Movers & Shapers RHR International

It’s the sum of our unique experiences as people that helps us become better leaders, says banker-turned-chief people officer Kenny Gardner. In this episode, Kenny, who is the CPO for DaVita Kidney Care, talks to RHR Senior Partner and Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Cristina Jimenez about purpose and embracing his journey as a leader. For Kenny, staying true to his best self carved a path for a successful career, a diversity of experiences, and the opportunity to build bridges for a diverse range of people. Having walked in many different shoes on his leadership journey, which was rooted in modest beginnings, Kenny’s North Star is to create a company where the best and brightest can achieve their dreams. That starts with diversity.

As the line between authentic corporate leadership and personal life blurs, how should CEOs balance the two? In this episode, Melissa Smith, chair and CEO of global commerce platform, WEX, talks to RHR International’s Lisa Carey about bringing your whole self to work. Because CEOs are increasingly expected to have an opinion on issues that weren’t even on the radar 10 years ago, how should they decide when to take a stance? As a CEO, mom, and athlete, Melissa talks frankly about navigating the dual role of motherhood and CEO, the importance of managing stress, and how her experiences have shaped her as a leader and shaped the culture at WEX.

Is there more to winning than crossing the line first? Three-time Olympian rower and international diplomat Cath Bishop examines our obsession with winning and questions our notions of success. Is that it? is the surprising reaction of many a medal-winning athlete. It’s an experience mirrored in the corporate world, where lasting value matters more than a moment of success. Experiences we gained along the way, moments we were tested, and relationships we built add meaning to the medal, says Cath. She and Orla Leonard, a team performance specialist at RHR International, bring a sporting lens to team culture and explore how collaborative, cooperative, experimental team dynamics boost rather than diminish competitiveness.

The best way to optimize a company is to optimize the individuals within it. Health is a major component of that. In this episode, RHR Senior Partner David Astorino speaks to Matthew Dawson, chief executive officer of Wild Health, an organization fueled by a passion for unique and personalized healthcare. Matthew talks about the value of investing in yourself as a leader with the same sense of urgency you have when investing in your infrastructure. He makes the case that good nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness will not only make you feel better physically and mentally but will also produce a positive return on investment within your organization. In other words, how you take care of yourself as a leader will directly translate to your organization and the progress you make together. This self-awareness process for any leader starts by revisiting your personal values, the experiences that have shaped you, and the risks you have taken that led you to where you are today.

Leaders are often confronted with strategic paradoxes: conflicting demands that are commonly viewed as either/or choices. Do you focus on social responsibility or maximize profits? Are we dedicated leaders or dedicated caregivers? Do you change an individual or change the system? In this episode, RHR’s Adam Magerman, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging consultant, speaks to Wendy Smith, professor at the University of Delaware, co-founder of the Lerner Women’s Leadership Initiative, and one of the authors of Both/And Thinking, which is about understanding and implementing the paradoxical mindset framework. They explore how moving from either/or thinking to both/and thinking can help leaders and organizations expand their view of what is possible and create psychological flexibility, leading to greater creativity, well-being, and decision-making impact.

When 80% of people are disengaged or unhappy at work, it’s time we admit that work is broken. The pandemic brought on the great resignation but preceding that was the great contemplation. The pandemic became a catalyst for what many had already begun to think about - the kind of life they want to live. Being unhappy at work is no longer a standard people are willing to accept. In this episode, RHR’s Cristina Jimenez, Partner and Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging speaks to Pa Sinyan, managing partner of Gallup EMEA, on a very human level about the role work plays in our lives and what the future of work might look like.