Relationship Equity

In the second half of their conversation, Richard Walker and Michael Jones, President and CEO of Delta Dental of Arizona, go deeper into servant leadership, company culture, and the balance between empathy and tough business decisions. Michael shares how Delta Dental of Arizona logged nearly 1,000 volunteer hours and 27 community events in a single year, explaining why leading with service creates...

In this episode, Richard Walker sits down with Michael Jones, President and CEO of Delta Dental of Arizona, for a conversation about leadership, relationships, and the power of giving back. Michael shares his journey from growing up in inner-city Chicago with a single mother to leading a major healthcare organization. He reflects on how education, family values, and servant leadership shaped his p...

In Part Two, of this dynamic discussion, Richard Walker challenges tech executives Melissa Flicek and Jim Graham to reveal practical strategies for driving organizational change. Melissa shares her Medtronic breakthrough—creating an illustrative prototype that won over skeptical Australian leaders ("I don't care if it's fake—it's better than what I have!")—demonstrating her "start with the willing...

Join Richard Walker for an unfiltered conversation with two visionary technology executives—Melissa Flicek and Jim Graham—as they dissect the non-technical traits that propelled them to CIO/CTO-level success. Rejecting outdated "techie in the corner" stereotypes, Melissa reveals how her "million questions" philosophy and passion for talent development drove innovation, while Jim shares why sitting...

In Part 2, Richard Walker continues his deep dive with Zach Mercurio into the power of "mattering"—the belief that we are seen, valued, and needed by those around us. Building on their earlier conversation, Zach and Richard explore how small, intentional interactions can combat the growing loneliness epidemic and disengagement in workplaces and society.   Zach shares his research-backed framework...

Richard Walker sits down with Zach Mercurio, a leading expert on the concept of "mattering," to explore how feeling valued and significant impacts motivation, performance, and well-being in the workplace. Zach shares his personal journey from a disengaged employee in the advertising world to a researcher dedicated to helping individuals and organizations cultivate a sense of purpose and connection...

In Part 2, Richard Walker and Graham Allcott dive deeper into the profound impact of kindness on workplace performance, mental health, and overall well-being. Graham, author of Kind: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work, explores the neuroscience behind kindness, revealing how acts of compassion release feel-good chemicals like oxytocin and dopamine, benefiting not only the giver and receiver but a...

Richard sits down with Graham Allcott, a renowned thought-leader, entrepreneur, and author of the book Kind: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work. Graham shares his journey from working in charities to founding Think Productive, a business focused on productivity and organization, and how his experiences led him to explore the transformative power of kindness in the workplace. The conversation delv...

In Part Two of this episode, Richard continues his conversation with Barry Conchie, founder of Conchie Associates and renowned leadership expert. Barry shares profound insights on leadership, including the myths surrounding introverts versus extroverts, the importance of intentionality in focusing on top performers, and how self-awareness shapes exceptional leadership. The discussion also touches...

Richard sits down with Barry Conchie, founder of Conchie Associates and renowned leadership expert. Barry, a former Gallup leader and co-author of the bestseller Strengths-Based Leadership, dives deep into his career journey, his fascination with human performance, and the startling research behind his latest book, The Five Talents That Really Matter. Together, Richard and Barry explore the critic...

In this thought-provoking continuation of this episode, Richard and Sandra Matz delve into the intricacies of talent acquisition, leadership development, and interpersonal dynamics in the corporate world. Richard shares insights about his company's innovative Emerging Talent Program, which uses AI-driven tools to evaluate candidates based on their natural problem-solving abilities and interpersona...

Sandra Matz, Professor at Columbia Business School and author of "Mindmasters," discusses the concept of psychological targeting with Richard. Sandra explains how modern technology allows for the analysis of digital footprints to predict and potentially influence human behavior, drawing parallels to her experiences growing up in a small German village. The discussion touches on the ethical implica...

Richard continues his insightful conversation with Mercedes Bidart, co-founder and CEO of Quipu Bank. Mercedes delves deeper into the growth and evolution of her innovative fintech platform, which provides loans to small businesses in the informal economy. She shares how Quipu scaled from its initial success, leveraging AI and machine learning to refine their credit assessment models. Mercedes dis...

Richard sits down with Mercedes Bidart, the co-founder and CEO of Quipu Bank. Mercedes shares her remarkable journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family in Argentina to founding a groundbreaking fintech platform that provides loans to small businesses in the informal economy. Listeners will hear about Mercedes' transition from studying political science to working on economic development...

In the second part of this enlightening episode of Relationship Equity, Richard continues his conversation with Craig Pratt. They delve deeper into the art of networking, offering valuable advice for introverts looking to build meaningful connections. Craig and Richard discuss the importance of genuine interest in others, the power of small gestures, and how to approach relationship-building with...

In this episode of Relationship Equity, Richard welcomes Craig Pratt from Arctic Wolf, for a heartfelt conversation about leadership and giving back. Craig shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to becoming a mission-driven leader, including a touching story of a stranger's generosity that changed his life. The two discuss their shared experiences on the board of Genesis Works and Cra...

Richard Walker continues his insightful conversation with Mo Bunnell, delving deeper into the art of building meaningful business relationships. Mo shares the inspiration behind his books "The Snowball System" and "Give to Grow," offering valuable insights on overcoming self-doubt and the misconception that only extroverts can be influential. The discussion takes an intriguing turn as they explore...

Richard engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Mo Bunnell, author of "The Snowball System" and "Give to Grow". The duo delves into the transformative power of prioritizing others in both business and personal life, exploring the science behind successful givers and practical strategies for building lasting relationship equity. Through engaging anecdotes and research-backed insights, they...

In the second half of this insightful conversation, Eric Perkins opens up about his brave decision to leave his successful 25-year broadcasting career at KARE 11 to start his own business, Perk at Play Productions. Eric shares the real motivations behind taking the entrepreneurial leap, from wanting to be more present for his family to rediscovering his creative passion. He provides an honest look...

For 25 years, Eric Perkins was a familiar face in Minnesota broadcasting as the sports director and nightly anchor at KARE 11. Known for his unique flair and ability to inject joy into his storytelling, Eric has brought his one-of-a-kind talents to a new venture - Perk At Play Productions. In this lively conversation, Eric opens up about his lifelong love of entertainment and broadcasting that sta...

In this thought-provoking second part of Relationship Equity, Richard continues his illuminating conversation with Dr. David Choi, the Conrad N. Hilton Chair of Entrepreneurship at Loyola Marymount University. Dr. Choi delves deeper into the secrets behind his students' success, emphasizing the importance of cultivating a supportive culture in education. The discussion explores misconceptions abou...

In this inspiring episode of Relationship Equity, Richard sits down with Dr. David Choi, the Conrad N. Hilton Chair of Entrepreneurship at Loyola Marymount University. Dr. Choi shares his remarkable journey from troubled teen to successful academic and entrepreneur, highlighting the power of second chances and unexpected kindness. Listeners will hear about Dr. Choi's challenging childhood and the...

In the second half of this insightful episode, transformational leadership expert Charlene Li dives deeper into the keys to building meaningful relationships and cultivating human connections amidst digital disruption. Charlene reflects on her journey as an author, sharing the motivations behind her writing and the challenges of overcoming imposter syndrome when putting ideas into books. She empha...

Richard sits down with Charlene Li, a visionary leader helping organizations navigate disruption. Charlene has worked with hundreds of companies, ranging from Adobe to Southwest Airlines, and has advised half of the Fortune 100. Charlene shares her insights on building strong relationships, cultivating an innovative culture, and catalyzing transformations within organizations and people. She discu...

In Part 2 of this insightful conversation, Richard dives deeper into the wisdom Andrea Markstrom has accumulated over her 30-year career as a global IT leader. They explore the transformative power of mentorship and the often-overlooked strength of vulnerability. Andrea shares her journey of initially being hesitant to ask for help, fearing it would be perceived as a weakness. However, she has sin...