In this highlight episode of my transformative conversation with  Amri Johnson, I unpack how bringing expectations that people will change to the equity and Inclusion conversation may be inhibiting progress.

More about Amri B Johnson:

For more than 20 years, Amri B. Johnson has been instrumental in helping organizations and their people create extraordinary business outcomes. 

He is a social capitalist, epidemiologist, entrepreneur, and inclusion strategist. Amri's dialogic approach to engaging all people as leaders and change agents (previously at the research division of Novartis, as Global Head of Cultural Intelligence and Inclusion) has fostered the opening of minds and deepening of skillsets with organizational leaders and citizens enabling them to thrive and optimally contribute to one another and their respective organizations.

As CEO/Founder of Inclusion Wins, Amri and a virtual collective of partners converge organizational purpose to create global impact with a lens of inclusion. 

His theory of change is focused on building ‘Inclusion Systems.’ Inclusion systems provide direction and momentum in the complexity of organizations that allow them to be antifragile—leaning into and engaging with resistance, stressors, disruptions, and disequilibrium and being stronger as a result of such engagement. 

His book, Reconstructing Inclusion: Making DEI Accessible, Actionable, and Sustainable outlines how organizations can create inclusion-normative cultures and build approaches to DEI that are designed for and with everyone, unambiguously prioritized, and purpose aligned.

Born in Topeka, Kansas (USA), Amri has worked and lived in the U.S., Brazil, and currently lives in Basel, Switzerland, with his wife Martina and their three kids.

Website: https://inclusionwins.com/

Book: https://benbellabooks.com/shop/reconstructing-inclusion/

Podcast: https://reconstructinginclusion.podbean.com/

Is it possible that progressive, DEI specialists are bringing resistance and judgment to the table? In my revealing conversation with the insightful Amri Johnson we discussed how practitioners like us can get in our own way of progress.

More about Amri B Johnson:

For more than 20 years, Amri B. Johnson has been instrumental in helping organizations and their people create extraordinary business outcomes. 

He is a social capitalist, epidemiologist, entrepreneur, and inclusion strategist. Amri's dialogic approach to engaging all people as leaders and change agents (previously at the research division of Novartis, as Global Head of Cultural Intelligence and Inclusion) has fostered the opening of minds and deepening of skillsets with organizational leaders and citizens enabling them to thrive and optimally contribute to one another and their respective organizations.

As CEO/Founder of Inclusion Wins, Amri and a virtual collective of partners converge organizational purpose to create global impact with a lens of inclusion. 

His theory of change is focused on building ‘Inclusion Systems.’ Inclusion systems provide direction and momentum in the complexity of organizations that allow them to be antifragile—leaning into and engaging with resistance, stressors, disruptions, and disequilibrium and being stronger as a result of such engagement. 

His book, Reconstructing Inclusion: Making DEI Accessible, Actionable, and Sustainable outlines how organizations can create inclusion-normative cultures and build approaches to DEI that are designed for and with everyone, unambiguously prioritized, and purpose aligned.

Born in Topeka, Kansas (USA), Amri has worked and lived in the U.S., Brazil, and currently lives in Basel, Switzerland, with his wife Martina and their three kids.

Book: https://benbellabooks.com/shop/reconstructing-inclusion/

Podcast: https://reconstructinginclusion.podbean.com/

In the surprising conversation I had with Tanveer Naseer last week, we dove into the importance of empathy for successful leadership, development and change management. In this highlight episode, I unpack how practicing empathy is a great opportunity to create a culture of care, which has been proven to be a critical component of employee retention. A little bit of authentic care can save you millions of dollars in turnover.

More  about Tanveer Naseer:

Tanveer Naseer is an internationally-acclaimed keynote speaker and award-winning leadership writer. He is also the Founder and CEO of Tanveer Naseer Leadership, a corporate leadership  training and consulting firm that works with executives and managers to help them develop practical leadership and team-building competencies to drive organizational growth and development.

Tanveer's work and writings have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc Magazine, The Globe and Mail, The Economist, CBC Radio Daybreak, Global News, and the Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center.

He is also the recipient of several awards and recognitions as one of the world's top thinkers in the leadership sphere, including being recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts.

His speaking and training skills have been procured by some of the biggest names in business including Boston Children's Hospital, Capital One Canada, Henkel, TJX Canada, Canadian Armed Forces, Blinkist, the Canadian government and many more. 

He was invited to grace the TED talk stage with his talk titled “Forget Passion – Purpose is the Real Spice of Life”. His engaging and thought-provoking style and content has lead to his recognition by Inc. Magazine as one of today’s “100 Great Leadership Speakers”.

His book, "Leadership Vertigo" has received rave reviews and endorsements by many of today's top leadership thinkers and practitioners.

Tanveer is also the host of the popular and long-running "Leadership Biz Cafe" podcast, which has been ranked among the top 2.5% of podcasts globally where he has interviewed some of the biggest names in leadership expertise.

Tanveer is a graduate of McGill University's Department of Medicine where he earned his Master of Science degree in Pathology. He currently lives in Montreal, Canada with his wife and their three daughters

What is the most overlooked aspect of change management that can make or break organizational change? Empathy. I had the chance to interview the remarkable Tanveer Naseer about the Powerful role of empathy in developing high performance leadership teams. This skill has become table stakes for growth in the 21st century.

More about Tanveer Naseer:

Tanveer Naseer is an internationally-acclaimed keynote speaker and award-winning leadership writer. He is also the Founder and CEO of Tanveer Naseer Leadership, 

a corporate leadership  training and consulting firm that works with executives and managers to help them develop practical leadership and team-building competencies to drive organizational growth and development.

Tanveer's work and writings have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc Magazine, The Globe and Mail, The Economist, CBC Radio Daybreak, Global News, and the Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center.

He is also the recipient of several awards and recognitions as one of the world's top thinkers in the leadership sphere, including being recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts.

His speaking and training skills have been procured by some of the biggest names in business including Boston Children's Hospital, Capital One Canada, Henkel, TJX Canada, Canadian Armed Forces, Blinkist, the Canadian government and many more. 

He was invited to grace the TED talk stage with his talk titled “Forget Passion – Purpose is the Real Spice of Life”. His engaging and thought-provoking style and content has lead to his recognition by Inc. Magazine as one of today’s “100 Great Leadership Speakers”.

His book, "Leadership Vertigo" has received rave reviews and endorsements by many of today's top leadership thinkers and practitioners.

Tanveer is also the host of the popular and long-running "Leadership Biz Cafe" podcast, which has been ranked among the top 2.5% of podcasts globally where he has interviewed some of the biggest names in leadership expertise. 

Tanveer is a graduate of McGill University's Department of Medicine where he earned his Master of Science degree in Pathology. He currently lives in Montreal, Canada with his wife and their three daughters

The vast majority of white men on homogenized leadership teams, know that a change is needed to keep the company growing, maintain or create a competitive advantage, and prevent obsolescence.

It’s going to take a particular kind of leader to get on board. In this highlight episode of the amazing conversation I had with Steve urban CEO of Boutique consulting company, Riderflex, I unpack the kind of mindsets that inhibit innovation and growth, and give you actionable methods to innovate and grow anyway. This episode is essential, listening for active allies looking for ways to meaningful contributions to equity and representation without rocking the boat.

More about Steve Urban:

Steve Urban isn't just an established leader; he's a crisis management expert with a penchant for turnarounds. With a storied career as the Founder and CEO of Recruiting & Consulting Firm Riderflex—a top-rated firm known for cultural fit staffing—Steve has continually exhibited a rare aptitude for matching talent with opportunity. He also serves as Co-Owner of Kura Home Maintenance in Colorado and Presley Rose Investments, a residential real estate venture he co-manages with his wife, Kim Urban.

Long before the inception of Riderflex, He served as CEO, COO and President of multiple companies with revenues exceeding $40 million, specializing in retail, wholesale, and service industries. His operational wizardry led to numerous company revivals, making him a sought-after talent for crisis management, restructuring, downsizing, and transitions.

Known as a thought leader, Steve ventured into the podcasting sphere with the Riderflex Podcast, which rapidly gained acclaim for its entrepreneur-focused content and career advice. He further expanded his influence by authoring "The Riderflex Guide" series, a valuable resource for both hiring managers and job candidates. His latest book, "Mastering Job Interviews," has garnered rave reviews as an essential guide for job seekers.

When Steve is not immersed in his professional pursuits, he lives for the family and the great outdoors. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Steve replenishes his soul through camping and overlanding, guided by his life mantra: “I want my life to be dictated by the experiences I’m chasing.”

Recruiters can have the biggest impact when it comes to diversifying organizations and senior leader ship teams. Steve, urban, who is the CEO and founder of Riderflex, a multi million dollar boutique recruitment company, speaks candidly about the realities of bringing in diverse candidates into the hiring process, and clever ways to be successful, when senior leaders are resistant to change.

More about Steve Urban:

Steve Urban isn't just an established leader; he's a crisis management expert with a penchant for turnarounds. With a storied career as the Founder and CEO of Recruiting & Consulting Firm Riderflex—a top-rated firm known for cultural fit staffing—Steve has continually exhibited a rare aptitude for matching talent with opportunity. He also serves as Co-Owner of Kura Home Maintenance in Colorado and Presley Rose Investments, a residential real estate venture he co-manages with his wife, Kim Urban.

Long before the inception of Riderflex, He served as CEO, COO and President of multiple companies with revenues exceeding $40 million, specializing in retail, wholesale, and service industries. His operational wizardry led to numerous company revivals, making him a sought-after talent for crisis management, restructuring, downsizing, and transitions.

Known as a thought leader, Steve ventured into the podcasting sphere with the Riderflex Podcast, which rapidly gained acclaim for its entrepreneur-focused content and career advice. He further expanded his influence by authoring "The Riderflex Guide" series, a valuable resource for both hiring managers and job candidates. His latest book, "Mastering Job Interviews," has garnered rave reviews as an essential guide for job seekers.

When Steve is not immersed in his professional pursuits, he lives for the family and the great outdoors. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Steve replenishes his soul through camping and overlanding, guided by his life mantra: “I want my life to be dictated by the experiences I’m chasing.”

Last week I was honored to have a conversation with Jeff Hoffman. In this weeks highlight episode, I dig into one of his most memorable quotes, “the biggest piece of advice I’ve been sharing is that having a successful start up, it’s not a funding game, it’s a talent game“. I also review the source of his personal culture and Northstar: the single mom who raised him and his siblings by working three jobs.

More about Jeff Hoffman:

Jeff Hoffman is an award-winning global entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, bestselling author, Hollywood film producer, a producer of a Grammy Award winning jazz album, and executive producer of an Emmy Award winning television show. He is an Executive Producer and stars in the groundbreaking new TV series GOING PUBLIC, a show where viewers worldwide can invest in the
startups that Jeff is mentoring on the air. In his career, he has been the founder of multiple startups, he has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and he has served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known successful startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com, uBid.com and more.

Jeff is the Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which works with entrepreneurs in 200 countries, as well as being a founding board member of The Unreasonable Group, whose portfolio companies have raised over $11 billion in funding and have positively impacted more than one billion lives worldwide. He is also on the Advisory Board of CEED Global, the Centers for Entrepreneurship and
Executive Development, teaching entrepreneurship globally in developing countries. Jeff has supported the White House, the State Department, the United Nations, and similar organizations internationally on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship programs.

Jeff is the Managing Partner of Jeff Hoffman Advisory Services, a strategic consulting firm that teaches exponential growth to business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as teaching innovation strategies to corporations and governments worldwide. Jeff serves on the boards of companies in the US, Europe, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Asia. He supports entrepreneurs and small businesses on a worldwide basis. Jeff is also the founder and CEO of World Youth Horizons, a non-profit organization providing homes, schools, food, and health care to children in need around the globe. Jeff is a frequent keynote speaker, having been invited to speak in over 70 countries. He speaks on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business leadership, and is the author of the book SCALE, a how-to guide for growing your business. Jeff also teaches innovation workshops to major corporations on a regular basis.

Jeff is a featured business expert seen on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNN International, Bloomberg News, CNBC, ABC, and NPR, and in publications including Forbes, Inc., Time, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and more.

Jeff recently received a Humanitarian Award from Disney and Be Great, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Tribune for his business and philanthropic contributions. He was honored with the Champion of Entrepreneurship Award from JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Rising Tide Capital, as

I had the privilege of speaking with Jeff Hoffman this week on the C-Change show. Among his innumerable accomplishments, he is the chairman of the global entrepreneurship network as well as a founding board member of the  unreasonable group whose portfolio companies have raised over $11 billion in funding he’s been featured as a business expert on every major network and business publication and was honored with the Champion of Entrepreneurship award from JP Morgan chase, Citibank and rising Tide capital. Perhaps his most incredible achievement, was the successful sale of a company he founded, but it wasn’t the money, it was the fact that not a single person voluntarily left the company during his tenure as the CEO. This man understands how to acquire and retain Rockstars. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the deep insights of this extraordinary human being who had the courage to reject the  ‘nice guys finish last' culture and pioneer a culture of care without any role models.

More about Jeff Hoffman:

Jeff Hoffman is an award-winning global entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, bestselling author, Hollywood film producer, a producer of a Grammy Award winning jazz album, and executive producer of an Emmy Award winning television show. He is an Executive Producer and stars in the groundbreaking new TV series GOING PUBLIC, a show where viewers worldwide can invest in the
startups that Jeff is mentoring on the air. In his career, he has been the founder of multiple startups, he has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and he has served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known successful startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com, uBid.com and more.

Jeff is the Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which works with entrepreneurs in 200 countries, as well as being a founding board member of The Unreasonable Group, whose portfolio companies have raised over $11 billion in funding and have positively impacted more than one billion lives worldwide. He is also on the Advisory Board of CEED Global, the Centers for Entrepreneurship and
Executive Development, teaching entrepreneurship globally in developing countries. Jeff has supported the White House, the State Department, the United Nations, and similar organizations internationally on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship programs.

Jeff is the Managing Partner of Jeff Hoffman Advisory Services, a strategic consulting firm that teaches exponential growth to business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as teaching innovation strategies to corporations and governments worldwide. Jeff serves on the boards of companies in the US, Europe, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Asia. He supports entrepreneurs and small businesses on a worldwide basis. Jeff is also the founder and CEO of World Youth Horizons, a non-profit organization providing homes, schools, food, and health care to children in need around the globe. Jeff is a frequent keynote speaker, having been invited to speak in over 70 countries. He speaks on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business leadership, and is the author of the book SCALE, a how-to guide for growing your business. Jeff also teaches innovation workshops to major corporations on a regular basis.

Jeff is a featured business expert seen on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNN International, Bloomberg News, CNBC, ABC, and NPR, and in publications including Forbes, Inc., Time, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and more.

Jeff recently received a Humanitarian Award from Disney and Be Great, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Tribune for his business and philanthropic contributions. He was honored with the Champion of Entrepreneurship Award from JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Rising Tide Capital, as