Fifth Dimensional Leadership

The more relentlessly we pursue our goals, the more we fail to realize that we are already perpetuating our suffering. We become so preoccupied with seeking prosperity, pleasure and recognition that we forget to live in the moment.    It takes a deeper understanding of ourselves and unraveling the mystery behind our identities to free ourselves from this endless cycle and reclaim our lives and true happiness.   In this episode of Fifth Dimensional Leadership, I interview Emilio Diez Barroso. Emilio is an investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who is deeply committed to alleviating suffering in the world. In our conversation, Emilio talks about how we can stop perpetuating our suffering in the world through conscious leadership.    Emilio is  a general partner at BOLD Capital Partners, a venture capital firm, and Chairman & CEO of Nala Investments, a family office with operations across various industries, including communications, transportation, consumer products, real estate, technology, and media.    Emilio was previously managing director of Corporacion Trianggulo in Mexico City and currently sits on numerous for-profit and nonprofit boards. He recently completed his book The Mystery of You: Freedom is Closer Than You Think. Things you will also learn in this episode: What the 'Illusion of Separation" means. Finding intimacy with life to stop seeking. Tuning yourself to what you want.e How to live in a state of curiosity  How to achieve the "truest surrender"   Quotes:   "With separation comes identities– things that define who I am. And when all those things define me, and I attach my values and worth to those things, I become very attached to how someone else looks compared to me, or when one of those identities gets threatened." - Emilio Diez Barrosso   "The body is very much in the present moment, and it's always in a relationship right now." - Emilio Diez Barrosso   "If we take responsibility for our upsets and the judgements that we hold for ourselves and own it, then we will be that beacon of light that alleviates suffering." - Emilio Diez Barrosso   "Pain is not an option, but suffering is, and most suffering stems from resistance." - Emilio Diez Barrosso   "When we can be in that place of inner cohesion, our actions can be powerful." - Emilio Diez Barrosso   The antidote to resistance isn't acceptance, it's curiosity. - Emilio Diez Barrosso

Creating a healthy environment where teams can perform at their best and where innovation is nurtured starts with creating a culture of belonging, and that  starts with LEADERSHIP.     In this episode of Fifth Dimensional Leadership, I interview Yogesh Soni. Yogesh is an author who has explored how to create organizations with a sense of belonging, which is a fundamental human need.    Yogesh is an engineer who has been a business leader, leading product teams in purpose-driven technology companies. He believes that technology and economic activities are a massive force for human progress. Yogesh has designed a blueprint that can scale across organizations, which he combined in his book Digital belonging - Building Human-Centered Organizations.   In our conversation, Yogesh talks about exploring the lack of human connection in the workplace and how to create a culture of belonging.   Things you will also learn in this episode: Finding out the "why" of cultural differences in the workplace. The key factor in the "Great Resignation." Why we need to refocus on our human needs. How to define "belonging" in a business environment How the need to belong can compromise one's mental health   Quotes:   "The problem is that there is very little focus on human needs and very high focus on business outcomes. If you ignore those human needs, you will frequently see burnout, depression, and disengagement." - Yogesh Soni   "You may think that a sense of belonging is the cure to everything, but the need to belong can also have a negative effect, depending on what kind of tribe you want to belong to." - Yogesh Soni   "It's not enough for people to be physically present; they must be mentally, psychologically, and emotionally present for each other." - Yogesh Soni   "Belonging and community have very real, tangible business outcomes." - Yogesh Soni

The values you uphold are one of the most crucial aspects of leadership. Knowing and promoting those values as a leader helps you influence and govern your team in the right direction. And by adhering to your values, you inspire others to follow and adopt them.   In this episode of Fifth Dimensional Leadership, I interview Harry Kraemer, Jr. Harry is an executive partner at Madison Dearborn Partners, a private equity firm based in Chicago. He is also a Clinical Professor of Leadership at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.  In our conversation, Harry talks about leading and positively influencing people through values-based leadership.   Harry is the author of three best-selling leadership books: From Values to Action: The Four Principles of Values-Based Leadership; Becoming The Best: Build a World-Class Organization Through Values-Based Leadership. and Your 168: Finding Purpose and Satisfaction in a Values-Based Life.   Harry is the former chairman and CEO of Baxter International Inc., a $13 billion global healthcare company. He joined Baxter in 1982 as director of corporate development and was named senior vice president and chief financial officer in 1993. In the following years, he assumed additional responsibility in Baxter's Renal and Medication Delivery businesses, was elected to Baxter's board of directors in 1995, and was named president of Baxter International Inc. in 1997.    Harry graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University of Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and economics. He received an MBA degree in finance and accounting from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and is a certified public accountant.  Things you will also learn in this episode: Putting things in perspective through math. Three things Harry did as CEO at Baxter that drove success. Distinguishing between values and preferences What it means to be liked vs. being respected. Examples of effective communication and setting boundaries. Quotes: "It's when you get to explain things that you realize you understand it." - Harry Kraemer   "Values are non-negotiable, must not be compromised, and should be laid out very clearly." - Harry Kraemer   "As a leader, when you're leading, the goal is not to be right; the goal is to do the right thing." - Harry Kraemer   "This whole idea of leadership has nothing to do with titles and organizational charts, but it has everything to do with the ability to influence people." - Harry Kraemer   "The more you know about any topic, the more you know how little you know. - Harry Kraemer   "You can learn something from every single person you encounter, and when that light goes on and you realize how much you can learn by every encounter, it changes your life." - Harry Kraemer   "Develop a balanced perspective… seek to understand before you are understood." - Harry Kraemer

It's a challenge to create a safe workplace where each of us can thrive, and the pressure falls hard on our leaders. It takes courage and significant motivation to help leaders improve so they can better lead their people in this complex time.   In this episode of Fifth Dimensional Leadership, I interview Edward Sullivan, CEO & Managing Partner at Velocity Coaching. Edward has coached and mentored start-up founders, Fortune 500 executives, and political leaders for over 20 years. Edward helps startup CEOs and their executive teams scale their leadership skills and build cultures of collaboration, high performance, and psychological safety. When working with more established companies, he focuses on helping CEOs transform their teams and culture to be more agile and responsive to compete in today's fast-paced environment.    In our conversation, Edward talks about transforming leadership to build cultures of collaboration, connection, and psychological safety.   Edward holds an MBA from the Wharton School, an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, and trained as a coach at Co-Active Training Institute and New Ventures West. In addition, Edward has  co-authored several books including Leading with Heart: Five Conversations That Unlock Creativity, Purpose, and Results; The Secret to Becoming a Better Manager; and How to Protect Your Team From a Toxic Work Culture.   Things you will also learn in this episode: Executive coaching as a competitive advantage. How to proactively address toxicity. Why we are in a leadership crisis How to help manage your team's mental health as a leader. Why Edward wants to wage a war on "executive presence." Quotes: "Coaching is now viewed as a proactive investment in performance as opposed to a remedial bandage that we put on poor performance." - Edward Sullivan   "Change has to come from [leaders] for the system to heal. Not all systems heal because one person is able to be brave." - Edward Sullivan   "When a company is printing billions of dollars per year, there's really no incentive to change. But it takes transformative leadership to stop and think if it's the company you want to build." - Edward Sullivan   "Have the courage to ask for what we need and the curiosity to ask other what they need" - Edward Sullivan   "We can create change in the dysfunctional system by taking off our masks, putting down our shields, and being vulnerable again." - Edward Sullivan   "Often, the CEO or the Founder has the clearest lens of what good looks like, but if no one is meeting that expectation, it's a leadership problem, not performance." - Edward Sullivan   "If we endure for months that feeling of not being seen, not emotionally connected, and not appreciated by our team and leaders, that's when we start to feel emotionally exhausted and that is the true cause of burnout." - Edward Sullivan   "Often, our gifts come from something we had to learn to do to get by in this world." - Edward Sullivan

Everyone has a unique purpose.   However, not everyone is aware of it. Helping individuals discover their true selves and realize their own unique purpose is the essence of great leadership.   In this episode of Fifth Dimensional Leadership, I interview Imran Qureshi. Imran serves as Managing Director and Head of North America with 30 years of experience. He is responsible for WTW's business in Canada and the United States across all business segments, growing revenue, representing WTW in the business community and securing the engagement of ~17,000 colleagues. In this interview, Imran talks about how to unlock the value of people through purpose-driven leadership.   Previously, Imran chaired WTW's North America Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Council and served on WTW's Growth Board. Prior to that, he held leadership positions in WTW's Global Services and Solutions business, during which he worked with North American and European multinationals helping them go global through acquisitions, organic growth and governance. Before joining WTW, Imran was an international consultant in the United Kingdom.   Imran holds a BSc. Degree in mathematics with honors from the University of Manchester in the U.K. and has an actuarial background. He also holds a diploma in International Employee Benefits from the International Employee Benefits Association (IEBA) and has lectured on governance and globalization at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Imran is currently a board director at The Executives' Club of Chicago.    Things you will also learn in this episode:   How to overcome risk aversion and limiting beliefs. Finding purpose-driven work and experiencing the joy of the moment. Distinguishing between mentorship and sponsorship, and the need for both. How to bring "sunlight" and accountability to your organization How to use discomfort as a means to grow.   Quotes:   "We have to move away from the hero culture and transition the true meaning of leadership into unlocking the value of individuals." - Imran Qureshi   "Often, you don't realize the advice you get and its pivotal impact until much later, so it's important to be self-reflective." - Imran Qureshi   "The ability to advocate on behalf of others is the distinction between mentorship and sponsorship." - Imran Qureshi   "Your reputation is tied to a function of promoting who you believe is ready to be developed, promoted, and moved along." - Imran Qureshi   "When you communicate that you are doing things differently, you start to build trust." - Imran Qureshi   "When you can build that culture of trust and psychological safety, you start to move the dial." - Imran Qureshi   "Purpose transcends lofty individual perspectives, but the key is asking that fundamental question: 'Why do you do what you do?'" - Imran Qureshi   "As soon as you become comfortable, you stop growing." - Imran Qureshi   "We are a function of our experiences." - Imran Qureshi