Empathy — Podcast — 12 Geniuses

The Unlocked Leader with Hortense le Gentil

In this interview about leadership development, author and executive coach Hortense le Gentil describes how leaders can unlock their power by learning to lead with empathy, authenticity, and humanity. Hortense describes how many leaders are held back by mindtraps - “old beliefs and expectations that no longer serve us” - like imposter syndrome, fixed mindsets, emotional stereotypes, familial expectations, etc,

Hortense shares how leaders can overcome these mindtraps by becoming aware of them, having a desire to change them, and the courage to directly face the obstacles holding the leader back. She finishes the conversation by describing how leaders can build and anchor new perspectives and new practices that will unlock more empathetic and effective leadership capabilities.

Hortense le Gentil is a world-renowned executive leadership coach, speaker and author. She guides CEOs and senior executives on their journey from hero leaders to human leaders. She is the author of the book Aligned: Connecting Your True Self with the Leader You’re Meant to Be, which was published in 2019 and “The Unlocked Leader: Dare to Free your Own Voice, Lead With Empathy and Shine Your Light in the World,” released in 2023.

Warrior Toughness - Mind, Body, Soul with FLTCM David Isom

In this interview, Fleet Master Chief David Isom discusses the Navy SEAL selection process, the endurance required to survive “Hell Week,” the daily dangers of being a member of a SEAL team and how the stress of that danger is managed, and how the US military approaches resilience at an organizational level. He even talks about his role in the planning and rescue of Private Jessica Lynch when she was a prisoner of war in Iraq.

Fleet Master Chief David Isom assumed his current duties as Command Senior Enlisted Leader for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in June of 2022. He previously served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Special Operations Command Pacific; Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Special Operations Command North; Command Master Chief, Naval Special Warfare Group TEN; and Command Master Chief, Special Reconnaissance Team TWO. His other assignments include Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Tactical Development and Evaluation Squadron ONE, and SEAL Team ONE.

Master Chief Isom's assignments have included a full range of duties in Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) Teams at Theater Special Operations Commands, and across the joint environment. His combat and operational deployments include Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as deployments throughout the Pacific and the Horn of Africa.

Being CEO with Evamarie Schoenborn

In this episode, 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson and guest Evamarie Schoenborn talk about the attributes of great leadership, they discuss how Evamarie honed her listening skills by emulating financial advisors with whom she worked, and she shares how she and her team led Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management through the pandemic. Evamarie describes her approach to talent management, assessment, and succession planning as CEO and she is candid about the challenges of being CEO, including the difficulty of transitioning into that role from another company. Evamarie also talks about creating a sense of belonging across the entire organization, why she spent so much time on developing others, and she leaves us with her thoughts on what she would like her legacy as a leader to be.

The Future of Women at Work with Minda Harts

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by workplace expert, author, podcaster and speaker Minda Harts. Together they discuss how women — especially women of color — have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and what organizations can do to bring back women who have left the workforce. They also discuss paid maternity leave, the wage gap and what is needed to create an equitable work environment.

The Future of Political Healing with Bill Doherty of Braver Angels

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by University of Minnesota professor and family therapist Bill Doherty. He’s the co-founder of Braver Angels, an organization that aims to help Americans with differing political beliefs understand each other beyond stereotypes. Don and Bill discuss how extreme the political divide has become in recent decades, the methodologies used by the Braver Angels in workshops and events, and the benefits that American citizens and politicians alike can gain from learning to communicate better with those who align themselves differently on the political spectrum.

The Future of Policing with Jim Burch

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by the President of the National Police Foundation, Jim Burch. They discuss the research the National Police Foundation has collected on policing technology, training, and community building as well as the importance of procedural justice. They also discuss the impact of the death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement and the subsequent protests and unrest across the United States.

Leadership Moment - A Giving Spirit

There is something beautiful about selflessness. With a simple gesture, a little kindness, or an act of generosity, we can make the world a better place. This is a four-minute story of someone who exemplified the spirit of giving and never cared that no one was watching.

Leadership Momentdon macphersonApril 29, 2020Leadership Moment, Kindness, Empathy, Wisdom, Cancer, Family, Giving Back, generosity

Leadership Moment - The Power to Persevere

A decade from now when we look back at what we’ve overcome, we will remember the connections who helped us through this moment and the meaning that gave us the will to endure and the power to persevere.

Leadership Momentdon macphersonApril 8, 2020Leadership Moment, Leadership, WWII, War, Empathy, Resilience, hope, Sacrifice, Family, Heroism

Leadership Moment - Shared Sacrifices

In 2008 and 2009, a software company was hammered by the Great Recession. Layoffs were imminent in order to stay in business. Instead, the owners chose to share the sacrifices across the organization, keep its team together, and weather the storm. The company recovered and thrived while protecting the families of its employees.

Leadership Moment - Extraordinary Acts of Heroism from Ordinary People

The last few weeks have rocked the world in ways that most of us have never experienced. We are self-quarantined, restaurants and shops are closed, school children have been sent home, events we have held sacred are canceled. Whatever normal was seems like a distant memory. Our souls are being tried.

Times of uncertainty have a way of unifying us. They also create extraordinary acts of heroism from ordinary people. Bill MacDonald and Richard Seale are two of those heroes. When Hurricane Sandy rocked their community in 2012, they decided to step up. This is their story.

Kindness and Empathy in Berlin 30 Years After the Wall

Following pressures from international powers in the 1980s, the deconstruction of the Berlin Wall began. This month, the world celebrated the 30th anniversary of the wall’s demise. The fall of the wall symbolizes a series of events that led to freedoms and opportunities for hundreds of millions of people around the world.

For a year, I knew I wanted to join the celebration in Berlin and I wanted to share the celebration with my three-year-old daughter. Together we spent a week in Germany. I was certain I would come home with a story about how Berlin and the demise of its wall was a microcosm of the world today. It turns out the story is a lot more complicated than I expected.

Flying back to the United States, my daughter slept next to me as I jotted down three lessons I took away from the trip. It’s these three lessons I want to share with you today in this bonus podcast episode.

Jim Geckler | From Active Addiction to CEO

In this episode of 12 Geniuses, host Don MacPherson interviews Jim Geckler, CEO of the Harmony Foundation in Estes Park, Colorado. Jim bravely and candidly shares his transformative journey from battling active addiction to leading a renowned treatment center, offering invaluable insights into leadership, change, and emotional intelligence.

Key Lessons for Global Business Leaders:

Embracing Personal Transformation: Jim's narrative underscores the power of personal change, illustrating how overcoming significant personal challenges can lead to profound professional growth.
Leading with Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Jim’s experiences highlight the importance of understanding and compassion in leadership, emphasizing that emotional intelligence is crucial in guiding teams through disruption and change.
How addiction is a powerful barrier for reaching one’s potential: Jim journey from rock bottom to becoming an executive illustrates how devastatingly powerful addiction is in preventing people from performing at their highest levels.
Guidance for spotting people at risk: By fostering an environment that prioritizes support and trust, Jim demonstrates how leaders can cultivate resilience and adaptability within their organizations.
Advice for dealing with employees or family members struggling with addiction : Lies, slipping grades, late assignments, and abnormal behavior are a few of the warning signs that Jim says are important signals that someone might be struggling or on the precipice of addiction. It’s important these signs are addressed and not ignored.

About 20 million people in the United States have substance abuse problems and 72,000 Americans lost their lives from drug overdoses in 2017. The chances are you have a family member, a friend, a work colleague, or neighbor who struggles with addiction.

This episode offers a profound exploration of how personal adversity can inform and enhance leadership capabilities, providing global business leaders with actionable insights into managing change, fostering emotional intelligence, and leading with courage in the face of disruption.

Changedon macphersonDecember 3, 2018addiction, recovery, drug abuse, hope, opioids, Kindness, LGBTQ+, Empathy, Reinvention, rehabilitation, Leadership

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