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A conversation with Barri Rafferty, the dynamic CEO of Morrow Sodali Americas. Barri shares her unexpected journey to leadership, her approach to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and the strategies she employs to steer the company through the complexities of today's macroeconomic environment.

Barri also delves into the nuances of self-leadership, the importance of empathy in the workplace, and the challenges and opportunities presented by the hybrid work model post-pandemic. With a focus on future-proofing businesses and the role of culture in a rapidly expanding company, this episode is packed with valuable insights for leaders and aspiring professionals alike.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Barri Rafferty and Morrow Sodali Americas
00:42 - How Barri became CEO
01:56 - What Morrow Sodali does
02:57 - A day in the life of a CEO
04:11 - Prioritizing tasks and self-leadership
05:27 - The role of empathy in leadership
06:42 - Barri's reading recommendations
07:50 - Adapting to AI in business
09:27 - Hybrid vs. in-person work post-pandemic
10:44 - Defining company culture
12:22 - The politics of ESG and DEI
14:24 - The importance of equity in DEI
18:00 - Leaders Barri admires
20:48 - The role of empathy in leadership
23:12 - The CEO's role in understanding the macro environment
25:30 - Barri's thoughts on the current economy
27:20 - The chance that shaped Barri's career

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#Leadership #DEI #ESG #SelfLeadership #CorporateCulture #MorrowSodaliAmericas #CEOcomShow #BusinessStrategy #MacroEconomicEnvironment #HybridWorkModel #ArtificialIntelligence #StakeholderEngagement #CorporateGovernance

A conversation with James Kubik, CEO of Somewear Labs, a Silicon Valley startup revolutionizing critical communications for frontline teams, including military and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Somewear Labs' innovative products, like their satellite hotspot and multi-network device Node, enable life-saving communications in the most remote and challenging environments.

In this episode, James shares his journey from a tragic sailing accident to leading a company with a mission to save lives. Learn about the importance of culture, values, and leadership in today's complex world and how Somewear Labs navigates the challenges of a hybrid workforce and the macroeconomic landscape.

📅 Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Somewear Labs and James Kubik
01:04 - James Kubik's journey to CEO and the mission of Somewear Labs
02:09 - The technology behind Somewear Labs' communication platforms
05:14 - The transition from consumer to enterprise/military focus
06:01 - The concept of smart routing in Somewear Labs' devices
07:17 - Decision-making as a CEO and focusing on impactful industries
09:02 - Managing culture and the hybrid workforce model
15:49 - James Kubik's reading habits and recommendations
17:02 - Defining company values at Somewear Labs
18:53 - The personal impact of Somewear Labs' life-saving technology
20:21 - Leadership influences and the importance of doing the right thing
 
🔗 Important Links: 
Somewear Labs: somewearlabs.com 
CEO.com: ceo.com

📚 What to Read Next:
Remote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace - Gustavo Razzetti (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3U5sPx7)

👤 About James Kubik: James Kubik is the CEO of Somewear Labs, a company dedicated to providing reliable communication solutions for teams operating in areas beyond the reach of traditional networks. With a background in engineering and a passion for the outdoors, James has led Somewear Labs to become a key player in critical communications technology.

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On this episode of the For Leaders podcast, Clint meets with Jonathan Cherins who is the CEO of Vector Solutions. They talk about how the company tapped into the learning platform and education markets and how they focus primarily on teaching first responders. Jonathan speaks on the importance of being face to face with customers, as well as finding balance in his schedule, allowing himself the flexibility to read as many books as possible. They touch on the topic of using AI as a major asset to boost software development and content creation, and they dive into how it's being used at the company today. Tune in to learn more insights about the tech community ! "We grew organically from those origination points and we just kept building on that thesis over and over again until we're now in those three markets." 

Join Clint Betts for this episode of the For Leaders podcast as he meets Adam Fish, who is the CEO and co-founder of Ditto. Adam's company is an edge sync platform that syncs data from edge to cloud, even without connectivity. Artificial intelligence has taken the tech world by storm and Adam talks about how it has impacted his industry, as well as how companies are adapting today. Ditto has completely transformed data syncing and they dive into all the various ways the platform can be used to empower teams across the board, including in retail, airlines, and healthcare. They also chat about raising funds and sales strategy, dissecting Ditto's success. Tune in to learn more! "Those devices couldn't do this. This is kind of a new capability that exists and Ditto is enabling that for a lot of different applications that can now work more reliably than ever before."

The CEO and co-founder of Daffy, Adam Nash, joins Clint Betts on this episode of the For Leaders podcast. Daffy is a not-for-profit community built around a new, modern platform for giving with the intention of creating a good habit. Charitable giving is a massive market in the United States and Adam talks about navigating that market and expanding it further so millions of people can donate as much as they wish to on the platform. They chat about lessons learned as leaders, as well as the impact of AI on the tech industry. Adam shares his stance on the remote workforce and they touch on the subject of workplace culture. Tune in to learn more! "We make it as easy as possible for people to put money aside for charity. We take all that work away from the non-profits and we try to make it very easy for people to set up things like recurring donations." 

Clint Betts meets with Samuel Wilson, who is the CEO at 8x8, for this exciting episode of the For Leaders podcast. 8x8 is a platform that empowers teams worldwide to connect, collaborate, and excel. They chat about AI's ability to synthesize meaning from questions and they touch on the topic of working from home, as well as the culture surrounding that debate. Even if they work from home, 8x8 employees work together seamlessly because they are provided the necessary tools to stay connected, the organization is accountable, and upholding company values is prioritized. They also talk about leading a company in Silicon Valley and focusing on changing the world, rather than focusing strictly on wealth. "I want to hire the best people I possibly can. So I never want to be constrained by saying those people, by pure chance, have to be in a 20 mile circumference around where I have an office. I love working with best in class people."