The strongest leaders often come from humble beginnings, because these early hardships are instrumental in the development of grit. 

In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I talk to community leader Kian Kamas. As the Executive Director of PartnerTulsa, Kian is passionate about creating long-term, institutional change in how Tulsa pursues its economic and community development objectives, and is committed to building a sustainable, world-class operating model that builds strong and stable long-term revenues for this important work.

Our discussion explores the many shifts that have led Kian to her current professional success, including her time at the University of Edinburgh, her shift into the world of politics, and her transformation from doer into strong leader. We also dive into her post-University struggles, the hardest job she’s ever had, and how growing up on a farm helped to strengthen her incredible work ethic.

Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover: 

• The biggest challenges Kian has faced while shifting from doer into leader — and how she works through them
• How she navigates a self image of herself as an inexperienced “small-town girl”
• The exercises she uses to help her team find joy and potential in what they do

Guest bio: Kian Kamas serves as the Executive Director of PartnerTulsa, leading Tulsa’s comprehensive community and economic development strategy and a team of talented professionals dedicated to increasing economic opportunity for Tulsa residents. Prior to this role, Kian served as Mayor G.T. Bynum’s Chief of Economic Development. She and her husband Lathen have lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma since 2009, and are raising their son Leith as a proud Tulsan.

Timestamps:

01:45  Intro

03:22  Meet Kian Kamas

05:54  Early work experience

08:24  “All hands on deck” 

10:52  Grit

13:10  Building a strong team

16:27  Hardest job & University of Oklahoma

19:10  University of Edinburgh

21:45  Return to the US & finding her place

26:09  Self-perception

28:44  Biggest challenges

34:22  Team-building tips

40:00  Team retreat

45:40  What’s next?

Links:

Kian Kamas

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiankamas 

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com 

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com 

Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog 

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Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker 

Twitter: @tracylspears 

Instagram: @tracylspears

I may be cheering you on as you think and play bigger, but my guest for this episode could give me a few professional tips! Charity Barton is the University of Tulsa Cheer coach, a Director at TU's Collins College of Business, and an entrepreneur who believes in the power of storytelling. Not only is Charity a gifted and charismatic speaker, she is a TEDx alumna. Her Talk, “How to Fix Your Unhealthiest Relationship”, focuses on the effects of media consumption on mental health and self perception, and how to develop a healthier lifestyle through media literacy — a timely and necessary topic!

While Charity has experienced many shifts in her life, she has also consciously created breathing room that allows her to consider her best next steps. During our conversation, Charity and I dig into the ways in which taking gap years has helped to shape her path forward and allowed her to shift out loud on her own terms. We also discuss Charity’s experiences along the road to TEDx Tulsa and how she is redefining her relationship with mass media for the better.

Listen now to discover: 

• How Charity’s ‘why’ changed in terms of seeking her degree, and how this shift affected her decision
• Charity’s TEDx process and how she prepared for this prestigious stage 
• Powerful tips for interacting with media in a healthier way

Guest bio: Charity Barton is a former University of Tulsa cheerleader and alumna with a B.A. in Communications. She is a Director at TU's Collins College of Business and the TU Cheer coach. She has a Master's in Mass Communications, and recently gave her first TEDx Talk, titled “How to Fix Your Unhealthiest Relationship.”

Timestamps:

01:57  Intro

02:51  Meet Charity Barton

04:34  Gap year lessons

06:50  Influences behind her shifts

10:36  Spain & France

15:10  TEDx Tulsa

20:27  Unhealthiest relationship

23:54  Changing the input

26:51  Storytelling shift

33:33  Good/bad storytelling

38:40  Education & leadership

41:18  What’s next?

Links:

Charity Barton

https://cboriginal.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_q01Ym9Fk

Instagram: @iamchar.ity

The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skin-im-in-sharon-g-flake/1100552129

The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren

https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Driven-Life-What-Earth/dp/031033750X

Don't Drop the Mic: The Power of Your Words Can Change the World by T. D. Jakes

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-drop-the-mic-t-d-jakes/1137427897

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com

My resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog

—

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker

Twitter: @tracylspears

Instagram: @tracylspears

My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud is definitely playing bigger — she was recently recognized as a 2023 Power List Leader in Workplace Diversity by Oklahoma’s Journal Record! As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at BOK Financial, Janet Huber is responsible for providing leadership, vision, and a team-oriented philosophy to advance diversity and inclusion within the organization.

During our conversation, we talk about the unique opportunities provided by the pandemic, how working in the court system helped Janet to shift out loud and hone her craft, and the amazing books that have enabled us to think and play bigger!

Listen now to discover: 

• The importance of taking the time to appreciate our achievements (and those of the people around us!) 
• Why privilege is so often misunderstood and the power of conscious gratitude  
• How to know when you need to speak out — and what to say when you don’t know what to say

Guest bio: Janet Huber is a Senior Vice President and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at BOK Financial. She has over 20 years of progressive HR experience and is passionate about establishing relationships and collaborating to facilitate cross-cultural dialogue and establish inclusive environments. 

Timestamps:

01:48  Intro

03:43  Meet Janet Huber

06:18  North Carolina to Tulsa and back

09:43  Pandemic & remote work

11:39  Wells Fargo to BOK

12:42  “Brag sheets” & thank yous

15:44  Wilkesboro

18:09  Mediation & the empathy gap

22:07  Privilege, gratitude & using your voice

27:02  When to speak & what to say

33:14  Sharing the microphone & mentoring

37:28  Shifting from manager to consultant

42:14  What’s next & DEI

Links:

Janet Huber

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-huber-phr-cm-cpc-0b94542

Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz

https://www.amazon.com/NEW-Never-Split-Difference-Lead-Title/dp/B09VCPNDH3 

The Power of Thanks: How Social Recognition Empowers Employees and Creates a Best Place to Work by Eric Mosley & Derek Irvine

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Thanks-Recognition-Empowers-Employees/dp/0071838406 

Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones

https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Troublemaker-Luvvie-Ajayi-Jones/dp/0593298772 

Master Mentors: 30 Transformative Insights from Our Greatest Minds by Scott Miller

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Mentors-Transformative-Insights-Greatest/dp/1400221013 

Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com 

Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com 

Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog 

—

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker 

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