In times of upheaval, the success of a business often hinges on its ability to adapt — and adaptation begins with trust. Trust fuels the conversations that create alignment, encourage inclusivity and inspire change. But trust, especially in teams grappling with complex challenges, doesn’t just happen. It must be built deliberately through shared understanding, transparent … [More]
Resilience – Core of Innovation
Identify and foster fundamental traits of innovation
The purpose of this column is twofold: to expand leaders’ awareness of the exponential impact that individual resilience has on organizational success, and to elevate its consideration as a highly prudent strategy for long-term organizational sustainability in times of tumultuous change. Today’s topic is the impact of individual resilience on innovation. Innovation is … [More]
Unlock Organizational Agility and Value Creation
Leveraging temporary project managers and redefining project delivery value
Executives today are challenged to think creatively about how they invest in people, processes and technology. In a business landscape driven by rapid innovation, fluctuating demands and the constant need to remain competitive, successful project delivery has become more critical than ever. To meet these demands there must be a better way, and that’s the rise of the “as a … [More]
What I’ve Learned from Women Who Lead Outside the Lines
Radical potential to advance resilience, authenticity and connection
Reflecting on my leadership journey, one of the most transformative experiences has been working alongside incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women. These women have challenged my views of resilience, strength and what it means to lead. Decades of research on women in leadership confirm what I’ve seen firsthand: When women lead, organizations become stronger, more … [More]
Ready to Be a Board Member?
What executives should know before saying, “Yes”
Being asked to sit on a nonprofit board is, admittedly, a nice boost for the ego. But what should corporate executives consider before making the commitment? For starters, they shouldn’t view their board role as a simple résumé builder, says Kristin Crellin, chair of the California State University Philanthropic Foundation Board. “They must have a passion for the … [More]
Oscar Granados: Driving Change in the Auto-Repair Industry
Scottsdale Collision Center redefines the collision-center experience
In the auto-repair world, the story of Oscar Granados, owner of Scottsdale Collision Center, stands out amongst the rest. With hard work, a clear mission and big goals, Granados has turned a standalone auto-repair shop into a thriving, multi-location business that delivers high-quality repairs, keeping customer satisfaction and safety at the heart of his work. While … [More]
Beyond No
This thought-provoking book explores of the concept of resistance ― something that is bound to arise within every organization in response to new projects, policies or initiatives. Rather than seeing resistance as an inconvenience that needs to be eliminated, this book invites readers to take a new approach to different types of resistance, both hidden and obvious, and instead … [More]
Changemakers Wanted
Changemakers Wanted is an inspiring guide for female professionals across all industries who are ready to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful societal change. Danaya Wilson, a visionary leader with more than 17 years of experience, shares her personal transformative journey from battling anxiety to becoming a powerful advocate for ethical leadership and social reform. … [More]
Scalability Blunders: 5 Fails Impeding Sustainable Leadership Team Development
Leadership often must transition from being founder-centric to team-oriented. As companies scale, the centralized decision-making that propelled early success becomes a bottleneck. Effective leadership in this phase hinges on fostering accountability, cultivating alignment, and delegating decision-making authority to the right individuals. Key challenges for scaling … [More]
2 Myths That Can Suffocate Nonprofits
Many nonprofits fail to achieve the lofty goals they seek to achieve. But did you know the root of many nonprofit failures are two myths which permeate and suffocate the sector? What are these myths, and how can nonprofits clear the air, scale, and succeed? I have ,” who can talk about two myths that suffocate the nonprofit sector: “The myth of uniqueness and the overhead … [More]
5 Steps to Being an Extraordinary Leader
Do you want to be an extraordinary leader? Do you know what people really need from you to be that leader? It is not all that hard. But you do have to do some very specific things. In this article, I’ll share what those things are, based on many years of coaching and training executive and managerial leaders. At the basic level, the best leaders know that people have three … [More]
From Intern to President: Chris Kirch’s Leadership Journey at Kitchell Contractors
Learning and collaboration paired with experience and perspective
Some of the best professional advice Chris Kirch ever received came early in his career as a newly minted intern at Kitchell. His lead superintendent advised: “Be a sponge.” “I’ve had a lot of great managers along the way,” Kirch shares. “At that young age, I wasn’t immediately clear what he meant by ‘Be a sponge,’ but I soon learned and this remains some of the best … [More]
Future-Proofing Your Culture: Adapting to the generational shift in 2025 and beyond
For years technology companies have struggled with maintaining their culture as they grow and scale, but today’s challenge is even tricker because of the generational shift underway that is complicating matters. The sheer number of technology companies starting up each day is massive, and competition for top talent has intensified as predicted over the last 10 years. With … [More]
Why Executive Leadership Coaching Is Broken and How to Fix It
Executive Coaching Conundrum: Key problems plaguing traditional leadership coaching approaches … and undermining client results
Middle market businesses face unique leadership challenges, positioned between the agility of startups and the resources of large corporations. Traditional executive coaching often fails to address these specific needs, leading to misaligned development efforts and unrealized potential. Unfortunately, there are a litany of fundamental flaws in current executive coaching … [More]
Vincent VanVleet
Executive Director, The Phoenix Theatre Company
Q: What most notably stands out about your leadership style or what is an example of leadership success you can share with our readers? What most notably stands out about my leadership style is that I am extraordinarily pragmatic. I believe in fostering a culture where customer service and putting the patron first are paramount. Our team is united by the understanding that if … [More]
Mona Stone
Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Legal Officer, Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona, Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley Inc., Goodwill of the San Francisco Bay
Q: What most notably stands out about your leadership style or what is an example of leadership success you can share with our readers? I believe it is important to adapt one’s leadership style as circumstances dictate. Most often, I am direct, which people appreciate because they know where I stand. I encourage learning and I challenge my team to consider solutions and … [More]
Tim Olson
CEO, Deca
Q: What most notably stands out about your leadership style or what is an example of leadership success you can share with our readers? At Deca, we take a bottom-up approach where all employees are involved in shaping our vision, mission, strategies and goals. This inclusive process ensures everyone has an opportunity to share their input and see all the inputs synthesized and … [More]
Edgar R. Olivo
CEO, American Red Cross of Arizona and New Mexico
Q: What most notably stands out about your leadership style or what is an example of leadership success you can share with our readers? My leadership is rooted in empathy, resilience and inclusivity, with a focus on empowering others to succeed. When alleviating human suffering, leadership means being a steady anchor in turbulent times while fostering innovation and … [More]
