Leadership Insights Podcast

Are you a leader or an aspiring leader who truly cares about your organization, people and culture? Then this podcast is for you! We bring you educational, enlightening interviews with today’s most innovative, inspirational leaders. Each episode is filled with inspiring stories, new perspectives and invaluable tools to help you communicate, innovate and lead even more successfully!

Ep 28: Exploring the Nuances of Immigrant Identity 02/18/2021

Ep 27: Leadership in Times of Crisis with Tonia Wellons, President & CEO, Greater Washington Community Foundation 06/27/2020

Ep 26 - The Dance of Leadership with Princess Mhoon, Founder & Director, PMDC 01/22/2018

Ep 25: Leadership for a Better World with James Kenefick, Chairman & CEO, BetterWorld Telecom 10/10/2017

Ep 24: Life-Saving Leadership with Michael Sapienza, CEO, Colon Cancer Alliance 08/15/2017

Ep 23: The North Star of Leadership with Richard Bynum, President, PNC Bank 06/12/2017

Ep 23: The North Star of Leadership with Richard Bynum, President, PNC Bank “My North Star is helping people who work with me to become even better than when they started.” Richard Bynum believes there is nothing better than working in a place that’s completely aligned with your values. As a leader he is passionate about supporting and mentoring others to determine their own values (and value) so they can follow their “North Star”. As the new President of the PNC Bank Richard brings a fresh perspective to his organization and industry at a critical time in history. In this dynamic, informative interview Richard shares what it’s been like to undergo this transition; his views on a diverse, inclusive workplace; being one of the first African American bank presidents in the banking community and so much more! What you'll learn How constantly moving as a child influenced Richard's belief in diversity of perspectives Why it's crucial to explain your "why" as a leader and how to help people get engaged with it That Richard's "North Star" as a leader is to help develop other leaders Importance of helping emerging leaders find their own true North, even when it's not aligned with your own Strategies for handling difficult conversations with people we lead How to make sure you have the right support systems mentoring and challenging you along the way How Richard has successfully transitioned into his role with support by his legendary predecessor Mike Harreld Richard's perspective on a diverse, inclusive workplace and being one of the first African American bank presidents in the banking community Importance of making company values tangible and actionable and authentically present in company decision making How Richard equates importance of diversifying organizations similarly to the common wisdom of diversifying an investment portfolio How to get back on-course with our North Star even when we meander off Links & Resources – the bank Richard leads – amazing TED talk by renowned author and thought leader articulating the importance of beginning any endeavor with our “why” – previous Leadership Insights episode we referenced About Richard Bynum Richard was named regional president of PNC Bank (Greater Washington) in early 2017. Prior to his current role, he was a member of PNC’s retail executive leadership team leading its small business division. Before that he served as the greater Washington Retail Market Executive from 2010-14. He was responsible for consumer & small business sales within the greater Washington area including nearly 200 store locations and more than 1,000 employees. Prior to coming to Washington, Richard was the Chief Operating Officer for the small business banking group where led the sales force operating platform for hundreds of small business bankers across the 18 markets where PNC has an active retail presence. He began his career with PNC in 2005 in their Executive Leadership Program. During that time at PNC, Richard played key roles in launching businesses and initiatives focused on revenue growth, strengthening the brand, increasing the engagement of employees and fostering innovation throughout PNC. Prior to joining PNC, Richard had a 12-year career as a senior manager for the American Red Cross. His last role with the organization was as the managing director for disaster response & emergency communications at the Chicago chapter. During his career, he was an operations director for the Kosovo Refugee Operation as well as the September 11th effort in New York. Richard has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at the Northwestern University and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Florida State University. He is also a graduate of the Consumers Bankers Association Graduate School of Retail Bank Management. Richard is currently a member of 100 Black Men of Washington DC. Prior to moving into the area, he served as a board member for the Mattress Factory Art Museum and the Thelma Lovette YMCA branch; both in Pittsburgh, PA as well as Youth Service Project, a small not-for-profit in Chicago, IL. He and his wife, Evelyn, live in Springfield, VA with their two children. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/5440097

Ep 22: Putting Racism on the Table with Tamara Copeland, President, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers 05/08/2017

Ep 22: Putting Racism on the Table with Tamara Copeland, President, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers “As leaders we have to examine ourselves, our own beliefs, and those structures and systems that perpetuate racial inequity” Tamara Copeland is a powerhouse of a leader who courageously and tirelessly uses her voice and professional platform to tackle one of the most challenging and charged social issues today - racism! Tamara’s commitment to racial equity surged when Trayvon Martin was killed. Her son AJ was roughly his age; he could have been ! In this incredibly powerful, informative conversation Tamara shares her passion for racial equity and offers sage advice for how each of us can become more educated, stronger allies and advocates in this crucial social movement! What you'll learn Stories about Tamara’s upbringing and traits she inherited from her parents Lessons in compassion and social system functions (and lack thereof!) Tamara learned from her first job as a food stamp technician Why mentoring in social services is so crucial for young professionals to enhance their skills and sense of empathy Why Tamara doesn't like defining her sector as "nonprofit" and how thinking of it as "social profit" better acknowledges its value to society Poignant examples of structural racism and unconscious bias and their impact on individuals and communities, including the philanthropic How tragic deaths of Travon Martin and Freddy Gray – and Tamara’s reflections about her own son - inspired WRAG’s body of work "Putting Racism on the Table" How Meyer Foundation's Nicky Goren helped shape the conversation by quoting John Gardner "first step in leadership is not action, it's understanding" Ways leaders can begin to use our power and voices – in whatever communities we live and lead - to create more inclusive environments and help overcome bias Importance to take time to read, learn, study and try to understand "others" that we may not have had exposure to in our past lives And so much more! Links & Resources (WRAG) – organization of DC-area philanthropists Tamara leads – incredible learning and action series WRAG launched in 2016 & – phenomenal, powerful blog posts where Tamara shares her family’s roots, struggles and some of the reasons she’s using her voice and professional platform to fight racism – episode with the amazing leader of the Meyer foundation we referenced – book by Tamara’s neighbor she referenced About Tamara Copeland Tamara joined the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers in September 2006. In this position, she leads a staff committed to promoting and supporting effective and responsible philanthropy across Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and the District of Columbia. Over the course of this time, Tamara has become one of the key spokespeople for philanthropy with her blog, A Voice from Philanthropy. Currently, the organization is leading three major initiatives, focused on ensuring more affordable housing in the region; the in partnership with Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation; and a dynamic exploration of race called “.” An op ed that she authored on why she feels this is not a post-racial America was featured in the . Before this position, she served as the President of Voices for America’s Children for almost 10 years. Many believe that her vision and leadership were instrumental in transforming what was the National Association of Child Advocates, an association focused solely on supporting state and locally based child advocacy organizations into Voices for America’s Children, a national advocacy organization with member groups in almost every state in the country. Prior to joining Voices, Tamara was Director of the National Health & Education Consortium. She also worked on Capitol Hill for Congressman Bobby Scott as Legislative Director and chief advisor on health, human services and education issues. Before that she was the Director of the Southern Regional Project on Infant Mortality, an initiative of the Southern Governors' Association and the Southern Legislative Conference. She also understands state government, having been Director of the Office of Prevention of the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and Deputy Director of the Virginia Division for Children. Tamara serves on several boards and is a member of the 2004 class of Leadership Greater Washington. She received her B.A. in Sociology from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and her M.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/5336918

Ep 21: Leading Millennials with Sam Cicotello, VP of People, Social Tables 04/17/2017

Ep 21: Leading Millennials with Sam Cicotello, VP of People, Social Tables “You can either fight characteristics millennials bring to the workplace or you can harness and direct them” Sam started her leadership journey early in life when she was elected to be a mayor of a fictional town in a high school program. A testament to her wisdom and brilliance from the start, Sam struggled with and over time learned what it takes to build alliances and support networks, make unpopular decisions and empower others to want to follow. In this incredibly dynamic, informative episode Sam shares specific tips and strategies on how to lead a high functioning, connected, happy workplace; build a strong culture based on authentic expression of values; and naturally harness the talents, strengths and tendencies of the newest and fastest-growing generation of workers, the millennials! What you'll learn How Sam's small town upbringing has influenced her personality and perspective How being elected as a mayor of a fictional city in high school shaped her thinking about leadership and her identity as a leader Importance of connecting with like minded and like hearted leaders and ones who are completely different and stretch our thinking Crucial elements of building a happy, connected, high-performance organizational culture Importance of articulating and intentionally living organizational values and empowering employees to take the lead Four questions to assess alignment with organizational values: do you hire for them; fire for them; make decisions based on them; are they expressed in your space? How to avoid "cultural waterboarding" in your organization (and what that means so you definitely don’t do it!) Characteristics of millennials and how to harness and direct them as a leader How to help channel millennials’ intelligence and drive to benefit the company and the individual employees Tips and strategies for helping to grow employees in environments with modest budgets and resources How to help employees fulfill their professional destiny by being honest about their strengths and weaknesses from the beginning What we can learn about firing people from a nun (really, it’s a great story!) And so much more! Links & Resources – Sam’s awesome company – Sam’s former company known for its great organizational culture – fantastic book about developing value-centered organizational culture by Zappos founder Tony Hsieh – book Sam recommended about managing talent – incredible networking organization for leaders in the D.C. area Sam and I belong to (and yes, you have heard it referenced in another episode or 10 ;) About Sam Cicotello Sam Cicotello is an expert in organizational development and corporate culture. She is currently Vice President of People Operations at Social Tables, a DC incubated startup and was previously at The Motley Fool for more than a decade. She speaks frequently on the topics of corporate culture and the importance of happy employees. Sam’s career began as an intern at The White House in 1996 (where she is grateful not to have had access to the West Wing). She cut her teeth in business working as a non-profit fundraising consultant with Adams Hussey & Associates where she served several large national clients and developed expertise in marketing, analytics and membership retention. In 2003, Sam was recruited by The Motley Fool as a marketing manager. During her tenure, she was asked to lead several different teams within the company to maximize collaboration and data-driven results. Given her broad business background, she was ultimately surprised to find herself working on the HR/People team as the Chief Learning Officer. It was in this role that she began to see the deep business value of investing in organizational excellence. As the CLO, she identified the needs of individuals to develop top talent for the future success of the organization. She was responsible for facilitating learning throughout the company and led the fellowship program to develop dozens of high-potential employees identified as future leaders. While in this role she was able to meet with and learn from some of the most amazing business leaders in the country including Jack Welch, Steve Wynn, Elon Musk, Tony Hsieh, Ari Weinzweig, Jeff Weiner, and John Mackey. Sam was added to The Motley Fool’s innovative approach to culture development including core values, performance management, compensation, recruiting and onboarding and was fortunate to be surrounded by innovative coworkers that helped her get to “yes” on people ideas. In 2015, she went to Social Tables to expand her expertise. Over the past two years, she has helped to more than double the size of the business (in both headcount and revenue) and is managing a workforce composed of young and energetic employees (over 90% millennials). She currently manages all aspects of Human Resources. Sam has been recognized with awards from the Washington Business Journal (Women Who Mean Business) and SmartCEO (Corporate Executive) and has been quoted in The Washington Post, HR Magazine, USA Today, Human Resources IQ, SmartCEO, and the Washington Business Journal. She has also appeared on CNN and CNBC and presented a much-acclaimed TED talk on Reinventing the Workplace. Originally from Tennessee, Sam attended Vanderbilt University and now resides in Washington, DC with her husband and two energetic children. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/5274300

Ep 20 - Leading Social Change with Adam Levner, Co-Founder, Critical Exposure 03/28/2017

Ep 20 - Leading Social Change with Adam Levner, Co-Founder, Critical Exposure “We train young people to recognize their power and advocate for themselves.” Adam Levner mission is to do nothing short of creating a new generation of social advocates and leaders! Growing up feeling excluded from his community Adam has created a movement to inspire, empower and train young people to advocate for themselves and their communities through photography. In this dynamic, insightful interview Adam shares incredible stories of how even the youngest leaders have helped transform their communities and strategies for how all of us can become even more effective in creating social, systemic and institutional change! What you'll learn How Adam transformed a childhood experience of exclusion – and a bit of a Napoleon complex - into a career centered on helping and empowering others What he learned about self-advocacy from forgoing an AmeriCorps opportunity What compelled Adam and his co-founder to launch Critical Exposure How Adam’s students’ very first campaign generated additional $100 million in school funding Strategies for cultivating change agents and civic leaders at any age How stories can be told and shared in a way that help transform communities and movements Short and long-term, locally and nationally focused strategies for advocacy efforts Why it's important for individuals and organizations to collaborate and pool strengths for the greatest social impact How we can sometimes empower others by saying "I don't know the answers" And so much more! Links & Resources – amazing nonprofit Adam co-founded to cultivate a new generation of civic leaders through photography. referenced in this interview. about the Critical Exposure student Adam references whose incredible photojournalistic efforts have been recognized by national media. About Adam Levner Adam co-founded Critical Exposure in 2004. Previously, Adam worked as a fifth grade teacher in Virginia, a community organizer in Prince George's County, MD, an education consultant for the Center for Community Change, and a freelance photographer. Adam attended Tufts University and received a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University. He is member of Leadership Greater Washington and a founding board member of Morganizing for Change. Adam is a frequent presenter on topics related to nonprofit management and gave a TED talk titled, "Stories Aren't Enough: Connecting Youth Voices to Action" at TEDxFoggyBottom. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/5211066

Ep 19 - Conquering Adversity with Lisa LaFontaine, President & CEO, Humane Rescue Alliance 02/15/2017

Ep 19 - Conquering Adversity with Lisa LaFontaine, President & CEO, Humane Rescue Alliance “Don't ever think that your biggest adversity can't be turned into your greatest gift” When Lisa says that anyone can do *anything* she knows this to be true from personal experiences. After a horrific car accident she was told she’d never walk again or have children. Through sheer determination and months of hard work Lisa managed to heal her body and defy her doctor’s dire predictions! Then in her late 30s, as a successful communications executive, Lisa’s life (and career) path took another sudden turn. Her young daughter was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome that seriously affected her daily functions, including sleep. An unexpected healer came to the rescue, persnickety Merlin-the-cat. Witnessing her daughter’s life transform thanks to this incredible bond, Lisa left her corporate job and became an evangelist for helping animals! In this amazing interview you’ll get to know a leader who has conquered extraordinary adversities with grace, grit and determination to become an incredible force for good in the world! You do not want to miss this moving, inspiring episode! What you’ll learn How Lisa went from not even owning a pet until her late 30s to running a leading animal rescue organization Fantastic story of how she fought for her first dream job and won How Lisa’s father’s support and guidance has helped shape her character and leadership path Incredible story of how her quirky cat Merlin helped her daughter cope with Tourette’s Syndrome What being in a debilitating car accident and bedridden for three months taught Lisa about life and the power of determination How Lisa affirms and instills the sense of power and empowerment in her staff Tips for creating an organizational culture that balances growth an new programs with ability to pivot in emergencies Strategies for ensuring a successful organizational merger And so much more! Links & Resources – Amazing animal rescue organization Lisa leads in Washington, D.C. About Lisa LaFontaine Lisa LaFontaine is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA), this area’s premier animal welfare organization. HRA was created when two iconic predecessors—the Washington Humane Society (WHS) and the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL)—came together to form a single more powerful voice for animals. With this historic union, Washington, DC, becomes the only major urban area in the country that has all of its animal protection programs and services—from medical services and adoptions to animal control and humane law enforcement—unified in one organization. Lisa’s experience and accomplishments in the animal welfare field are a testament to her compassion and commitment and have prepared her well for the challenge of heading up such a unique organization. She left a successful career in publishing after having what she describes as a personal epiphany. Her young daughter, who was diagnosed with Turrets syndrome, had trouble sleeping at night. A counselor advised having one of the family cats, to whom Lisa’s daughter was very attached, sleep with her. This cat, who had never been interested in sleeping on anyone’s bed, willingly curled up with her, helping bring her the sense of calm she needed to sleep. Lisa recalls thinking first that there had never been an animal like this cat and then that perhaps other people felt the same sense of connection with their companion animals. Her commitment to animals and their well-being was born. As CEO of New Hampshire’s Monadnock Humane Society, Lisa spearheaded a successful capital campaign that resulted in construction of a new, state-of-the-art animal welfare facility and an expanded endowment fund for the organization. In 2007 she was hired as President and CEO by the Washington Humane Society, where she significantly increased the live release rate for animals from one of the lowest to one of the highest in the country. She also advocated for greater animal protection through innovative programs and changes in law and built critical relationships with DC’s diverse interests and communities on behalf of animals in need. Lisa worked closely with the senior staff and Boards of Directors of both WHS and WARL to lay the groundwork for a new, combined organization that would not just be larger but would also be more powerful, one that could accomplish more for both animals and people. The Humane Rescue Alliance is the result of that collaboration. Given her personal and professional devotion to animals, Lisa is dedicated to the vision of a community where there is a loving home for every unwanted animal, affordable medical care for every sick and injured animal, an end to animal abuse and cruelty, and stronger bonds between animals and people through education and training. She believes that the Humane Rescue Alliance can bring that vision to fruition. When not advocating for the animal community at large, Lisa shares her life and home with her husband, Matt Kayhoe; Sazzy, their pit bull; cats Crystal, Gregory Xavier Pibb, and Harold; and an ever-rotating and always welcomed family of foster animals. She serves as Vice Chairman of the DC Board of Veterinary Examiners and is a proud member of SAWA (the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators). /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/5088629

Ep 18 - Leading with Passion & Creativity with Nicole Quiroga, GM, Telemundo 02/01/2017

Ep 18 - Leading with Passion & Creativity with Nicole Quiroga, GM, Telemundo If you want to witness a leader’s passion and authentic expression at its fullest, you must hear Nicole Quiroga’s interview! A daughter of Latino immigrants, Nicole grew up in a warm, affectionate, emotive household and built her career at a company that helps her stay connected to her roots. Her leadership style is a beautiful blend of passion, kindness, creativity and a dash of Latin flare! In this super dynamic, energizing, candid interview Nicole shares what it can be like for kids from bilingual, bicultural homes to transition to the “real world”; tips for leaders managing multicultural workplaces; guidance for social change organizations on how to partner with the media; and so much more! What you’ll learn: What it was like for Nicole to grow up in loving, passionate, protective Latino immigrant family How she navigates the line between warmth and affection of her culture and professional boundaries of standard workplaces How Nicole has worked to overcome being "too nice" What it's like to balance emotions and intellect as a leader when you lean more naturally towards emotions Strategies Nicole employs to sharpen her organization, focus and planning skills Who are the leaders she most admires and what she learns from them What Nicole considers her mission and greatest responsibility to the Latino community as the leader of Telemundo Recommendations for hiring and working with the Hispanic market Specific strategies for nonprofits to reach out and gain media support and partnership Moving stories of how Telemundo has impacted causes and organizations serving women Links & Resources – Spanish-language television channel Nicole brilliantly manages – organization led by one of Nicole’s mentors Jim Dinegar - Link to one of our previous amazing guests whom Nicole referenced in her interview – DC-based non profit helping victims of domestic violence that Nicole referenced in her interview sponsored by Telemundo Nicole wanted to share About Nicole Quiroga Nicole Quiroga, a native of Washington DC, is the General Manager of Telemundo WZDC-25 in Washington D.C. and Telemundo WZTD-45 in Richmond, VA. In her position, Ms. Quiroga predicts market trends, sets budgets and performance expectations, ensures station compliance with FCC requirements and has overall responsibility for maintaining and growing the profitability of both stations. Ms. Quiroga is a television broadcaster with expertise in media sales, journalism, multi-cultural marketing, and strategic planning. She is deeply passionate about educating and empowering Washington DC’s Latino community and, over her 15 years at Telemundo, has forged strategic partnerships with community and corporate organizations which allow her to execute outreach campaigns that provide Hispanic families access to critical information and resources. Ms. Quiroga is highly experienced in the planning, financing and executing of local and national campaigns that focus on the advancement of Latinos in the U.S., to include Hispanic-targeted trade shows, grassroots events and over-the-air initiatives. Her most recent success was the launch of Agenda, a local public affairs television program produced in partnership with ABC7/News Channel 8. A sales trainer and speaker, Nicole is frequently invited to speak on topics such as selling to the Hispanic market, increasing sales through cross-cultural communications, and harnessing the power of Latinos now and in the future. Ms. Quiroga mentors young women on their journey to becoming executives in the fields of media, communications and journalism. She works with the National Hispana Leadership Institute and the Latino Student Fund to provide one-on-one coaching and tutoring sessions to young girls and women between the ages of 12-25. Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Marketing from the University of Maryland. She is a graduate of the Leadership Greater Washington Executive Program, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government Leadership Program and the National Hispana Leadership Institute. She holds leadership positions at the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Student Fund and the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy. In 2014, Ms. Quiroga received Governor Martin O’Malley’s Outstanding Media Award, the Women Who Mean Business Award from the Washington Business Journal and the Public Service Leadership Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/5042755

Ep 17: Head & Heart of Leadership with Catherine Meloy, President and CEO, Good Will of Greater Washington 01/11/2017

Ep 17: Head & Heart of Leadership with Catherine Meloy, President and CEO, Good Will of Greater Washington “If you're the smartest person in the room you're in the wrong room” - Catherine Meloy Catherine Meloy firmly believes that if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room! She was a successful broadcasting executive when she got the call (literally) to serve as the fearless leader of Good Will. That call - along with her brilliance, commitment and passion - has helped transform countless lives in the greater Washington community and beyond. And in the debate of whether the heart or the head should prevail, Catherine uncompromisingly choses to lead with both! In this inspiring interview Catherine shares wonderful stories of her parents instilling in her the values of discipline, love and faith. You’ll learn why she refuses to ever be the smartest person in the room and empowers her staff to help translate her lofty 5-year vision into reality. And the ways she strives to learn and grow as a leader, manager and businessperson despite being on top of her game (just read her incredible bio!) I know you’ll find Catherine’s interview riveting and inspiring! What you’ll learn: How growing up with a disciplinarian Marine dad and unconditionally loving mom shaped Catherine's identity Why Catherine considers discipline to be the number one attribute in business and the daily habits that help her maintain discipline and focus Catherine's approach to email and boundaries that help her and her team reset weekly How asking "What was really important a year ago?” or “What did I lose sleep over a month ago?" can help stay focused on a bigger picture perspective Fantastic story of why and how she made the leap from broadcasting to leading Good Will Why having a strong brand for any organization is so crucial Advice for mission-oriented leaders on learning important business skills and how to make the time for the learning and professional development How Catherine's spiritual faith informs her leadership style and even culture of Good Will How declaring your values and priorities as a leader creates greater accountability for yourself What Catherine considers to be her growing edges And so much more! Links & Resources – Catherine’s incredible organization whose mission is to transform lives and communities through the power of education and employment. – networking and organization in the D.C. area Catherine recommends for their great educational programs. Having been a member I agree! – “Fresh, actionable and inspiring leadership content” conference Catherine raved about – amazing D.C. area networking and educational organization Catherine and I are both love and support. PSA: LGW is accepting applications for the next signature program class due in early April 2017. About Catherine Meloy Catherine Meloy is the President and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington (Goodwill). Catherine Meloy serves as President and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington and the Goodwill Excel Center. She was selected in 2003 by the Goodwill Board of Trustees as a proven business leader who could dramatically extend the reach and vitality of the organization and enable it to serve an even broader segment of the disabled and disadvantaged community. Prior to joining Goodwill of Greater Washington, Catherine had a successful 20 year management career in the radio industry. With Catherine’s leadership, Goodwill has grown to over 800 associates; 15 retail stores; annual revenues of $42M, which include nine government janitorial contracts. In further serving and expanding the mission of Goodwill, the first adult diploma charter high school has been granted by the DC Public Charter School Board to Goodwill to open in the fall of 2016 under the title of the Goodwill Excel Center. Catherine’s involvement in the greater Washington community includes: Board of Directors, Greater Washington Board of Trade Board of Directors, Federal City Council Board of Directors, DC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors of MedStar Health Board of Directors of SourceAmerica Member of the DC Workforce Investment Council Member of the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board In January 2016, Catherine was elected to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Catherine is a recipient of the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s “Leader of the Years Award“; was honored by Washingtonian Magazine as “Washingtonian of the Year“; was inducted into the American Marketing Association-DC Chapter Hall of Fame and was highlighted as a Most Admired CEO by Smart CEO Magazine for her successful organizational turnaround of Goodwill of Greater Washington. She and her husband, David, who is President of Merit Hotels, live in Annapolis, Maryland and have three grown children. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4983428

Ep 16: Transforming Tragedy into Changing the World with Robin Smalley, Co-Founder, mothers2mothers 11/15/2016

Ep 16: Transforming Tragedy into Changing the World with Robin Smalley, Co-Founder, mothers2mothers This seems to be a particularly ideal time for a story about a single individual’s determination and capacity to transform tragedy into a movement that’s saving millions of lives world-wide! Robin Smalley is an Emmy-winning journalist who miraculously found her life’s purpose at her best friend’s deathbed. At the lowest point in her life she decided to take a wild leap of faith, move her family to Africa and co-found a nonprofit that is tirelessly (and successfully!) eradicating pediatric AIDS globally. In the last 15 years mothers2mothers has transformed from a tiny startup to an award-winning organization that has saved and enriched 1.5 million lives of HIV-positive moms and babies who are now born healthy thanks to Robin’s extraordinary work! Robin’s story and spirit are beyond inspiring - I know you’ll get so much from this amazing interview! What you’ll learn: What Robin learned about adaptability by following her performer parents all over the world and attending 12 schools in 12 years How taking a dreaded science class in college opened a door to Robin's incredibly successful career in television Why it so pays off to truly get to know new people (you’ll enjoy stories we shared about how making a positive impact on others paid off in unexpected ways) What it was like for Robin to win an Emmy (the only time Oprah show ever lost!) How becoming a mom and volunteering at a non-profit on vacations shifted Robin's perspective and career path Why our reluctance to promote and advocate for ourselves holds us back as leaders Why it's ok to be "selfish" and help people just because it makes us feel good How Robin transformed the tragedy of her friend's death into a mission to change lives of millions of women and children world-wide How mothers2mothers transitioned from starting in a car to 900 sites in 8 countries within 3 years How you can join Robin's innovative, super fun campaign that empowers donors to feel great about And so much more! Links & Resources – Robin’s amazing organization that’s eradicating pediatric AIDS globally – the extraordinary first Leadership Insights guest, amazing human AND connector to Robin (you can tell Scott’s got a fan club here :) – book we referenced in the interview – another great nonprofit Robin has supported About Robin Smalley After a successful Emmy-winning career as a television producer/director, Robin Smalley co-founded mothers2mothers (m2m), a Cape Town based NGO providing education, empowerment and suppport for pregnant women and new mothers living with HIV/AIDS. m2m reaches these women with a unique approach, by employing and professionalizing women from communities living with HIV, called Mentor Mothers. As role models in their townships and villages, Mentor Mothers fight stigma as valued members of health care teams that have traditionally been populated by overworked and overstressed doctors and nurses. As m2m’s first Executive Director and current Director of m2m U.S., Robin has helped guide the organization through a period of extraordinary growth, from a tiny grassroots start-up to an international organization operating in eight sub-Saharan countries and employing over 1600 HIV-positive women who are providing health and hope to hundreds of thousands of families. m2m has been honored at the White House, has won the Skoll Entrepreneurial Award, the Schwab Entrepreneurial Award, the Global Health Council Best Practices Award, and the Henry Kravis Leadership Award. Robin is married to architect Jeffrey Smalley and has two daughters, Hannah and Sophia. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4831576

Ep 15: Confessions of a Mad Scientist CEO with Tom Raffa, Founder, Raffa 11/01/2016

Ep 15: Confessions of a Mad Scientist CEO with Tom Raffa, Founder, Raffa “My mission is to be a catalyst for positive, systemic change in the community” – Tom Raffa Tom Raffa admits he’s is a very unusual CEO. He “winged” his way into accounting to pay for college and has built a firm (and a legacy) that focuses more on impact than on profit. 30+ years later Raffa still contributes 10% (almost $5m last year) in financial and pro-bono services to non-profits and allows *unlimited paid* community service time to any employee! When health insurance premiums skyrocketed, Tom not only kept benefits the same for employees, he invested heavily in wellness programs to make sure his staff is healthy, happy and engaged. Tom is an amazing visionary, entrepreneur and philanthropist and I know you’ll enjoy this interview as much as I did! What you’ll learn: How one school counselor's recognition of Tom's talent planted a seed for him to attend college Fascinating story how Tom stumbled into accounting (by "slightly" fibbing on his resume) to be able to pay for college and “winged it” to success How Tom built his accounting firm on principles of helping the community (and the money would follow) How to instill the philanthropic mindset into the culture of an organization What Tom learned from his non-profit clients about mission focus What non profits can learn from businesses and social ventures about self-sufficiency, sustainability and marketing How social ventures he admires are blending the best of both worlds - business and non-profit models - to create greater impact while staying profitable Strategies for organizations to maximize their resources Tom’s philosophy on how organizations can create opportunities for collaboration / eliminate need to compete for resources How to embrace experimentation and even failure as a leader And so much more! Links & Resources – Raffa offers free classes to help non-profits succeed – Another fantastic, educational resource from Raffa – Organization of CEOs Tom co-founded that works with non-profits on social change issues Mark Kramer Tom recommends About Tom Raffa Tom is the Founder and Managing Partner of Raffa, which he established specifically to service the needs of the nonprofit community and social sector. During his more than 35- year career, Tom has provided accounting, auditing, tax services and business consulting to the nonprofit sector, conducting studies on management structure, internal and operational controls, and management information systems. Many Raffa clients have also enlisted Tom’s assistance in assembling compensation and fringe benefits packages, executive compensation and retirement plans, venture capital/fundraising efforts, investment policies, financial projections, indirect cost proposals and matters of governance. To serve Raffa’s clients more fully, Tom founded three affiliate organizations, Raffa Financial Services, Inc. (RFSI), Raffa Social Capital Advisors (RSCA) and Raffa Wealth Management (RWM). RFSI, formed in 1999, provides insurance and investment products and services, while RWM, formed in 2005, provides investment consulting and financial planning to private foundations and high-wealth individuals who support the nonprofit sector. RSCA was formed in 2016, to accelerate and scale those groups and individuals with solid social enterprises programs that could change the world. Tom’s professional and volunteer support of nonprofits has garnered him several recent awards, including the 2016 Individual Making a Difference Award from The Nonprofit Village, the Georgetown Entrepreneur of the Year, the Volunteer Achievement Award from the Accountants for the Public Interest and SmartCPA two years running from SmartCEO Magazine. Raffa was recognized as the 19th Top Corporate Philanthropist in the Region in 2012. Tom was recognized for the creation of Companies for Causes and his commitment to improving education outcomes for students by the Pearl and Ivy Educational Foundation at the 2014 P.E.A.R.L.S. Awards with the Innovation in Philanthropy Award. In November, Tom will receive the Man of the Year Award from the Italian American Association (Lido Civic Club) for his unwaivering commitment to community. Through Tom’s commitment to his employees health and wellness, the firm was recently honored with the 2016 SmartCEO's Healthiest Company Award for first-rate programming. Inside Public Accounting (IPA) and Accounting Today magazine continuously name Raffa as one of the “Top 100 Accounting Firms” in the nation. IPA’s Top 100 and IPA’s National Benchmarking Report are the industry’s longest-running and most up-to-date analysis and ranking of the nation’s largest accounting firms. A recent report recognized Raffa as its “Best of the Best,” which honors only 50 firms from across the country for their overall superior performance on more than 70 criteria. Recently, IPA recognized Raffa as the only firm in the country whose leadership embraces its international and multi-cultural staff in an article entitled, “One IPA 100 Firm Defies Diversity Statistics: 11 of 17 Partners Are Women.” This article named Raffa as the only firm in the top 100 that is women-owned making it the largest CPA firm in the US that is women-owned. It is also one of the only a few CPA firms that is a certified B Corporation. Tom shares his expertise through articles in national publications such as The Nonprofit Quarterly, The Nonprofit Times and The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which cover issues affecting the nonprofit sector. He also has been an instructor and speaker for many nonprofit training programs and conferences and various federal agencies. Tom is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the District of Columbia and is an active member of AICPA. He is also a founding board member of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management and the Alliance for Nonprofit Insurance and has served on the board of the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington and Sister Cities of Montgomery County. He is a founding member of the board of Social Impact 360 and a recent member to the Park City Community Foundation board. He is also on the Advisory Board of Aspire. Tom is the Vice Chair, the Treasurer and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Catalogue for Philanthropy. Tom is also a member of the board of the United Way of the National Capital Area where he serves on the Strategy Committee and the Audit Committee. Tom is the Treasurer and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. Tom is a graduate of Georgetown University, a member of the Georgetown University Alumni Admissions Program and has served as a mentor at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business for more than 20 years. He often speaks at Georgetown for various classes and seminars and is currently involved with the Entrepreneurship Fellowship. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4793357

Ep 14: Leading from the Front Lines with Tien Wong, Chairman & CEO, Opus8 10/10/2016

Ep 14: Leading from the Front Lines with Tien Wong, Chairman & CEO, Opus8 “You have to lead by example 24-7” – Tien Wong What does it say about you if, as a child, you fantasize about an airline being named after you? Or as an adult your proudest accomplishments are the successes of leaders you’ve helped cultivate? For Tien Wong, it says that entrepreneurship and integrity are in his blood and how he defines himself as a leader. In this candid, enlightening interview Tien shares his immigrant family story and what he has learned as a leader and entrepreneur, both through successes and missteps along the way. What you’ll learn: How being the son of Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs shaped Tien’s path What Tien dreamed of being when he grew up (hint: we almost ended up with TWA - Tien Wong Airlines!) How he learned (the hard way) to grow and scale a business Why it's essential to hire good, even if expensive, people from the beginning What he learned from the common "trap" of promoting technically gifted professionals to leadership roles Excellent advice about importance of process, even for listeners who may not be process people (like me) Difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation or "pull" vs. "push” type of leadership Strategies for successful hiring decisions (including the right combination of brain, heart and intuition) How to know when to train or coach an employee to succeed and when it's time to let them go Importance of a robust employee orientation and coaching structure How to make employees feel cared for - and want to stay in touch - even if you must let them go Why of all his incredible accomplishments Tien is most proud of helping emerging leaders blossom And so much more! Links & Resources – assessment tool Tien recommends for determining the cultural alignment of employees. – wonderful non-profit that brings entrepreneurial training to high school students, especially those from low-income communities (Tien and I met through our involvement with NFTE) – Referenced in our hiring and firing conversation with Tien - Tien's community for entrepreneurs based in the D.C. area About Tien Wong S. Tien Wong is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Opus8, Inc., a Chevy Chase, Maryland-based private investment firm specializing in middle market buyouts, private equity and venture capital investment. The firm seeks to acquire North American call center, CRM (customer relationship management), and outsourced marketing services and technology companies. Opus8 also makes venture capital investments in emerging outsourcing companies in China with a special focus on tech and services companies in the following sectors: ITO (IT outsourcing), CRM, BPO (business process outsourcing), and outsourced marketing and information management. In 1991, Tien co-founded and served as CEO of CyberRep, Inc. until its acquisition in 2003 by Affiliated Computer Services (NYSE: ACS). At the time of its acquisition, CyberRep was one of the largest privately held CRM outsourcing companies in the world, operating 6 customer interaction centers throughout the USA with over 2,300 employees and $80 million in revenue. Today, the CyberRep/ACS business unit is one of the largest call center operations in the world, with over $850 million in revenue. In addition to garnering such prestigious awards as Customer Inter@ction Solutions magazine's MVP Quality Award and Customer Interface magazine's ACCE (Award for Call Center Excellence), CyberRep was ranked in INC. magazine's 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000's "Inc. 500" as the 51st, 53rd, 72nd and 408th fastest growing private company in the USA, respectively. CyberRep was profitable for eleven consecutive years and was backed by Allied Capital Corporation, a $5 billion investment company (NYSE: ALD). Tien is a recognized international expert in CRM, direct marketing, and BPO. He has presented at dozens of industry events around the world, and has written numerous articles on the CRM and BPO spaces. He has also provided industry commentary on the ABC, Fox, NBC, CNBC, Maryland Public Television, and China's CCTV networks. Prior to co-founding CyberRep, he worked for ten years in commercial real estate finance and investments. Tien was the recipient of the 2001 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Greater Washington. An "Entrepreneur in Residence" at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, he frequently guest lectures on entrepreneurship, leadership and finance at the University of Maryland, Georgetown University, and the University of Virginia. Tien serves on the Boards of Directors of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (bsomusic.org), Technology Council of Maryland (techcouncilmd.com), HarVest Bancorp (harvestbankmd.com), Association for Corporate Growth - National Capital (acg.org), the Potomac Officer's Club (potomacofficersclub.com), and Monte Jade Science and Technology Association (mj-dc.org). He serves on the Investment Advisory Board of the Commonwealth of Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology GAP Fund (cit.org). He is former Treasurer and National Board Member of the American Teleservices Association (ataconnect.org). Tien is Chairman of the Executive Leadership Committee for the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship's Greater Washington region. He is CEO of The Tien and Beverly Wong Foundation, which supports youth, education, and social services charities. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College where he majored in Government. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4732110

Ep 13: Values-Driven Leadership Rosie Allen-Herring, President & CEO, United Way 09/19/2016

Ep 13: Values-Driven Leadership Rosie Allen-Herring, President & CEO, United Way “Values drive our actions, responses and decisions; we each have to determine what matters to us and what we are and aren’t wiling to accept.” – Rosie Allen-Herring Rosie Allen-Herring counts as a blessing to have grown up in a large, education-focused Southern family; surrounded by a loving, encouraging community; and crossing paths with teachers and mentors that have shaped her path and her values. Today she is an inspiration to her staff, peers and community and hearing her stories and insights on family, growth and leadership it’s easy to see why. Don’t miss this amazing interview with an extraordinary leader - Rosie Allen-Herring! What You'll Learn: How Rosie’s Southern upbringing in a large, loving, education-focused family and community forever shaped her values and path as a leader What Rosie learned from her mom about servant leadership and how she strives to live by these principles in her life and career How losing loved ones has made Rosie reflect and make changes in her life How she perceived being the only African-American leader in numerous corporate experiences How bad bosses - as well as great ones - have influenced her leadership style What female mentors taught her about succeeding in a male-dominated environment and what males mentors contributed to her growth Rosie’s advice for discovering our values and making sure we’re fully aligned with them in our actions and reactions What she’s learned from making mistakes as a leader Rosie’s advice on making peace with mistakes and gaining confidence in yourself What confidence advice she would have given her 25-year-old self Tips for giving feedback and empowering people you're working with And so much more! About Rosie Allen-Herring Rosie Allen-Herring is the President and Chief Executive Officer of (United Way NCA). She brings to United Way NCA a keen understanding of how to leverage resources and convene public and private entities to create a collective impact in the local community as well as on a national level. Rosie has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of strategic leadership, public and private partnership development, corporate philanthropy and community investment. Formerly, Rosie was the Managing Director of the Community Investment and Engagement Division at Fannie Mae. In that role, she led Fannie Mae’s corporate philanthropic strategy, and oversaw the organization’s social responsibility investments and employee engagement efforts nationwide. Prior to Managing Director at Fannie Mae, she served as the National Regulatory Compliance Manager, Housing & Community Development. She was also the Senior Deputy Director, Washington, DC Community Business Center. Rosie developed, implemented and managed key business strategies for the Washington Metropolitan area, resulting in investments of more than $2 billion in the region. Rosie holds key leadership roles with several business and civic organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Washington Area Women’s Foundation, Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital, Prince George's Community College Foundation and several additional organizations. She served as a board member for Washington's exploratory Olympic committee, Washington 2024. She earned a B.A. in Economics from Howard University, an M.B.A. from Strayer University and was an International Fellow of the United States-Southern Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values at the University of Cape Town (SA) Graduate School of Business and Duke University Graduate School of Public Policy. Rosie has been honored by many organizations, including: Washington Business Journal Minority Business Leader (2015); Hope Awardee for Calvary Women's Shelter (2015); Most Influential Business Leader ( 2014 and 2013); Brava Top CEO Award (2014); Washingtonian Magazine’s Most Powerful Women (2013); Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 Leader and Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award (2011). She has been included on prestigious lists such as “Outstanding Young Women of America,” and “Who’s Who in America.” /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4677522

Ep 12: Transforming Philanthropy with Nicky Goren, CEO, Meyer Foundation 08/15/2016

Ep 12: Transforming Philanthropy with Nicky Goren, CEO, Meyer Foundation “It’s never about you as a leader, it’s always about the organization and the impact” – Nicky Goren “Do I stay in my comfort zone and enjoy the expertise I created or walk through a new door where I don’t know anything?” is a question Nicky Goren frequently asks herself… and then walks right through the new door. She has consistently left jobs she loved and bosses who nurtured and mentored her in pursuit of new opportunities to make an even bigger difference. As the fearless leader of the Meyer Foundation Nicky is committed to transforming conversations (and mindsets) around some of the most complex and potentially controversial issues – from race to the future of philanthropy! What You'll Learn: How Nicky's multi-cultural, cross-continental upbringing helped make her the amazing leader she is today Fun intercultural quirks Nicky and I share (although she’s not the one who hasn’t seen Star Wars) How advice from an early mentor – selecting three criteria to choose a job - has guided her career path. Nicky’s three have been: Be passionate about the job, enjoy people you work with and be challenged every day The tremendous impact of caring mentors in her life and her commitment to do the same for others How Nicky is overcoming her struggle to be consistently confident in her voice How focus on Collective Impact automatically focuses non-profits on stronger outcomes and leads to social change Why it’s necessary to bring different, and perhaps untraditional, stakeholders to conversations to tackle issues systemically How the Meyer Foundation is facilitating a conversation about race, ethnicity and why it matters so much Links & Resources – Nicky’s wonderful organization Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (WRAG) - powerful series Nicky referenced in the interview – helpful book Nicky referenced that she uses in the first few months on a new job and articles Nicky recommends About Nicky Goren Nicky Goren is president and CEO of the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, which pursues and invests in solutions to build an equitable Greater Washington community in which people who are economically vulnerable thrive. Founded in 1944, the Meyer Foundation is a leading supporter of local nonprofit organizations serving the DC region. Each year, the Foundation provides grants totaling more than $7 million to more than 150 organizations working in the interconnected areas of affordable housing, education and workforce development, and financial security. In addition to funding, the Foundation works to build the capacity of partner organizations, serves as a convener and advocate on critical issues, and promotes cross-sector collective action to advance solutions to community challenges. Before being selected to lead the Meyer Foundation in 2014, Nicky served for four years as president of Washington Area Women’s Foundation, which focuses on increasing the economic security of women and girls in the DC region. Prior to joining Washington Area Women’s Foundation, Nicky spent 12 years in senior positions at the Corporation for National and Community Service—the nation’s largest grantmaker supporting service and volunteering. She served as chief of staff from 2006 to 2008 and as acting CEO from 2008 to 2010, overseeing a federal government agency with a staff of 600 and a budget of $1.1 billion. A graduate of Brandeis University and Cornell Law School, Nicky began her career as assistant general counsel in the Congressional Budget Office, and then served as counsel at the newly established Office of Compliance of the U.S. Congress. She currently serves on the Raise DC Leadership Council; on the boards of the American Association of State Service Commissions, District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP), Federal City Council, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Trinity Washington University, and Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers; and is a member of Leadership Greater Washington’s Class of 2013. Nicky lives in the District with her husband and two sons. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4583418

Ep 11: How to Think Globally & Transform Locally with Kathy Sibert, A-SPAN 07/27/2016

Ep 11: How to Think Globally & Transform Locally with Kathy Sibert, A-SPAN “My employees' job is to take care of our clients; as a leader my job is to take care of them.” – Kathy Sibert Kathy Sibert firmly believes that when you are no longer excited about something you’re doing, it’s time for a change. In her case that change was life changing - she moved her family back to the U.S. after living all over the globe and gave up a corporate career to lead a then-floundering local non-profit serving the homeless in Arlington, VA. Since then Kathy has used her brilliance, commitment and incredible passion to transform A-SPAN into an award winning organization changing the lives of clients, staff and community members! What You'll Learn: What it was like for Kathy to transition from living and working overseas to running a local non-profit and how the two experiences are connected How Kathy transformed A-SPAN from a money losing, low morale organization into the incredible force for change How her global mindset informs her leadership style Differences in managing and motivating non-profit vs. corporate employees What Kathy learned in the corporate world that can help non-profit leaders succeed Difference between skill vs. cause-specific learning curves and how each can be conquered How do we undertake ending homelessness? (Hint: it's actually by providing homes to the homeless!) How to inspire caring, hope and activism in the community Reasons most people become homeless and what all of us have in common with a person living on the street What Kathy is doing to grow and develop her staff Importance for leaders to learn and gain support from peers How to recognize when it's time for a life and/or career change Links & Resources – Kathy’s amazing non-profit providing support and housing to the homeless in Arlington, VA – episode with President of referenced in Kathy’s interview - episode with Founder of A Wider Circle we referenced in Kathy’s interview – Arlington County leadership program Kathy recommends - fantastic organization that awarded Kathy with an EXCEL award and recognized the A-SPAN board for their leadership. Center's CEO Glen O'Gilvie was the featured guest on . About Kathy Sibert Kathleen Sibert has over 25 years of experience in financial management, staff development, strategic planning, marketing and communications. Her global work includes experience in banking, technology, marketing and the nonprofit sector in 29 countries on five continents. She earned her Master’s in Business Administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona and her Bachelor of Science from Florida State University. She is currently the President/CEO of A-SPAN, which provides life-sustaining services for Arlington’s street homeless. In her role, Ms. Sibert led a strategic expansion of services, with a focus on ending homelessness through permanent housing. Since Ms. Sibert joined the organization in November 2008, A-SPAN won the contract to operate Arlington’s Emergency Winter Shelter, added the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Programs, and Nursing Services now delivered through a full-time nurse practitioner. She spearheaded Arlington’s inclusion in the national 100,000 Homes Campaign through 100 Homes Arlington, which has provided housing for 100 of the most medically vulnerable people in Arlington. Under her leadership, A-SPAN worked with Arlington’s Department of Human Services and other area homeless service providers to end veteran homelessness in Arlington last December, becoming just the second county in the nation to do so. In October 2015, A-SPAN opened a new, state-of-the-art Homeless Services Center, a first of its kind in the DC Metro area. The Center provides shelter, day and medical services including a five-bed medical respite program, year-round, all under one roof. An Arlington native, Ms. Sibert is the Co-Chair of the Outreach, Education, and Advocacy Committee of the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. She received a 2012 Arlington Woman of Vision Award. Under her, A-SPAN was named Nonprofit of the Year for 2011 by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, honorable mention recipient of The Washington Post 2015 Award for Excellence, and Board Leadership Award 2015 winner. Ms. Sibert won the Gelman, Rosenberg, and Freedman 2015 EXCEL Award for leadership achievement in the areas of innovation, motivation, community building, ethical integrity, and strategic leadership. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4544792

Ep 10: Overcoming the Blind Side with David Shaffer, WMATA 07/11/2016

Ep 10: Overcoming the Blind Side with David Shaffer, WMATA "My disability has made me a stronger, more confident leader " – David Shaffer Imagine graduating third from your Stanford Law class without studying thanks to your gift of photographic memory. Now imagine the ironic twist of fate of going blind at the height of your career - fighting for civil rights of disenfranchised individuals, including those with disabilities - and people suddenly treating you as stupid and incompetent because of your own disability. This is exactly what happened to my guest David Shaffer and his extraordinary story is sure to leave you moved, inspired and perhaps even seeing the world through his eyes! What You'll Learn: How David's passion and commitment to social justice and civil rights has shaped his career (you must hear about some of the fascinating and famous cases he's led and won!) How he came to terms with the devastation of losing his vision and primary tool for learning (and navigating the world!) How David helped transform D.C. metro into one of the most accessible transit systems in the country (isn’t it great to hear some good news about DC metro!?) Fascinating facts about disabilities, such as 19% of U.S. population has a disability (I had no idea, did you?) What’s really happening for people we see with dark glasses, white canes and other individuals with disabilities Astounding challenges disabled individuals encounter in every day tasks that most of us take for granted - from checking bank account balance online to reading a restaurant menu to… Practical tips and strategies to help support our friends and colleagues with disabilities in the workplace (and beyond) How technology can help disabled individuals regain independence, mobility and “sin back their lives” And so much more! Links & Resources – for more information about WMATA accessibility programs and initiatives – great article David shared about assistive technology for the blind – fantastic organization David partners with and the one lead by our previous amazing – for more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act – good resource to learn more about this disability and additional information about assistive technology About David Shaffer David Shaffer is the Access Policy Officer and was previously the Assistant General Counsel at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). David’s role includes development and implementation of ADA (Americans with Disabilities) Policy. He was previously Partner at Garvey Schubert Barer and Shaffer, Rappaports & Schmidt where he represented clients in civil rights class actions including against FBI, Secret Service and U.S. Customs Service; and represented employers and employees in ground-breaking employment and labor cases. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4506402

Ep 9: How to Succeed “Accidentally” with Kristina Bouweiri, CEO, Reston Limousine 06/22/2016

Ep 9: How to Succeed “Accidentally” with Kristina Bouweiri, CEO, Reston Limousine "I learned how to do everything by doing it wrong the first time" -Kristina Bouweiri Kristina Bouweiri calls herself an accidental entrepreneur. Perhaps this is how she started - by marrying into the business, Reston Limousine - but her success was no accident. Kristina has brilliantly grown the tiny 5-car business to the #13 largest limousine company in the U.S.! All this despite personal and business crises, including divorce from the firm’s founder and periods of economic turmoil! What You'll Learn: Kristina’s amazing story of marrying into the limo business and becoming an “accidental entrepreneur” How she grew Reston Limousine from a tiny 5-car business to the 13th largest limousine company in the country How she managed to succeed as a solo owner of Reston Limousine and single caregiver to four kids and ten pets after her divorce What makes Reston Limousine repeatedly the Best Place to Work (compassion, listening and surveying employees on how to make their lives better) How being a life-long learner and networker has changed her life and business What self-care routines got her through the darkest time in her life and business Why Kristina attributes doubling the size of her company to finally learning to delegate What natural traits female leaders should leverage for competitive advantage How business coaching and master-minding has been transformational for her business How board service has helped Kristina build relationships and dramatically grow her business What Kristina is still working on as a person and a leader Links & Resources – Kristina’s amazing company – Business networking and masterminding organization Kristina recommends - Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation Kristina uses for restoration and self-care – Methodology Kristina uses to assess and best leverage her own and her staff’s strengths. I’ve used it with clients too, it’s great! – useful Inc. Magazine article about becoming certified – global women’s conference Kristina recommends About Kristina Bouweiri Kristina Bouweiri is the sole owner of the Washington DC metropolitan area’s largest luxury transportation provider. Thanks to Kristina’s innovative business strategies over the last two decades, Reston Limousine and Travel Service, Inc. has enjoyed continued growth despite regional and national economic downturns. Starting with the diversification into wedding transportation in 1990, Kristina has expanded the business into new market segments such as government contracts and group transportation. Even as shuttle contracts led to exponential growth for the company, Kristina created new markets on the charter side, such as the company’s signature wine tours in what is now billed as DC’s Wine Country. Kristina also has led the company’s commitment to implementing the latest in technology trends. The leading private transportation provider in Washington DC when it comes to technology, Reston Limousine utilizes cameras on its bus fleet, GPS in all vehicles and TrafficLand software to monitor DC area traffic patterns. Kristina also has been an early adopter of social media, from blogging to social sharing sites including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, Instagram and more. Through LinkedIn, Kristina leveraged her international network to launch the company’s global services, which provides worldwide transportation through a vetted affiliate network. An active business community leader, Kristina is a board member of influential civic organizations and business publications such as the DC Chamber of Commerce, SmartCEO magazine, Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation, and Enterprising Women magazine, among others. She also is a member of the Dean’s Council of the George Mason School of Business, where she helped launch a Women’s in Business Initiative program to support students, alumnae and other businesswomen. The Washington Business Journal named Kristina one of the 50 most powerful and influential women in Washington and she has been featured in numerous media and trade publications such as The Washington Post, Washington SmartCEO and Enterprising Women. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Bouweiri has been committed to supporting other women entrepreneurs. She is the founder of the monthly networking luncheon Sterling Women and the annual Virginia Women’s Business Conference – two programs that have helped hundreds of women entrepreneurs and executives achieve their professional goals. She also is an international speaker on topics ranging from business strategy to the use of social media in growing your business, including at the Global Summit of Women in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Her recent awards include George Mason University Outstanding Leadership Award, Heroine of Washington, Washington Business Journal Power 100, and National Operator of the Year. See below for a complete list of her achievements. ACHIEVEMENTS 2015 Outstanding Leadership Award, George Mason University School of Business 2015 Heroines of Washington (Professional Services)/ 2015 Power 100 (Connector)/ 2015 Top Women-Owned Businesses in DC/Washington Business Journal 2015 Top Executive Transportation Services in DC/ 2015 Legacy Entrepreneur of the Year/EPNET 2014 National Operator of the Year/LCT Magazine 2014 Most Admired CEO/Washington Business Journal 2014 Washington SmartCEO Future 50 2013 Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, International Women Entrepreneurs Challenge Award 2013 Washington SmartCEO Future 50 2009-1013 Washington SmartCEO Top 100 CEOs 2012 DC Chamber of Commerce, Business Leader of the Year 2011 NOVA EXEC, Top 20 InNOVAtors: 2011 Loudoun County Good Scout Award (first woman to receive the award) 2010 Ernst & Young, Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4459247

Ep 8: What's Love Got to Do with It? - with Mark Bergel, Founder, A Wider Circle 06/07/2016

Ep 8: What's Love Got to Do with It? - with Mark Bergel, Founder, A Wider Circle “Love is a verb. It’s not what we say, it’s what we do that matters.” – Mark Bergel Few business conversations center on love, but love is exactly what drives Dr. Mark Bergel every moment of every day. His mission is “simply” to end poverty. It may seem like a lofty goal but when you hear this amazing interview, you’ll know that if anyone can end poverty, it’s Mark and his extraordinary team! In 2001, Mark, then teaching at American University, volunteered along with his students to deliver food to families living in need in the D.C region. He found himself in homes with no beds, no dressers and no living room furniture at all. As a result, Mark profoundly changed his life along with the lives of thousands of children and adults living in need. With no seed money, but a strong conviction that we could do better for those living in poverty, he converted his living room into a nonprofit office and founded A Wider Circle. Today the organization is housed in a 25,000 square-foot facility and is planning to expand! To date, A Wider Circle has served more than 125,000 individuals, with more than 10,000 volunteers coming each year to support the effort. What You'll Learn What is the difference between living a small and a big life (I know, it got deep!) What inspired Mark to leave his job in academia and give up the life he was planning in Sedona to tirelessly pursue his mission to end poverty What drives mark to work 14-16 hours a day 365 a year and wake up energized after 4 hours of sleep (kids, don't try this at home!) How to create an organizational culture centered on love and find staff who both have the heart and the skills to get the job done How to leverage others’ talents to balance out your strengths and weaknesses as a leader What is enlightened selfishness? Why Mark's believes that we can end poverty in 20 years and how we can do it How to do seemingly impossible (beyond ending poverty) - get others to care and to instill a sense of possibility in skeptical people How do we get others to engage in your cause This and so much more you’ll learn in this incredible conversation with Mark! Links & Resources – the amazing organization that will end poverty. If you live outside of the D.C. area please Google “poverty / community service / volunteering to find an organization that needs you in your region , Paolo Coelho – one of Mark’s favorite books (and mine) – Mark refers to it in his interview, if you’re fascinated please check it out! About Mark Bergel Dr. Bergel founded A Wider Circle in 2001 and has emerged as a leader in the movement to end poverty. He is a nationally acclaimed speaker in the fields of poverty, health, and social connection and has been featured on national television and radio programs. Mark earned a B.A. from Northwestern University and went on to receive both Masters and Doctoral degrees from American University. In 2014, Mark was selected as a CNN Hero, bringing much-needed attention to the movement to end poverty in our nation. The result of this honor has been to bring many more people from across the country to our efforts - and to help us answer the call to help our neighbors in need. Mark has also been voted one of People Magazine and Major League Baseball's "All Stars Among Us" and he has received the Dr. Augustus White III Award for Civic Engagement and Service, the Andrea Jolly President's Award, the Essence of Leadership Award at the Greater DC Cares Business and Nonprofit Philanthropy Summit, and the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region's Linowes Leadership Award. /episode/index/show/leadershipinsights/id/4425141

Ep 7: Roots of Leadership with Lidia Soto-Harmon, CEO, Girl Scouts 05/18/2016

Ep 6: Leadership & Self-Doubt with Doug Fruehling, Editor-in-Chief, Washington Business Journal 05/07/2016

Ep 5: When Failure is Not an Option with Glen O’Gilvie, CEO, Center for Nonprofit Advancement 04/19/2016

Ep 3 - Tony Cancelosi, CEO, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind on Successful Nonprofit Management 04/03/2016

Ep 4 - Doug Duncan, CEO, Leadership Greater Washington on Leadership, Mental Illness & Transparency in a Crisis 04/03/2016

Ep 1 - Scott Jackson, CEO, Global Impact on the Power of Story 02/18/2016

Ep 2 - Cultivating Excellence with Brian Hawkins, CEO, DC VA Medical Center 02/15/2016

Leadership Insights Podcast

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