Rebels With A Heart Powered by LifeGuides

In this episode, tune in to discover the dynamic realm of HR leadership amid a backdrop of automation and technological progress.
Our esteemed guests will explore the challenges and opportunities facing HR professionals as they navigate the impact of automation on workforce management and organizational culture. From harnessing AI-powered solutions for enriched employee engagement to nurturing inclusive environments amidst tech transformations, this episode promises valuable insights for effective leadership in the automated age.
Listen in to discover how to …
Leverage AI for Strategic Talent ManagementAdvance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Initiatives in an Automated WorkforceMaximize the use of technology for HR Efficiency and EffectivenessPanelists:
Deven Downey, VP of HR, Nerd United
Lars Minns, CHRO, Mercedes-Benz USA
William Rolack, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, Kroll

Deven is a seasoned HR professional with over 15 years of experience and a master's degree in Human Resources. As the founder of Nerd Labs, a company dedicated to providing innovative solutions for early-stage startups, he brings a wealth of expertise in HR management and organizational development. Deven's leadership style is centered on best practices rather than a rote list of policies and procedures. Believing that teaching managers how to lead their teams effectively is key, he fosters an environment where performance naturally follows. Beyond the boardroom, Deven finds joy in staying active through workouts, cherishing moments with family, and sharing playful moments with their mini schnauzer. Above all, Deven values the connections with loved ones as the cornerstone of a fulfilling life.

Lars N. Minns is currently the Chief HR Officer for Mercedes-Benz, North America with responsibility for the US and Canada serving the organization since March 2015. He currently leads the organization in designing, implementing, and executing HR strategies that directly align with the company’s strategic objectives for the Sales, Marketing, and Distribution of Passenger Cars, Vans and parts in the United States and Canada. Under his leadership, the organization is undergoing one of the largest transformations in the automotive industry in its pursuit to be the most desired electric luxury brand in North America. Prior to joining Mercedes-Benz, he served as the Sr. Mgr. of Talent Acquisition for The Home Depot.
William Rolack Sr. is Kroll’s Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, based in New York. He has over 20 years of experience leading diversity and inclusion strategies, human capital management and mobility management. William works closely with the Kroll leadership team and other stakeholders to develop strategic programs aimed at accelerating inclusion and diversity in the workplace and the commercial impact those programs have on high performing teams that drive economic value, innovation and business integration. William has been named Savoy Magazine’s 2023 Most Influential Executives in Diversity & Inclusion, the National Association of African Americans in Human Resource’s Human Resource Trailblazer of the Year for 2021 and he is listed in the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) 2021 inaugural list of DE&I influencers. He has received a proclamation from the New York City Council for his work as a mentor and professional coach and for his contributions in the human resources field.

Follow Deven on LI → https://www.linkedin.com/in/deven-downey-0694891a3/
Follow Lars on LI → https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsnminns/
Follow William on LI → https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-t-rolack-sr-8a59062/

In this exclusive episode, listen in for a deep dive into the unfolding stories of CEOs who navigated the intricate landscape of 2023, unwrapping the triumphs, challenges, and strategic moves that defined their leadership journey.

Discover firsthand insights from visionary leaders as they share the pivotal moments that shaped their companies and set the stage for the future.

Panelists:
Doug Cardon, CEO, The Shield Companies
Jennifer McCollum, CEO, Linkage, Inc
Jeremy Andrus, CEO, Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC

Moderated by: Derek Lundsten, President & Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides

BIOS

Doug Cardon is currently the co-founder and CEO of EcoShield Pest Solutions, a leading pest management company in the United States. His collaboration with now partner and Co-Founder, Greg Nygren, began with their joint efforts in building Safeguard, a residential pest services company. In 2006, they joined forces to establish EcoShield Pest Solutions.  The company ranks as the 4th largest privately-owned company in its sector and is among the top 10 pest management companies in the US.

Beyond business success, EcoShield, under Doug's guidance, has become renowned for its commitment to community leadership. The company has initiated impactful programs, including Exterminate Hunger, Shield for Soldiers, and National Day of Service.

Jennifer McCollum is CEO of Linkage, a SHRM company, where she oversees the strategic direction and global operations of this leadership development firm. With a mission to “Change the Face of Leadership,” Linkage has dedicated more than 35 years to improving leadership effectiveness and equity in hundreds of organizations globally. Linkage provides assessments, training, coaching, consulting and conferences, with solutions designed to Accelerate Purposeful Leaders; Advance Women Leaders; and Create Inclusive Organizations.

Jennifer is a highly sought-after consultant and speaker, with deep expertise in Inclusive Leadership and Advancing Women Leaders. In addition, Jennifer is the author of the forthcoming book In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO: Overcoming Hurdles to Change the Face of Leadership, due in November 2023, as well as a contributing author to Leadership in a Time of Crisis.

Jeremy Andrus is President & CEO of Traeger Grills, the original wood pellet grill brand that has taken the outdoor cooking world by storm. He and a financial partner acquired the company in 2014, transforming it from a small, regional, 26-year-old business into a multi-hundred-million-dollar brand that owns over 50% of the global wood pellet grill market. This was largely achieved by Jeremy leading an overhaul that would result in moving the company’s headquarters from Oregon to Utah and rebuilding its team with an emphasis on the people and culture behind the company. Jeremy took Traeger public on the NYSE in July 2021.

Jeremy was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, MountainWestCapital Network Utah Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017, and was inducted into the Utah Technology Council Hall of Fame in 2018.

Follow Doug on LI → https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-cardon-2913206/
Follow Jennifer on LI → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferscherermccollum/
Follow Jeremy on LI → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremybandrus/

In this episode of Rebels With A Heart, join us on an exploration of transformative leadership in the ever-evolving landscape of work.

Our distinguished guests, industry leaders who embody the spirit of rebellion with a compassionate heart, share insights on navigating the complexities of the modern workforce.

Panelists:
Erica Keswin, Human Workplace Expert and WSJ Best Selling Author
Josh Drean, Co-Founder & Director of AI, Work3 Institute
Samara Jaffe, Co-Founder & GM, Transform

BIOS

Erica Keswin is a bestselling author, internationally sought after speaker, and workplace strategist. Her first two bestselling books, Bring Your Human to Work: 10 Surefire Ways to Design a Workplace That’s Good for People, Great for Business, and Just Might Change the World (McGraw Hill 2018), and Rituals Roadmap: The Human Way to Transform Everyday Routines Into Workplace Magic (McGraw Hill 2021), were widely discussed in media outlets like Good Morning America, MSNBC, and Live with Kelly and Ryan, and both debuted as Wall Street Journal bestsellers. Her third book, The Retention Revolution: 7 Surprising (and Very Human!) Ways to Keep Employees Connected to Your Company, was published September 2023 by McGraw Hill and is an action-packed guide for leaders in this new world of work.

She’s also the founder of the Spaghetti Project, a roving ritual devoted to sharing the science and stories of relationships at work. Erica lives in New York City with her husband Jeff, three children, and her labradoodle Cruiser.

Josh Drean is a leading authority in the realm of HR, AI, and web3, uniquely positioned to help organizations marry emerging technologies with workforce strategies. As the Co-founder of the Work3 Institute, his focus is on leveraging AI to drive transformative change in the workplace. Concurrently, he serves as a Workforce Advisor at the Harvard Innovation Labs and is the co-author of the seminal book, Employment is Dead: How Decentralization Will Radically Change Our Relationship with Work (Harvard Business Review Press, 2024).

An international speaker, Josh demystifies AI and web3 trends and translates them into actionable strategies for digital-first leaders. His overarching mission is to enable organizations to harness the full potential of AI, ensuring both ethical compliance and business innovation

Samara Jaffe is a bridge builder, thoughtful connector, and the Co-Founder & GM of Transform. Transform sits at the forefront of the movement shaping the future of people-driven leadership and is the ecosystem that connects people-driven leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors to influence strategy, ignite innovation, and shape the future of work. Samara is also an advisor and board member.

Samara excels at building a compelling strategic vision, developing solutions to a wide range of business challenges and turning vision into business growth.
Follow Erica on LI → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericakeswin/
Follow Josh on LI → https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdrean/
Follow Samara on LI → https://www.linkedin.com/in/samarajaffe/

In this compelling episode of "Rebels With A Heart," we dive deep into the world of compassionate leadership and its profound impact on building trust within organizations. Listen in to explore how empathetic leaders foster trust among teams, leading to improved collaboration, employee satisfaction, and ultimately, greater business success.

See the episode video on YouTube!

Moderated by: Derek Lundsten, President & Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides

Panelists:
Donato Tramuto, Founder & Chairman, Health eVillages
Mo Fathelbab, Founder & President, Forum Resources Network, LLC
Natalie Alcantara, Chief Inspirer, ION Marketing Ltd.

Follow Donato on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donato-tramuto/
Follow Mo on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mofathelbab/
Follow Natalie on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliealcantaraionmarketing/

BIOS:
Donato J. Tramuto, is the former CEO of Tivity Health® Inc.,(Nasdaq: TVTY), and is widely recognized for his commitment to social change and transformational leadership in healthcare innovation that led the New York Times to deem him “a global health activist.” Tramuto is also the founder and chair of The TramutoPorter Foundation which advances young people’s rights to education and healthcare access and combats human right violations.Since the launch of the foundation, over 100 young adults have received a TramutoPorter Foundation Scholarship to pursue their dream of a College Education and many organizations have received financial and partnership support helping them deliver on their promise to make the world a more equitable place.

For nearly three decades, Mo has been at the forefront of creating and advocating peer groups and building communities. He has worked with over 20,000 CEOs and entrepreneurs in 30+ countries, delivering over 2,500 retreats, programs, and trainings to corporate clients and leading organizations, including Google, Pathstone Federal Street, Harvard Business School, SHRM, and Young Presidents' Organization. In addition to being a highly sought-after forum facilitator and consultant to corporate leadership teams, Mo is a very engaging keynote speaker and emcee. He has delivered keynote addresses to large audiences, including TEDX, Conscious Capitalism, Scale Up, SOSi, and SHRM.

Natalie Alcantara is an advisor, coach, and facilitator who designs meaningful connections. She helps brands, businesses, and individuals create powerful engagement. She is an XCHANGE Approach Certified Guide with expertise in experiential learning science. Natalie helps leaders, teams, and organizations establish psychological safety, elevate shared identity, and work better collaboratively. With over 25 years of marketing, sales and consultancy experience across multiple industries, Natalie has developed a keen understanding of what matters most in the 'New World of Work'. As a compassionate leadership champion, Natalie inspires leaders to use empathy and take actions that positively and purposefully impact others in the world around them.

Relevant Links:
Donato Tramuto - The Double Bottom Line: How Compassionate Leaders Captivate Hearts and Deliver Results
Mo Fathelbab - The Friendship Advantage: 7 Keys to Building Relationships that Transform Corporate Culture and Drive Productivity
https://www.compassionate-leader.com/summit2023/

In a world filled with untapped possibilities, discovering the keys to personal and professional growth not only empowers you to fully embrace your potential but also equips you with the tools to inspire your team, enabling them to unlock their potential as well.

Listen in for an insightful conversation that will leave you inspired and empowered to embrace your creative potential!

Panelists:
Doretha Bailey, VP of HR, Turf Masters Brands
Brady Young, Principal Coach & Consultant, Thrive Coaching and Consulting, LLC
Marissa Andrada, Culture Master & Kindness Catalyst, Board Director, Krispy Kreme

Moderated by: Derek Lundsten, President & Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides

Chapters:
00:00 Introductions
07:24 Being a Rebel: cultivated or innate?
16:51 How have you handled recent massive shifts?
23:30 Personalization over standardization
27:07 The importance of grace
30:05 Innovation, creativity, and mobility in HR
36:43 Being a voice for the unheard
41:20 What are you doing to develop yourselves?

BIOS:

Brady is a savvy business and HR leader who understands the levers of a business and builds people operations that support exceeding its goals. His superior skills in communication and relationship-building make it possible to gain trust rapidly so that he can get organizations to the next level of success through their people. Additionally, Brady is highly trusted and valued for his ability to coach and mentor leaders. Brady has 20 years of experience in HR at TGen, Plexus, CVS, Intel and Raytheon and has created cutting-edge HR and TA functions in a number of startups. Currently, Brady is Principal Coach and Consultant at Thrive Coaching and Consulting, LLC.

Doretha Bailey, MBA is the VP of People & Culture for Turf Masters Brands.  As VP, she is responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership to all aspects of the human resources functions and operations. She possesses 20+ years in human resources, organizational development, and leadership. Her career spans over several industries including telecommunications, defense, manufacturing, faith-base, military, pharmaceutical, franchising and now turfgrass.

Marissa Andrada is a master of activating organizational hyper-growth and turnaround through the transformation and creation of dynamic, diverse and inclusive cultures. With over 25 years of experience of integrating people and leadership capability into the foundation of business strategies, she has energized brands to codify their purpose and values while accelerating company growth and industry-wide change, inspiring a movement for employee well-being and opportunity. Marissa has been the key catalyst in transforming cultures and driving performance at a multitude of consumer brands, most recently as the first chief people officer at Chipotle Mexican Grill. She is currently serving as an independent board director at Krispy Kreme, Inc. where she is also the chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee.

Follow Brady on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brady-young-hrexec/
Follow Doretha on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doretha-bailey/
Follow Marissa on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissaandrada/

In the corporate world, culture is invisible yet it profoundly impacts every aspect of the organization. Listen in to learn how culture can be a powerful driver of performance, talent attraction, and retention, giving organizations a unique edge.

Panelists:
Glen Kreiner, Management Department Chair & L.S. Skaggs Presidential Chair in Business Ethics, University of Utah
Geoff McDonald, Co-Founder, Minds@Work
Stacey Porter, Chief People Officer, Outset Medical, Inc

Moderated by: Derek Lundsten, President & Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides

Find episode chapters in your podcast app, or use these timestamps:
00:00 Introductions
06:47 What does culture mean to you?
10:48 Micro-cultures within an organization
16:07 Healthy and unhealthy cultures
26:20 Mental health in the workplace
34:17 Culture must be shaped every day
41:38 The effect of management
45:34 Culture eats strategy for breakfast
49:40 Maintaining a positive culture

BIOS:

Professor Glen Kreiner is the Chair of the Department of Management and the L.S. Skaggs Presidential Chair in Business Ethics Management at the University of Utah. He received his Master’s in Organizational Behavior from Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Arizona State University. He has taught a wide range of audiences, from undergraduates to doctoral students and from MBAs to executive education. He has taught in-person and online courses and workshops on many topics, including workplace mindfulness, leadership skills, authenticity, identity-based leadership, work-life navigation, diversity/inclusion/belonging, and teamwork.

Geoff’s background in teaching, HR, marketing, communications and sustainability is considerable. His experience during his 25 years with Unilever, has taken him around the world, working across Africa, the Middle East and Turkey, Australasia and Asia, Europe and the Americas.His HR experience has spanned leadership and talent development, organization change, capability development with a particular reference to marketing, and business transformation with purpose at its core.

Stacey Porter joined Outset as Vice President, People Operations in November 2018. Stacey has deep expertise in organizational design, innovative talent practices, and employee engagement, and is often defined as a talent executive who is “of the people”. Prior to Outset, she was the Head of Global Talent Development for Intuitive Surgical, Inc., responsible for designing performance and succession practices, while developing leaders and high performing teams. Stacey has also held leadership roles at VMware and Roche, and has built a career on creating nimble, progressive organizations. She has a MSW and doctoral studies in industrial/organizational psychology. She is a sought-after speaker on building high performance cultures and developing skills for the future workplace.
Follow Glen on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glen-kreiner-16b6417/
Follow Geoff on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-mcdonald/
Follow Stacey on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slaporter/