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Quote  “Leadership is not about managing others, it’s about leading, guiding and mentoring wholeheartedly.”  - Alex Holmes Who is Alex Holmes? Alex is an award-winning podcaster and journalist, a millennial man of Caribbean descent, born and raised in London. He spent most of his early twenties traveling, which helped him to approach life with curiosity and taught him valuable lessons. However, upon returning to the UK, Alex found himself lacking friends, having to move back in with his parents and starting a new career as a journalist. He experienced covert racism in his job and felt alienated, which affected his confidence and self-esteem. Feeling lonely and depressed, Alex went to therapy and learned to rewrite his narrative and become his own friend. Alex worked as a journalist for five years before training as a health coach and then as a therapist to help others with their emotional well-being. He is an avid Harry Potter fan and uses its themes in his therapeutic work. His interest in psychology comes from his experience as a Black man in the UK navigating complex relationships. Alex started the Mindful Man Podcast and founded The Mindful Man to communicate his ideas about mental and physical health and emotional well-being. He invites others to join him on this journey and to meet him where they are. Alex Holmes’ Journey to Self-Discovery Alex’s work aims to help men overcome the societal expectations and myths surrounding masculinity, which can hinder emotional connection. He is the author of "Time To Talk: How Men Think About Love, Belonging, and Connection" and hosts the ‘You Should Probably Read This…’ podcast which suggests books to improve mental health.  His approach involves existential philosophy, which emphasizes personal agency, freedom, and authenticity. Bibliotherapy and mindfulness techniques are also used to help clients reconnect with their true selves, improve emotional intelligence, and achieve a sense of purpose. Alex’s work has been featured in various media outlets, including British GQ, The Metro, Happiful, The Guardian, and The Good Men Project. Key Leadership learning moments (timestamps) 00:02:53:17 - Alex's Childhood 00:08:32:11 - Alex's Aha Moment 00:11:46:10- Alex Breaking the Status Quo! 00:14:55:15 - Definition of Masculinity 00:20:26:03 - Andrew Tate/Jordan Peterson  00:22:20:09 - Pain Points of Men 00:27:26:09- Men and relationship with Shame 00:32:02:08 - Expectations vs Realities of Men 00:39:16:23 - Navigating Being Black in  Journalism 00:45:16:03 - Self-Doubt Brewed by Toxic Environment 00:49:54:16  - Pivotal Moment in Alex's Career 00:55:15:11 - Imperfection & Worthiness of Men 01:03:55:16 - Understanding Men's Internal Struggles 01:13:21:10 - Definition of Leadership Alex’s links: LinkedIn Instagram Time to Talk book Website Podcast Follow the podcast If you’ve just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter YouTube Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything

Quote  “Typically, boredom does not lead to highly rewarding moments, and we tend to invest a lot of effort in avoiding fear. However, it is often when we face our fears that we experience significant turning points in our lives.” - Stacey Philpot Who is Stacey Philpot? Dr Stacey Philpot has built an impressive career as a leadership development advisor, helping some of the world's most successful companies navigate through disruptive times and inspire culture change. Her extensive experience has brought her to advise top-notch companies such as Apple, Nike, and Johnson & Johnson on matters of talent assessment, leadership development, succession planning, and inclusion.  Stacey's success as a coach comes from her background as a licensed psychologist and executive, which has allowed her to guide CEOs of Fortune 500 companies in developing their executive committees and managing complex board dynamics. In addition to her coaching, Stacey is a renowned speaker at conferences and executive retreats and has authored several articles on topics related to leadership development.  Stacey graduated with honours from Dickinson College and holds a doctorate in Organizational Psychology from Rutgers University. She has lived and studied in London, England and Osaka, Japan. Stacey Philpot’s shift from Corporate to Consulting Stacey was the head of Deloitte’s Leadership Consulting practice where she guided the firm’s work with clients on matters of succession, talent assessment, leadership development, and inclusion. While there she increased revenue for her practice by over 250% and tripled the size of her organisation in under three years. Prior to Deloitte, Stacey worked as Managing Partner for a high-growth boutique consultancy where she was responsible for setting the firm’s strategy and market positioning.  Stacey seamlessly integrates her skills as a licensed psychologist and executive in her work and places great importance on using a deliberate and data-driven approach to the hiring process.  Key Leadership learning moments (timestamps) 00:03:19:08 – Young Girl with Big Dreams 00:05:14:18- Stacey's Inquisitive Mind 00:08:34:14 - Stacey's Pushy Attitude 00:10:30:09- Working with Different Cultures 00:13:57:06 - Leadership Questions Unanswered 00:15:46:23 - 3 Problems CEOs Have 00:16:58:10 - Credibility does Matter! 00:18:34:19 - The Shift from Corporate to Consulting 00:23:13:21 - Fear = Life Turning Point - Scene #2 00:25:08:03 - Eradicating Fear in Workplaces 00:29:36:15- Leadership in the Modern Era 00:35:03:01- Creating a Competency Model 00:37:23:04- Leadership Questions - For the Future! 00:41:04:00- The Most Successful CEOs  00:42:32:17- 3 Questions to Ask People Around CEOs 00:43:28:06- Stacey's Biggest Lessons 00:46:12:17- Perfection is Boring!  00:48:33:20- Stacey's Pivotal Moments 00:51:03:10- Relationships are Real Foundations 00:52:48:15- Psychological Safety 00:53:15:17- Meaning of Leadership Stacey’s links: LinkedIn Website Follow the podcast If you’ve just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter YouTube Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything

Quote  “Attempting to fit myself into a mold that did not suit me was my greatest mistake. I failed to recognize my strengths and where I found the most joy, which delayed my realization of how to optimize my success and happiness. Gaining a better understanding of myself was necessary.” - Matt Hoffman Who is Matt Hoffman? Matt Hoffman, the Head of Talent and a Partner at M13, shares his experience in building startups and emphasized the role of high-performing teams in elevating individuals. Matt brings a wealth of experience and expertise to high-growth start-up organizations, with a passion for building innovative and authentic cultures that can scale with the business. By empowering and inspiring employees to do their best work through the best People Ops strategies, Matt can help your business create an environment where talent thrives and innovation flourishes.  He is a certified Hudson executive coach, which further enhances his ability to develop talent and build amazing companies by focusing on the talented humans who make them great. With his skills and dedication, Matt is poised to make a significant impact in any startup organization he works with. Matt previously built and led the People functions at DigitalOcean and Return Path (#1 Best Place to Work in NYC and #2 in the US, respectively). Key Leadership learning moments (timestamps) 00:03:11:14 - Keys to a Great Place to Work!  00:04:19:16 - Leadership in Fast-Paced Environments 00:05:59:19 - Going Back to a Teenage Matt 00:08:06:04 - Creating His Own Firm 00:08:59:18 - Changes in Matt's Perspective 00:10:08:00 - A Father of 3 Daughters 00:12:01:01 - Work-Life Balance - A Myth? 00:13:56:21 - Tensions - Remote Work vs. In-Person 00:16:07:09 - Challenges in Remote Work 00:18:20:16 - College Degree - Not a Good Financial Investment? 00:20:45:07 - Hiring People Without College Degrees 00:23:57:22 - Coping With Mistakes 00:27:00:13 - Trying Out New Things! 00:28:18:02  - AI vs People 00:30:40:03 - The Shift to Remote Work 00:32:56:17 - Companies Should Invest in Development! 00:35:39:19  - Understanding Development for Executives 00:37:58:23 - Establishing Company DNA! 00:40:11:15 - Setbacks in Leadership Conversations 00:42:12:14 - Matt's Super Team 00:44:34:07 - Matt's Biggest Mistake 00:45:56:17 - Matt's Proudest Career Moments 00:48:18:00 - Definition of Leadership 00:49:31:04 - Thanks For Listening to Everyday Leadership Podcast! Matt’s links: LinkedIn Website Follow the podcast If you’ve just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter YouTube Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything

Quote  “Don’t waste your valuable energy on things you can’t control!”- Vanessa Belleau Who is Vanessa Belleau? Vanessa Belleau is a slasher Millennial, she is proud to be contributing positively to the world through her work as an EMCC Accredited Executive Coach, Diversity + Inclusion & Belonging Consultant, future-focussed Researcher, Brand Consultant, Facilitator, Keynote Speaker, and Marketing & Branding Consultant. Vanessa’s purpose is crystal clear: She wants to help people and brands focus on what really matters. To do this, she draws on both her maths and magic approaches to insights, strategy, and storytelling to provide clients with powerful, validated insights and spark them with passion and humour.  To date, she has worked with over 60 different brands, including Gymshark, the LVMH Fashion Group, smaller businesses, charities, and individuals. Additionally, she set up her own company, @Highfifteen ltd, in order to collaborate with more brands on exciting projects, specifically helping create more diverse workplaces and inclusive business strategies that ensure all employees and consumers feel they belong. She was born in Paris as a Black French Caribbean woman and has been living in London for over 15 years. Through her work, she’s been able to use both of the languages she speaks fluently - French and English - on projects in over 20 countries. Vanessa Belleau’s High Fifteen journey  Before launching Highfifteen, Vanessa had the privilege of working at the Walt Disney Company for EMEA as the Head of Fashion + Home Shopper Trade Marketing. During this time, she created and managed marketing programs with some incredible partners such as Adidas, Primark, C&A, H&M, Loewe, Pandora, and more. Additionally, during her 18 months there, she co-founded and co-chaired the first Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities affinity group in the UK & IRL.  Vanessa created High Fifteen to address a key business need: combining strategy, insights, enthusiasm, and practicality while keeping people as the central focus. By developing meaningful and genuine relationships based on trust, curiosity, excellent communication, and empathy, She is able to effectively use her resourcefulness, knowledge, energy, and positive outlook to inspire others to recognise their own strengths and find new strategic opportunities.  Key Leadership learning moments (timestamps) 00:00:00 - Intro 04:58:00 - Born With 12 Fingers? No Problem!  07:55:21 - Showing True Self = Showing Power!  09:45:00 - The Middle Child Syndrome  18:34:00 - Why Vanessa Left for the UK 26:00:14 - Self-Discovery of Identity!  27:43:21 - Rise in The Corporate World  33:44:23 - Measurement of Success 37:50:11 - Joy vs. Happiness  43:11:00 - Joy Brings Clarity!  47:49:16 - Leaders in Adversity 52:01:00 - Vanessa's Definition of Leadership 53:35:00 - Proudest Moments of Her LIFE!  59:25:00 - My I Really Does Matter 01:00:06:04 - Thanks For Listening to the Everyday Leadership Podcast 01:00:06:30 - Next Episode Preview Vanessa’s links: LinkedIn Instagram High-Fifteen Follow the podcast If you’ve just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter YouTube Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything

“Leadership is about setting an example and leading people to a goal without making excuses. As an assistant head teacher, I have to be one of the best teachers in the school and set a great example for others. But it is also about being unapologetic in following your vision, even if not everyone believes in or understands it. It's important to convince people that what you're trying to achieve is worth pursuing, and not to expect everyone to be your friend in the process. I believe leadership is so much more than just how you speak to people; it's about taking action and leading people to the greater good.”- Emmanuel Awoyelu Who is Emmanuel Awoyelu? Emmanuel is a Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and an assistant headteacher at Eastbury Community School. He has worked in education for 9 years, whilst developing youth programmes across London. Emmanuel is a frequent speaker, trainer and writer on educational topics particularly around the topics of inclusive practice, pastoral care and behavior. He is passionate about changing the narrative for disadvantaged young people and he's a big part of helping The Reach Out Project achieve its objective. The Reach Out Project is a mentoring programme for inner-city London boys. Their vision is to open up London as a city of opportunity for our youth and help each young person we support to realise their potential regardless of their background/circumstance. Emmanuel Awoyelu’s Journey as a Teacher Having suffered negative experiences early on in his education journey, including two school exclusions, the first in year 5 and another in year 10, Emmanuel felt that teaching would be the last thing he would ever do.  However, many years later an opportunity came up at a school where he used to deliver sessions as a football coach, and what started out as filling in for someone for two weeks ended up being five months and at the end of it, he realised that the education space is where he was meant to be.  He initially trained as a teaching assistant and later as a SENCO and then grew into the position he is in now. Today, as a black leader in the profession, Emmanuel is acutely aware of the responsibility that comes with his role. He understands that his presence and influence could potentially have an effect on children, staff and community members who were previously excluded. It is an honour for him to be able to represent his community and to be part of such a small yet powerful group of black senior educators. People are often surprised to hear about his role, and feel  like he is a rarity or 'unicorn' - something that you wouldn't easily find anywhere else. Representation matters deeply, and he takes on the role with pride. Emmanuel’s Experience with Grief At the age of 17, Emmanuel lost three of his closest friends in a tragic accident. This would later lead him into depression, but also marked a turning point in his life as he came to the realisation that he had to live his life differently in order to build a legacy. 

 “Being a dad is a role that we play, we are people first. A dad is something that I have become but I'm a man first. To look at it from what kind of dad you want to be without looking at what kind of man you want to become is the wrong way around. You need to define what kind of man you want to be first and that translates to parenting.”- Elliott Rae Who is Elliott Rae? Elliott Rae is one of the UK’s most prominent speakers on fatherhood, masculinity and men’s mental health. He is the founder of the parenting platform MusicFootballFatherhood, called the ‘Mumsnet for Dads’ by the BBC. MusicFootballFatherhood is the UK’s most exciting parenting and lifestyle platform for men. MFF is all about open conversations surrounding fatherhood, work-life balance, mental health, raising healthy and well-rounded children, money management, relationships and of course music and football.  He previously worked in the Civil Service where he held senior Diversity, Equity & Inclusion roles and his last role was as the Head of D&I delivery at HM Treasury. He’s been heavily involved in many research projects relating to fathers in the workplace, notably the 2018 Equal Lives report by Business in the Community and the Fathers in the Workplace toolkit by the University of Birmingham where he spoke at both of the launches. He was recognised by the United Nations for his work engaging men in gender equality and was awarded the UN Women UK’s #HeForShe ‘Changemaker of the Year’ award in 2019. Elliot Rae’s DAD journey  Elliott founded the MFF platform as a self-therapy after being diagnosed with PTSD as a new dad after the traumatic birth of his daughter.  In his new book ‘DAD’, an Amazon Top 10 bestseller, Elliott and 19 other dads shared their stories that represent the diversity of modern fatherhood and challenge the traditional ideas of masculinity. In January 2022, Elliott presented the seminal and primetime BBC One documentary ‘Becoming Dad’. This was the first show of its kind to bring issues around dad’s mental health and work-life balance to the mainstream. Elliott as a speaker, author and social changemaker Elliott specialises in helping organisations support fathers, improve men’s mental health and engage men in conversations around gender equality. If you are trying to encourage more open conversations about masculinity and allyship and engage more men in your DEI activities, Elliot can help you. Connect here with Elliott. Key Leadership learning moments (timestamps) 02:35 - Elliott Rae is not Fond of Introductions 03:18 - Elliott's Philosophy - Keep On Putting the Work! 05:16 - Elliott's Young Competitive Spirit 06:39 - Elliott the Biggest Fan of Football Stars 10:31 - His Biggest Supporters, His Parents 16:13 - Elliot's Dad Tips for a Happy Marriage 19:13 - How to Deal with Ego Effectively as a Man? 22:06 - Hurdles in Unleashing Elliott's Full Potential 26:01 - Elliott's Journey as a Modern-Day Father 27:44 - What it Takes to Be a Good Man? 30:22 - Being a Man vs. Being a Dad 35:19 - Elliot's Traumatic Experiences 39:48 - Mental Health Problems Surfacing - Elliott's Plight 46:29 - MFF Origin Story 56:07 - The Grit and Determination to Continue Against All Odds 01:01:57 - The Numbers Game vs. The Influencer Game 01:06:28 - Sope's Key Take Aways On Elliott's Interview 01:09:36 - Elliott's Definition of Leadership Elliott’s links: LinkedIn ‘Dad’ Book  Website Follow the podcast If you’ve just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter YouTube Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything

Anything that's worth it takes time. "My children now as you say, young adults, they've had more than enough of that, with me telling to them, just be patient. For all the progress that we make, the younger generation, whether it be millennials or anything else, they want stuff today." - Rob Neil OBE (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Rob Neil? Rob was born and raised in the London Borough of Brent and began his career in 1983 at Willesden County Court for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). During his time there, he advanced to Deputy Court Manager before joining the South Eastern I.T. Team. In 1998, he acquired his dream job with MoJ's Corporate HR as a Development Trainer. During his two years of study at the Civil Service College, he earned a Certificate in Training Practice (CTP) and is now a member of CIPD. In 2001, Rob was one of the first people to join the Ministry of Justice's BAME Staff network, referred to as P.R.O.U.D. He then went on to become the first elected Chair of the CSREN (now known as the Civil Service Race Forum) that same year. The Civil Service Race Forum was established then. Rob Neil's legacy in civil service Rob developed his career in the civil service at the MoJ in HR and became a founding member of the Employee Engagement Team. He was in charge of creating the Engagement Champions Network in the year 2008. He was also responsible for the growth of the Employee Engagement Champions across the MoJ, eventually reaching 1000 people in Courts, Tribunals and Legal Aid Agency. He's worked with other Government departments to help them set up their own EECs, including HMRC, DWP, and MoD. In the summer of 2015, Rob was responsible for steering the Diversity & Inclusion Department at the Ministry of Justice. He was instrumental in achieving essential goals, such as the implementation of the Civil Service Talent Action Plan [T.A.P.] and re-negotiating arrangements with all of the Department's Diversity Staff Networks. In April of 2016 Rob was noted as one of the 50 influential figures of BAME (Black Asian Minority Ethnic) background in the public sector, as part of the 'New View 50' You can see the list here. About Krystal Alliance The Krystal Alliance™ team consists of incredibly talented and devoted members who strive to collaborate with committed entities that desire to promote equity in the workplace, encourage and motivate others. The individuals of Krystal Alliance are all specialists in their field, whether devising plans to foster transformation in culture, running interactive sessions to promote inclusive leadership, or imagining ways to build a stronger sense of community. So how did Rob come to get involved with creating this powerhouse team? You'll need to listen to find out! What are you waiting for? Click play, and immerse yourself in another fascinating conversation with another wonderful guest on the Everyday Leadership podcast.   Key leadership learning moments (timestamps)   0:00 - Intro 03:55 - The importance of offering our best 08:47 - Career in policing 16:44 - The power of working alongside others 21:28 - What's good for one... 25:53 - Letting go of the civil service 33:11 - What is 'cultural intelligence'? 37:32 - Linking with people who want to be more inclusive  42:33 - Becoming a granddad  46:55 - Rob's Definition of Leadership Rob's links: LinkedIn Krystal Alliance   Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

The employee voice is becoming much louder. "We might have been expected to do photocopying, and make coffee for the first, you know, year of your employment. But that isn't that isn't the case anymore. And that certainly isn't what younger generations are going to stand for." - Abigail Wilmore (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Abigail Wilmore? Abigail Wilmore is a Chief People Officer and certified Executive/ Performance Success Coach. She is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and specialises in heart-centred, kind leadership promotion, sustainability and values-led people strategy creation. She's all about diversity and equality, culture and engagement, positive energy networking, global change and organisation design. Along with that, she's also instrumental in talent and leadership development and performance-driven wellbeing strategy. She's a strategic executive committee member, and animal welfare campaigner. What is Dr Barbara Sturm? Dr Barbara Sturm is a renowned cosmetic doctor and skincare expert based in Germany. She's known for her innovative and natural approach to skincare and has developed an extensive line of products that focus on the skin's needs while using minimal ingredients. The range includes creams, serums, face oils, and masks that are specifically formulated to protect and nourish the skin, making them suitable for all skin types. In addition to her products, Dr Barbara offers a variety of treatments including laser treatments, injections, and chemical peels. What does this have to do with Abigail? Well, our guest for this episode is the Chief People Officer at the company. And it's her responsibility to define and implement the people strategy, bringing the ethical, sustainable and responsible elements of what the brand stands for into their people and culture agenda.   Abigail Wilmore's story Abigail Wilmore had a childhood that was full of love, but was also unconventional. Her mother was an artist and makeup artist in the film industry, while her father was a mathematician and teacher. Growing up, Abigail and her sister were encouraged to be themselves and speak up for what they believed in.  And then there was the ballet and fashion which followed. So to learn more about Abigail, you're going to need to listen to the episode. What are you waiting for? Click play, and immerse yourself in another fascinating conversation with another wonderful guest on the Everyday Leadership podcast.   Key leadership learning moments (timestamps)   0:00 - Intro 06:32 - Abigail's Shift from Ballet to the Fashion Career 10:27 - Creating Your Own Path: Sope's Thoughts 12:42 - Skills that Helped Abigail in Her Career 18:20 - Interviewing with Gucci Group 26:00 - Abigail's Definition of Human Resources 27:16 - Tips to Create a Great Working Culture 34:33 - How Abigail Deals with Frustrations in the Current HR System 40:00 - What is Heart-Centered Leadership? 41:48 - Leadership in the Modern Working Culture 44:48 - Changes Needed to be Made in Leading Teams 48:12 - Abigail's Biggest Leadership Lessons 51:16 - Abigail's Definition of Leadership Abigail's links: LinkedIn The Henley Collective Dr Barbara Sturm Stella McCartney Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

The financial goal or gain is the secondary element "Sometimes people have a mixed view of money. But everything we want to do in this world requires money. Take care of family, give to your church or religious organisation, be able to further the education of your kids and family. They all require money." - Donald Thompson (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Donald Thompson? Donald has 20 years of experience in business growth and is often referred to as a CEO, speaker, investor, advisor, entrepreneur and executive coach. His background is rooted in the values of teamwork, strategy and success that he learned from his father who was a football coach. He has an optimistic outlook and is a competitive learner who assists executives with the application of new tools and thinking to enable them to quickly acquire improved management skills and capabilities for the changing business environment. As a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE), Donald currently serves as CEO & Co-founder of The Diversity Movement where he focuses on uniting DEI objectives with business objectives while pushing organisational boundaries towards cultural transformation with positive outcomes for both employees and shareholders. What is The Diversity Movement? TDM disrupts the diversity training industry with its innovative approach to DEI. Launched in 2019 as an eLearning organisation, TDM has quickly transformed into a full-service consultancy, helping over 100 clients turn DEI into a business growth strategy. Donald Thompson's story Donald's journey so far has been diverse and guided by his mother's advice to always ask why and that he can do anything he dreams of with hard work and determination. He developed a sense of direction by wanting to have choices and financial independence. He also had a background in sports, which taught him teamwork, perseverance, and being agile. He didn't have a clear path, but he was motivated by having enough financial wealth, having friends from all walks of life, and learning from his experiences in college football. He pivoted from sports to business, but the lessons he learned from athletics stayed with him. And when it comes to his definition of what 'enough' financial wealth is? Well, you'll just have to listen to find out!...   Key leadership learning moments (timestamps)   01m24s: Young Donald and his mother's two big lessons. 11m25s: Donald's order of prioritisation. 23m37s: Sports and communication. 31m46s: Showing commitment to change. 43m07s: Putting things into context. 55m33s: How Donald defines leadership? Donald's links: Website Book LinkedIn   Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

Helping creators to create "You know, being a creator is not easy. So hats off to creators, for sure. It's a tough, tough space." - Sean Kim (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Sean Kim? Sean Kim is President and Chief Product Officer at Kajabi, and was the ex-head of product at TikTok in the US. He's also been involved with the TV show Shark Tank, and boasts Jeff Bezos - yes THAT Jeff Bezos - among his former colleagues. It's not hard to understand how he would have such roles, when you consider he had such an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. He would sell things at school, collect cans for money and even buy bulk socks from Korea to resell at school for a profit. When he moved to New York, he had to find other ways to make money and one of them was nothing short of a moment of absolute genius involving food and his school mates. What is Kajabi? Kajabi is a website and marketing platform designed to help individuals and businesses create and sell online courses, coaching programs, and digital products. It provides a range of tools and features to help users create a professional-looking website, create and manage online courses, process payments and handle customer data, and market their products through various channels, such as email marketing, webinars, and social media. Kajabi also includes analytics and reporting tools to help users track their sales and customer engagement. It's considered to be something of an all-in-one platform that allows users to create, market and sell digital products and online courses without the need for any other tools or services. When you hear Sean describe his mission, you'll quickly understand how his influence has really spilled into the product. Sean Kim's professional journey Sean Kim had a variety of experiences with start ups. He started with a version of Yelp, where he built the website and went door to door to local restaurants to get them to participate. He also had website start ups that offered website and CMS solutions for local businesses, as well as apps he's worked on. He learned to code and design and used that knowledge to help other local businesses and restaurants with their websites. Despite not being scalable, he found the journey to be valuable, and he shares why in this episode. Key leadership learning moments (timestamps)   01m43s: Young Sean Kim and his history selling food and socks. 05m09s: Why Sean went corporate rather than entrepreneur. 11m52s: Knowing when to go somewhere new. 20m16s: Sean's experience with creating. 25m24s: Sean's time at Amazon working with Jeff Bezos. 31m44s: Embracing the failure. 38m15s: Sean's long term vision for the creator economy. 54m50s: The importance of family? 48m07s: How Sean defines leadership? Sean's links: Kajabi Twitter LinkedIn   Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

Getting out of the topic and into the age of action... "It's just more... like I use the thing, like, you know Weinstein's? These are all Weinsteins. I can't have it. What if one of these people were my daughter?" - Kevin Withane (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Kevin Withane? Meet Kevin, the Founder and Managing Partner of Diversity X. Diversity X is a community and venture capital firm that supports underestimated founders who are solving real-world problems and making a positive impact in their communities and the world. He has worked around the world over the last two decades, including at private practice law firms, quasi-governmental organisations, SMEs, and most recently at a FTSE 250 company. Kevin is a passionate advocate for building a sustainable world and for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Listen to this fascinating conversation in which I, Sope, learn more about Kevin's journey and the work that Diversity X is doing to support underestimated founders in the tech industry. What is 'Diversity X'? Diversity X is a community and venture capital firm that aims to support underrepresented founders and start ups. The firm focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion and is committed to investing in companies that are working on solving real-world problems and making a positive impact in their communities and the world. Under Kevin's leadership, 'Diversity X' believes in the power of diverse teams to drive innovation and create sustainable solutions. They provide not only financial support but also mentorship, resources, and connections to help these founders succeed. They also actively engage with the community and create a space for conversations around diversity and inclusion in the start-up ecosystem. This episode features another lawyer inspired by "LA Law"! "I used to be found sneaking down the stairs to watch it while my parents were watching it. It looked glamorous. It looked cool!" Listen to learn of the other iconic TV lawyers that Kevin wanted to follow in the footsteps of when he was a younger man!   Key leadership learning moments (timestamps)   01m43s: Young Kevin and his fortune with friends. 06m00s: Kevin's entrepreneurial origins with shampoo and penny sweets. 11m16s: Kevin Withane's inspiration for getting into law. 19m48s: Life and work after corporate. 34m06s: The idea behind 'Diversity X' 39m52s: Walking the talk and being intentional. 45m56s: Challenges of building the community 54m50s: The importance of family? 57m52s: How Kevin Withane defines leadership? Kevin's links: Twitter LinkedIn Substack newsletter Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

Helping young people change their lives and avoid jail, death or deportation... "I think my inspiration came from wanting to help young people, particularly young men, at the time - that grew up in the same way that I grew up - see an alternative way out. I didn't think there was anything at the time, that could help those individuals that were in the thick of it.... everything else was always going to tell them to go back to school, and to start again, start afresh" - Duro Oye (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Duro Oye? Duro Oye is a social entrepreneur and award-winning CEO who is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the UK workforce. As the head of 2020 Change, a leading social enterprise, Duro uses training programs, mentorship, and career support to empower young black professionals and help them succeed in their careers. His passion for community and commitment to excellence drive him to bring about real and sustained change for these young professionals. In addition to his work with 2020 Change, Duro is a skilled storyteller who uses the power of documentary film to give a voice to marginalized youth. Since creating his first independent film project in 2013, he has worked with major broadcasters like the BBC and Channel 5 to bring important stories to life. As a qualified mind-set coach with a degree in Graphics and Advertising and a diploma in Documentary Filmmaking, Duro brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his work. He is also a fellow at the Acumen Academy, where he continues to develop his skills and knowledge. What is 2020 Change? 2020 Change is a social enterprise that is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the UK workforce. The organisation works to empower young black professionals by providing them with training programs, mentorship, and career support. Through these efforts, 2020 Change aims to bring about clear and sustained change for these young professionals and create a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the UK. One of the key programs offered by 2020 Change is the "I AM CHANGE" program, a 12-week course that focuses on developing young people in four key areas: self-awareness, vision, persistence, and dignity. The program also covers topics such as financial literacy, digital skills, and mindfulness that are not taught in schools. In addition to its training programs, 2020 Change is also committed to transparency and excellence in all of its work. The organisation's dedication to these values has earned it numerous awards and recognition as a leader in the field of diversity and inclusion. Duro's origins in acting! Duro Oye originally wanted to be an actor and had an agent that was going to help him pursue that dream. He took his drama GCSE very seriously in secondary school and was determined to succeed in the subject. However, his mother was not supportive of his dream and called a family meeting to try and persuade him to go to university instead.  As is a common theme with many of our guests that regular listeners to Everyday Leadership will recognise! Listen to the episode to learn whether Duro's mother got her wish or not.   Key leadership learning moments (timestamps)   01m40s: Young Duro and his acting aspirations. 05m15s: What was it about acting that drew Duro in? 20m32s: What was the importance of telling transformational stories? 25m20s: Overcoming the fear 32m06s: More on building the foundations of change 40m08s: "Why would they listen to me?" 46m15s: Major lessons taught by young people 54m47s: What does leadership mean to Duro Oye?   Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

Make sure you're 'doing it scared' as you start 2023 "How do you triumph over something? You step into it, you face it, you do something about it. Far too often, it's very easy to talk about what you're going to do to plan for what you're going to do and yet not do what you said you're going to do." - Sope Agbelusi (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) What is this episode all about? Sope is reflecting on not only the previous 12 months, but his whole origin story, including that of his family. As he thought back on where he came from, he's understood that there was a common theme with every decision he made in business and in his home life. He learned to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. How to do it scared.   There's a famous Nelson Mandela quote about the value in facing fear As you begin a new year, it's natural to feel scared and uncertain. But don't let fear hold you back. The only way to overcome fear is to face it head on. Many people try to avoid fear and pain, but often it's by going through these experiences that we realize they weren't as scary as we thought. So don't be afraid to tackle your fears and embrace the unknown.   Overcome any obstacle by taking bold action! Triumph over any challenge by taking action and facing it head on. It's easy to make plans and talk about what you'll do, but true learning and growth comes from actually doing what you set out to do. Don't let your fears hold you back from taking action and achieving your goals.   Key leadership learning moments (timestamps)   00m50s: Sope reflects on how he had to do it scared. 04m20s: "I was scared!" 08m10s: What is it that YOU want to do?   Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

Fostering leadership growth in our listeners by revisiting some of the powerful moments from 2022   What is this episode all about? We decided to do something a little bit different this week. At the time of publishing, it's currently the festive season, and many of our guests will be going about their lives spending time with their families.  We felt like this is a good time to reflect on the show's impact on 2022, taking in the fact we released the 100th episode a few months ago.   Choosing 13 past guests to revisit specific leadership lessons that we hope will empower listeners It goes without saying we've immensely enjoyed speaking with ALL of our guests since we started this podcast. But I wanted to check back in with 13 of the guests from this past year, to refresh our memories on their lessons. Particularly as this is a time of year that many people use to reflect and refocus, ahead of working towards goals for the coming year.   Understanding the importance of good, solid leadership Good leadership is important because it can have a significant impact on the success and effectiveness of a team or organisation. When leaders are competent, fair, and supportive, they can create a positive and productive work environment that fosters collaboration, innovation, and growth. On the other hand, poor leadership can lead to a toxic culture, low morale, and poor performance.   Episode clips that we feel back up this point We obviously couldn't include everybody that we'd like to for a revisit, or we'd be releasing an episode that would take almost three solid days of continuous listening to get through. But we think you'll agree that these are some great episodes for revisiting. Key leadership learning moments   Lori and Louise from LVL London 02m02s – 06m21s Making the hardest decisions as a leader Ayo Akunu 06m25s – 09m45s Substance vs appearances Dr Grant Tate 09m49s – 15m41s Understanding influence isn't always hierarchical Daniella Genas 15m46s – 25m28s Being 'unemployable' and embracing it  Aggie Matuma 25m38s – 32m56s Titles blind us - what does a title create? Terence Channer 33m00s – 39m47s Responding in 'those moments' (obvious racism) Leon Mann 46m16s – 46m20s Building networks. Dr Selina Stone 46m22s – 57m13s Navigating the balance between justice and silence Rani Puranik 57m21s – 1h04m59s Overcoming challenges over not leaning into entitlement Akasha Sanders 1h05m09s – 1h15m13s Saying 'yes' to yourself first Tru Powell 1h15m20s – 1h25m55s Key lessons including patience Chenelle Ansah 1h26m00s – 1h31m00s Big Audacious Goals and dealing with the overwhelm Alec Grant 1h31m05s – 1h38m51s Letting life happen rather than designing it   Useful links and shout outs in the episode   Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

What does living a life with values look like to you? " Values can be told to somebody or they can be embodied. If you would have checked in on me, like, four years into the military, I would have been like, yeah, that's the values. I'm supposed to be doing these things. Really?.” - John Spencer (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is John Spencer? Our guest this week, John Spencer, is a retired United States army officer, researcher of urban warfare, and author on the same subject. He's also a podcaster, with his own show the Urban Warfare Project which you can find on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  During the Russia invasion of Ukraine, John became notorious for his selfless act of offering advice to those impacted by the event. John explains more about this during the episode. John Spencer's military experience and how it speaks about leadership John Spencer's spent a large chunk of his life dealing with the military. Even though he's now retired from active duty, the military is still very much a part of his life due to his wife being in active service. This leaves John with the responsibility of being almost like a pseudo lone parent. John explains how he's had to find stoicism as part of that parental journey. Understanding wider identity after being a soldier During his conversation with Sope, John shares how a lot of soldiers struggle with identity in life after service in the armed forces. He explains how important his kids have become when it comes to his own identity. There's also some real vulnerability shared around the role that the military played when it came to his own paternal needs. The importance of values in John's story Obviously, given the title, this episode is all about values. And values play a very central role in John Spencer's story. Not only with his origin story of joining the military and following their values around leadership. But also the joining of his wife and her values, and applying those values to their children. He shares how ultimately, family values and military values are not that different both in terms of their impact and their importance.   Key leadership learning moments   01m37s - John's start in the military 05m12s - Identity outside of the military  09m22s - The military's part in teaching fatherhood 15m40s - Technology and its connection with the military 19m17s - Growing as a leader within the military frameworks 24m14s - The military's version of 'hybrid working'? 29m25s - Developing self-actualisation and self-awareness 35m18s - The process of writing a book 44m03s - Staying grounded outside of the military 50m00s - Growth and development in the face of adversity 51m01s - John's definition of leadership     Useful links and shout outs in the episode John Spencer's website John Spencer's LinkedIn John Spencer's Twitter Flow - The Psychology of Happiness on Amazon Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

How resilient could you be when tragedy strikes? "As much as the initial impact of my wife passing away was significant, one thing was really clear in my mind, and that thing was in order for me to do the best of my boys, I need to get myself into the best place that I possibly can... ” - Alec Grant (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Alec Grant? As founder of Resilience Cubed, Alec has become something of an expert on the topic. Having lost his wife shortly after childbirth, Alec has had to face the challenge of raising his boys alone. This has meant having to be there for them no matter what. Essentially, Alec has lived and breathed the very definition of resilience. Alec's experience with resilience Alec's dealt with resilience on a lot of levels in his life. In his youth, dealing with peer pressure when it came to the consumption of alcohol or experimenting with cigarettes. More recently, experiencing having to be strong for his boys and bringing them up with the values and opportunities he felt were important for them to live with. And in the workplace, dealing with boundary stomping bosses who didn't respect his free time and made unreasonable demands. Designing life that works for the individual What comes across very obviously in this chat with Sope, is Alec's core value system and his partnership with his wife when it came to working together to design the desired life for their family. He describes how differently things could have been, had they not worked together in the interests of their boys, prepping their future years for resilience. Creating space to grieve together The story is a very emotional one, and the way that Alec tells it is equal parts heart-breaking and inspiring. From his revelations around how others tried to impart their unsolicited advice, through to his very clear insistence that he wanted to create a safe space for the family to grieve in whatever way they felt they needed. Resilience continues throughout their family legacy.   Key leadership learning moments   01m13s - Young Alec and his first experience with resilience 15m54s - Taking active steps towards corporate resilience  23m52s - Letting life happen rather than designing it 31m15s - Clarity in the moment 38m33s - Raising the kids with freedom to express their grief 45m23s - What others could do to be more helpful in this kind of situation? 55m25s - How Alec defines resilience   Useful links and shout outs in the episode Resilience Cubed - Twitter Alec's LinkedIn (with future updates on Resilience Cubed) Winston's Wish Widowed and Young Tiny Habits from BJ Fogg Atomic Habits The 1 Thing Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

As long as you turn up and work hard, life is going to be ok! "If your goal doesn't completely drown you, it's probably not big enough and definitely like mine completely floors me in the fact that what I'm trying to do is move the market and change what the future should look like... ” - Chenelle Ansah (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Chenelle Ansah? As an investor and consultant, Chenelle is passionate about ensuring founders of diverse backgrounds have access to capital. As Partner at Cornerstone Partners with a mission focused on investing in black founders from the UK, she works hard every day making sure they are leading the charge when it comes time for new Fintech opportunities or bank M&As (mergers and acquisitions) across Europe. In addition to serving as Founder/MD of Nell Consulting where her expertise includes strategy work related specifically around financial disruption plus scaling operations within companies experiencing growth. From fashion and dancing to finance and investing Young Chenelle started out as the family entertainment, dancing for friends and visitors on demand. But, as is common with our guests on the "Everyday Leadership" podcast, it wasn't long before THAT chat with a parent came up, and the focus began. A career in finance beckoned, and as it goes, it was quite the path.   Neo banks and Chenelle's cornering of that expertise The emergence of neo banking was a big deal for businesses in the UK. And Chenelle was right in the thick of it. She explains how she developed a reputation for expertise in the space, and how working with these banks helped her understand how to systemise these businesses.   The ordered steps at the centre of Chenelle's faith It becomes abundantly clear in this chat that like Sope, Chenelle's faith is at the heart of all she does. She explains how she feels that her life is already decided and she's just showing up and continuing along the path. And as she explains, that belief, when you have it, enables you to live a life that others can only dream of...   Key leadership learning moments   01m15s - Young Chenelle and the dancing 04m31s - The fascination with fashion 09m01s - Moving into business finance and investments 18m00s - Chenelle's faith in her preordained path  35m00s - Bridging the gap as a life mission 37m15s - Big Audacious Goals and dealing with the overwhelm 41m50s - The journey with Cornerstone Partners 47m29s - What's next? 48m39s - How Chenelle defines leadership   Useful links and shout outs in the episode Cornerstone's website Chenelle's LinkedIn Chenelle's page on TechInvest Nell Consulting Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

You need to understand your pillars before you can build your personal brand... "I'm no longer going to prioritise other people's needs, want and desires over mine. I'm no longer going to allow people's voices to be heard when they're speaking their rubbish and crap about feeling attacked and me silence mine when that wasn't the case. ” - Tru Powell (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Tru Powell? In his own words, Tru is a multi-award winning creative entrepreneur, publicity coach and personal brand strategist passionate about supporting entrepreneurs cultivate their personal brands through the power of press and PR. Tru is also a proud father and husband whose family very much comes as a package deal in his brand. He's an activist as well as an advocate for the performing arts, and prides himself on helping others to reach their full potential. Tru speaks to the process of personal branding When it comes to personal branding, many don't truly understand what it actually means. Tru talks us through it in great detail, sharing his own experience with growing a strong personal brand, and the benefits of ensuring you do it the correct way, using authenticity at your core. After listening, you'll undoubtedly have a better understanding of how you should approach your brand, and what pillars you want to be known for!   The importance of understanding the difference between friends and acquaintances At one point in this conversation, Tru shares with Sope a story about a moment in which he learned who his true friends were. It's a story that many of us will probably find very relatable. After listening to it, you'll most likely feel more empowered to continue to lean into your truth, and the difference it can make for the wider community you're serving. Key leadership learning moments   01m30s - The come up as one of seven in Birmingham poverty 08m30s - Making a choice to overcome struggles 12m00s - Key lessons including patience 22m07s - How Tru's personal brand came to be  27m15s - Dealing with judgement 32m32s - Tru's advice on personal branding 38m23s - Tru's work in awards 41m44s - Platforming others 48m30s - Young kids and personal brands 51m31s - The status of the current singing career 52m54s - How Tru defines leadership   Useful links and shout outs in the episode Tru's website Tru's Twitter Marcus Rashford mural Key Person of Influence Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

You have to say yes to yourself before you say to yes to others... "Like, self love, self leadership, self observation, self value, self empowerment and it might sound like a lot of self, it kind of is, but it's really... I promise you, that is really not the ego. Well, the ego is involved in some ways. But I don't mean it in the sense of, like, be full of yourself. Although I do kind of mean it in the sense of being full of yourself, maybe capital S, self or soul or something that's synonymous with God or universe. But be full of that. Be full of that and lead yourself from that place..” - Akasha Saunders (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Akasha Saunders? In his own words, Akasha is a pilgrim, educator and coach who has over 10 years of professional experience. He brings a constructive developmental approach to fostering diversity in organizations as he works with them on increasing awareness for inclusion among all people of all genders. And especially among those from underprivileged backgrounds or whose voices haven't been heard before. Akasha shares his views on applying love and values in the leadership journey From listening to this conversation, you'll understand how important Akasha's immediate family has always been to him. From his childhood years growing up with his granny, and all the wisdom he learned from her and how she taught him all about manifestation and prayer. And then through his 'false start' accepting a career of working in  a bank which didn't sit right with his values. Interestingly, this was one of the main catalysts for his launch into leadership training.  Right up until meeting one of his most impactful ever teachers - his own teenager. This is a conversation that educates and inspires. Oh, and an explanation all around Sawubona! - I see you! Akasha says it's not 'one way or the highway' What's apparent in this conversation is Akasha's approach to cultivating leadership and talent, while respecting existing cultures. He demonstrates awareness of the differing approaches to challenges and how there is not one mould that must set the template for things.   Key leadership learning moments   02m28s - Young Akasha 06m04s - Culture and differences 16m24s - Saying 'yes' to yourself first 26m03s - Akasha's thoughts on approach to work and theory  30m36s - Steve Jobs and the five year old Akasha 34m26s - How parenting helped Akasha grow 49m08s - Future Akasha and what matters to him   Useful links and shout outs in the episode Akasha's website Akasha's LinkedIn   Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything  

The core fundamental that threads through Rani everyday... love. " ... you're the daughter of the owner of this company. You don't even have to work. What is your problem? I said, oh my goodness, look at how the world is. The world is already putting these notions on me that I'm supposed to be entitled. I'm supposed to piggyback off of somebody else's credit even though he's my dad. But what about me? What about the sense that I have earned a position or earned a level of earning or just to be proud of what skills and talents I may be given..” - Rani Puranik (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Rani Puranik? A selfless, caring and hard-working woman who inspires others with her dedication to making the world better one step at a time. Revati Puranik - or Rani as she's known in India - is an absolute entrepreneur success story. Yet she also knows how important it can be for underprivileged kids to have access to education too, so they don't fall behind their peers. It can be challenging when society sees them only coming from disadvantaged homes due lack of resources, and has nothing to do with talent! Rani shares her honest thoughts as someone who turned her back on entitlement As you will hear from the conversation, Rani didn't have to do any of the things she's done in her life and career. She was set. But her determination to turn her back on entitlement makes her such a strong powerful force in the world. And it's little wonder she's so admired and respected. Rani's book "7 Letters To My Daughters" is literally a book of lessons around love, leadership and legacy. You can buy the book here: https://www.ranipuranik.com/seven-letters-to-my-daughters-book/ In this episode, you'll get a real taster of the book's contents as Rani talks all about her experience moving between Houston and India.  She shares some impactful wisdom around culture, why Winnie The Pooh is a 'Zen master' and even some advice on how to demonstrate empathetic leadership.   Key leadership learning moments   01m17s - Rani's story 11m09s - Younger Rani between the US and India  18m10s - Rani's return to the US and her reinvention 24m29s - Rani's biggest test - letting go 28m31s - How Rani manages to stay focused on her journey 34m16s - The challenges Rani's had to navigate around people and cultures 45m06s - Overcoming challenges over not leaning into entitlement 52m56s - How Rani defines leadership   Useful links and shout outs in the episode Rani's book  Rani's website Worldwide Oilfield Machine website   Follow the podcast   If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter  Email: hello@mindsetshift.co.uk I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything