R.O.G. Return on Generosity

"Share your likes before your concerns." "Life is not a dress rehearsal."   Episode summary | In this engaging conversation, Nomi Bergman shares her journey from a challenging childhood in athletics to becoming a successful leader in the technology sector. She emphasizes the importance of kindness, generosity, and positive intent in leadership, drawing from her experiences at Bright House Networks...

"Find joy every day."   Episode summary | Susan Jin Davis and May Lee explore the themes of generosity, identity, and resilience shaped by their immigrant experiences. They discuss the challenges of growing up as children of immigrants, the impact of cultural concepts like Han, and the transformative power of loss. May shares her journey as a journalist of color, emphasizing the importance of dive...

"I want to make it less hard for veterans." "We are stronger together." "Just show up, ask questions."   Episode summary | Shannon Cassidy speaks with Michelle Lang, the Executive Director of Operation Honor Rural Salute. Michelle shares her personal journey as an Army wife and the challenges faced by veterans transitioning to civilian life. The conversation highlights the importance of community...

“A lot of the things I work on are not HARD problems, they’re HEART problems.” “If you name it, you can tame it.” “It is in our Unity that we can elevate our Humanity.” ___________________________________________________ This episode contains discussions of rape and sexual assault, which may be disturbing or triggering for some listeners. We encourage you to prioritize your well-being. If you or s...

“The biggest thing that holds women back is low self-esteem” “We’re imperfect and it’s totally okay.” "Women can do so many amazing things."   Episode summary | Sheena Yap Chan, a Wall Street Journal bestselling author and renowned podcaster, shares her journey of overcoming cultural barriers and personal trauma to empower women, particularly Asian women, in their pursuit of self-confidence and le...

"Storytelling heals the brain." "No struggle, no story." "Life happens in moments."   Episode summary | In this episode of Return on Generosity, host Shannon Cassidy speaks with Scott Mann, a former Green Beret and founder of Rooftop Leadership. They discuss the importance of generosity in leadership, the power of storytelling, and how to build trust in low-trust environments. Scott shares his jou...

"Choose to be okay with who you are." "Self-acceptance is not the opposite of self-improvement; it is the opposite of self-judgment." "It's about being more at peace with the imperfection that exists in all of us." "You are never responding to the world around you, ever - you are only ever responding to the meaning that you're putting on what is happening."   Episode summary | Dr. Laura Gallaher,...

"I want to be what I needed." "Culture drives everything." "Generosity and empathy go a long way." "Never abandon who you are." “Everybody comes to the table dealing with something.”   Episode summary | Dr. Kristopher Brown shares his journey in education, highlighting his commitment to creating a positive school environment. He discusses the importance of using student feedback to inform decision...

"Clarity is key." "Be the leader you would want to follow."   Episode summary | In this engaging conversation, Shannon Cassidy interviews Lyn Wineman, founder of KidGlov, an advertising agency dedicated to helping changemakers amplify their impact. Lyn shares her journey from a small town in Nebraska to becoming a leader in purpose-driven marketing. The discussion covers the founding of KidGlov, t...

"We need to challenge our perspective.” "We need to agree to respect." “Turn confrontation into a conversation.” “There's humanity on different sides of conversations.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Justin Jones-Fosu 01:18 Justin's Upbringing and Early Influences 03:25 Lessons from a Challenging Childhood 05:32 Confronting Absence: A Journey to Understanding 09:12 The Power of Listening and Empa...

"Feedback is a gift.” "You do what is best for your career, not what's comfortable for other people." “We trust the people who tell us the truth.” “I really subscribe to the idea that you should do something once a year that scares the crap out of you.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Tessa White and Her Journey 02:51 Navigating Career Challenges and Generosity in Leadership 05:45 The Birth of The...

"We lead how we were led.” "Generosity is giving of your time.'" Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Maureen Reusche 03:02 Dr. Reusche's Educational Journey 06:12 Building Relationships in Education 09:00 The Influence of Family on Leadership 11:47 Generosity in Leadership 15:03 Navigating Challenges During the Pandemic 18:08 The Role of a Superintendent 21:04 The Importance of Presence and Commun...

"Meet 10 to 15 new people every week.” "Ask, How can I help you? Shut up, listen.'" “Get better 1% every day.” “Start building your network today.” “It's bringing value to people and transforming them very little or transforming them a lot. That's it.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Steve Ramona and His Impact 01:25 Building Relationships: The Foundation of Success 06:24 The ASLA Principle: Ask,...

"Generosity is good for the brain.” ”Be intentional and ask yourself, 'When was the last time I did something for the first time?'” “We have to intentionally put ourselves in new spaces.” “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Intercultural Creativity 02:53 The Journey of Genein Letford 05:55 Understanding Intercultural Creati...

"Growth is not linear.” ”Focus more on who you're being and less on what you're doing.” “We're all human beings. One is not better than another.” “Accept where you are when you’re there.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Abby Haverman 01:30 Abby's Early Life and Background 03:05 Transformation Through Adversity 07:15 Awakening to Self-Worth 09:36 Understanding the Mind and Identity 13:51 Practices...

"One of the best decisions I've ever made as a leader is just getting out of the way of people doing the work and being more of a support." "But to go to a place where people allow you to be yourself and to grow with you is a great form of generosity that no leader should ever overlook." "The obstacle is the way. The obstacle is the way. Whatever you're trying to get through, the way you're trying...

"We are the creators of our own lives." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Paragon Performance Evolution 04:52 Personal Journeys and Inspirations 09:55 The Impact of Stress and Mental Health 15:01 Understanding Emotions and Thought Patterns 20:06 Techniques for Coherence and Emotional Regulation 25:09 The Science of Heart-Focused Breathing 30:04 Generosity and Corporate Culture Transformation 31:18 N...

“...And the reason for five degrees is that 5 % of our behavior is self-regulated willpower, which means 95 % is habit. The only way that we can create lasting change is through incremental steps.”   Episode summary | In this final episode of 2024, Shannon Cassidy introduces the Five Degree Principle, a framework designed to facilitate meaningful change through small, incremental steps. She discus...

"...if we could put people in the water and teach them to surf, we'd actually have to force them to suck at something again...In business, you don't teach people to fail because failure is not an option. But our best learnings come from failure..." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Brian Formato and Groove Management 06:31 Innovative Learning Approaches in Leadership Development 15:01 Feedback and I...

“...if you listen carefully when people tell you these things, which is so hard because we have so many distractions, but if you listen carefully, you can find ways to be helpful, to be responsible, to be reliable, to be trustworthy, all the things that make us fully functioning and valuable humans.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Susan McPherson 05:43 The Lost Art of Connecting 12:25 The Importa...

Dr. Tonya Cornelius, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, The Walt Disney Company where she serves as an integral member of the enterprise Human Resources senior leadership team. Dr. Cornileus is responsible for learning and leadership development, talent and succession management, performance management, and career development. Dr. Cornileus joined The Walt Disney Company in 2009, serving for...

"While letting out a curse or cuss word might feel harmless in the moment, it can leave unintended impressions and even disrupt the professional culture we work so hard to build. I am guilty and need this lesson more than anyone." Host Bio: Shannon Cassidy is Founder and CEO of Bridge Between, Inc. a boutique leadership development firm specializing in generous leadership, behavioral change, execu...

“Pause and pay attention. When you hear that whisper or feel that tap on your shoulder of curiosity, it's an idea waiting for you to bring it to life. So pause and pay attention. We live in this world where we're always busy. We're so busy and we often are not pausing and paying attention to those curiosities.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Van Lai-DuMone and Her Work 01:10 Van's Journey: From R...

"...you can increase the potential of having a visit that respects everyone’s needs and isn’t a letdown." Host Bio: Shannon Cassidy is Founder and CEO of Bridge Between, Inc. a boutique leadership development firm specializing in generous leadership, behavioral change, executive presence, effective communication, collaborative teamwork, and conflict resolution. She provides Executive Coaching, Fac...

“What does it look like to approach harm in a way that is transformative . . .  how do we heal collectively and holistically . . . there are really unique and beautiful ways of doing that doesn't look like mass incarceration.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Rashida Ricketts and Her Work 07:54 Rashida's Journey into Service and Education 16:56 The Intersection of Fashion and Social Justice 27:52 U...