Fifth Dimensional Leadership

Latest Episodes:

The Future of Work: 5 Leadership Essentials - Part I Sep 10, 2021

Show notes

Today I am joined by my co-host and collaborator, Jackson Best, to take a deep dive into the future of work!

In our conversation together, we are exploring three (out of five) of our must-have qualities that leaders should have as they are leading their organizations, teams, and employees through and beyond the pandemic. More than ever before, we have an opportunity to rethink and rework the old ways of how we operate within organizations. If there has been a silver lining to this pandemic, it is the opportunity to change how we have always done things in the workplace going forward and make real, impactful change.

In this episode, Jackson and I discuss the important mindset shifts and behaviors that leaders need to begin adopting if they want things to change; what leaders can do to move their organizations through and beyond the pandemic; how to lead in a clear-minded, empathetic, and compassionate way; why mental health and consciousness are critical components to communicating with care as a leader; and the essential ingredients for leaders to lead effectively.

And be sure to tune in next week, for part two of this episode as we explore the final two must-haves for leaders!

Key Takeaways:

[:50] About today's episode with Jackson Best.

[2:18] Welcoming Jackson back to the podcast!

[3:13] More about today's conversation.

[4:24] Jackson and I catch up with one another!

[9:26] The 1st must-have for leaders as we come out of the pandemic: leading with mental health and consciousness first.

[13:35] How we are seeing leaders modeling behaviors of empathy and compassion.

[14:25] What you can do as a leader to expand your awareness and consciousness.

[18:38] Surviving vs. Thriving and the impact it has on you and your organization.

[20:13] Reading an important quote from Steve Jobs: 'I began to realize that an intuitive understanding and consciousness was more significant than abstract thinking and intellectual, logical analysis. Intuition is a very powerful thing. More powerful than intellect in my opinion.'

[21:39] Our 2nd must-have for leaders: being decisive.

[25:49] The importance of having integrity and accountability as a leader.

[26:56] The impact that indecision has on our employees, especially those that are underrepresented.

[30:44] Why this is currently a rare opportunity for businesses and leaders to bring in innovative voices.

[32:52] Now is the time to address the cracks in your organization as a leader.

[36:30] Our 3rd must-have for leaders: communicating with care.

[38:26] The art of storytelling and why it is so critical for leaders to master.

[39:00] Why effective communication is a signal of respect for your audience.

[40:00] Why it is important that the next generation of leaders must be able to assimilate multiple information streams and quickly pivot and adapt their message to the audience.

[43:05] Why it is so critical as a leader to be in tune and conscious of what's going on around you and within you to show up in an authentic, meaningful way.

[46:03] The value of apprenticeship.

[47:03] Summarizing our three key must-haves.

[48:14] Be sure to tune in to the next episode to find out our final two must-haves!

Mentioned in this Episode:

A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, by Daniel H. Pink

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages. Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management. Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

Creating Dreams for the Next Generation: Yvonne Wassenaar, CEO of Puppet Aug 27, 2021

Show notes

Today we are joined by another fascinating guest — Yvonne Wassenaar!

For the last 30 years, Yvonne has advised leaders on scaling, diversifying, and transforming their businesses globally. Currently, she is the CEO of Puppet; an infrastructure automation company that is eliminating soul-crushing work and empowering fearless and open innovation! Yvonne is also on the Board of Directors for Anaplan, Forrester (FORR), and Harvey Mudd College. Previously, she served as a Board Director for Airware, MuleSoft, Bitium, and the Athena Alliance. Some of her past executive roles include being the COO and CEO of Airware, CIO of New Relic, Office of the CXO at VMWare, and a Partner at Accenture where she began her career as a Software Engineer.

Above all else, Yvonne champions modern technologies for driving a safer, more efficient, and innovative planet. In today's conversation, Yvonne shares her passion for modern technology (and the diversity we need to be seeing in the leadership roles behind it), lessons she learned over the course of the COVID pandemic, advice and insights around taking risks and nurturing your network, and all about her incredible career journey.

Key Takeaways:

[:50] About today's episode with Yvonne Wassenaar.

[1:48] Welcoming Yvonne to the podcast.

[2:00] Yvonne shares about her career journey and what led her to where she is today.

[9:27] Yvonne shares about the challenging career transition of going from professional services to being an operator.

[16:42] All about Puppet, the company that Yvonne is the CEO of.

[20:44] What Yvonne learned about herself during the COVID pandemic.

[26:42] Yvonne highlights some important changes that she wants to see for women in tech and diversity in the workplace in general.

[31:36] Why Yvonne's service on Corporate Boards is important to her and her company.

[34:58] Yvonne shares some final words of wisdom for listeners on the theme of taking risks and nurturing your network.

[37:24] Thanking Yvonne for joining the podcast and sharing her invaluable insights!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Puppet

Yvonne Wassenaar's LinkedIn

Anaplan

Forrester (FORR)

Harvey Mudd College

Career Mapping: Charting Your Course in the New World of Work, by Ginny Clarke

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages. Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

On a Mission to Close the Gender Pay Gap: Meggie Palmer, Founder, PepTalkHer Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

Today I am joined by a woman with an incredible mission — Meggie Palmer! Meggie's mission is to close the gender pay gap and leadership gap.

Meggie is a speaker, journalist, and the founder and CEO of PepTalkHer; an incredible organization that is empowering women all around the globe. They run corporate programming to help with learning and development training, helping women supercharge their careers through online courses, and more. They also have an amazing app that helps female entrepreneurs track success, build confidence, and better negotiate. Throughout her career, Meggie has worked for the likes of Vogue, Forbes, Marie Claire, BBC World, CNBC, Dateline, and NBC — just to name a few!

In today's conversation, Meggie addresses the gender pay gap, what causes it, and what we can do about it. She shares personal stories from her own career, the key challenges she has overcome, the lessons she has learned, and enlightening moments of overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Meggie also gives advice around social media (and not let it negatively impact your psyche), how to become aware of imposter syndrome (in both yourself and others), and how to take courageous leaps of faith in your career.

Key Takeaways:

[:50] About today's episode with Meggie Palmer!

[1:40] Welcoming Meggie to the podcast.

[1:50] What Meggie is doing now, what brought her to the place she is today, and why she transitioned from a career in journalism to entrepreneurship.

[5:08] The impact of the gender pay gap and what causes it.

[8:13] How Meggie's app, PepTalkHer, addresses the gender pay gap and helps aid women in having these difficult conversations around pay and gender bias.

[13:25] Meggie outlines the best way to address these issues around the gender pay gap.

[17:35] Meggie shares a personal story on her experience with imposter syndrome and it was an enlightening moment in overcoming self-doubts.

[25:00] The rise of social media and the impact it has on comparing yourself to others.

[26:03] From journalism to entrepreneurship from an employee to an employer and leader.

[29:40] Meggie's advice on how to combat negative self-talk.

[32:55] How to stay top of mind in your company's management or leadership through the method of the 'FYI only' email.

[36:16] Why it is important to be aware of imposter syndrome (even if you don't experience it yourself).

[37:17] Meggie highlights other important aspects of imposter syndrome.

[38:23] Skills and competencies that Meggie has developed as an entrepreneur, a leader, and an advocate for the people that she's seeking to serve.

[43:20] Meggie's words of wisdom and encouragement for listeners of Fifth Dimensional Leadership.

[45:58] Thanking Meggie for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Meggie Palmer

PepTalkHer

Career Level Up | PepTalkHer

16Personalities

Gallup StrengthsFinder

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages. Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

Nothing is Impossible: Diplomacy, Leadership, and Acceptance with Ted Osius Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

Today I am joined by an incredibly fascinating guest, Ted Osius. Ted is a retired Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. He spent many years with the Department of State and is known as a diplomat. He is a professor, author, and most recently, was the Google Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Asia-Pacific.

Ted has an underlying belief that international diplomacy can create a better world which has fueled his passion throughout his career. In this episode, he shares stories that illustrate this belief, takes us through the journey of his illustrious career, catches us up to the current state of affairs with Vietnam, and details about his upcoming book, Nothing is Impossible: America's Reconciliation with Vietnam.

Ted also speaks about the critical component to being a great leader, the qualities that make a great diplomat, how his leadership style has evolved over the years, his experience in transitioning from a career as a public servant to working for a technology company, how to build a culture of inclusion, and advice for fellow leaders looking to make waves.

"That's the art of diplomacy; it's taking what you've learned and creating action that brings people together." — Ted Osius

Key Takeaways:

[:50] About today's episode with Ted Osius.

[1:33] Welcoming Ted to the podcast!

[1:44] What led Ted to become a diplomat.

[3:02] How did Ted get his start in working for the government?

[5:23] About Ted's upcoming book, Nothing is Impossible, where to find it outline, and when it will be available.

[8:48] Ted brings listeners up to speed on Vietnam and how the country is currently fairing socially, economically, and politically.

[12:20] Ted defines diplomacy and elaborates on his underlying belief that international diplomacy can create a better world.

[15:17] When did Ted consider himself a leader?

[18:22] Ted shares about his transition from working as a public servant for the government to working with Google.

[21:43] Has Ted's leadership style evolved throughout his career? If so, how?

[24:17] What does it really mean to "have someone's back" as a leader? What does that look like?

[27:34] Why trust and safety are so essential in building a culture of inclusion.

[28:46] Ted's thoughts on the role of a parent in a child's life and his own experience with being home with his family during COVID and what that meant to him.

[31:10] Ted's journey as a gay man, in an interracial marriage, working in countries that may not have the same views that we do in the United States.

[37:33] Ted's words of wisdom and inspiration for listeners of the podcast.

[39:46] Thanking Ted for joining the podcast and sharing his incredible insights!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Ted Osius

Fifth Dimensional Leadership Ep. 9: "Talking Tough Love and Leadership with Ambassador Susan Rice"

Nothing is Impossible: America's Reconciliation with Vietnam, by Ted Osius

Pete Peterson

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages. Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues with Carole Robin Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

Today, we are joined by an extraordinary woman who has written an extraordinary book!

Carole Robin was the Dorothy J. King Lecturer in Leadership at Stanford's Graduate School of Business where she helped to further develop the Interpersonal Dynamics Course including co-developing the Executive version. She also became the Director of the Arbuckle Leadership Fellows Program. Carole is known as the Queen of 'Touchy Feely,' and received the MBA Distinguished Teaching Award and the Silver Apple award for contributions to alumni programming. When she retired in 2017, a scholarship was established in her name.

In our conversation, Carole speaks about what makes an exceptional leader; key takeaways from her book, Connect; how to strengthen your interpersonal relationships; give (and receive) better feedback; why interpersonal skills are so incredibly important and impactful in all areas of your life (from your home to your workplace); and how you can take charge as a leader. Carole provides so many incredible insights in this episode that are not to be missed.

Key Takeaways:

[:50] About today's episode with Carole Robin!

[2:00] Welcoming Carole to the podcast!

[3:03] Carole shares her personal and professional journey, as well as one of the biggest epiphanies she ever had.

[16:25] Bringing us to the present day, Carole speaks about starting up Leaders in Tech, a 1-year, all expenses paid program for leaders of high-growth tech companies.

[18:46] How Carole and her collaborator, David Bradford, came together to write their book, Connect.

[21:45] Carole explains her favorite acronym: AFOG (Another F*cking Opportunity Growth).

[25:30] Carole shares the main mission and purpose that their book aims to address.

[29:18] What to do if you really want to learn how to connect with somebody else.

[32:30] The biggest takeaway that leaders can take away from Connect.

[32:55] Why it is so hard to stand up for yourself and your team, why we experience bad outcomes, how to better receive feedback, and how to give more effective feedback.

[37:27] Why are organizations not holding leaders accountable for giving and receiving feedback? What does it look like when organizations do work toward building a healthy culture? Why is feedback so incredibly beneficial to creating a healthy culture?

[42:35] Why it is incumbent on leaders to start the dialogue around giving and receiving feedback.

[44:03] Carole's take on why the DEI conversation seems to be lost in translation for so many companies and what we can do better to begin this conversation in the workplace.

[47:19] Carole shares a lesson and story from her book, Connect, on why every relationship cannot get to 'exceptional,' even if you may want it to.

[50:09] Did Carole's relationship with her mother fuel her passion around her work in interpersonal relationships?

[51:35] Carole shares parting thoughts and words of wisdom for listeners on being a good leader and building interpersonal relationships.

[52:17] Where to find Carole and her book online!

[53:12] Thanking Carole for joining the podcast.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues, by David Bradford and Carole Robin

Carole Robin's LinkedIn

Leaders in Tech

ConnectandRelate.com — Visit for a free assessment, free resources, and to order Carole's book!

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages. Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

Yet another amazing guest is joining Ginny Clarke this week! Rishad Tobaccowala is an advisor, author, educator, and speaker with four decades of leadership experience in change, innovation, and reinvention. He has been named as one of the top five marketing innovators by Time and also serves as a thought provocateur, pragmatic guide, and empathetic advisor to those in senior management.

His newest book came out just this last year and is called, Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data. It is an absolute must-read on what every organization can and should be implementing in this day and age.

In this conversation, Rishad speaks about how the hidden key to successful transformation in any organization lies between human intuition and data-driven insights; shares his stories of transitioning, pivoting, and adapting; important lessons from his new book; and his advice to both senior leaders and Gen Zrs alike on what they can do to build their personal brand and claim agency.

Key Takeaways:

[:50] About today's episode with Rishad Tobaccowala.

[1:30] Ginny welcomes Rishad to the podcast!

[1:40] How Ginny became acquainted with Rishad.

[2:00] Rishad shares about his background in India, how he got to where he is today, and how he came to write his book, Restoring the Soul of Business.

[8:00] Where does Rishad get the inspiration for his thought pieces? What goes into writing them?

[11:29] About Rishad's incredible foundation, The Tobaccowala Foundation.

[16:16] Rishad shares about his 40-year career in a multi-faceted business.

[20:27] The main mission and vision of Rishad's book, its key lessons, and what separates it from other business books.

[23:44] Rishad highlights key lessons from chapter 7 on the themes of mastery, autonomy, purpose, and talent.

[28:49] How Rishad's book speaks to COVID.

[31:15] Rishad explains what it means to have a personal brand and what is really underneath 'the hood' of someone's brand.

[36:29] How reputation comes into play with your brand.

[37:25] Rishad's advice for millennials and gen Zers for building their personal brand and claim agency.

[43:21] What Rishad is seeing for the future of returning to work post-COVID.

[53:23] Where to find Rishad online.

[54:43] Ginny thanks Rishad for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Rishad Tobaccowala

The Tobaccowa Foundation

Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data, by Rishad Tobaccowala

Daniel Pink Rishad.Substack.com

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages. Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

Swagger: Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want with Leslie Ehm Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

Today I am joined by yet another amazing guest — Leslie Ehm! Leslie is a former TV host and advertising Creative Director. She has spent decades with her award-winning training company, Combustion, where she has worked with top organizations including Google, TD Bank, Uber, HBO, and many more. Leslie's mission in life is to help people unleash their most powerful, authentic human self and help them overcome any doubts standing in their way.

Most recently, Leslie has written a book called, Swagger: Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want. It was just published in May of this year and is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon #1 Bestseller! If you have struggled with taking charge of your life, overcoming self-doubts, and moving into your personal power to achieve the incredible success that you've only dreamed of — you won't want to miss out on this insightful conversation with Leslie!

Leslie shares the keys to swagger, what it looks like to speak your truth in a meaningful and impactful way, how to maintain your swagger even if your environment is working against you, the mindset shifts leaders need to be aware of to lead in a healthy way, how to take your power back, set boundaries, and the defining characteristics of what make a great leader.

Key Takeaways:

[:50] About today's episode with Leslie Ehm.

[1:56] Welcoming Leslie Ehm to Fifth Dimensional Leadership.

[2:49] Leslie shares her personal and professional journey.

[9:42] Leslie speaks about discovering her superpowers and how she leverages them.

[11:37] How does Leslie coach or help those who are not ready to show up as themselves or 'be seen?'

[14:40] How did Leslie land on the word 'swagger' for her book?

[16:50] Leslie shares an anecdote from her book, Swagger, on what it can look like to speak your truth.

[19:56] How Leslie helps people maintain their swagger when they have to return to their not-so-healthy work environment.

[25:33] Are there differences in how swagger is displayed depending on a person's gender?

[29:37] Why it is so important that leaders within organizations build trust with those they work with.

[32:38] Has COVID shifted the mindsets of senior leaders around reassessing how people are doing work?

[36:04] Will the lessons we've learned and the new ways of working we've adapted to during COVID stick?

[37:32] Discussing our hopes for organizations in reassessing the criteria for which they're hiring leaders.

[39:44] The power in realizing the choice that you have.

[40:24] Leslie highlights key takeaways in taking your power back, believing in yourself, and setting healthy boundaries.

[41:47] Is 'badass' and 'swagger' synonymous?

[44:27] Leslie's analogy for validation and the difference between external vs. international validation.

[49:29] What Leslie believes to be the single defining characteristic of a great leader.

[52:08] Leslie leaves some parting words of wisdom for listeners.

[53:35] Why it's not about being your "best self" but falling in love with who you are — flaws and all.

[54:10] Thanking Leslie for joining the podcast and sharing her insights!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Leslie Ehm

Swagger: Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want, by Leslie Ehm

Combustion

The Self-Employed Life: Business and Personal Development Strategies That Create Sustainable Success, by Jeffrey Shaw

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke

Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages.

Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management

Stay Connected!

To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com

Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

Lessons from a Bully Boss: Leadership Behavior and the Bottom Line with Jay Guilford Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

Jay Guilford has a very interesting background. He once worked with a bunch of clowns — literally. A few years ago, he ran away with Cirque du Soleil where he created their corporate training program called Spark. With Spark, Jay challenged corporate leaders to collaborate, communicate, and tap into their creative potential by working with Cirque performers on Cirque du Soleil stages!

Jay considers himself a cultural refugee, having migrated from the inner city to the ivy league. After sparking (pun-intended) the creative insights of many corporate teams at Cirque, Jay ran away once again to found CoWorks Leadership Strategists, a consulting firm specializing in leadership training, team building, and talent optimization.

As a former and reformed 'bully boss,' Jay personally understands how a leader can slide down the slippery slope of workplace toxicity — which is the focus of today's episode! Jay shares how to begin addressing and remedying a toxic workplace as a leader, personal experiences and lessons learned from both sides of the coin of workplace bullying, and the importance of taking swift action when it comes to a hostile workplace environment.

Key Takeaways:

[:50] Welcoming Jay Guilford to the podcast!

[1:07] About Jay Guilford.

[2:38] Jay shares what got him started on the path that has led him to where he is today.

[4:58] How did Jay earn the title 'the Boss whisperer?'

[7:57] How did Jay make the connection between a contemporary circus and corporate training events? How did he come up with the idea for Spark?

[11:11] Jay defines workplace toxicity and outlines what the behaviors look like.

[15:52] How to begin addressing and remedying a toxic workplace.

[18:52] The importance of taking swift action when it comes to a toxic workplace.

[21:54] Jay shares his experiences of being bullied in his workplace, what he learned from it, and how he addressed it head-on.

[26:37] Sharing a personal experience of workplace hostility, what it taught me, and how I addressed it.

[28:14] The importance of setting boundaries in the workplace (especially with those higher up in the hierarchy).

[28:50] Jay shares his experience as a former (and reformed) bully boss and how he came to realize he was part of the problem.

[32:22] Jay speaks to the five dimensions of leadership and shares what he believes are the most important qualities of a leader.

[35:08] Jay shares some final words of wisdom for leaders in 2021.

[38:02] Should you call out toxic behavior in the workplace? Jay offers some tips and advice to leaders on addressing a toxic work environment.

[39:02] Giving thanks to Jay for joining the podcast!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Jay Guilford

Cirque du Soleil

CoWorks Leadership Strategists

Fifth Dimensional Leadership Ep. 23: "'The Attributes:' Leadership Lessons from Former Navy SEAL, Rich Diviney"

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages. Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

From 'I' to 'We:' Strengthening & Empowering Your Team as a Leader with Jason Fischer of UL Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

Another Fifth Dimensional Leadership episode, another fantastic guest! Today we are joined by an extraordinary leader, Jason Fischer; the President of Enterprise and Advisory at UL. Jason leads UL's SaaS and Advisory business, connecting data and science to protect customer value chains by enhancing product quality, optimizing supply chains, and advancing enterprise sustainability.

As a global organization, UL works to help customers, purchasers, and policymakers navigate market risk and complexity. They build trust in the safety, security, and sustainability of products, organizations, and supply chains — enabling smarter choices and better lives.

In this episode, Jason Fischer shares about his career background, UL, how he has evolved as a leader over the years, how he has been deliberate in his learning, and key lessons he has learned in establishing himself as a leader. He also shares his leadership philosophy, what a day for him and his team looks like at UL, invaluable leadership advice, his hopes and predictions for the future, and how he helps foster an organizational culture that allows people to speak their truth.

Key Takeaways:

[:50] About today's episode with Jason Fischer.

[1:28] Welcoming Jason to the podcast!

[1:52] Jason explains his role at UL.

[2:53] The history of UL and how it has evolved over the years.

[5:42] Jason shares where UL is headed overall as a company.

[7:39] Jason speaks about his career background, the lessons he has learned, and how he made his way to UL.

[10:58] The importance of the apprenticeship model and how it accelerates learning and growth.

[13:47] What Jason has learned as a leader and how he established himself as a leader.

[16:39] Jason speaks about the tendencies (or triggers) that have steered him off course and how he got himself back on track. He also gives advice to fellow leaders who may have found themselves also steered off course.

[19:38] The importance of understanding your team dynamic to create a well-balanced team.

[22:03] One of the five dimensions of leadership is 'speak your truth.' How does Jason, as a leader, foster an organizational culture that allows people to speak their truth?

[25:00] Jason shares his leadership philosophy.

[26:46] What is on the horizon for UL as a global organization? What does Jason see happening in the next five years?

[28:15] Jason explains the various elements of the supply chain.

[30:22] Jason speaks about his and his team's day-to-day at UL, as well as the importance of investing in your team and pushing your comfort zone.

[34:37] What are the capabilities that Jason looks for in other leaders? What qualities does he want as a part of his team? And will these skills be different five years from now than they are today?

[36:42] Jason shares his hopes for the future when it comes to technology advancing paired with the uniquely human skills (of emotions and subjectivity).

[38:17] Jason's parting thoughts, wisdom, advice, and hope to fellow leaders.

[39:38] Thanking Jason for joining us today!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Jason Fischer's LinkedIn

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages. Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

"The Attributes:" Leadership Lessons from former Navy SEAL, Rich Diviney Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

Today we are joined by yet another fascinating guest, Rich Diviney! Rich is a retired Navy SEAL commander with over 20+ years of experience. He has completed more than 13 overseas deployments, 11 of which were to Iraq and Afghanistan. As the officer in charge of training for a specialized command, he spearheaded the creation of a directorate that fused physical, mental, and emotional disciplines. He led a small team first-ever "Mind Gym" that helped special operators train their brains to perform faster, longer, and better in all environments — especially high-stress ones. Since his retirement in early 2017, Rich has worked as a speaker, facilitator, and consultant with the Chapman & Co. Leadership Institute and Simon Sinek Inc. He's taught about leadership and optimal performance to more than five thousand business, athletic, and military leaders from organizations such as American Airlines, Meijer Inc., the San Francisco 49ers, Pegasystems, Zoom, and Deloitte.

Recently, Rich wrote the book, The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance, which came out in January 2021. In it, he defines the core attributes that determine how resilient, perseverant, situationally aware, and conscientious we are. These attributes explain how we performed as individuals and as part of a team.

In our conversation together today, Rich explains what these attributes are, how understanding your own attributes (and those of the people around you) can create optimal performance in all areas of your life, the difference between peak performance and optimal performance, the key characteristics of a great leader, and the most important attributes to assess when hiring for leadership positions.

Key Takeaways:

[:50] About today's episode with Rich Diviney!

[2:35] Rich defines what he means when he says 'attributes'.

[4:41] How and why Rich became interested in discerning what these core attributes are throughout his military career.

[9:56] Rich expands on a sentiment from his book: "Leadership is a behavior. A leader is responsible for the development, growth, and success of the people in their charge."

[11:30] How to determine if a behavior is a skill or an attribute — and why that's important.

[12:39] The key differences between peak performance and optimal performance.

[16:27] Is grit the same as resilience?

[17:21] How companies are adapting their hiring criteria to understand and assess these core attributes.

[22:55] The differences between competencies and attributes, and what Rich means by 'unconsciously competent.'

[25:22] Rich elaborates on how important it is to evaluate someone's domain expertise as well as their leadership competencies when considering having them take on a leadership role.

[31:01] What is 'unconscious competence?' And the four levels of learning.

[33:55] Why Rich sees authenticity as the single most-defining characteristic or attribute of a great leader.

[37:38] What I see as the most important attribute when I'm assessing leaders: self-awareness.

[38:00] Why narcissism isn't entirely bad and can actually be a driver to optimal performance.

[42:39] Key characteristics that are especially important now amongst leaders in this COVID era.

[46:07] What Rich sees as the biggest impediments to companies not hiring underrepresented individuals into their organization.

[50:01] What Rich wants to continue to learn and experience to enhance his mastery.

[52:47] Thanking Rich Diviney for joining us in this episode and where to find him and his book online!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Rich Diviney

The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance, by Rich Diviney

Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages. Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Fifth Dimensional Leadership

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected