Murphy:

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• Website

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Today's guest on A Life and a Living Podcast is elite athlete Jenny Davis. What can we learn from an athlete that would be helpful in the business world? Well, you'll find out that there's quite a lot we can learn from Jenny.

Jenny Davis is a silver medal elite athlete turned entrepreneur and business coach. As an athlete, she was asked to present how she improved her performance to her department manager and leaders. Having shared the principles of improvement, Jenny was asked to help lead and deliver continuous improvement in the business. This led to Jenny making a career change and she now works with business leaders and entrepreneurs to move away from fire fighting and stress to calm and control.

I'm thrilled to have her on the show today as we talk about managing through change. We have all been experiencing change this year and her experiences, tips, and coaching approach is extremely helpful in today's stressful environment.

• Jenny's Achievements as an Athlete
• How Jenny's Athletic Training and Experiences Impact Her Approach as a Business Leader
• The Importance of Customer Feedback
• How Attention to Detail Can Make a Huge Difference in Performance
• What Levers to Pull and When
• The Ways Jenny Prepares for Distractions
• Managing Pressure Instead of Crumbling Under It
• The Loneliness of Being an Entrepreneur and the Importance of Support
• Coping with Change as a Team
• Supporting Your Team Through Honesty and Flexibility
• Solving Problems Instead of Putting Out Fires
• The Transformation of British Cycling and the Parallel to the Business World
• Maintaining the Mentality of Always Trying Something New
• Jenny's Book Recommendation - The One Thing

Jenny Davis is a silver medal elite athlete turned entrepreneur and business coach. As an athlete, she was asked to present how she improved her performance to her department manager and leaders. Having shared the principles of improvement, Jenny was asked to help lead and deliver continuous improvement in the business. This led to Jenny making a career change and she now works with business leaders and entrepreneurs to move away from fire fighting and stress to calm and control.

To reach Jenny, go to her website: www.strivechange.org

Connect with Jenny Davis:

• Strive Change Web Page

Connect with John Murphy:

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• LinkedIn
• Twitter
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If you liked this episode, please don't forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Thanks for tuning in!

Something we don't always consider when building a team of employees is Second Chance Hiring. In the United States, where overcriminalization is a huge problem, the amount of prospective employees in our pool of applicants with a criminal record is very high. How high? Well, our guest today shares the staggering numbers with us and how business leaders can not only help turn lives around but can also discover a very loyal and engaged team member.

Our guest today is Jessica Smith. Jessica is the director of The Criminal Justice Innovation Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also an established lawyer, which is an unusual type of guest to have on this podcast. This unique perspective is exactly why I asked her to chat with us today about the consequences of criminal records, second-chance initiatives, and the compelling stories that illustrate the impact of both.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

• The Mission and Work Behind the Criminal Justice Innovation Lab
• Overcriminalization in the United States
• The Impact of Criminal Records of Minor Offenses
• The Difference Between Second Chance and Clean Slate Initiatives
• Hiring Someone with Misdemeanor and Felony Criminal Records
• The Sentence of a Life in Poverty
• Change Among Policymakers and Businesses Regarding Second Chance Hiring
• Loyalty and Low Turnover Among Second Chance Employees
• How Jessica Trains and Educates Organizations About Second Chance Hiring
• Perceived and Actual Risk Mitigation
• Partnering with Companies That Support Those Seeking Re-Entry
• Business Profitability Versus Charity
• Compelling Stories That Illustrate The Benefits of Second Chance Hiring

About Our Guest:

Jessica Smith is a W.R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She began with the School of Government in 2000 after practicing law in Washington, D.C. and clerking for judges in North Carolina. She is also the director of The Criminal Justice Innovation Lab which seeks to promote a fair and effective criminal justice system, public safety, and economic prosperity. It works by engaging a broad range of stakeholders to examine the criminal justice system through an evidence-based perspective and promoting the use of a rigorous evidence-based approach to criminal justice policy.

To reach Jessica, go to The Criminal Justice Innovation Lab's website: www.cjil.sog.unc.edu

Connect with Jessica Smith:

• The Criminal Justice Innovation Lab
• Jessica Smith on Twitter
• Jessica Smith on LinkedIn

Connect with John Murphy:

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If you liked this episode, please don't forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Thanks for tuning in!

What is holding you back? Sometimes this is an easy question to answer, but oftentimes we need to do some work on ourselves to make this discovery. As a leader, we are looked to for guidance but we don't always know how to move forward confidently.

That's why today's guests are Mira and Peter Griffiths who are leadership coaches for teams and individuals. They help their clients have a better understanding of how we discover what is holding us back from becoming what we can become. Their promise is "We won't give you more to think about or do, we will help you to take away what is getting in the way of your life now and the life you want to live."

Our conversation today is so insightful. Listen on to learn how Mira and Peter keep that lofty promise to their clients and things you can implement now to work on yourself as a leader of a strong team.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

• How Mira and Peter Keep Their Promise to Their Clients
• Finding Your Mental Block
• Intellectual and Emotional Insight
• How to Find What is Holding You Back
• The Importance of Taking Time For Yourself to Reflect
• Increasing Engagement in Your Team
• The Power of Human Connection
• How to Manage Fear Within Yourself and Your Team
• The Self-Doubt Problem
• Deepening the Understanding of Yourself and Others
• Mira and Peter's Book Recommendations

About Our Guests:

Mira and Peter Griffiths are the Executive Coaches and Founders of The Mind Takeaway, a coaching organization for those in leadership roles. With both of them having leadership roles in the past, they understand what it takes to show up creatively and be an authentic leader in today's challenging and often confusing landscape.

Mira has a BS in Physiotherapy, Advanced Diploma in Hypnotherapy, Counseling and Psychology, a Diploma in CBT and Advanced Pain Management, and has also studied emotions and human behavior through the Paul Eckman International Institute. Peter is a professional musician, audio engineer, and creative business coach who mentors business leaders, entrepreneurs and creative souls on principles behind clarity and how to use them to get the results they desire.

To reach Mira and Peter, go to the The Mind Takeaway's website: www.themindtakeaway.com

Connect with Mira and Peter:

• The Mind Takeaway Home Page
• Passion Business Podcast

Connect with John Murphy:

• Youtube
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Website

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Covid shut down so many facets of our lives, including the workplace. But for companies like Merck Pharmaceuticals, the business goals had to stay the same. Although everyone was and still are working from home, how did Merck's leaders manage huge teams of people to maintain business objectives?

Today's guest is Drew Otoo. He is the Vice President of Marketing at Merck and Global Commercial Lead for Pneumococcal & Zoster Vaccines and our conversation today is such inspiration for leaders during this challenging time. What makes Drew's approach impactful is his crystal clear vision and plan for moving through new working conditions.

• The Approach Drew Took to Manage and Lead His Team
• Using Virtual Tools to Stay Organized and in Communication
• Minimizing the Separation Between Colleagues Across the World
• Investing in People and Putting Them First
• Keeping in Mind the Reality of the Situation
• The Evolution of Expectations
• Experimenting with Team Ideas
• What Drew Found Out About His Team Through Covid
• The Importance of Planning and Purpose
• Drew's Ideas for the Future in the Workplace

Andrew Otoo is the Vice President of Marketing at Merck and Global Commercial Lead for Pneumococcal & Zoster Vaccines. He received his MBA focused in Healthcare Marketing and Pharmacy from Drake University.

To reach Andrew Otoo or contact someone within Merck Pharmaceuticals, go to Merck's website: www.merck.com.

• Contact Merck Pharmaceuticals
• LinkedIn

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Leadership takes courage. Leading through Covid takes even more courage. What can you do to show you have the courage to lead through the challenges we are facing today?

Today's extraordinary guest is Sepi Saidi. Sepi is the founder and CEO of SEPI Inc, an engineering firm in North Carolina. She has won multiple awards not only as a business owner but as a woman in leadership. She joins me today to talk about how she has been able to build a successful business in a male-dominated industry, how she has led her business through Covid, and how she continues to overcome the obstacles Covid has placed on us.

Through culture, behavior, and values, Sepi builds great relationships with her team and community to make an impact.

• How Sepi Leads a Successful Business in a Male-Dominated Industry
• Building Relationships with the Community
• Recruiting Top Talent
• Having Courage as a Leader
• Staying True to Your Vision
• How Sepi Inc. Adjusted to Changes From Covid
• Sepi's Views on the Future
• The Fascinating Challenges Businesses are Facing
• Isolation as an Extrovert
• Creating More Flexibility

Sepi Saidi is a visionary leader who founded SEPI Inc. in 2001 and has led the company to become a premier multi-disciplinary firm focused on exploring complex challenges for today's built environment.

Sepi is passionate about giving back to the community and is currently serving, or has served, on many different boards of directors including the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Sepi holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University.

To reach Sepi Saidi or contact someone within SEPI Inc., go to SEPI Inc.'s website: www.sepiinc.com.

• Contact SEPI Inc.
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with John Murphy:

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• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Website

If you liked this episode, please don't forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Thanks for tuning in!