In this enlightening episode of LEAP Leaders Unplugged, we're excited to speak with our guest, Maritza Schäfer, the visionary founder and CEO of MASU Consulting. Maritza is a seasoned consultant and coach specializing in organizational culture and transformative change. Focusing on aligning staff and leadership visions, she develops actionable plans that fundamentally enhance workplace environments. Her approach centers on human rights, embedding inclusion, diversity, and equity issues into organizational growth and development... with grace.

Before her consulting career, Maritza actively engaged in the nonprofit sector, addressing critical issues such as environmental conservation, racial justice, women’s rights, and economic equity. Known for her multicultural and multilingual communication skills, Maritza’s global experiences have taken her work to every continent except Antarctica. She holds a BFA in Film, Photography, and Visual Arts and an MS in Communication from Cornell University, which equips her with a unique perspective in her consulting endeavors. Join us as Maritza shares her insights on fostering inclusive environments that meet modern challenges and thrive through them.

Contact info:

Website - https://masuconsulting.com

Email - maritza@masuconsulting.com

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Jackson Aimiuwu, a dynamic leader in the tech industry who currently spearheads the US Payments Industry Solutions Architecture team at AWS. Jackson joined AWS in July 2019, first impacting the Canadian Business Unit and then leading as the Head of Solutions Architecture for AWS Canada's Enterprise division. He's known for empowering his teams to become trusted advisors and helping customers architect scalable, flexible, and resilient cloud solutions for their most critical digital transformations.

Before, Jackson was a technology executive at Canadian Tire, where he transformed the productivity of over 20,000 employees and led a team to significantly prove the retailer's digital assets. His leadership style focuses on achieving technological innovation and fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable work environment. Jackson's commitment to leadership extends beyond corporate goals; he is actively involved in mentoring, coaching, and promoting team members, with 22 Amazonians elevated to leadership positions under his guidance.

Outside the corporate sphere, Jackson dedicates time to community service as a board member at Aimiuwu Hospital, a nonprofit healthcare facility in Nigeria. His holistic approach to leadership, emphasizing doing what is right over merely doing things right, inspires a new generation of leaders.

In this episode, we introduce Andrea Euenheim, a C-Suite trailblazer and visionary advisor for global organizations. Andrea has redefined leadership in human resources for over twenty years, including talent acquisition, mergers and acquisitions, and business innovation across many industries and countries. Her strategic HR initiatives have consistently fostered environments of high performance, inclusivity, and innovation, setting new standards for organizational culture.

Currently lending her expertise as a Senior Advisor to international startups and serving on the Advisory Board of Rhenus Logistics, Andrea is at the forefront of guiding companies through growth, integration, and transformation. Her tenure at Amazon revolutionized M&A HR practices and spearheaded transformative projects, including significant acquisitions and organizational restructures that have become cornerstones of new global business segments.

Andrea's commitment to sustainability and social responsibility is evident through her impactful work in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies and her advocacy for Inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging (IDE&B) initiatives. As we explore her journey, Andrea shares insights into leveraging her vast experience to disrupt the status quo. She advises C-suite leaders and global organizations on navigating the complexities of today's business landscape and innovating for a better tomorrow.

Join us as we delve into the inspiring story of a leader who is not just part of the change but actively shaping the future of work. To learn more about Andrea and her work, you can find her on LinkedIn here: linkedin.com/in/andrea-euenheim-500161.

In this intro episode, Dawn Gagye interviews our Host, Siobhan Neilland, about her background with both for-profit and non-profit work globally! Siobhan Neilland is a globally recognized thought leader in Talent Acquisition, Leadership Development, and IDE&B Organizational Development. With a remarkable skill set as a sought-after speaker, social entrepreneur, author, and philanthropic leader for OneMama.org International Health Center, Siobhan’s passion lies in fostering inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging in every aspect of her work and company. She champions advocacy for candidates throughout the interview process, working towards building Fortune 500 organizations that embrace inclusion and engagement within their diverse hiring practices, particularly for leadership and executive positions.

Siobhan envisions a future where inclusive organizations thrive and every individual feels valued and significant. Having experienced the privileges of privilege and the challenges of stigma in her own life, she fearlessly redefines the notion of true belonging and authenticity. Her mission extends beyond the workplace and into our families and communities. Siobhan openly shares her powerful and unforgettable personal journey with clients and audiences, challenging assumptions and inspiring meaningful action for a more inclusive and engaging tomorrow.

Drawing from her vast experience working with leaders to develop their leadership, technology, and sales teams, Siobhan accompanies them on their inclusive leadership journey. Through groundbreaking conversations bridging geographical, demographic, and cultural differences within organizations, she provides invaluable insights from years of working on IDE&B initiatives with various leaders. Using organizational development strategies, talent acquisition turnkey solutions, keynote presentations, executive coaching, and senior leadership sessions, Siobhan educates and empowers leaders to embrace their role as catalysts for change.

One of Siobhan’s notable contributions is the development of customer-facing inclusive diversity events and interview coaching programs for leadership roles, exemplified by the LEAP (Leadership Engagement Advancement Program) methodology. This program, implemented in organizations such as AWS/Amazon, aims to significantly increase the success rate of onsite-to-offer conversions by 30-57% globally when hiring top-tier diverse leadership. A core component of this initiative is the LEAP to Success Virtual Leadership Interview Lounge, which provides interview behavioral coaching to diverse leadership candidates, supporting them throughout the interview process.

Beyond her work at LEAPahead Talent Solutions, Siobhan leads a fulfilling life as the CEO and Founder of OneMama.org International Health Center. This non-profit organization has spent the last 17 years establishing health centers that provide essential pre- and post-natal healthcare, malaria treatment, and HIV prevention in small rural communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Siobhan generously donates her time and resources to this meaningful cause. OneMama is dedicated to supporting communities where families live on less than $1.25 a day and face challenging conditions during childbirth.

In addition to her nonprofit efforts, Siobhan has demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit by creating social entrepreneurial companies within the JOY=Success Social Funding Platform (Fighting For Your Joy and the JOY of Others). These ventures, built upon the platform's seven pillars, aim to empower individuals and communities to embrace their authentic selves, advocate for their needs, and find joy and fulfillment. Through these social entrepreneurial endeavors, Siobhan continues to make a meaningful impact on a broader scale, promoting positive change and fostering inclusive growth.

Siobhan Neilland embodies the spirit of creating lasting change in both professional and philanthropic endeavors. Her commitment to inclusive leadership, engagement, and diversity resonates throughout her work, inspiring individuals and organizations to embrace a future where everyone can thrive. Follow Siobhan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhanneilland.

This episode of "LEAP Leaders Unplugged" Podcast introduces you to a space where vision meets action with a podcast tailored for Leaders, Executives, Entrepreneurs, and Innovators spearheading change in both the corporate and non-profit realms. Each episode offers a deep dive into the thought processes of those revolutionizing their industry sectors, spotlighting the innovative solutions they’re deploying to transform their organizations and professional lives.