Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

If you’ve ever gone through a major transition from one career path to another that’s totally unfamiliar, you may have felt disoriented and unsure of your identity. That often happens to college and professional athletes when they leave the sport that’s been a central part of their identity.  This episode’s guest, Jay Dixon, specializes in helping these athletes discover how they can transfer the skills they already have to the business world. You’re going to hear ideas that you can apply to your own role as a leader. Jay is an expert at the intersection of sports and business. He was a student-athlete at the University of Nevada, where he played football. Since then, he’s cofounded three companies and consulted or participated in more than 50 transactions. After these experiences, Jay started an elite accelerator for athletes called SuccessCoach.com. It blends the mindset strategies of elite CEOs and an actionable playbook to transition their athletic talents into thriving business ventures. He’s the author of a new book, After the Game: Bridging the Gap from Winning Athlete to Thriving Entrepreneur. It’s an excellent book for anyone in business.You’ll discover: Jay’s personal journey from athlete to entrepreneurThe unique strengths athletes have that serve them well in the business worldWhy a growth mindset is the first piece in the 10 mindset elements that Jay teachesTips for optimizing your time and energyThe distinction between expectations vs agreementsCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

Did you know that two communities only 5 miles apart can have a 20-year difference in life expectancy? That’s a reality in the United States, and Dr. Jean Accius is committed to changing that drastically so everyone has the same opportunity for a longer, healthier life. This topic is just one of many we explored in this deep, meaningful conversation with an exceptional CEO and human being. You’ll be fascinated with Jean’s journey and the compelling stories he shares that illustrate his brilliance as a leader. Jean came to the United States as an immigrant from Haiti when he was four. Today, he is the President and CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities. Before that, he spent more than 15 years at AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit, where his most recent position was Senior Vice President of International Affairs and Global Thought Leadership.  Throughout his career, Jean has focused on addressing barriers to health and health equity and creating solutions that ensure people have longer lives with more time to learn, earn, and be with their loved ones. You’ll discover: Jean’s experiences in his leadership journey that shaped his approach todayThe distinctions Jean makes between drive vs driven and success vs significanceHow leaders can step back to allow others to step upEffective ways to get buy-in for a project or a visionThe importance of understanding Interdependence in getting things doneCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

How did Dr. Antonia (Toni) Novello become the first woman and the first Hispanic to hold the position of U.S. Surgeon General in 1990? Hers is an inspiring story and compelling read as described in her book with Jill Tietjen, Duty Calls: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life of Service. In this conversation, we discuss Toni’s career path to that position as well as her role during 9/11 as the New York State Commissioner of the Department of Health. Toni and Jill are both highly accomplished women, extraordinary leaders, and trailblazers in their respective fields, so it was a real honor to have them as guests. Toni was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a B.S. and an M.D. She completed her residency and internship in pediatrics at the University of Michigan and a fellowship in pediatric and adult nephrology at the University of Michigan and Georgetown University. Also, she received a Master’s and a Doctor of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.  In 1990, Toni was sworn in as the 14th Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service and became the first woman and the first Hispanic to hold this position. From 1999 to 2007, she was the New York State Commissioner of the Department of Health and served in this position during 9/11.  Jill S. Tietjen, PE, is an author, international speaker, and electrical engineer. After more than forty-five years in the electric utility industry, her professional focus is now on women’s advocacy worldwide. Her fifteen books include the bestselling and award-winning Her Story: A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America and Hollywood: Her Story, An Illustrated History of Women and the Movies. She has been inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame and has been elected to the National Academy of Construction. You’ll discover: How Toni and Jill met and decided to collaborate on writing this memoirWhat Toni learned from her mother in her early years that influenced her throughout her lifeThe experience that taught Toni to under-promise and over-deliverWhy loyalty is a core value of Toni’s and how it served her in her various rolesHow always being prepared opened doors for Toni’s next positionCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

I’ve been hosting my podcast for more than five years, since June 2019, and have never done a solo episode. That changes with this episode! Many of my listeners have requested that I share some of my thoughts about leadership, so I’ve decided to devote one episode each month to speaking directly with you. For this episode, I focused on the topic of character—what it is and two specific areas that show why it’s essential for leadership. My business partner Denny Coates and I have been immersed in this aspect of leadership development for decades, and even more so in the past two years as Denny has worked on his latest book, Grow Strong Character, and the two of us have created content for our new self-paced leadership development program, GSL SkillBuilder.  I’m the co-founder and president of Grow Strong Leaders, a company that publishes software tools and books to help people build strong relationships at work and at home. You’ll discover: What strong character consists ofThe role of character in leadershipWhy character development strengthens emotional intelligenceThe importance of helping people live into an organization’s core valuesResources that can help you strengthen your own characterCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

One of the most important skills a leader can develop is the ability to help others expand their vision of themselves. Ilias Simpson has been practicing this skill for decades; and in this conversation, he gives a masterclass on how to do it effectively. You’ll be mesmerized by the stories he tells to illustrate what he does, and you’ll learn ways to build a culture where people perform at high levels and feel valued at the same time. Ilias is a highly accomplished leader who transforms companies into profitable growth engines through operational excellence, lean improvements, and instilling a culture of success. With a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, Ilias ensures that employees at all levels feel heard, valued, and supported.  Previously, Ilias served as President of Modivcare Mobility, President and CEO of Radial Inc., CEO of PaLo Na, and Senior Director of Operations at Ryder System, Inc. Ilias graduated with a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dayton and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of North Texas. Additionally, Ilias is a decorated veteran of the United States Air Force. You’ll discover: How Ilias built trust and credibility at the age of 18 when he was put in a leadership position in the militaryThe experiences from his youth and from sports that shaped his leadership styleWhat Ilias does to help others expand their vision of themselvesWhy Learning Agility is a crucial skill to develop for success in businessThe benefits of having diversity of thinking on a teamCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

Are you helping each person on your team identify areas where they could level up? Dan Kent is a master of meeting people “where they’re at” and then listening for ways they can build on their strengths to become even more effective. In this rich and immensely practical conversation, you’ll learn specific questions you can use in conversations to discover more about another person’s capabilities and aspirations. One of Dan’s superpowers is his ability to not only SEE the strengths in others but also articulate them. In this conversation, you’ll learn more about how he does that with his clients. Meredith experienced Dan’s magic first-hand when she was a guest on his podcast, Clearing Obstacles. His introduction beautifully captured her essence and who she aspires to be in the world. You can listen to that conversation HERE.Dan is the founder and owner of Best Self Coaching, a business coaching company that strengthens and grows businesses by developing the humans involved in them. He’s affectionately known as the “loving butt-kicker” they often need in their lives.  Dan’s method is a natural extension of his affinity for working both sides of the brain. He has degrees in both Accounting and Theatre Arts, almost thirty years in business ownership, and over a decade in Coaching and Consulting. That balanced approach combining left brain and right brain has served him and his clients well. You’ll discover: What Dan does to “meet clients where they’re at”The 3 Pillars Dan uses with every client he works withHow he discovers the growth edges where a client needs to focus their development effortsWhy everything starts with self-awareness for a leaderTips for finding out what your people want most from youCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

Some personal development programs focus on digging into your past to uncover what might be holding you back. Others emphasize getting over your past and focusing exclusively on your future. In this conversation Moustafa Hamwi makes a compelling argument for giving attention to both. He shares practical tips from his book, SLINGSHOT: The Practical Guide to Becoming a Master of Your Destiny, Not a Victim of Your History, that you can begin implementing immediately.Moustafa is a bestselling author, international speaker, and mindset coach. His background spans diverse disciplines—from executive coaching, hypnotherapy, yoga, and meditation to adventure sports and nature healing.  Moustafa’s unique lifestyle as an executive nomad has him traversing the globe, often spending months living out of a campervan, immersing himself in diverse cultures, and forging a deep connection with nature.  His quest for self-discovery leads him to learning and meditation centers worldwide, exploring the intricacies of mind, body, and soul. He’s globally recognized as a foremost expert and thought leader in reigniting passion within organizations and teams. You’ll discover: The story behind the book and what’s unique about Moustafa’s methodologyWhy it’s important to go through your past and not try to get over itHow to rewrite your story so it serves you and doesn’t limit youWhy courage, humility, and discipline are critical elements of effective leadershipTips for mastering your mindset so it frees you to master your destinyCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

There’s a skill that’s critical for success in every aspect of life, and that’s the ability to make good decisions. This episode’s guest, Kandis Porter is co-author with previous guest Damon Lembi of a must-read book on this topic: Good Decisions Equal Success: Stop Decision Anxiety and Start Taking Action. After listening to this conversation, you’re going to want to get a copy of this book for yourself and for every member of your team. It’s that good…and that important for your personal and business success. Kandis is the Founder and CEO of Effective Flow Connections, a management consulting company that helps transform organizations through strategic planning, project management, process improvement, change management, and training. Kandis also works one-on-one with clients, focusing on Leadership development and growth.  You’ll discover: The problem with making decisions strictly on your gut or emotionsWhy it’s important to clarify who’s responsible for the four decision rolesStrategies for prioritizing tasksWhat Time Bankruptcy is—and how to fix itHow to overcome decision fatigueCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

Character has always been essential for anyone in a leadership position. But what exactly IS character? And is it a fixed aspect of who you are, or can it be developed? In this episode, you’ll learn the answers to those questions from a special guest, Denny Coates, who’s been Meredith’s business partner for almost 33 years. He’s the CEO of Grow Strong Leaders, and his genius is in writing and creating content for the company’s books and products.  Denny has studied character for decades, and he’s just published a new book, Grow Strong Character, that explores this topic in depth. Together, he and Meredith developed a new online, self-paced leadership program called GSL SkillBuilder that facilitates mastery of high-impact communication skills and character skills. You’ll discover: How Denny defines characterThe relationship of communication skills and character to emotional intelligenceWhat’s required to strengthen a specific character skillThe role of coaching in the mastery of any skillGSL SkillBuilder’s unique structure for growing strong characterCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

What role does mindset play in achieving your greatest work and personal goals? It’s the foundation for everything! In this inspiring and valuable conversation, Sohee Jun, Ph.D., explains why that is true. We discuss several key ideas from Sohee’s latest book, The Aligned Mindset: Secrets of High-Achieving Women for Navigating Work and Life. Sohee is a premier leadership coach for women, mindset expert, bestselling author, corporate leadership facilitator, TEDx keynote speaker, and thought leader and contributor to the Forbes Coaches Council.  The Aligned Mindset is the result of her two decades of transforming the lives and work of high-performing executive women at top companies such as Netflix, Fox, Disney, and others. Sohee shares the secrets of how highly successful women have created a winning mindset—conquering imposter syndrome, silencing inner critics, and empowering them to prioritize their own version of success. You’ll discover: The role of awareness in achieving greater alignmentHow you can reframe the way you view situations or people Micro-actions that reduce self-doubt and build self-confidenceHow finding your North Star can guide your decisions about successWhy Sohee refers to mentors as your “Tribe of Advocates”Check out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn