The Servant Marketer

In the final episode of our special series on the ten characteristics of servant leadership, we celebrate an awe-inspiring perspective of the definition of stewardship and explore leadership through an Indigenous lens. Dr. Karla Bird of the Blackfeet Amskapi Piikani Nation and Dr. Salena Beaumont Hill of the Crow Nation discuss the Indigenous experience with leadership and community contribution. And they explain why language around stewardship matters to people when an idea like volunteerism embeds their culture.Hear how spirituality and collective responsibility heal tribal communities and why the two women believe in the freedom of choice over the notion of following.    Join us as we discuss:Examining stewardship through an Indigenous lens (11:46)Walking the line between appropriation and understanding (24:20)The spirit to choose in a non-hierarchal community of equals (38:31)Centering indigenous education in a system that doesn’t fit (47:05)Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:University of MontanaResearch is Ceremony: Indigenous Research MethodsReservation DogsAll My RelationsYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to The Servant Marketer on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

A key skill for any profession is listening, but in marketing, it’s necessary to cut through the noise and find compelling stories. Sometimes, we get in our own way, feeling a need to fill an empty space with our thoughts when we should make room for others instead.  Thomas Kemeny, Author of Junior: Writing Your Way Ahead in Advertising, joins us to discuss listening and its impact on creative work, client relationships, work-life balance, and creative inspiration.As Thomas suggested, there is power in our silence. Rather than break it, we can use it to listen and identify the moments that matter.    Join us as we discuss:The writing journey and advice for aspiring content creators (1:13)Collaboration and problem-solving through listening (15:50)Listening to your gut and confronting your inner critic (27:04) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Thomas KemenyJunior: Writing Your Way Ahead in AdvertisingDarling, You Can’t Do Both

Healing is perhaps the most ambiguous of the 10 characteristics of servant leadership. Every person processes pain differently, but it’s often the unspoken wounds we inflict on others that call for intentionality in compassion and compromise.As Vince Rougeau, President of College of the Holy Cross,  advises, by taking the time to listen, you’ll often find that the path to healing is easier than you think.In this episode on healing, Vince shares his unique insight on staying grounded in healthy relationships, building coalitions around differences, and the liberating power of forgiveness.       Join us as we discuss:Opening yourself up to the pain of others and rebuilding trust (5:12)Collaborative healing in an environment of independent thinkers (19:43)Putting the dignity of others first in difficult decisions (31:15)Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Vince RougeauCollege of the Holy CrossRadical CandorJust Mercy: A Story of Justice and RedemptionHidden Brain

Growth is hard no matter who you are. But for minorities and marginalized groups, the creative industries have historically not provided the same ladder to leadership that the majority has been given. Abnia Loriston, Program Director at The Creative Ladder, is working to fix that.Powered by existing creative industry players like Dionna Dorsey Calloway, David Griner and Ryan Reynolds, Abnia’s work helps to open doors for some that would otherwise remain closed. The Creative Ladder is currently developing a wide range of free or affordably priced services to help aspiring creative professionals find—and thrive in—their career paths.Join us as we discuss:Training ourselves to be an advocate (23:58)How reflection can be divine (28:30)What is the Peter Principle and how can we educate future workforces to not fall prey to it (34:15)ADIBE and why it’s critical to the modern workforce (38:20)Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:https://www.creativeladder.org/https://groupeffortinitiative.com/The Visibility MindsetThe Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom: Build Wealth, Retire Early, and Live the Life of Your DreamsAbbot Elementary

Empathy is an intentional aim to understand and accept the emotional perspective of others. As a core characteristic of responsible servant leaders, empathy is a bedrock of professional relationships as it drives positive communication and promotes well-being in the workplace.Mark Mohammadpour, Owner and Chief Well-Being Officer of Chasing the Sun, shares his insights on empathy and how the pandemic catapulted it to the front of the people management conversation.       Join us as we discuss:Defining empathy in a post-pandemic work environment (2:29)How empathy is at the core of marketing and relationships (16:24)Why Ted Lasso is a masterclass in empathetic leadership (25:42)Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Mark MohammadpourChasing the Sunmark@chasingthesunpdx.comYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to The Servant Marketer on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Not only is foresight important when projecting outcomes, but it’s critical to perceiving relationships and habits. By taking lessons from the past to heart, servant leaders can identify unsettling patterns in the present to help sculpt a brighter future.Debbie Heiser, creator and founder of Lead Your Life With Debbie Heiser, shares why she believes foresight is one of the most important characteristics in servant leadership.      Join us as we discuss:Naturally trusting your instincts and that “gut feeling” (4:07) The Theory U behavior modification model and its impact (15:12)Why self-martyrdom conflicts with empowerment (26:26) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Lead Your Life With Debbie HeiserLead Your Life PodcastTheoryU and the Presencing Institute You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to The Servant Marketer on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Awareness, especially disciplined self-awareness, is a key leadership attribute for recognizing issues within a team. Servant leaders must constantly scan the horizon and be aware of what is around them, but also cultivate a deep understanding of themselves. Brad Stulberg, author of The Practice of Groundedness, shares his insights on how great leaders can attain self-awareness by embracing practice over perfection.         Join us as we discuss:Heroic individualism and inevitable burnout (3:42)Why leaders need a self-awareness brain trust (20:45)Choosing to be good enough over perfect (32:26)Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Brad Stulberg TwitterBrad Stulberg InstagramThe Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds--Not Crushes--Your SoulYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to The Servant Marketer on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

The art of persuasion is an essential implement in every servant leader’s toolbox. Bound by truth and choice, a great persuader can bring teams to a composed consensus and move projects forward.Teresa Valerio Parrot, Principal at TVP Communications, shares her insights on how persuasion is used for good to influence and empower teams to overcome roadblocks together.       Join us as we discuss:The fine line between persuasion and manipulation (4:55)Defining characteristics of persuasive leaders (24:40)Why good intuition is a learned skill (34:56)Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:TVP Communicationsteresa@tvpcommunicationsTeresa Valerio Parrot TwitterTeresa Valerio Parrot LinkedIn

Humans naturally seek out fellowship in community, but someone has to take it upon themselves to intentionally build community through listening, empathy and advocacy.Servant leaders build community by sensing and diagnosing real issues. Christina Garnett, Principal Marketing Manager of Offline Community and Advocacy at HubSpot, shares her insights on building communities in a post-pandemic world.       Join us as we discuss:Coaching the right people as community builders (8:00) The main character syndrome pervasive among thought leaders (20:20)How brands foster community by creating core memories (35:16)Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Christina Garnett TwitterChristina Garnett LinkedInHubSpot

Helping kick off our 10-part series on the characteristics of servant leadership, Jeff Kallay, Senior Vice President of Enrollment Consulting at Echo Delta, joins me to discuss conceptualization.Jeff has spent the last 16 years touring colleges and universities and auditing their campuses. In doing so, he’s helped over 300 schools elevate the student experience.In this episode, Jeff and I talk about conceptualization in student-centric branding and lessons that higher ed marketers can take away from other industries.      Join us as we discuss:Why physical spaces are so important to service (15:11)Bringing the right attitude for big ideas (26:25)A simple strategy for brainstorming (31:29)Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Jeff Kallay LinkedInJeff Kallay TwitterEcho Delta

Keith Reynold Jennings is an executive and writer working to bring lift to people's work lives. He currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Community Impact at Jackson Healthcare In this episode: The personal story of how Keith discovered Servant LeadershipOperating from a sense of values and honoring diverse perspectivesWhy CMOs have the highest turnover in the C-SuiteThe one question any potential CMO should ask before taking a new position

Have you ever heard of the term “karmic assignment?” It’s the idea that each of us has a purpose on this planet or work that we cannot not do. Work that we would pay to do, instead of being motivated by extrinsic motivation. In Episode 15, I talked to Gary Mueller, Executive Creative Director for BVK, a large advertising, and marketing agency.In this episode: Gary’s journey to his “karmic assignment” The sacrifices he made to bring Serve Marketing into the worldBarriers for non-profits when it comes to marketing Why brands need a purpose What other agencies can do to give back

#TeamAwesome can't be contained and the conversation spilled over into Part 2. Barney Abramson and Lynn Arage joined the podcast to share their experience as children of immigrants working as creatives and marketing professionals. In this episode: The rise and fall of #TeamAwesomeBuilding a healthy, diverse team Corporate culture and its impact on funLynn and Barney’s lived experience as people of color and children of immigrants in the marketing professionTheir careers working for some of the biggest brands in the worldTransitioning from being a doer to being a delegatorWhat a great diversity and inclusion program might look like How brands can create a sense of belonging

Barney Abramson and Lynn Arage join the podcast to discuss working with Jenny at IGT as part of #TeamAwesome. Barney and Lynn are seasoned marketers who have worked with some of the world's biggest brands including Disney, Zappos, Black & Decker, and IGT. In this episode: The rise and fall of #TeamAwesomeBuilding a healthy, diverse team Corporate culture and its impact on funLynn and Barney’s lived experiences as people of color and children of immigrants in the marketing professionTheir careers working for some of the biggest brands in the worldTransitioning from being a doer to being a delegatorWhat a great diversity and inclusion program might look like How brands can create a sense of belonging