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“I’ve spent years studying the brain, but it’s the heart that’s taught me how to lead, heal and grow.” It’s all about our brains on today’s episode! Meet Silvia Damiano, a scientist, author, filmmaker, and lifelong explorer of the brain who has, over two decades, dedicated her work to understanding the inner workings of the mind and the power of emotion. The Argentina-born Silvia is the founder of the About my Brain Institute and creator of the i4 Neuroleader™ Model & Methodology which has been taught around the world and is reshaping the way we think about leadership. Silvia blends her background in neuroscience, education and leadership to help people reconnect with their innate creativity, intuition and sense of purpose.

Silvia’s documentary Make Me A Leader and her books Leadership is Upside Down and Brain-Friendly Leadership have inspired global audiences to rethink success, balance and self-awareness in the modern world. She collaborates closely with her adult children, Relmi and Sacha. Together they’ve recently created two powerful card decks: ‘Heart to Heart Conversations’ and ‘The Elephant in the Room’, designed to spark meaningful dialogue and deepen human connection.

[03:40s] Her journey into neuroscience

[11:51s] On neuro leadership and her work in About my Brain Institute

[21:45s] Top ‘brain-friendly’ leadership practices

[28:28s] On her ‘i4 Neuroleader™ Model assessment

[38:19s] On evolution of neuroscience – the near future

[44:07s] Looking ahead: About my Brain Institute

[46:13s] RWL:

Read ‘Your Brain at Work’ by David Rock;

Read Atomic Habits’ by James Clear

Read ‘Mind-Gut Connection’ by Emeran Mayer

Watch Silvia’s documentary film ‘Make Me A Leader’

Read Silvia’s book ‘Brain-Friendly Leadership’

Connect with Silvia on LinkedIn

Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? Write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

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This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’.

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Bringing over a decade of experience in Leadership facilitation and coaching, driven by a passion for transformative learning experiences, Linmin (Michelle) Zhang, Founder and MD of IncluSmart, is widely recognized as an accomplished facilitator in DEI with specialized expertise in Strategic Planning, Culture Shaping, Action Planning, and Leadership Transformation. Her company, IncluSmart, inspired by the Chinese pictographic characters of 容锐, represents the idea that an inclusive environment evokes wisdom for both individuals and teams.

With a background as a Global Product Manager in the Medical Equipment Industry at Mindray and GE Healthcare, Michelle leverages her 13 years of corporate experience to serve clients across various industries. Her portfolio spans across sectors and over 20 countries. Her unique approach combines facilitation, coaching, and drama-based role plays, enriching individual leadership development while fostering a sense of belonging among clients’ employees. Her diverse skill set has enabled her to adapt her facilitation style to a variety of settings, including corporate meetings, government learning programs, and organizational development for NGOs.

Michelle holds an MBA degree specializing in Strategic Planning for Leadership in Change Management, along with a medical degree specialized in Anesthesiology. A Certified Professional Facilitator, Michelle also serves on the Board of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF).

[04:41s] From medicine to sales and marketing to facilitation

[13:36s] Pivot into consulting and facilitating

[30:38s] Discovering the world of IAF

[39:09s] On the magic of facilitation #FacPower

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Tune In Alexa, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn + Alexa, Stitcher, Jio Saavn and more.

This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

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As a kid in Colorado, United States, he grew up thinking he was part Japanese (after a playful prank from his mother). Today, he has been living in Japan for almost three decades. One could call that destiny alright! Meet Dr. David Sweet, Founder and CEO of FocusCore Group, a leading executive search consultancy in Tokyo which has consulted for top-tier companies across the region, helping them find exceptional talent and fill critical roles with the best candidates.

David holds a PhD in Leadership Development and is also a certified ICF Executive Coach. His expertise in leveraging social networking for recruitment in Japan has earned him recognition in publications such as ‘Facebook & LinkedIn: Social Media Job-Hunting Techniques That Don’t Require a Resume’. Before moving to Japan, he spent a decade working in Labor Relations and Employee Development for the U.S. Government. David is the author of ‘Sweet Sales’, ‘Sweet Success’ and ‘Recruit! Becoming the Top-Biller’ as well as two books of poetry and a children’s book! He also hosts the FocusCore Podcast. David is also an 'obsessed mid-pack marathon runner' (best time 3:09) and a musician playing the ukulele and the mandolin as a member of the Sweet Strings Orchestra.

[03:20s] Colorado to Tokyo

[11:16s] Recruitment and HR in Japan

[19:10s] Top skills in demand in Japan

[26:22s] Evolution of business culture in Japan

[35:30s] FocusCore Group’s growth, learning, challenges, opportunities

[43:17s] Future of the talent recruitment industry

[50:49s] RWL: Check out David’s books ‘Sweet Sales’, ‘Sweet Success’ and ‘Recruit! Becoming the Top-Biller’; Listen to David’s podcast FocusCore Podcast

Follow FocusCore Group’s work at https://focuscoregroup.com/

Connect with David on LinkedIn

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Tune In Alexa, and more.

This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

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“Business for good is good business,” says our guest for this episode and we could not agree more.

Meet Marga Hoek, a three-time CEO who gained international recognition for her visionary, innovative approach synergizing sustainability, technology and strong business and financial results. Founder of Business for Good which aims to accelerate sustainable, innovative businesses around the world, Marga is a Global Voice on Imagine5, an environmental impact platform dedicated to inspiring change through the power of positive storytelling.

Marga has authored three trailblazing books that all received golden awards, like ‘The Trillion Dollar Shift’ and recently ‘Tech for Good’ which in addition was selected as one of the Thinkers50 best management books of 2024. Marga’s vision and thought leadership is featured in Forbes, Fortune, Financial Times, G7 and G20 Magazines, Huffington Post and many publications. She is recognized as one of the most influential, forward-thinking management thinkers by Thinkers50 and Thinkers360 and is a sought-after speaker on sustainable business, technology, and investment.

[03:55s] The Marga Hoek origin story

[09:04s] “Business for good is good business.”

[16:53s] Sustainability in business today

[29:08s] ‘Business for Good’ and ‘Tech for Good’

Follow Marga’s work at https://margahoek.com/

Connect with Marga on LinkedIn

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Tune In Alexa, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn + Alexa, Stitcher, Jio Saavn and more.

This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

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Delivering experiences that drive change, Moe Poirier is the masterful facilitator best known for his work upskilling training teams around the world to level-up their impact on the people and organizations they serve. Founding Partner at Shift Facilitation Inc.,Moe is a facilitator, speaker, author, and instructional designer specializing in train-the-trainer.

Before Shift was born in 2015, Moe spent the better part of 20+ years as a contract facilitator delivering leadership, coaching, and team performance programs. He has worked with leaders from across the world, from Canada to Saudi Arabia.

A frequent speaker at industry conferences since 2016, Moe has presented at the Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL) annual conference; and ATD’s International Conference & Expo, Core4, and on the global stage at both the Asia Pacific Conference & Expo, and Southeast Asia Summit. He is also no stranger to delivering sessions at virtual conferences, webinars, and public sessions via partners including the International Association of Facilitators, Mid-Atlantic Facilitators Network, and Human Resource Professionals Association.

Hit play for this riveting conversation focusing on the humanist side of facilitation

[02:42s] The Engineer, Entrepreneur, Educator

[16:08s] The Facilitator

[31:30s] Evolution of facilitation over the years, use of AI

[44:02s] His upcoming book ‘A Facilitator’s Gift’

[50:31s] RWL: Read ‘The Art of Gathering’ by Priya Parker; ‘Practice Perfect’ by Doug Lemov, Erica Woolway, and Katie Yezzi; ‘Nimble’ by Rebecca Southerns; ‘Unlocking the Magic of Facilitation’ by Meg Bolger and Sam Killermann

Follow Moe’s work at www.shiftfacilitation.com

Connect with Moe on LinkedIn

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Tune In Alexa, Amazon Music, and more.

This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

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Our guest today is a Harvard-trained physician-scientist, TEDx speaker, author, inventor, and entrepreneur with a 42-year career in medicine, science and leadership. Meet Dr. Ravi Iyer, MD, who has been recognized by Marqui’s Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in TOP Doctors of America.

Sought after as a brilliant engaging communicator whose TEDxGary talk on The Power of Intentional Focus was the 9th most viewed TEDx talk in 2024 with over 1.5 million views in under 90 days, Dr. Iyer is acclaimed as 2024’s fastest-rising speaker and expert on People First Leadership. He conducts workshops on Burnout Resistant Leadership; Cognitive Alignment for teams and courses on Strategies of Neuroaligned Groups that have been rated as transformational for enabling individuals, teams, and organizations to discover methods by which they can remain connected to their purpose with immense focus and creativity providing them resilience and flexibility in navigating the challenges of their enterprise and their life.

[04:48s] Genesis of his journey as a doctor

[15:18s] ‘Silencing the mental clutter’

[26:49s] The 30-minute ‘pill’ fix to maximize the ‘Creator’s Hour’

[33:43s] Dr. Iyer’s secret to work-life balance

[43:08s] His take on what mental wellbeing means today

CLICK HERE to get a free signed digital copy of Dr. Iyer’s book, ‘The Art of Viral Speaking’.

Check out his other books: ‘The Reaper’s Dance’ and ‘Squirrels in my Brain’

Connect with Dr. Iyer on LinkedIn

Learn more about his work at www.driyer.com

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Tune In Alexa, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn + Alexa, and more.

This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

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Empowering innovators and entrepreneurs among the underserved segments of Arkansas, United States is the amazing team at Startup Junkie led by our guest today – Claudia P Scott, Director of Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Kiva NWA. Claudia spearheads Kiva NWA initiatives aimed at empowering small businesses and underserved entrepreneurs by enhancing access to capital and essential resources. Under her leadership, the annual funds allocated to Kiva loans in Northwest Arkansas (NWA) have increased by 2.5 times, all the while maintaining an exceptional repayment rate. Over 80% of these loans are directed toward underserved communities, fostering greater equity and economic opportunity in the region. A native of Costa Rica and fluent in both English and Spanish, Claudia is also deeply committed to advocating for Tourette Syndrome and neurodiversity, using her personal experiences to champion the creation of inclusive environments both in and out of the workplace.

Hit play to tune into the story behind the unstoppable force that is Claudia P Scott!

[05:26s] Genesis of her inclusive entrepreneurial journey

[10:04s] Story of Kiva NWA

[19:12s] Facilitating inclusive entrepreneurship in the community

[33:34s] The Kiva success stories!

[40:06s] RWL: Read ‘It Didn't Start with You’ by Mark Wolynn; ‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama; WATCH ‘That 70s Show’; LISTEN to ‘How to be Human’ podcast by Anna Toonk

Connect with Claudia on LinkedIn

Learn more about Kiva NWA at https://startupjunkie.org/kivalaunch/

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Tune In Alexa, Amazon Music, Pandora, Jio Saavn and more.

This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

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Facilitating deeply human spaces centered on connection and community for over 15 years now is the one and only Rangineh Azimzadeh Tehrani, the Principal and Founder of Solh Resolutions International. A Circle Practitioner and Certified Professional Facilitator©, Rangineh lives into her core values of empathy and self-awareness through her work with The Circle Way (TCW), a circle methodology that offers a counter-cultural, equity-centered approach to working with groups while shifting organizations from transactional places into relational spaces. Her early years rooted in Tehran where she lived with her family during the Iran/Iraq war, ultimately set the foundation for her commitment to peace and conflict transformation work.

Rangineh has worked with cross-sector organizations from community-based organizations to local governments. She was part of a global facilitation team that trained Saudi executive health care professionals in facilitation methods as part of the country’s 2030 Vision, for which the project won an IAF Gold Impact Award.

Hit play to listen to this fascinating conversation illustrating Rangineh’s brilliant work facilitating community engagements, conflict consciousness workshops, racial healing circles and more.

[05:25s] Genesis of her work in conflict resolution

[09:34s] Journey into facilitation

[16:29s] Facilitating community engagements

[19:01s] Conflict consciousness workshops

[44:54s] RWL: Read ‘Clarity & Connection’ by Yung Pueblo; ‘Emergent Strategy’ by Adrienne Maree Brown; ‘Holding Change’ by Adrienne Maree Brown; ‘Rest is Resistance’ by Tricia Hersey; ‘Hope for the Flowers’ by Trina Paulus; LISTEN to Damien Escobar

Connect with Rangineh on LinkedIn

Find out more about Rangineh’s work at https://www.solhresolutionsinternational.com/

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms.

This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook