What was it like to lead a business that was deemed essential during the Covid-19 pandemic? For some businesses, teams and leaders couldn’t shut the doors. That is the case for Oonagh O’Hagan, today’s guest.

Oonagh is the Managing Director of Meagher’s Pharmacy Group in Ireland. In her unique position as an essential business, Oonagh had to maintain the level of care and service to their clients while also discouraging them from coming in. With a combination of ingenuity, creativity, and trust, Oonagh and her teams were able to stay open, stay safe, and provide quality care for their clients.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

Being an Essential Service During a Pandemic

Caring for High Risk and Vulnerable Clients

Changing Operations Quickly for Safety

Maintaining Communication with Clients From a Distance

Using Online Platforms for Non-Essential Business

Oonagh’s Experience as a Working Mom During Covid

Finding New Ways to Engage With Your Team

The Biggest Challenge for Oonagh in 2020

The Importance of Trust

Managing Yourself as a Leader and Making Time for Yourself

Prioritizing Health and Wellness

Working Together for the Greater Good

About Our Guest:

Oonagh O’Hagan is the owner and Managing Director of Meaghers Pharmacy Group. A qualified pharmacist, she was in her late 20s when she bought the landmark Meagher’s Pharmacy in 2001. She has since gone on to grow the business to nine pharmacies and a thriving online store. She now employs 130 people with further growth planned. Meagher’s has been named as a Deloitte Best Managed Irish Company for the past five years and has been awarded Gold Status these past two years. The Meaghers Pharmacy Group has represented Ireland in the European Business Awards and collected the two top business awards at the Irish Pharmacy News awards ceremony, taking away the Business Development of the Year award and the OTC retailer in the same year. Meaghers have also been named as a “Great Place to Work” in  Ireland in 2020.

To reach Oonagh, go to Meagher’s website: https://www.meagherspharmacy.ie

Connect with Oonagh O’Hagan:

Meagher’s Website

Oonagh O’Hagan on Twitter

Oonagh O’Hagan on LinkedIn

Oonagh O’Hagan on Instagram

Connect with John Murphy:

Youtube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Website

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

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A Life and A Living Podcast

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.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

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

About Our Guest:

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/

Connect with Kurt Merriweather:

The Diversity Movement Website

The Diversity Movement Courses

Kurt Merriweather on LinkedIn

Kurt Merriweather on Twitter

Connect with John Murphy:

Youtube

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.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

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.

About Our Guest:

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.

Get a free chapter of her book “The Game-Changer’s Guide to Radical Success” here https://www.balanceintegration.com/gamechangebook

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

Links and Resources:

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:

Youtube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Website

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.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

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

About Our Guest:

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

Connect with Daniel Freeman:

Daniel Freeman on LinkedIn

Genius Talent Home Page

Genius Talent on Instagram

Genius Talent on Facebook

Connect with John Murphy:

Youtube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Website

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

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A Life and A Living Podcast

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.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

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

About Our Guest:

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

Connect with Pete:

 

* Pete Rawlinson on LinkedIn

* Workvivo Home Page

* Workvivo on Twitter

* Workvivo on Facebook

* Workvivo on Instagram

Connect with John Murphy:

Youtube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Website

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

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A Life and A Living Podcast

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:

Youtube

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.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

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

About Our Guest:

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:

Youtube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Website

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

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A Life and A Living Podcast

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:

Youtube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Website

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

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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

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

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A Life and A Living Podcast

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.

What We Talked About in This Episode:

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

About Our Guest:

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.

Connect with Drew Otoo:

Contact Merck Pharmaceuticals

LinkedIn

Connect with John Murphy:

Youtube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Website

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

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A Life and A Living Podcast