Finding Brave

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "You don't have to be amazing. You don't have to put on this face like everything is great, and make it sound like it's easy. You just have to keep going. Crawling is fine, because eventually you'll get back up." - Rachel Mushahwar Are you a female leader who feels compelled to make a broader impact? We all have visions for what we want in life, but what do we do to create them and bring them into reality? Today's Finding Brave guest has a burning desire to fulfill her mission to make the world a much better place than how she found it, but her journey hasn't been without its challenges or struggles. In this episode, she shares her remarkable story and how as an executive for the world's largest online retailer, she has set out to create high-performing work environments where all employees feel represented, respected, valued and empowered. Rachel Mushahwar is the Head of North America Partner Sales at Amazon Web Services, leading an organization that leverages Partners to accelerate growth, drive innovation, and shape the future using AWS technology. She has 25 years of experience developing, implementing and selling technology, working at companies including Intel Corporation, PetSmart, DHL and American Express, among others. She got her start as an award-winning engineer in heavy highway construction, igniting a passion to utilize technology to make things simpler and change outcomes in a meaningful way. From there she went on to pursue computer programming and began an enterprise IT journey that took her around the world building data centers. Along the way, she realized her skillset was better suited to solving customer problems than writing code, and she pivoted to leading billion-dollar sales and marketing organizations, developing the vision and strategy to ensure her companies' technology kept pace with evolving market and organizational demands. Rachel is deeply committed to inclusivity, diversity and equity, and believes in creating high-performing work environments where all employees feel represented, respected, valued and empowered. She is an active supporter of STEM education programs and an advocate for providing the next-up generations with opportunities to build the future we all want to live in. In this wide-ranging conversation, Rachel shares what it's really like to balance raising 4 children with having a fast-paced career, and as you'll hear, inspiration isn't enough to make your visions a reality. She is someone who boldly chose not to pursue a life that is for someone else, and in the process, is successfully manifesting her best future self. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmushahwar/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "We have been told to [eat and exercise] a certain way and you do it right or not at all. It is that mindset that really derails people, and The Joy Choice is the antidote to that." - Michelle Segar Most of the healthy eating and exercise programs, plans, and strategies that we've been taught as "correct" simply do not work in the noisy, busy, and always-changing world we find ourselves in right now. Today's Finding Brave guest believes that it's time for a new story of behavior change, and this time, one with a happy ending! Michelle Segar is an award-winning scientist at the University of Michigan with nearly thirty years studying how to help people adopt healthy behaviors in ways that can survive the complexity and unpredictability of the real world. In her latest book, The Joy Choice: How to Finally Achieve Lasting Changes in Eating and Exercise, Michelle explains that much of what we've been taught about changing our behavior is simplistic, outdated and misguided for many of us. She shares a fresh, joyful, brain-based solution that breaks the rules of behavior change so we can finally change our behavior for good. If your life tends to be chaotic, you need behavioral change strategies that can work with this reality rather than against it, and I love that what Michelle shares is not only based in scientific research but is also practical and doable and can be applied to our everyday lives. Today's episode serves as a short masterclass on how to adopt a new framework around eating and exercise, to finally change our behaviors for good! To learn about today's guest, visit: https://michellesegar.com/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "Oftentimes, we hear people saying that they're inviting everyone and everyone can input their own opinion. That's great, that's a start, but that doesn't actually necessarily mean belonging. When you invite them, what happens when they get there? What's their experience? That's belonging." - Rumeet Billan New research shows that almost half of employed Americans are thinking about leaving their current jobs. Those who are considering making a switch are less likely to feel a sense of belonging in their current workplace, which is most often associated with being treated fairly and respectfully. Today's Finding Brave expert guest has conducted extensive research to show that belonging is good for business, and how there are multiple opportunities for leaders and employees at all levels to drive a sense of belonging for all members of the organization. Dr. Rumeet Billan is an award-winning, internationally recognized entrepreneur, researcher, speaker, and expert on psychological capital. Her mission is to transform workplace cultures through research, training, and experiences that enable trust, foster belonging, and build resilience. The work that Rumeet is doing is so important, because greater awareness always equals greater choice. If you're not aware of the things she reveals today, you can't possibly change them. Belonging first starts with self-awareness, and both Rumeet and I hope that you feel inspired by this episode to expand your own understanding of what belonging really is and how to build a culture that supports it. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.rumeetbillan.com/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "If you're talking to the same people, you are going to get the same answer. If you've got the same people in the room, I guarantee you you're going to get the same answer [about diversity]." - Fields Jackson, Jr. When people are held accountable for budgets, sales, etc., you clearly see who can measure up. When a leader is held accountable for any type of diversity measurement and metric, the same clear picture emerges. The only difference is that so few have been held accountable for diversity - until now. Today's Finding Brave expert guest pulls back the curtain on what leaders and organizations have to start doing right now if they are truly committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. ​​Fields Jackson, Jr. is the Founder and CEO and Chief Cheerleader of Racing Toward Diversity Magazine, and adjunct professor, teaching Principles of Business at Shaw University. He also teaches at South Carolina State, Southern University, and is the former Executive Director of the HBCU Business Dean's Round-table. Fields has been recognized by Diversity Best Practices as one of the Top Diversity Thought Leaders on Twitter, and has been identified by Onalytica, of London, England as #13 of the top 100 global influencers focusing on Gender Equality and Diversity. I'm so grateful for Fields' deeply honest sharing and candid views about diversity and how we build more diverse cultures starting today. His approach makes the work of creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workplace simple, but that doesn't mean it's easy. As we discuss, the effort generates tremendous opportunities and transformation, and by following what he shares in this episode, I am confident that you too can move the needle in your workplace, towards greater inclusion. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.racingtowarddiversity.com/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "Sometimes it's just best to let the product and the customer be together. Don't get in the way and don't misinterpret the signal. Let the customer tell you exactly how it is they want this experience to lay itself out, and then let that further dictate how you should shape the product vision and the vision for the company. You're really putting all that control in the hands of the customer." - Mahesh M. Thakur There are certain strategies that large company executives, startup founders and CEOs can adopt to accelerate the growth of their revenue and businesses, and this is a subject that we haven't focused on yet on this podcast. Today's Finding Brave guest is an expert on Product-led Growth (PLG) strategies, and in this episode he shares why leaders need to build and demonstrate the mindset that makes PLG part of the everyday culture at their companies. Mahesh M. Thakur is an award-Winning B2B SaaS Chief of Product (CPO), Certified Board Director from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and a former CEO with experience delivering $600M in revenue by building high-performing organizations that drive product-led growth. He has a strong track record of delivering new products in fast-paced environments including Amazon, Microsoft, Intuit, and GoDaddy. A data-driven operator who drives commercialization, user acquisition, usage, retention, and scale, Mahesh is an experienced former engineer with strong business acumen, and deep skill with driving high-stakes initiatives collaboratively. After interviewing Mahesh for this episode, I believe there is no better time to listen to our customers in a new way that will serve them first, while help us become more curious, demonstrating customer "obsession," and applying technology in a meaningful way. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://maheshmthakur.com/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "If culture is the antidote, how do you define it? Where are you headed? Is there a 'from-to' that's required both to embrace diversity and drive inclusion, and to thrive in this environment? I think finding ways to keep your fingers on the pulse, frequently, is really critical." - Rose Gailey One of the most important aspects of an organization is its culture, for so many reasons, which is why on today's episode we take a look at how organizations can take concrete steps to improve their culture and at the same time, bolster business outcomes. However, as our Finding Brave guest reveals, culture must first be defined. It is also a journey, not a destination, with the secret ingredient being communication at all levels. Rose Gailey is a partner and global lead for organization acceleration and culture shaping for Heidrick Consulting at Heidrick & Struggles, and a co-author of Future Focused: Shape Your Culture, Shape Your Future. Rose's mission is to support positive change in the world one leadership team at a time, and to enable a world (and life!) better led. Rose has a beautiful vision for a corporate world based on two-way communication and a mutual love and respect for each other, and I'm so glad that she spent this time with us to share her wonderful insights. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosegailey/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "I knew that if it was between becoming a movie star but staying that size, or just becoming a civilian who had a normal job and was healthy, I would have picked that in a second." - Josh Peck Our special guest is back today for Part Two of our fascinating conversation, where he dives deeper into his very personal story of weight loss, overcoming addiction, growing up on TV, what he's learned about being a father, and how he reacted to the breakdown of a relationship that played out in a dramatic way in the public eye. Josh Peck has established himself as one of Hollywood's rising talents, making the transition from child actor to leading man, and social media influencer. Best known for his role on the Nickelodeon phenomenon Drake & Josh (2004-2007) for which he received a Kids' Choice Nomination, Josh has starred in feature films such as Mean Creek alongside Rory Culkin, The Wackness beside Ben Kingsley, Red Dawn alongside Chris Hemsworth, Danny Collins with Al Pacino, Annette Benning, and Jennifer Garner, Take The 10 with Andy Samberg and Fred Armisen, and Netflix's The Musical, co-starring Debra Messing, out later this year. In 2023, Josh will co-star in Christopher Nolan's new movie, Oppenheimer. Currently, Josh is featured in Disney Plus' Turner and Hooch series, a continuation of the 1989 Tom Hanks film of the same name, and stars in the highly anticipated Hulu series, How I Met Your Father, and in the iCarly Reboot on Paramount+. With 32.8 million fans across numerous social media platforms, Josh successfully leveraged his talents from acting, to podcasting and more, and is the author of the new memoir Happy People Are Annoying, out in bookstores March 15th. His book is a candid memoir sharing Josh's reflections on the many stumbles and silver linings of his life and traces a zigzagging path to redemption. Again, I was so pleased to have this opportunity to speak with Josh and to bring him on the podcast to share his wise and refreshing insights on happiness and a life well-lived. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.instagram.com/shuapeck/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "The whole book is about me finding happiness in my own way, and what it looked like for someone like me to walk through what I did, be it losing 100 pounds, or facing drug and alcohol addiction and then eventually pivoting in my career. It was all of these things that allowed me to find what happiness was for me, and then redefine it." - Josh Peck Today's Finding Brave guest shares his view that happiness is beside the point, and life is really all about finding contentment through relationships, curiosity, and connection. He is ready to chip away at the glitz and glamor to expose the highs and lows of his journey as an actor and influencer, and I could not be more excited to share this candid and thought-provoking conversation with you today. Josh Peck has established himself as one of Hollywood's rising talents, making the transition from child actor to leading man, and social media influencer. Best known for his role on the Nickelodeon phenomenon Drake & Josh (2004-2007) for which he received a Kids' Choice Nomination, Peck has starred in feature films such as Mean Creek alongside Rory Culkin, The Wackness beside Ben Kingsley, Red Dawn alongside Chris Hemsworth, Danny Collins with Al Pacino, Annette Benning, and Jennifer Garner, Take The 10 with Andy Samberg and Fred Armisen, and Netflix's The Musical, co-starring Debra Messing, out later this year. In 2023, Josh will co-star in Christopher Nolan's new movie, Oppenheimer. Currently, Peck is featured in Disney Plus' Turner and Hooch series, a continuation of the 1989 Tom Hanks film of the same name, and stars in the highly anticipated Hulu series, How I Met Your Father, and in the iCarly Reboot on Paramount+. With 32.8 million fans across numerous social media platforms, Peck successfully leveraged his talents from acting, to podcasting and more, and is the author of the new memoir Happy People Are Annoying, out in bookstores March 15th. His book is a candid memoir sharing Josh's reflections on the many stumbles and silver linings of his life and traces a zigzagging path to redemption. I have a great deal of gratitude for Josh for the very happy memories I have – of the hours of hilarity my children and I experienced together, watching Drake & Josh. Those are precious memories for me. His unique style of humor - with such exuberance, joy and insight - is a gift to the world. Check out the full 2-part series with Josh, as he gives us a deep look at what he's learned about the true meaning of happiness. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.instagram.com/shuapeck/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "We have to be really honest with ourselves, which I think is sometimes the hardest part. We have to really ask ourselves if we are happy in what we're doing. Are we actually enjoying this, or do we really not like what we're doing? Deep honesty [with ourselves] is where beautiful things come from." - Stu Massengill If you're feeling lost and wanting to find direction, our inspiring Finding Brave guest shares so much wisdom in this episode, and at such a relatively young age! We cover some of the same issues and topics in the work that we both do, but in a different way with unique perspectives and "lenses," and I can't wait for you to meet him and learn from him today. Stu Massengill is on a mission to change the statistic from 80% of people not loving what they do to 80% of people falling in love with what they do! He is a Peak Performance Strategist for Tony Robbins and the founder of Finding Direction. Through his company, he helps people go from lost in life to creating a life full of passion and fulfillment. As a high-achiever under 30, Stu has accomplished many things from building an 8-figure business at 20 years old to beating cancer at 24. Stu brings his deep passion and beautiful heart to creating lasting impact across the globe. I've seen from working with thousands of people around the world that when we approach life in enlivening, self-affirming ways and become more of who we really are, we are much better equipped to successfully thrive through the tough times, as Stu has. It was so refreshing to hear his overarching message that we should never settle for anything less than a life we love, and not wait a single second longer to pursue what it is that you really want to do in this life. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.stumassengill.com/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Career Podcasts! "There are a lot of gaps to be bridged, and the only way that starts is by getting yourself into a dynamic, personally, where you understand that you're part of the fabric. Be responsible for how you show up because that's where it starts." - Jennifer Edwards "When we walk into places where people are fighting so hard, but they're not showing up correctly in the fight, what's at stake for them? What are they not sharing here that I don't know? When you know somebody's personal story and their lived backgrounds, you cannot deny them their humanity." - Katie McCleary How you show up, including your energy, presence, listening, and language, shapes key outcomes in the situations you find yourself in each day. I'm excited to welcome two special guests to Finding Brave today, who both offer simple but transformative ways to communicate clearly with people of any level or background and navigate any emotion or situation. What they reveal will help you set the stage for more rewarding relationships, and vastly improved business results. Jennifer Edwards and Katie McCleary are communication coaches and coauthors of the new book, Bridge the Gap: Breakthrough Communication Tools to Transform Work Relationships From Challenging to Collaborative. Jennifer is a leadership advisor working with Fortune 500 companies and boards, optimizing performance and collaboration. Her clients are global companies from Microsoft to WeWork. She is a partner at Winning Streak Ventures, an early-stage VC fund investing in disruptive technology companies. Katie is an entrepreneur and storyteller who trains leaders, creatives, and humanitarians to launch big ideas by leveraging their social and cultural capital. She is the founder of 916 Ink, a nonprofit that transforms vulnerable youth into confident authors. She hosts "The Drive" podcast on NPR's CapRadio with the American Leadership Forum-MV in Sacramento. Jennifer and Katie will be speaking at the Women Lead Change's 2022 Advocates & Allies Series on March 24th, 2022, about The Curiosity Cure to Build More Equitable and Collaborative Relationships, and you can learn more at https://www.wlcglobal.org/solutions/advocates-allies. By implementing the strategies they share in this episode, we can master our biological reactions and connect with others even amid pressure, anxiety and stress, and we can learn to manage the stress, biases, reactions, and judgments to build better relationships. By always leading with curiosity, we can all collaborate more effectively with those around us, as we become better leaders and connectors in our relationships. To learn more about today's guests, visit: https://howtobridgethegap.com/