MEMBERS MAGAZINE Real-Leaders.com THE COMMUNITY FOR IMPACT 6 L E A D E R S H I P T I P S F R O M T O P F E M A L E F O U N D E R S A N D C E O S HOW MICROSOFT CEO SATYA NADELLA USES POETRY, COLLABORATION, EMPATHY, AND LISTENING TO RUN A $2 TRILLION EMPIRE 60 INNOVATIVE IMPACT FUND MANAGERS N E E D F U N D I N G ? THE RISE OF THE SOCIAL IMPACT LEADER UNCONTROLLABLE OPTIMISM AND UNSTOPPABLE DETERMINATION IS CHANGING OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER. HERE'S HOW TO BECOME ONE
CONTENTS CEO SUCCESS 62 / 6 Leadership Tips from Top Female Founders and CEOs Women can be better leaders in times of crisis. Here are dozens of practical tips from the top. BUSINESS & INNOVATION 60 / 3 Unusual Investment Strategies that Are Off the Map These three investment strategies turn traditional thinking on its head and show how huge value can be generated by incentivizing lifestyle choices. Here's how to trade assets that go beyond hard cash. CLIMATE ACTION 76 / How Real Leaders Can React to the Unprecedented World Food Crisis Different ways of thinking about food are needed if we are to avert a looming global food crisis. Here's some food for thought. 4 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 CHANGEMAKERS 16 / How My Wild Life Protects Wildlife Go beyond writing a check to promote positive change in the world. Instead, immerse yourself in a cause. SPECIAL FEATURE 44 / 60 Innovative Impact Fund Managers Investors around theworld aremaking impact investments to unleash the power of capital for good.Whether you are looking for investors or want to invest, start with a fundmanager that is aligned with your values.
8 / Ever Wonder Why? Do you ever wonder why we may overlook signs that cross our path andmiss out on their significance and guidance? 24 / Do You Really Know What Your Employees Want? Employees are increasingly seeking greater purpose in their work. Are you really listening? 22 / 7 Tips for Effective Change Leadership Change today is too fast and complex to leave it to the CEO and a few select managers. Here's how to spread change throughout your organization. INSPIRE THE FUTURE DEPARTMENTS COLUMNS 20 / Mindfulness The wellness triangle: three steps to sustainable leadership. 10 / REPORT BACK 12 / ADVISORY BOARD SPOTLIGHT 14 / VOICES Page 68: Big Picture: Looking at the world from a different perspective can tell us a whole new story. 36/ Cover Story Satya Nadella has been the CEO of Microsoft for the past eight years. Since introducing his unique leadership style, the company has tripled its profits. What is he doing right, and what can we learn? Photo: Microsoft. 34 / Collaboration Using engagement as a driver of collaboration and why aligning personal values with your staff is a good idea. 82 / MENTAL HEALTH 90 / IMAGINE 84 / DESTINATIONS 88 / COMMON GROUND 86 / GIFTS FOR GOOD 33 / READING LIST 66 / PODCAST PEOPLE 65 / Storytelling How to become an extraordinary speaker. 75 / Money When insurance companies give you lemons... this is how one company makes lemonade. 74 / Innovation & Technology Combating blindness with transformational technology. 80 / Investing How you can turn lives and businesses around with microloans. 30 / ETHICAL FASHION 18 / PEACE
Founder Mark Van Ness Founding Editor Grant Schreiber CEO Julie Van Ness General Manager Kevin Edwards Director of Community Engagement Noah Willerford Special Projects Manager Madelyn Dwyer Director of Impact Brooke Bibeault Advertising Sales Kevin Seddon Email Marketing Manager Andre Pijeaux Copy Editor Carla Kalogeridis Video Producer Tucker Hamilton Head Office St. Thomas, U.S.V.I Contact us Advertise@real-leaders.com Editorial@real-leaders.com www.real-leaders.com Real Leaders is the registered trademark of Real Leaders Inc., a registered B Corporation. © Real Leaders® All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in Real Leaders are not necessarily those of the publisher. The individuals, companies, products and services featured in this publication are in no way endorsed by Real Leaders. ISSN 2222-3479 WINTER 2022 JOIN THE CHALLENGE READY TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT? While some leaders talk about sustainability, you can actually get trees in the ground. Join the Million Tree Challenge to support reforestation in our iconic National Forests. ONETREEPLANTED.ORG/MILLION 800-408-7850 JOIN THE MILLION TREE CHALLENGE WE SUPPORT
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8 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 Do you ever wonder whywemay overlook signs that cross our path andmiss out on their significance and guidance? Sometimes those moments can be overlooked or ignored so quickly, that we lose the valuable benefits that can come from recognizing the signs as a gift. My case in point: One morning I stood up too quickly and dropped my cell phone on the ground. When I couldn’t see it, I realized that it must have slid under my office chair, so I knelt down to try to find it in the darkness of the chair abyss. Suddenly, I spotted a bright yellow tennis ball! This wasn’t just any tennis ball, rather, it was a much chewed ball frommy beloved Labrador retriever, who had passed away. This old ball held so much joy — years of tossing it around with my pup, years of laughter as she tried to fit as many tennis balls into her mouth as possible (see photo) and ultimately, I realized that she gave me the gift of being fully present. It was an unexpected lesson in joy within the busyness of life, but one that I fully didn’t appreciate until she was gone. Those moments in life are fleeting, yet they teach us lasting valuable lessons. The gift of seeing the “yellow ball” again reminded me to ask myself if I am currently present with my team at work and my family at home. I would like to say that I already knew the importance of being present, but one can get so caught up in the daily grind of things, that the reminders can easily get lost (or in my case “trapped under a chair”) until it’s unexpectedly rediscovered years later, which shows me it’s a sign not to ignore, and to get back into the EVER WONDER WHY? The Value of Being Fully Present “The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention.” —RichardMoss joy of life. As with work, we can avoid or purposely ignore various signs that cross our path, because it can take deep thought and more energy than we think we have to explore those signs. However, if we watch for (or even hope for) some signs, they eventually arise and unlock new thinking and better outcomes. This can also spark creativity that feeds the soul and makes us better leaders and partners in business and life. Inside this special edition, you’ll see inspiring examples of leaders who took life’s quest seriously and either invested in impact businesses and/or created them! See page 44 for our Innovative Impact Investors list. Additionally, you may find words of wisdom fromMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella on page 36, who has learned the value of collaboration, empathy, and listening as he runs a multi-trillion dollar company. As I sit in my chair typing, I find both comfort and joy knowing that the “old yellow ball” stays right where it should be — underneath me — as a constant reminder to embrace the signs that can improve our lives. Julie VanNess, CEO Julie@Real-Leaders.com Join the Real Leaders Impact Collaborative
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10 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 REPORT BACK FOR OUR FREE WEEKLY WoW! WORDS OF WISDOM EMAIL SIGN UP HERE: WWW.REAL-LEADERS.COM/SUBSCRIBE In July, members of the Real Leaders Impact Collaborative gathered online to find inspiration from fellow member Simon Mainwaring, CEO and founder of We First. Business leaders are currently dealing with increased expectations from employees while trying to survive in turbulent market conditions. As Mainwaring explained, the answer hinges on the culture you create inside your company, which can simultaneously attract, retain, and inspire the talent you need. During the 1-hour discussion, he revealed how to design and activate a culture built for challenging times, and answered pressing questions on CEO success. Find out more here: Members.Real-Leaders.com/Become-a-Member The Real Leaders website is visited by thousands of people each day seeking guidance and inspiration on how to become a better impact leader. Some of our most popular stories of the past few months have been: "6 Successful Social Innovation Projects," "Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World," "10 Solutions to Reverse Global Warming," and "9 Practices all Great Leaders Share." Bookmark us for daily updates on leadership that matters. Real-Leaders.com Did you know we’re on Apple Podcasts? Open the app and search for “Real Leaders Podcast” Are You Being Wowed Every Friday? If you haven’t already signed up to receive our FREE weekly WoW! Words of Wisdom email, you should. These Friday morning emails are the perfect way to inspire your weekend and plan for Monday victories! To receive your free, weekly dose of inspiration, sign up here: Real-Leaders.com/Subscribe Magazine Soars as Skies Reopen The huge increase in international travel post-pandemic sparked an equally large increase in the demand for Real Leaders magazine. The most popular place for travelers to pick up their copy has been Hudson retail kiosks across the US, followed by free downloads available in select firstclass airline lounges. Be on the lookout for Real Leaders the next time you're on the move — its the best inspiration you can find at 30,000 feet! @RealLeadersMagazine @Real_Leaders @Real_Leaders @Real-Leaders @RealLeadersMagazine Creating a Culture That Thrives in Challenging Times Find Thousands of Real Leaders Online
Join the Community For Impact Business is evolving and Real Leaders is at the forefront of this change. Our global reach, diverse platforms and impact leadership strategies will prepare you for the next big business opportunity — profitable social impact. Join the Real Leaders Impact Collaborative if you are a leader looking to collaborate for greater impact. WE SUPPORT Members.Real-Leaders.com/Become-a-Member JOIN US Sion Tesone | CEO, TISSINI Kerry Siggins | CEO, StoneAge Will Chen | CEO, P.L.A.Y. Sandra Moore | CIO, Advantage Capital
12 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 ADVISORY BOARD SPOTLIGHT The pandemic of the past two years has reset many things in the world, but the concept of leadership and what success means has never been adequately defined for all people. By this, I mean that a dominant group of people on the planet have decided what leadership looks like — it was never designed for diversity, for belonging to all. Women’s movements over the past few years have urged us to “empower ourselves,” “have confidence and rise,” “attend inclusive male training exercises,” and a myriad of other encouragements. But we need to redefine what leadership means. We should instead be asking ourselves what we, as human beings, are contributing to the world and how we’re showing up in our leadership. An increasing number of CEOs want to create social impact, solve the world’s problems, and form collaborations. To do so, we first need to build initiatives, cultures, and systems that will be inclusive of all. Ask yourself, “Who is contributing to this collaboration?” and then think about how you can make it more effective by adding underrepresented voices. The old leadership definition was money, power, and influence. The new definition is purpose, inclusion, and well-being. Remember, too, that your behavior can create as much impact as any of these things. I believe that equity and leadership begin at home. Look at the broken political, social, and economic systems around us today — they are products of the family. We are all the sum of previous generations, and unless we teach our kids diversity of thought and a more responsible way of looking at life on Earth, we are destined to repeat our mistakes. We should build businesses, families, and the world on a firm foundation. Right now, this foundation has so many cracks, yet we continue to build on it. Xerox developed the world’s first women's employee resource group in the 1960s, yet women only make up 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs today. We keep adding Band-aids to a broken branch while the real problem lies deeper at the roots. Leadership Starts in the Family By Claudia Chan “WE TRANSFORM CULTURE WHEN WE TRANSFORM PEOPLE. IF YOU WANT TO CREATE A THRIVING, SOCIAL IMPACT COMPANY, YOU’LL FIND IT IN YOUR EMPLOYEES AND THOSE LIVING IN YOUR HOME.” — CLAUDIA CHAN Think about how you lead yourself, your family, and your team in the workplace. In Whole-life leadership, the first concern is your mental health, the second is your family, and the third is your work, followed by your community. Within your marriage, it’s about your partner first and then your kids. So many negative issues I see in society today are because people are triggered by their story — the way they were brought up and the narratives and belief systems that were instilled in us. Work on elevating how you show up for those around you by becoming more aware of opportunities and new ways of thinking. Many of us think that because we’ve done something the same way for 20 years, that’s how it should always be done. A shift in focus may unlock the solution you’ve been seeking. We transform culture when we transform people. If you want to create a thriving, social impact company, you’ll find it in your employees and those living in your home. When there’s an economic downturn, many business leaders cut creative activities first, such as keynote speakers, team-building exercises, or family outings to focus instead on quarterly results. But if you prioritize humanity before productivity, you’ll find greater success. n ClaudiaChan.com Claudia Chan is the founder of WholeLife Leadership, which believes the key to transforming organizational cultures is through the transformation of people.
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14 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 VOICES HAVE AN OPINION YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT INFO@REAL-LEADERS.COM I’m always inspired by the breadth of stories you tell in Real Leaders magazine, and it’s great to know what’s possible. As a former international journalist, I love the stories you share and always look forward to hearing more.” LUCY GRIFFITHS London, United Kingdom It’s inspiring to see technology, purpose, and ambition come together in so many compelling ways — and to celebrate the pioneers who are putting their necks out to make a positive impact on issues that truly matter. As Desmond Tutu said in one of your interviews, “The pursuit of profits ‘at any cost’ to people and the environment is morally bankrupt and destroying the earth.” We need leaders — real leaders — who can turn a profit and make big things happen. For many years I operated in the corporate world, which was great until I realized that I wanted my career to be more than just “adding 0.5 percent to the margins of [insert multinational here].” Reading about examples of people with a robust business and solid impact business model proves that I’ve finally found ambitious, likeminded people ready to make a difference.” RICHARD MEDCALF Paris, France Be the first to receive Real Leaders each quarter. Subscribe at: Real-Leaders.com/Subscribe I travel regularly and enjoy grabbing my copy of Real Leaders at Hudson as I dash for my flight. My only regret is when the flight is a short one, and I run out of time to finish reading! Your magazine is entertaining, while at the same time offering solid advice on how to introduce social impact into my business. I also enjoy reading about wellknown leaders who offer inspirational advice — a refreshing change from what I see in the news each day! ” GREG FOSTER Dallas, TX Thank you for the uplifting messages and insights in Real Leaders. It aligns with a need for new thinking, and a new way of being, to transform global turbulence.” ANNE PRATT Boston, MA Real Leaders offers some great reflection on the biggest issues we face today. The articles are relevant to the type of decisionmaking many of us in business need to consider in a fast-changing world that values the environment, human rights, and societal problems above all else. It’s rare to find a mix of business and social conscience that shows this is possible. SEBASTIÁN LÓPEZ Madrid, Spain RYLEY EDWARDS / INSTAGRAM @KINGMAMA JOIN THE REAL LEADERS IMPACT COLLABORATIVE Members.Real-Leaders.com/Become-a-Member Wow, what a thought-provoking show. This was my first time listening and it was the show with Norman Wolfe of Quantum Leaders. It realy made me think and shift the way I look at what a real leader is and how they can positively impact our world. It changed some of my biases and gave me a new view of some companies.” Wonderful to hear the real stories of leaders and understand their journeys and how they are contributing to the tyransformation of our world and economy. Going beyond the big public company leadfers, Real Leaders allows me to hear from innovative and authentic business leaders to be inspired and make new connections.” We’re proud to announce that we will put out this fire by the year 2030! We'd love to hear from you! Tell us about your favorite magazine story, your defining leadership moment, or a highlight in interacting with Real Leaders. Write to us at editorial@ real-leaders.com to be featured on our Voices page. WHAT OUR MEMBERS AND PODCAST GUESTS ARE SAYING
“ This is an extraordinary podcast on leadership, that no only shares key insights and provokes thought, but does so with great energy. –C_L_CEO (iTunes review) Reflect Forward isn’t your everyday leadership podcast. This show is about exceptional leadership. Game–changing leadership. Learn from peers, experts, authors, and more on how to be an uber successful leader... one that stands out from the rest. In every episode, you’ll gain insight on how to: • Lead through difficult situations • Handle stress & prevent burnout • Learn from your past failures • Embrace your flaws • Scale your company • Inspire & motiviate • Build a people-centric company • Improve communication • Build an inclusive team • Lean into your passions New episodes every week SUBSCRIBE TODAY on your favorite podcast platform Stay tuned for the release of Kerry’s new book “THE OWNERSHIP MINDSET” (Sneak peek included in this magazine!) TRANSFORM Your Leadership Listen to the podcast Reflect Forward: Conversations on Leadership
16 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INSPIRING THE FUTURE AS A CHANGEMAKER? EMAIL US AT EDITORIAL@REAL-LEADERS.COM have been a member of global leadership community YPO in Detroit for the past 40 years and the education I have gained, extraordinary and diverse experiences I've had, and deep international relationships I have built, have shaped me as a person and business leader, fed my passions, and fueled my focus on philanthropy. My evolution as the 3rd generation, 100-year-old City Club Apartments CEO has been enormously gratifying. Building an international brand and creating a modern, immersive, and, most importantly, green mixed-use urban high-rise residential experience has been my vision and mission from day one. But my passions lie in other areas. I love my historical conversion and ground-up real estate work, but I don’t think of myself as a developer or an entrepreneur. First and foremost, I am a creator, educator, and conservationist, advocating for wildlife and the organizations that protect them. The clearest example of this is my Holtzman Wildlife Foundation. I created and directly funded the Foundation as my primary way of giving back and building a better future for endangered species. We encourage educational initiatives with a strong emphasis on repopulation and seek to influence public policy by supporting organizations and engaging in advocacy activities. Since 2016, we have been supporting the repopulation of endangered species around the globe and supporting projects that directly combat human-animal conflicts such as poaching, encroachment, exploitation, and environmental damage. We have provided 43 grants and have positively impacted 18 species with representation in 36 countries and every continent. Our recent projects have directly benefited critically endangered populations of red pandas in Nepal, lemurs in Madagascar, vultures in South Africa, orangutans in Borneo, and Grauer's gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, painted dogs and pangolins in Africa, and black rhinos in South Africa and Kenya. I have traveled to every continent in support of the Foundation’s mission. I have witnessed firsthand the threats to endangered species and their environments. I have met the most caring and amazing people doing the most spectacular things with little support and even fewer financial resources. I seek out strong leaders representing smaller organizations where my dollars and time can CHANGEMAKERS HowMyWild Life Protects Wildlife Creating positive change goes beyond writing a check. You need to immerse yourself in the cause, too. have the greatest impact. Close collaboration is critical to our success. We don’t simply write a check. We immerse ourselves and collectively determine how to best leverage Holtzman Wildlife Foundation’s time, talents, and treasures. In alignment with our mission, I recently conceived and am working with an Oscarwinning director and other wildlife organizations to create a film highlighting companies developing and deploying innovative plant-based plastics to solve one of the world’s outstanding environmental issues. The goal is to educate viewers on the plastic-related crisis facing our planet to motivate individuals, By JonathanHoltzman
WINTER 2022 / REAL-LEADERS.COM 17 CHANGEMAKERS businesses, and political leaders to take action and address this urgent issue. We expect the film to be completed next year. The film exemplifies how I provide financial support, creativity, and professional experience to issues and the institutions supporting this critical work. At a time when pandemic pressures have put an unparalleled financial strain on nonprofit organizations — even more so in places where dwindling resources and fewer tourists have enabled poachers to thrive — my background as a developer and real estate professional has made it possible for me to assist and advise these organizations as they build rehabilitation clinics, wildlife centers, and sanctuaries. In 2020, I partnered with a New York City gallery on The Envelope — an art print depicting five endangered species sending a message to the world. The profits from the sale of each print are directed to an organization supporting at least one of the animals. Conservation is my North Star, but I apply the same commitment and dedication to pursuing wild ideas as I do to preserving wild places. I never had kids, and I'm not married. The Holzman Wildlife Foundation is my legacy. When I am gone, most of the income and real estate assets from City Club Apartments will be directed to the organization. I take great pride and comfort in knowing it will live well beyond my lifetime. Like many YPO leaders, I believe in eccentricity and exploration. I believe that curiosity and conviction are a powerful pairing. And I think that preserving the irreplaceable and achieving the unthinkable are two sides of the same coin. Focusing your giving on an issue of interest can bring enormous joy and fulfillment, and it serves as a healthy balance to a driven business career. As business leaders and global citizens, we are responsible for ensuring a healthy, sustainable future for our planet and everything on it. We should strive to be not just creators but also conservationists. We should work to infuse ideas and institutions with inspiration and innovation. And we should dedicate ourselves with passion and purpose to building new things and protecting what we can’t afford to lose. I believe that is the surest sign of a life well lived. n HoltzmanWildlifeFoundation.org Far left: Realist wildlife artist Thomas Broadbent took inspiration for The Envelope from a folk tale titled The Town Musicians of Bremen, published by the Brothers Grimm in 1819. Broadbent’s work depicts a black rhino, Grauer’s gorilla, Malayan sun bear, red panda, and lemur all stacked on top of each other. The lemur carries a bright yellow envelope in its mouth. “I wanted the message to be mysterious,” says Broadbent, “but we all know what it says. These magnificent animals are showing their strength and fortitude while taking action in the face of potential extinction. They are asking for our help.” Left: Jonathan Holtzman observes a meerkat in its natural habitat. “I SEEK OUT STRONG LEADERS REPRESENTING SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS WHERE MY DOLLARS AND TIME CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT.” — JONATHAN HOLTZMAN
18 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 PEACE The image of peace with a dove flying over a rainbow and people holding hands singing kumbaya ends up infantilizing people who believe that sustainable peace is possible. If you think that singing and looking at a rainbowwill suddenly make peace appear, then you’re not capable of meaningful thought or understanding the difficulties of the world. Most people, when confronted with these images of peace, and the derogatory terms that go with it, such as “treehugger,” “liberal” or “granola-eating hippie,” become ashamed to say they believe in peace. It’s critical that humanity reclaims the meaning of peace. Peace is not just an absence of conflict or personal serenity. Peace means actively engaging in the world to create one in which we all want to live. It’s hard work — every day. It’s about making a commitment to a greater good, even with the people you don’t HOW TO CONVERT CONCERN INTO AN ACHIEVABLE SOLUTION like in the world. I certainly don’t like everyone in the world; the Nobel Peace Prize did not suddenly turnme intoMother Teresa. There are those whose politics and worldview I don’t like at all. However, if I only wish for a greater good for my friends or those who think like me, I’mno different from the people I dislike. I want to see a world in which everybody benefits from sustainable peace. To achieve this, we need to focus on human security, not national security. Theoretically, within a national security framework, if the state is secure, then the people are secure — but I don’t believe that. I look at my own country, the United States, where democracy is under siege. A huge number of people live on, or below, the poverty line, and the things I consider important to making a nation secure, such as job security, are collapsing under the weight of global corporatism. A lust for more and the selling of weapons of war do not make us secure. I don’t believe you need to be a full-time activist to be an involved citizen and to bring about positive change. The media wants us to believe that the problems of the world are so overwhelming that there’s nothing we can do — to leave it to people in power to solve, the so-called “experts.” When I speak with people of any age, I suggest they think for a fewmoments about what issue upsets them the most and what change they’d like to see. When I started the International Campaign to Ban Landmines in 1991, it wasn’t about changing our world from a planet of war into one of peace overnight. It was about banning one weapon, which started a process of change. The campaign grewwithin six years to 1,000 organizations in 60 countries. It resulted in the signing of The Ottawa Convention by 120 states, banning the use, production, and sale of anti-personnel mines. There’s nothing magical about bringing about change — it’s about converting your concern into action. If you teach people different ways of looking at this little planet we all share, you can change the world. Anything is possible if you believe it. You’ve just got to get up off your butt and participate in creating change. n The 1997 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, led amovement that successfully banned the use, production, and sale of anti-personnel landmines. Shewrites that feel-good, sentimental feelings around peace are awaste of time. By JodyWilliams Above, from left: Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Leymah Gbowee, Mairead Maguire, Shirin Ebadi, Jody Williams, Tawakkol Karman and Rigoberta Menchú Tum.
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20 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 MINDFULNESS Ken Falke spent 21 years in the US Navy as a bomb disposal specialist. He founded the EOD Warrior Foundation to support the families of severely wounded military bomb disposal personnel. WHAT DOES BEING WELL MEAN? First, draw a triangle with three equal sides — your wellness triangle. Next, draw a circle in the center and ensure that the circle touches all three sides. At the tip of the triangle, write the word Mind. On the bottom left point, write the word Body. On the bottom right point, draw a dollar sign. In the center of the circle inside the triangle, write the word Spirituality. The outside of the triangle relates directly to our egos: how smart we are, how attractive we are, and how much money we have. It's the "you" other people see. We all have an ego, and there's nothing wrong with that — so long as your ego is kept in check with a healthy dose of humility, optimism, and a sense of accountability. The triangle is one of the strongest geometric shapes, but even so, it collapses if one side fails. That's why we need the circle of spirituality in the middle, holding everything up. Spirituality is the center of life; it touches all three sides of the triangle. I'm not speaking strictly in a religious sense. In the philosophy we teach at trauma survivor organization Boulder Crest, we define a healthy spirituality in three ways. The first element of spirituality is your character. Are you the person you say you are? When you look at yourself in the mirror every morning, are you happy with what you see? Are you a leader who leads by example, or is it "Do as I say, not as I do"? THE WELLNESS TRIANGLE: 3 STEPS TO SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP AS LEADERS, PEOPLE ENTRUST US WITH THEIR MOST VALUABLE ASSET — THEIR TIME — SO IT IS INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY AND INFLUENCE TO STEP UP TO THE TASK AND TAKE CARE OF THEM. THAT STARTS BY LEARNING HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. By Ken Falke
WINTER 2022 / REAL-LEADERS.COM 21 MINDFULNESS The second element of spirituality is your relationships with others. Are they based on mutuality? Do you have three to five friends you can turn to when you need help? Remember, as humans, we become the average of the three to five people we spend the most time with. Choose wisely! The third element of spirituality is service. Are you engaged in service to others outside of your work? What are you doing for your neighbors? Your community? Your nation? When you lead with a strong sense of spirituality, you become congruent — meaning your thoughts, feelings, and actions are all aligned in a positive way. Others will see that, admire it, and follow your lead. Think of your circle in the center of your triangle as an exercise ball at the gym. If that ball is properly inflated, you can pretty much sit there and keep your balance for a long time. At its core, your Wellness Triangle is strong. But if that ball begins to deflate? Maybe your character or your relationships aren't what they should be; maybe your thoughts, feelings, and actions fall out of congruency. That's when leaders really start to struggle. Worse yet, what if there's nothing in the center to begin with? Let's say you're an egomaniac, driven by the outside of your wellness triangle. Maybe your only relationships are the ones you buy. Perhaps you do nothing for anybody other than yourself. That's when pressure on one side or another of the triangle brings your life crashing down around you — and your capacity to lead with it. The Pressures of Leadership Put the sides and the circle together, and you've got the strongest foundation in the world: the Wellness Triangle. But even the strongest triangle can be weakened under pressure — and the pressures of leadership are real. It’s easy to envision a situation where the points of your Wellness Triangle flatten as a result. In the eight years that I ran A-T Solutions, I gained 50 pounds. That wasn't who I'd been in the Navy, where I'd taken EOD trainees on runs so difficult that students remembered me as the guy who made them puke on the golf course run. I was spiritually well, mentally well, and financially well, but I was working 16- and 17-hour days, traveling more than 200 days a year, and just didn't make time to take care of my body. “NOW I KNOW THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS, OPENNESS, AND HONESTY, AND I AM A BETTER LEADER BECAUSE OF IT. LEADERSHIP IS REALLY A RELATIONSHIP.” Every pound I gained after leaving the service was a measure of the burden I carried on building A-T Solutions — compounded by the burden of hiding the toll from others. I knew that when people see stress in their leader, they start to worry, and I didn't want anyone else to carry the load or see me becoming less well as a result of it. But who was I to think that 50 pounds could be hidden? They say the top is a lonely place, and l was living that. But it was a mistake. My style today is much more collaborative. Now I know the power of relationships, openness, and honesty, and I am a better leader because of it. Leadership is really a relationship. What happens when you're unwell? Your employees see right through it, and they start to question whether they're in the right place and working for the right person. Instead of growing your team members into leaders, you lose them. The Importance of Commitment Courage requires commitment and seeing things through to the end. Leaders who jump from thing to thing to thing without seeing any of them through, create an organizational culture that emulates that tendency. That's why it is so important to define a goal, see it through, check it off, celebrate it — and move on to the next thing. I'm not saying you can't do multiple things at once, like walking and chewing gum. What I am saying is that everything your organization takes on needs to be seen through to the end — and your responsibility as a leader is to ensure that happens. Seeing something through to the end does not mean you do so at all costs; recognizing failure or changing circumstances and making a clear decision to stop takes courage too. A waffling leader is incapable of facing fear, assessing risk, and stepping off; if a leader is willing to step off but doesn't see things through, that's another form of waffling leadership. In either case, their behavior is sure to proliferate throughout the organization. Everybody sees it, sees that you're okay with it, and assumes it's okay for them too. Courage builds amazing collaborative teams and a capacity for taking risks. n It can be tough being a social impact CEO. The Real Leaders Impact Collaborative offers a confidential space to share and grow. Scan the code above to find out more.
22 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 LEADERSHIP Every organizationneeds change leaders.Thesepeople believe in the need for change, commit toadopting the requiredactivities, andhave the knowledge and skills to support andguide others through theprocess. 02 Demonstrate empathy Implement change from the perspective of the change recipients. Empathy is the ability to see the world from a different perspective. When you practice empathy, you can recognize two essential factors. The first is that the initiator of any change starts their transition before others in the organization. The second factor is that every organizational change involves risk. A change that may appear lowrisk and easy at the executive level may, at the frontline level, be complex and perceived as riskier. Successful change leaders strive to understand the perspectives of those who will be doing the heavy lifting. By Dr. Dawn-Marie Turner 01 Create an outcome story Create a straightforward, concise, and concrete outcome story. Stories drive our decisions and actions. You need reliable, accurate qualitative and quantitative data to decide whether to initiate a change. However, facts and goals are not enough. Creating healthy and sustainable change requires people to connect emotionally and intellectually with a shared story about why the change is necessary and what the outcome will look like. Create a shared outcome story that describes the look, feel, behaviors, and activities of your organization/department after the change has been successfully adopted. Doing so decreases stress and uncertainty and makes it easier for people to let go of their current state and move toward something new. A shared story of your intended outcome helps everyone make better decisions and expands your organization’s intellectual capability. 7 Tips for Effective CHANGE Leadership The changes facing most organizations are too complex and the pace of change too fast to be driven only from the top and managed by a few specialists. It would help if you had leaders at every level with sufficient knowledge, skill, and capability to lead and manage change effectively. Here are seven ways to create effective change leadership throughout your organization:
WINTER 2022 / REAL-LEADERS.COM 23 LEADERSHIP 05 Create time and space Carve out time within your operational environment for people to engage with and adopt the new activities and behaviors. Few companies have the luxury of shutting down business while implementing a change. And the dayto-day activities that keep a business running almost always take priority over those required for change. Therefore, you need to create time and space for people to unlearn old actions and behaviors, learn new ways of working, and embed the latest activities and behaviors into their daily operations. 06Adopt a readinessmindset Many unwittingly adopt a resistance mindset — the belief that human beings naturally resist change. Leaders with a resistance mindset equate employee reactions to change with resistance and grow frustrated when employees question or balk at change. A readiness mindset interprets these reactions not as a sign of resistance but as a sign that people are not ready. It is characterized by the belief that people will move toward something new and different when they understand the need and feel prepared, capable, and supported. Adopting a readiness mindset allows you to engage with curiosity to seek feedback, prepare, and guide people through the change process. 04 Apply holistic systems thinking Every organizational change creates ripples or, as one client described it, a tsunami in your organization. Failure to recognize interconnections and treating each change initiative as an isolated event contributes to change fatigue. However, when you identify and plan based on these interconnections, you can leverage collateral change — achieving strategic or desired outcomes within existing rather than new initiatives or projects. It also reduces the risk of burnout and change fatigue. 07 Activate people Actively involve the people who will do the heavy lifting in the design and planning of the change. It always surprises me when leaders say they don’t have time to involve everyone in a change process. Involvement is not optional. To think otherwise would be like believing you could get fit by someone else working out! A 2017 McKinsey study found that only 3% of organizational change efforts were successful when managers and frontline employees were not involved. Active involvement does not mean everyone is involved in every decision. However, you can create structures to help you actively involve people at the right level and at the right time. n Dr. Dawn-Marie Turner teaches stories, techniques, and the science of taking your team from change-resistant to change-ready and from stressed-out to resilient. She is author of Launch, Lead, Live: The Executive's Guide to Preventing Resistance and Succeeding with Organizational Change. 03 Demonstrate curiosity, compassion, and commitment Be curious about what you see and hear, including having self-awareness of your reactions. Then practice self-compassion as you navigate your journey and help support others through the change. To be an effective change leader, you must commit to the whole journey. Achieving real change that sticks takes time. You need the energy and stamina to continue until the intended outcome has been achieved and the new activities have become routine.
24 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 LEADERSHIP By Carol Cone It’s 2022. Do you know what your employees want? Over the course of a lifetime, we spend around 81,000 hours working. Together, that’s about one-third of the average person’s entire life, and it translates to approximately 10,000 days spent at work. Now, consider the words of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Dillard, who said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” If we want to spend our lives meaningfully, we must endeavor to find purpose in our daily work. Corporate purpose is defined as an organization’s reason for being, beyond profits, grounded in humanity. I have the great privilege of being the founder and CEO of one of the first social purpose agencies, so I live the power of purpose every day — through my work, leadership, and clients. Purpose Under Pressure, a new report we jointly released with the Harris Poll and Allison + Partners, proves that the influence of purpose is more vital than ever — especially among employees — and reveals that an original and activated purpose is a powerful magnet for talent. But unfortunately, many companies have an inconsistent commitment to their purpose, substantially lessening its impact and value. I find the “Great Resignation” to be a misnomer. I prefer the better refined “Great Contemplation” — because the events of recent years have given us all a lot to think about. For employees, this has led to a rearrangement of priorities and pursuit of higher meaning in their work that places more demands on their employers. We know that when purpose is well defined and embedded in an organization, the result is long-term The past few years have taught businesses many hard lessons. Among them, leaders must expect the unexpected, and no issue is off-limits for an organizational response. Consumers have become increasingly skeptical of green and purpose claims, while employees have found their voice — and aren’t afraid to use it. So much has changed during this time, but one thing has remained constant: the power of purpose. Do YouReally KnowWhat Your Employees Want? “AS BUSINESS LEADERS, IT’S UP TO US TO BE COURAGEOUS AND CLEAR THAT OUR ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE HUMAN-CENTERED AND STAUNCHLY FOCUSED ON LIFTING OUR STAKEHOLDERS, BEGINNING WITH OUR MOST VALUABLE: EMPLOYEES. ” — CAROL CONE
WINTER 2022 / REAL-LEADERS.COM 25 LEADERSHIP 4 Steps toMeet andBeat the Demands of Your Employees You can take a few specific data-supported steps to ensure your purpose is working as hard as it can for you in these turbulent times and making your company resilient in the face of ongoing business and societal challenges. 2. Actions speak louder than words. Johanna Jobin, global head of corporate reputation and responsibility at Biogen and executive director of Biogen Foundation, says, “I don’t think organizations make up their purpose. They reveal their purpose. And it’s up to the people in the organization to reveal that purpose and bring it to life.” It’s up to us to help our employees understand that purpose is central to their roles. Build it into job descriptions, KPIs, reviews, compensation, ongoing mentoring conversations, company meetings, and all internal communications. Bob Jiminez, senior vice president corporate affairs at Cox Enterprises, illustrates this point nicely, saying, “A purpose without action is just some great words that folks can feel good about. We use purpose as the lens through which we make all of our decisions. We want a ripple effect that elevates other individuals and communities, particularly those in need, and raises them in the process.” Employee-fueled communication and programs will be the key to enterprisewide purpose adoption. Identify ambassadors in each department who champion your purpose and ensure it’s well aligned and activated. DebO’Connor, director of global corporate reputation and community relations at Whirlpool Corporation, says, “Employees are your ambassadors in the community. They want to be involved and are your primary stakeholder in corporate social responsibility. Your colleagues are the ones who help you get the work done.” 3. Engage purpose ambassadors. success. Companies that get it right “...make more money, have more engaged employees, more loyal customers, and are better at innovation and transformational change,” according to a Harvard Business Review report, The Business Case for Purpose. As business leaders, it’s up to us to be courageous and clear that our organizations will be human-centered and staunchly focused on lifting our stakeholders, beginning with our most valuable: employees. When we identify and live our true purpose, we create meaningful workplaces. We are rewarded with better recruitment and retention, increased performance and impact, and a futureproofed organization for today and tomorrow. Carol Cone is CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, which educates, inspires, and accelerates purpose programs and impacts for organizations, nonprofits, and individuals around the globe. 1. Purpose is everyone’s job. More than ever, employees seek roles at organizations that have values that match their own. So, we must put those values front and center in the employee experience. Balaji Ganapathy is chief of social responsibility at Tata Consultancy and says, “As an employer, you need to enable your workforce to fulfill their broader purpose. It does not stop with providing volunteering opportunities. It is about driving a culture.” n 4. Align employee and company values.
26 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 LEADERSHIP I got my first lesson on how powerful capital can be for making a difference when I worked in the fashion industry in the favelas of Brazil. I became familiar with the housing problem there, and the government announced a program called “Minha Casa Minha Vida” — financing houses for those who’d never had one. I was fascinated by it. I shifted careers and partnered with an investment boutique and real estate developer who was doing those projects and soon saw that fundraising was a superpower of mine. My unusual career path gave me great experience and attracted like-minded high-net-worth individuals with whom I joined forces. Today, I’m focused on redefining wealth and guiding a generation of wealthy influencers to create purpose-driven wealth and make a difference in communities. At UMANA, our multi-family office, I primarily focus on creating wealth aligned with one’s values. I provide influential voices with the resources to be loud and responsible, building startups and matching conscious celebrities with purpose-driven brands. By helping them understand their values and causes, their wealth and actions become more value-driven, and they proudly become more vocal about their work. When asked about the secret to my success, I like to say it comes down to finding a balance between making things happen and letting things happen. I’m a hustler at heart but also spiritual. I’ve realized the importance of flow in life, or “The Law of Least Effort,” as Deepak Chopra says. I also focus more on collaboration, being bold, adaptable, not worrying about “rules,” leading with my heart, and staying true to myself. I was often underestimated, so hustle was essential to my early days. The level of persistence and consistency I had to show was significant. When I launched my first venture fund in Silicon Valley, many in the industry were surprised. Who did I think I was, trying to break into the “Bro Club” of Silicon Valley as a young female Latino immigrant? Fortunately, I knew exactly who I was and what I was trying to achieve. I realized there was a gap in the market to support purpose-driven founders, so that’s what I set out to do. I never felt sidelined in the industry because I wasn’t competing with old ideals, stale mindsets, or antiquated “rules.” I created my own path. What I achieved on that path relies on collaboration. My success is genuinely tied to the success of others. I fulfill my purpose by helping UMANA’s family members live their purpose-driven lives. By focusing on this combined effort, I’ve helped others achieve extraordinary things and, by doing so, furthered my own goals and dreams to keep being a part of the change. n Ba Minuzzi, CEO of UMANA, is an entrepreneur who leads conscious investing and wealth management for celebrity clients. The Importance of Hustle in Building Your Brand A new wave of change makers understand that, to have true wealth, they must leverage their platforms to make a positive impact on the world, and leave a legacy they can be proud of. Ba Manuzzi with (from left) Noah Schnapp from the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, and actor Adrian Grenier.
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28 REAL-LEADERS.COM / WINTER 2022 By Coach Dana Cavalea LEADERSHIP QUICK FIX Is Hiring Your Weakest Link? Does this sound familiar? • You have a “B” manager trying to hire “A” players. • Managers make their hiring decision based on the first impression. • Manager and candidate bond because of simil r likes (i.e., sports, college football, etc.), rather than the candidate’s qualifications. • The manager says: “Please sit down while I read your resume.” • The manager hires based on “I’m a good judge of character.” This happens every day — even in the best companies. Too often, well-intentioned managers are the weak link in your hiring process. And the cost is enormous, including lost sales, poor customer service, safety issues, lower employee engagement, etc. Training, while important, may not be the solution because most managers resort back to their old habits. How to help hiring managers: 1. Job descriptions are sooo yesterday. They are essential, but not strategic. They provide only basic info — work history, education, and the job’s duties and responsibilities, etc. Have the manager complete a Job Outlook form. Prior to starting the hiring process, capture the hiring managers’ strategic thoughts about the open position in writing and with their signature. 2. Review your pre-hire assessments. Are you using yesterday’s tools for a vastly different business model (i.e., remote workers, Zoom meetings, work/life balance issues, etc.)? 3. Understand that there are two types of onboarding. The formal one is where the candidate learns about the company's vision, mission, procedures, benefits, and products. The informal onboarding is where the current employees teach the new person “the ropes.” If not aligned, it will directly affect the new employee’s success with the company. John Bishop is the founder of Hire to Compete, helping companies choose new employees that fit the job, fit the manager’s style, and the company’s culture.
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