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Exploring Cross-Cultural Influences in Learning and Leadership with Daniela Sebova, EdD, Leadership Consultant and Coach

Daniela-Sebova (1)

One might imagine significant differences in how people learn across different global cultures. That was the starting point for Laura’s conversation with Daniela Sebova, who completed her doctoral work earlier this year having researched that very question. Interestingly, we share more similarities than we might think.

Daniela set out to discover what it was in a learning experience that actually created a mental shift – a noticeable change in our mental models and mindsets – making the learning both meaningful and memorable. Her research was thorough, involving a global company with locations and employees in North America and Southeast Asia. She conducted interviews, observed training experiences, and tested theories.

Along the way, she was reminded of how we have to get out of our comfort zones in order to learn and grow, willingness to be vulnerable requires a sense of psychological safety, and if we are willing to truly engage in meaningful conversations, we can shift our thinking and come together to connect and create something larger than ourselves.

Listen in to discover what she learned and how you can apply it in your life and work.

Daniela’s Bio

Daniela is the founder of Agilita Global, a leadership consulting company. Agilita Global provides leadership consulting and coaching services to help organizations and individuals assess, develop, and leverage their leadership capacity. AG’s services are based on the concept of Functional Leadership Development™.

Daniela developed the concept of Functional Leadership Development™ based on
extensive research of the leadership construct, leadership development, and transformational learning. By applying a functional approach to leadership development, she helps her clients unlock the leadership capacity in themselves and in their organizations.

Daniela holds BA in Political Science from Purdue University, MSc in International Banking and Financial Studies from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, and a Doctorate in Education in Organizational Leadership Studies from Northeastern University. Her doctoral research was focused on understanding the process and the outcomes of leadership development programs in global contexts.

Originally from Slovakia, Daniela has lived, studied and worked internationally and considers herself to be a global citizen. She is passionate about building “bridges” between people in her personal and professional life, understanding that while we are all unique, at the core, we are much the same regardless of where we come from. Daniela loves to travel and explore new places, but one of her favorite places is her home country of Slovakia where all her family still lives.

Connect with Daniela:

Daniela on LinkedIn

Agilita Global

Daniela on Facebook

By phone: (704) 942-5665

By email

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Do You Have the Audacity to Assume You Can be Happy and Authentic in the Workplace? Deep questions with Jeff Munn, Executive Leadership Coach

Jeff-Munn

While Jeff poses that very question at a later point in today’s conversation, first Jeff and Laura explore one of the more common threads of discussion around leadership, which starts with the fundamental question: What’s the difference between management and leadership? Today’s conversation dives in with this and an insightful discussion about the activities, tasks, nuances, and expectations for leaders unfolds as Jeff and Laura explore and share their ideas and experiences.

As Jeff has depth of expertise and experience working with CEOs in Healthcare start-ups, the two also dig into the struggles many entrepreneurs face, and both work through with their respective clients – the truth that sometimes the creative genius that conceives and idea for a product, service, or enterprise is not the person who is actually best equipped to carry that idea forward and build a solid, thriving business around.

It’s important to recognize one’s unique gifts, strengths, and contributions… to do the work only you can do in whatever enterprise you’re engaged in, and know that sometimes the best next thing you can do is hand it off to someone else to manage the day to day, or do the marketing and promotion that will allow your creation to shine in the marketplace. This is a tough realization for many, and others understand it intuitively.

Jeff shares some of the questions he asks his clients to allow them to work through their own thinking with greater clarity about what roles they play, how they want to show up in those roles, what others need or want from them. Truly, this is the fundamental work for all of us, and crucial to effective, powerful leadership.

Laura and Jeff discuss life, work, authenticity, Lego, stress-relieving practices, and much more on today’s episode.

Jeff’s Bio

Before becoming a full-time coach and consultant, Jeff spent over 25 years working for some of the most innovative organizations in health care, financial services and employee benefits as both a lawyer and executive. He started out as a hard-charging law firm lawyer and chronic overachiever who had to be the smartest and most accomplished person in the room.

Jeff recognized he needed to change when a series of panic attacks threatened to derail him. In the mid-90s, he began to practice meditation, and later yoga, as a way to cope more effectively with his high stress career. As his practices began to take root, he began a path of deep psychospiritual study that continues to this day.

Jeff discovered to his great surprise that his stress nearly vanished as he got more present.
He also saw that as he let go of his need to be the smartest person in the room, the people he led somehow became more responsive and capable! As he continued to work on his own development, he dedicated himself to learning to teach others the leadership skills that he had considered innate (and at one point, beyond him). His Creating Extraordinary Futures process
is the culmination of his learning thus far.

Jeff has worked personally with internationally known spiritual teachers and coaches such as Peter Fenner, Jack Pransky, Rich Litvin, and Doug Silsbee. He is a Certified Presence-BasedTM Coach and has been awarded ACC certification with the International Coach Federation.

After 13 years in Chicago and almost two decades in Washington, DC, Jeff now lives near Aspen, CO, with his wife and family.

Connect with Jeff and Other Resources:

Jeff Munn Online

Jeff on LinkedIn

Understand Your Builder Profile

Connect with Laura to Understand Your Builder Profile!

The Art of the Brick – Nathan Sawaya

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Healthy Employee Engagement is Not Rocket Science! 4 Pillars of Engagement with The Leading Authority on Execution, David T Williams

David-Williams

While trust and engagement are crucial to any enterprise in the best of times, at the time of this episode’s recording (March 2020), the world is struggling to deal with the COVID-19 virus, and these foundations of business and relationships are truly being tested beyond the norm.

David and Laura enjoy an insightful, engaging, and laughter-filled conversation about principle-centered leadership and employee engagement. Each share stories of companies they’ve worked with whose values – both good and less-than-desirable – are on full display in how they treat employees, their communities, and even how they engage with suppliers.

David outlines the 4 Pillars of Engagement as taught and implemented through Blaze Performance Systems when working with clients: Feeling Valued, Connected, Understanding Contribution, and Growing.

David and Laura also discuss the most common waste in business: Human Talent.

You can tell the two are in their element in this episode, as they speak from years of experience, with insight, wisdom, and obvious joy in the work they get to do with companies large and small, near and far.

David’s Bio

David is an achievement-oriented professional with extensive experience in organizational development, operations management, and human resources. He has served as a Business Owner, Executive, and Leader at some of the world’s best organizations. He received his undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Human Resources Management from Liberty University and also holds a Master’s in Philosophy.

David is the co-author of the new book “The 3 Keys of Execution. Simple Ideas. Extraordinary Results,” which was recently listed #6 on INC’s Summer Must-Read Books list. He has worked in the Execution space for 15 years with organizations as diverse as Wal-Mart, Toyota, Samsung, Marriott, Clayton Homes, and HCA. Thousands of people have been touched by David’s ability to help them grow and improve their results.

David maintains a close relationship with virtually all of the clients he was worked with over the years. Organizations, when engaging David, will see immediate results.

David will be quick to tell you, there is no such thing as a former Marine. David overcame a life-threatening spinal injury while serving in the Marines and he has a love for veterans, which is motivating and contagious. He is always going out of his way to serve those who have served and spends a lot of his free time volunteering in Veteran’s homes and in the local VA Hospital.

Another thing you will find when working with David is his contagious laugh. David has an innate ability to connect with all levels in an organization and it all begins with his smile. He gets people and he is a master at getting results.

For More:

Blaze Performance Solutions
David on LinkedIn
3 Keys of Execution Book

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