Rebels With A Heart

Living in 13 different countries with deep experience across 7 industries, Sissi has enjoyed a wide variety of cultures and quickly learned people are not linear. Tune in to discover Sissi’s unique ideas to co-create, solve, and transform corporate issues into viable solutions – all while boosting an organization’s culture.  

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Kudos to this Rebels guest for initiating a massive nationwide project, known as the Grand Challenge, to end the persistent stigma around mental health issues.  As a professor of leadership and management courses, as well as his scholarly role with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (University of Utah), Glen has a distinct understanding on how people can make a difference in others’ lives. This conversation further explores his path on the actual design, creation, and leadership needed to create such a project with purpose.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Joe Mechlinski, CEO of SHIFT, joins our Rebels Leader Series and offers strategic insights on how to find a viable path in the face of adversity.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President & Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

• How to find your way in the face of adversity
• The effects of behavioral conditioning
• How do you give people freedom in a framework

Show Notes:

The Why: 1:40
Joe’s Influences: 6:30
Fostering Connection: 10:40
It Takes A Village: 10:48
Behavioral Conditioning: 16:55
LATCH: 21:31
The Job Description Of A CEO: 30:25
Where To Find Joe: 36:20

BIO: Joe Mechlinski, Founder & CEO of SHIFT, is on a mission to change the way we work. He helps leaders and organizations disrupt outdated norms, build engaged workforces, and use technology to unlock human potential. SHIFT is a tech-enabled management consulting firm and is nationally recognized as a ‘Best Workplace.’ 

Joe’s approach to business and life is rooted in the soil of adversity. Growing up with food insecurity and intermittent, unstable housing, Joe was able to play football for Patterson High School in Baltimore, Maryland – a move that ultimately earned him a place at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University.

Follow Joe on LinkedIn→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemechlinski/

Links:
https://www.joemechlinski.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Shift-Work-Joe-Mechlinski-audiobook/dp/B07SD7369B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1H9F3E18TVE25&keywords=shift+the+work&qid=1652986591&sprefix=shift+the+work%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Regardless-Businesss-Industry-Government/dp/161448435X

In this episode of our Rebels Leader Series, Andrew Sykes, CEO of Habits At Work, provides a powerful tale of how his youth and being an immigrant has ended up shaping his outlook on business today.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

• Through his experience of privileged guilt, Andrew shares how his perspective on running a business has shifted
• How an extreme approach to autonomy allows your people to do their magic
• Andrew’s view on human beings is not that they have habits, but instead habits take hold of human beings

BIO: In addition to leading the Habits At Work team, Andrew is a Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is also part of the Kellogg Sales Institute Executive Education Team, where he teaches the award-winning course “Entrepreneurial Selling,” ranked as a Top Ten course in the US by the prestigious Inc. Magazine.

Andrew is a co-author on The 11th Habit, which distills the work of the Behavioral Research and Applied Technology Laboratory (BRATLAB). This research (and book) shows which habits truly matter for sustained high performance, competitive differentiation, trust building, and organizational growth, along with how to help people to practice those habits.

Follow Andrew on LinkedIn→https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsykes1/

Links:
https://www.andrewsykes.com/
https://habitsatwork.com/
https://www.amazon.com/11th-Habit-Company-Culture-Performance/dp/0998023507

Jake Merriman, former CEO at Abundant.is, joins the Rebels Leader Series to openly and poignantly share his journey in finding his ‘true north.” It is an unexpected path with new, interesting realizations we can all use.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

• How (& where) spirituality can meet the marketplace
• How to elevate the status quo through flourishing and innovation
• The benefits of giving yourself permission to explore and experiment

BIO: Jake Merriman, former CEO of Abundant.is, has found his purpose in teaching, uniting, and guiding the world’s servers, entrepreneurs, and investors, who are the true stewards of humanity.  He is excited to usher in cutting-edge transformational mediation technology for the aquarian age – and to reveal and to celebrate the sacred in each and every one of us.

Today, Jake’s primary mission is to be an embodiment of the Mahalo Method, by maintaining and transmitting its consistent power. He also enjoys meeting, mentoring, and bringing these tools to the world’s servers, who can immediately put them into their practice and make the greatest of impacts.

Follow Jake on LinkedIn→https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-merriman-666a798

Links:
https://jakemerriman.com/

Benjamin Higgins, Co-Founder of Generous International and veteran of ABC’s hit series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, joins the Rebels Leader Series to share his journey of finding a way to use his “gifted” platform for good and how he aims to bring light, energy, and an intentional message of connection and hope in everything he does.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

• How a destruction moment can lead to one of the best reconstructions
• How the search for relevance can lead to finding a way to do what you always wanted to do in the most unexpected way
• How to elevate the voices of people who do not have a platform to speak from

BIO: Ben Higgins, a veteran of ABC’s hit series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, won over the hearts of loyal viewers with his refreshing vulnerability and willingness to share himself fully. Following his appearances across franchises, Higgins has embarked on numerous ventures, entrepreneurial and otherwise, grounded in faith, a sense of hope for humanity, and a mission to help organizations connect more deeply with their employees and customers.

Higgins co-founded Generous International in 2017, a for-purpose company dedicated to raising money to create jobs, feed children, improve education, and empower communities to eliminate poverty around the world. He additionally founded the podcast, Hope Still Wins, where he sits down with influential thought-leaders to discuss topics ranging from faith and music to mental health and racial injustice. Each guest shares personal stories that have shaped their current view on hope, and are meant to serve, inspire, and connect us — challenging and helping us all to become a better world, together.

Outside of his socially conscious work, he maintains a relationship with his loyal Bachelor fanbase through the iHeartMedia podcast Almost Famous, which he hosts alongside fellow former contestant Ashley Iaconetti. To date, they’ve accumulated over 80 million downloads.

In 2021, Higgins became an author with his first book Alone In Plain Sight, which focuses on reconnecting with yourself, others, and God.

Ben currently resides in Denver, CO, with his wife and best friend, Jess. Whether it’s showing up well in his marriage, making business decisions, doing a keynote speech, writing a book, or hosting a show, Ben aims to bring light, energy, and an intentional message of connection and hope.

Follow Ben on Instagram→ @higgins.ben

Links:
https://thebenhiggins.com/
https://generouscoffee.com/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400221358?tag=nelsonbooks-20
https://open.spotify.com/show/4fmrbb0nRR4qyMl30bNFA7?si=338f1c0916ff4daf&nd=1
https://open.spotify.com/show/2xYHA17Bs3W30eS01c0gcL?si=58f92702e89b4842&nd=1

Tracie Sponenberg, Chief People Officer of The Granite Group, joins the Rebels Leader Series to share the art and science behind modernizing and changing HR for the better.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

• How shifting to a Growth Mindset can change your life, personally and professionally, for the better
• Through Tracie’s personal experience, she shares the the importance of providing feedback

BIO: Tracie Sponenberg is Chief People Officer of The Granite Group, based in Concord, NH. An award-winning, third-generation family-owned business, The Granite Group has a proud tradition in the plumbing and heating wholesale supply business dating back to the turn of the last century.  Tracie is responsible for leading all People functions throughout the company, which has 45 locations, and nearly 600 employees throughout New England.

With expertise in strategic business planning, technology selection and deployment, employee engagement and wellness, employment branding, culture development and turnaround, leadership and team development, organizational and strategy development, she has gained broad experience across a wide range of industries in her more than 20 years in human resources, with much of her career focused on working with CEOs to develop people strategies to help the organizations grow.  She began her career in HR while in college, interning with a global public transportation company, and advanced through the organization over the next five years.  Tracie found her HR home in small to medium sized private companies, where she could have the most impact on the business.  She’s led the HR function at an award-winning multi-state professional services firm; a Pulitzer-prize winning newspaper and publishing company, and a national wellness distribution and technology company.

Follow Tracie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciesponenberg/

Links:
https://traciesponenberg.com/

How do leaders tackle all of today’s headwinds? For starters, leaders face a highly-competitive talent landscape, an exhausted, burned-out workforce with mental health at the forefront, along with the incessant pressure to continuously control costs in a (potential) economic downturn. At the same time, the demand for leadership development has never been greater.

Listen in to hear the inside track on how to show up and show care for your people, as well as how to always remain purpose-driven, flexible, and proactive.   

Panelists:
Roshan Kindred, Chief Diversity Officer, PagerDuty
Grant Weinberg, VP Talent Acquisition, Eikon Therapeutics
Dr. Taryn Marie Stejska, Chief Resilience Officer & Founder, Resilience Leadership Institute

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

BIOS

Roshan Kindred is the Chief Diversity Officer, PagerDuty and is an inclusion strategist, cultural innovator, thought leader, and global business executive. She’s known for her high-energy and inspirational keynotes, her ability to help people bridge differences and connect more meaningfully, and for her ability to mentor executives on the importance of DEI and the business imperative for equitable experiences.

Grant Weinberg is the VP of Talent Acquisition at Eikon Therapeutics. Grant previously served as Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition, HR Operations and HRIS at TriNet. He spent the prior 11 years with Gilead in a variety of integral roles, including building and leading TA for the EMEA region across 13 sites, and managing global TA for Commercial, G&A and Emerging Markets. His earlier HR career was spent in the UK with Accenture, Capgemini, and Manpower Group. He earned a National Diploma in Company Administration from Witwatersrand Technikon, and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from London Metropolitan University.

Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal is the Founder and Chief Resilience Officer of Resilience Leadership Institute, she is recognized #1 international expert on resilience, mental health, and wellbeing in both leadership and life. Her mission is to positively impact the lives of 1 billion people, by enhancing hope, healing, and health as well as increased consciousness and enhanced leadership through the practices of resilience.

Follow Roshan on LinkedIn→https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshankindred/
Follow Grant on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantweinbergmcipd/
Follow Dr. Taryn on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/taryn-marie-stejskal/

Related Links:
https://www.resilience-leadership.com/5-practices-highly-resilient-people-book

Richard Bilodeau, Professor at University of Southern Maine, joins the Rebel Leader Series to share his professional journey and lessons learned as a Chemist, entrepreneur, and Professor at University of Southern Maine

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President & Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

• Explains how spending more time experimenting and acting vs planning can lead to taking in information faster and to being more creative and innovative
• How some of the most important learnings can come from failure
• How every job can have a great learning opportunity

Show Notes:
In the classroom: 3:31
Transition to Business: 4:50
Experimenting & Acting: 11:40
Teaching Influences: 13:03
Gratitude: 17:07
The Absurdity of Life: 18:26
What would I do differently?: 22:01
Cognitive Bias: 28:40
How to get people to action: 36:25
Where to find Richard: 37:40

BIO: Professor Bilodeau teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in entrepreneurship, creative strategies, design thinking, business sustainability, and marketing. He is an entrepreneur who is a partner in two growing businesses (one in the direct marketing and the other in television production and research). He also has an active consulting practice with clients located in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition to his teaching, Professor Bilodeau oversees USM’s Center for Entrepreneurship, is the Interim Director of the Center for Economic and Business Research, is the Faculty Chair of the Hussey Leadership Institute, and serves on the Honors Faculty Council. Professor Bilodeau’s current research focuses on the role our neurobiology plays in our creative and business decision-making and design thinking process. He also studies practice models for innovation, sustainability, resilience, and leadership.

Prior to his career in business and education, he worked in a clinical laboratory where he conducted research and testing involving tumor markers.

In his free time, Professor Bilodeau enjoys yoga, meditation, traveling, drawing, and exploring the vibrant restaurant scene in Portland, Maine (where he resides) and Montreal, Quebec (where he visits often).

Follow Richard on LinkedIn→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-bilodeau-487879/

Kacy Fleming, Head of Global Well-being, joins the Rebel Leader Series to share her authentic journey to finding her purpose which required heart and hard work.

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President & Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

• How to be inspiring and inspired by others instead of just being a performer
• How everyone’s journey to figuring out their authentic purpose looks different and is personal
• How mental health is a spectrum, not just one “thing”

Show Notes:
Authentic Truth: 2:07
Having Done the Work: 4:13
Pharmaceutical Jackknife: 9:57
Stopping the Stigma: 16:26
Performance & Wellbeing: 20:31
How to Find Kacy: 33:04

BIO:
Kacy Fleming is the Head of Global Well-Being, where she is focused on equitable access to resources and programs, as well as mental health inclusivity. She is currently working towards her Masters in Organizational Psychology at William James College. Kacy is an avid writer and speaker who has recently authored pieces for Thrive on mid-life career transitions and women’s health. Kacy has worked with increasing responsibility to help her companies build and execute strategy around mental health and overall employee well-being. Other areas of work and focus include diversity, equity and inclusion from a well-being perspective. When not working or attending school, Kacy enjoys reading, yoga, skiing with her partner, Mark, and/or drinking matcha lattes while snuggling her two chihuahuas, Otto and Finn.

Follow Kacy on LinkedIn→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasingact/

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this presentation and on the following slides are solely those of the presenter and not necessarily those of Takeda. Takeda does not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of the information provided herein.