High Octane Leadership

When Abha Bowers became CEO of Walk West, her team started treating her a little bit differently because she's now the boss. And she wondered - since she doesn't look like most CEOs, she hugs way more than other CEOs, she's a feeler, a laugher, an empath - would she have to change her leadership style?  Could she truly ever be effective as a leader? So she hired someone who's been there, Executive...

We've all heard about Quiet Quitting and The Great Resignation. In the job market, we've seen salaries increase, and not necessarily because of better performance.  With the economy favoring employees, are they no longer motivated to become excellent?  Is the market creating an Epidemic of Average?  If so, what can leaders do about it? High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO...

Today we share this episode of the Charity Champions Podcast , guest-hosted by Donald Thompson. --- Easterseals UCP is serving thousands of people in this community - people with disabilities, Autism, and other behavioral challenges. With 2,300 employees, the depth of work and support they provide is as impressive as it is heart-warming.  Today, we hear from two of those team members, Laurie Neder...

In September 2017, Enrique Rubio saw a problem - the world of technology was moving so fast, and HR was moving very slowly (it at all). It was completely disconnected from how the technology was moving the world forward. So he decided to do something about. Today, Don and Enrique talk about Hacking HR, HR trends, creating a better and more equitable workplace, and how to be a more empathetic leade...

On today's episode, Donald Thompson recaps his time speaking at and attending the Black Men XCEL Conference , which is "designed to elevate and empower Black men to be recognized for their value and talent."   High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence . Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS,...

In a recent study, 80% of people who identify as Democrats see Republicans as being out of control and a threat to democracy, while 80% of Republicans see Democrats as being out of control and a threat to democracy. So what do we do as leaders when politics bleeds into how we work and live every day?  Political analyst, journalist, and marketing consultant Billy Warden joins us to discuss. High Oc...

Tru Pettigrew, Chief Diversity Officer of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, comes on High Octane Leadership to discuss the role of diversity in the professional sports arena, what organizations are doing it right, how negative narratives can impact our performance, and the mental health conversation amongst the professional athletes.   About Tru Pettigrew: Tru Pettigrew enters his second season...

Two episodes ago, Don shared his thoughts on imposter syndrome and what leaders can do about feeling inadequate. He references the book, Find Your Fierce: Interrupt Imposter Syndrome and Own Your Success , and talks about the impact it has had on his approach.  Today, Don brings on the author of that book, leadership consultant and speaker Teresa Sande , to get her take on imposter syndrome, the "...

Growing up as a son of a college football coach, Don learned some valuable life lessons from his dad. Some were lessons on what to do, and others lessons on what NOT to do. But in the end, Don realized that he had a dad and mom who love him - and that's why he feels privileged. High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of...

Being a high-octane leader doesn't mean you have all the answers. It doesn't mean you don't have fear, uncertainty, and doubt.  It doesn't mean you are confident that you belong in every room.  But what can we do when we feel inadequate? Today, Donald Thompson shares his feelings on imposter syndrome, and specifically on the book " Find Your Fierce: Interrupt Imposter Syndrome and Own Your Success...

Get ready for a JOLT of transformational motivation.  Larry Long Jr , the man with the memorable acronyms and boundless energy, is back on the podcast!  Today he talks about the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) that he had when trying to decide whether to leave his safe job, how coaching from Kristin Frade helped him get past some of his mindset inhibitors, and his new book, Jolt!: Get Zapped in...

You've probably heard of "Quiet Quitting" by now. If not, it's an employee's opting out of tasks beyond assigned duties and/or becoming less psychologically invested in work.  It's certainly media trendy, but is it a real concern for employers? High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence . Order UNDERESTIMATED...

After starring at UNC's legendary women's soccer program, Brianna Pinto was drafted 3rd in the 2021 NWSL draft. She's a young soccer star for the NC Courage ,  and yet she's so much more than an athlete. Today, Brianna talks about the mental health work of Soccer Resilience , representation on and off the field, and why she chose to partner with Adidas. High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Dive...

We have a phenomenal slate of guests, business leaders, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, global HR executives coming up on High Octane Leadership, and we'll intertwine some solo episodes to share what I'm seeing as I work with global executives on building a better workplace and creating high impact team leadership.

Typically when we think about diversity equity and inclusion, we look at what’s going on in our companies and in our communities - and that’s usually just within the United States. But what happens when our business expands internationally? What happens when we need to communicate effectively with someone from a different country who speaks a different first language? Today in this mini-episode, D...

When Angela Franco was a growing up in Columbia, her father would tell her, "Don't think that you're better than anybody else. If you want to go someplace, you're going to have to work for it."  That made her upset at the time, but it turned out to be a gift - to keep her grounded and treat others with respect. Now as the DC Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Angela works with companies of a...

Today Don chats with two dynamic leaders from Charlotte NC. Dr. Brandon Wolfe , Chief Diversity Officer at the University of North Carolina Charlotte , talks about his role, diversity equity and inclusion in higher ed, and what his work means for the greater Charlotte community. Then later, Greg Brown from the Charlotte Angel Fund comes on to share some of the successes they've had on the Charlott...

An award-winning startup CEO and founder of Millennial Ventures Holdings , Brandi Baldwin is shaking up the future of business by helping launch social impact brands. In this episode, learn what motivates her and how you can follow in her footsteps to shake up and invigorate your own organization. The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thomps...

Donald Thompson gave a talk to the MBA students at NC State titled View from the C Suite, where DT shares his thoughts on effective leadership strategies, taking charge during meetings, and how to turn a thousand dollars worth of coffee into a million dollars worth of insight. The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and Executive Coach Donald Thompson , and is a product...

In the March 2022 issue of Raleigh Magazine, 10 leaders in the Triangle were featured for being fearless in their 40s. From the magazine, "This elite cast is based on fearless ambition. Their monumental life changes prove it’s never too late to embark on a new journey, embrace a new endeavor, start a new chapter or make a difference… and just do the damn thing."  Today, Don talks to three of the 1...

M&F Bank in Durham North Carolina was formed 115 years ago in 1907, which makes it the second oldest Black-owned bank in the United States. It has been profitable 113 out of 115 years, and even had a 108-year streak of profitablility.  Such an amazing story, and as we launch season 4 of the podcast, we bring on M&F's CEO James Sills to share the company's story, his views on relationship b...

Over the past year plus, Donald Thompson has had a chance to talk with some of the most influential leaders in the Triangle and throughout the world.  Today, we share some of the leadership lessons learned from: Kurt Merriweather, The Diversity Movement Adrienne Cole, Raleigh Chamber Sepi Saidi, SEPI Kendrall Felder, Cisco Keith Pigues, Luminas Strategy Matt Sheehan, Exhale Home Loren Shumate, One...

After growing up in apartheid South Africa and seeing how education suppression led to systemic racism, Lara Stein thought that she would be far removed from that in the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. She was wrong. But she's doing everything in her power to change the world and eliminate systemic racism - in government, in private sectors, and even in artificial intelligence. Boma Global WE...

In Part 2, Exhale Home CEO Matt Sheehan talks leadership lessons he's gained over the years as VP of Redbox, President of Primo Water, and now CEO of Exhale. "You don't need a 'C' on your jersey to be captain," so whether you're a leader by title or not, you'll want to tune in. Part 1: Raleigh’s “Open Source” Network, Growth Mindset, and Power of Diversity: Matt Sheehan WEBINAR: professional devel...

Exhale Home CEO Matt Sheehan gave so many quoatables and pieces of wisdom that we had to separate his interview into two parts. On Part 1, Matt gives the life lessons his parents taught him ("The clock of life is wound but once"), why his family chose Raleigh out of all the cities in the world, and what Exhale is all about. The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO, mento...