Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger

In this episode, Heather Younger speaks with Arlene Mendoza, Senior Innovation Program Manager at Alluma about her leadership style, the things that drive her to lead, a time when she did not shine as a leader and her ideas about iterating our leadership style. Key takeaways: Listen to yourself and then to others Think of leadership as an interative process It is ok to decide to move in a differen...

In this episode, Heather Younger speaks to Kirk Adams, President and CEO of American Foundation for the Blind about his unique journey as a blind person for most of his life, how that frames his leadership style and a time when he was not the best version of himself. In a time like today with the coronavirus taking us by storm, Kirk provides an uplifting lesson on how we can move past adversity an...

In this episode, Heather Younger speaks to listeners from Chicago at the No Longer Virtual Conference about imposter syndrome, why it will happen but what to focus on instead and the ways we are all meant to be where we are.   Key takeaways: 1. Know that you are uniquely created to be where you are 2. If you don't think you belong, others might not think it either 3. Create the opportunity to incl...

On this episode, Heather speaks directly listers on employee appreciation day 2020. She highlights some of the real critical ways to show your employees that you appreciate them and makes us think about the value that appreciation bring and what the results can be.   Key takeaways: *What does feeling appreciated mean to you with those you lead? *Should showing appreciation be a cookie-cutter appro...

Heather Younger, speaks with Dr. Karen Johnson, Equity and Inclusion Administrator for Washington Department of Corrections about her leadership style, where her drive to lead comes from, her unique view and purpose working with the incarcerated and those that serve them and her leadership conversion story. Key takeaways: It doesn't matter how much you know, but how much you care Take care of your...

In this episode, Heather Younger, speaks to Dr. T. Renata Robinson, Chief Human Resources Officer at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, about the complexity of leading an organization that serves the poor, and sometimes, employs the poor, a leadership mishap and some key ways to thrive as a leader. Key takeaways: Understand that often we encounter our people in their brokenness Humility is the h...

In this episode, Heather Younger speaks with Kimberly Loving, Chief of Staff for the City of Seattle overseeing the HR function 13,000 employee employees. Kimberly shares the leaders requirement to cultivate their employees, a time when she was not the best version of herself as a leader, and some really cool learnings from her mothers and relatives. Key takeaways: People are the thing that matter...

In this podcast episode, Heather Younger speaks with Benilda Samuels, COO of Nurse-Family Partnership, about her unique way of helping others breathe through challenges, how to brings her employees close when times get tough, a time when she was not the best leader and how to she came out of it. Key Takeaways: Take a breath to reflect on what is happening in your work life Bring your people close...

In this episode, Heather speaks with listeners about plans for 2020, the role they can play in it, a powerful story of how loving and caring transformed a group of women and how they can also transform our workplaces, and some updates on her latest book.   Key takeaways: 1. Love and care in the workplace can transform cultures 2. Once we set out to do something and we are focused on that, it will...

In this episode, Heather speaks to Christina Wegner, vice president of marketing at the Vollrath company, about her leadership style, a funny story about her drive to lead, a powerful story about a time when she was not the best leader she could be and exactly what she did to come out of it. This episode is chalk full of psychological safety messages. Key takeaways: Feedback is a gift. Give it and...

Heather celebrates the 100th episode of the podcast by sharing testimonials from people who have listened mostly since the beginning of the show and also gives a short nugget and message that should feel impactful to those listening. Please listen in as we honor those who support the podcast as well as the Leaders you have been on the show. Cheers to 100 more! Enjoy!

In this episode, Heather, speaks with DeeDee Williams, Director of Human Resources at Davis, Graham and Stubbs LLP, about her leadership journey, her focus on compassion, her strong moral compass that she fights to maintain and a powerful story of when she was not the best leader she could be and what she did to come out of it. Key takeaways: Be a compassionate leader Don't allow your circumstance...

In this episode, Heather speaks with Cheryl Fullerton, EVP of People and Communications at Corus Entertainment, Toronto's largest media company, about her leadership style, her super interesting focus on psychological safety for all and her unabashed belief in innovation. Key takeaways: See your role as a company and people builder Do the hard work to find out who you are and what you stand for Tr...

In this episode, Heather speaks to Don Davis, County Manager for Jefferson County, Colorado. Don shares his leadership philosophy and vision with Heather. Don also talks about a time when he was not the best version of himself as a leader. He sheds light on the difference between helping people get the tools they need to do their jobs and then meeting their wants and needs. Don highlights the most...

In this episode, Heather speaks to Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager, City of Dubuque in Iowa about her what drives her to lead, a back drop to the type of leader that she is and a compelling story of a time when she was not the best leader she could be. Note this has racial undertones, but you will listen and be inspired. Key takeaways: Stand out: be the leader who rolls up your sleeves and ge...

In this episode, Heather speaks to Jennifer Fairweather, Chief Human Resources Officer at Jefferson County in Colorado about her leadership style, her drive to lead, and her struggle to face conflict head-on while still show care for her people and coworkers. Key Takeaways: Give people space to come up with their own idea in a safe environment Be a vulnerable leader who invites the team in to help...

In this episode, Heather speaks to listeners about a personal story with her daughter that highlights what courage and authenticity really look like and how leaders need to be the catalysts to create environments that allow their people to discover their gifts. Then, allow them to use those gifts for the betterment of all.

In this podcast, Heather speaks with Brent Stockwell, Assistant City Manager, City of Scottsdale about his leadership style, his development and use of a personal purpose statement and a way he fell short in his leadership role and admitted his mistakes. Key takeaways: Create a personal mission statement to keep you focused A leader's key responsibility is to model great behavior. Take responsibil...

In this episode, Heather speaks to Ron Alvesteffer, President and CEO of Service Express, about his leadership style, his very engaging way of meeting his team members where they are, some pearls of wisdom he leaves with listeners and also the one unique thing he does with his direct reports weekly that sets him apart and brings him closer to those he leads. Key takeaways: Spend time with your peo...

In this episode, Heather speakers with Jo-Ann Robertson, CEO of Ketchum, in the UK. Jo-Ann shares with Heather the thing that drives her to lead, you unabashed desire to lead from the front, but with a team, a time when she was not the best version of herself as a leader and the one thing she thinks leaders need Key takeaways: All feedback is good. Take it. Challenge yourself to grow Leaders can c...

In this podcast, Heather spoke with Lon Southerland, Managing Director of Ion Biome at Saraphic Group, Inc., about his long history of leading for organizations like Marriott, Starbucks and 7-Eleven and how all of that informed his current leadership filter. Heather and Lon discuss some great leadership learnings on his part, and one piece of advice his coworker gave him early on his career. Key t...

In this episode, Heather speaks with Joe O' Neill, CEO of G & D Integrated about his unique approach to providing psychological safety in the workplace. How he engages with his front line and uses orientation to do it. He discussed a time when he was a detached leader who stepped away from the active role of CEO and what he discovered in the process. Key takeaways: Have a "I work for them" attitud...

In this episode, Heather speaks to you about milestones, recognition, and moving past barriers that can make it difficult to be the best leader you can be. Heather shares a couple personal stories focused on recognition of the milestones her children has experiences this past week. She talks about how she responded to the milestones and a fumble of the past. Key takeaways: Pay attention to the gre...

In this episode, Heather updates listeners on the book that will come out based upon the podcast. She also talks about the importance of leaders building resilience in the face of adversity. Key take-aways: Leaders must first build resilience in the face of obstacles before they can help their people do the same. People all around us are in a struggle. How quickly they can rebound or bounce back f...

In this episode, Heather speaks with Alex Smith, Chief Human Resource Officer for the City of Memphis in Tennessee about her leadership style, all of the ways that leading with heart has driven amazing business results for the City and it citizens and employees,  structuring the employee experience to maximize momentum and a time when she was not the best leader she could be. Key takeaways: Just b...