Let's Talk Leadership with Banangkur

Let’s go to Texas today !And let’s talk to Meredith Garcia who is developing 3,000 leaders. Well, not all by herself – at least, I don't think so. Meredith had a solid corporate career and then successfully ran her own business for a number of years. But the attraction of an offer to return to work in a large state government authority in her home state of Texas – and developing leaders - was an offer she couldn’t refuse. Three thousand ? I want to find out how she did that ! So let’s talk to Meredith

Let’s talk about love.Jim Kouzes, the co-author of The Leadership Challenge, signs his emails ‘Love ‘em and lead em’. Helena Clayton is my special guest today. So why the reference to Jim Kouzes and ‘Love ‘em and lead ‘em ? ?Helena is UK-based and has developed leaders for some of the UK’s largest companies for well over 25 years, delivering leadership programs and leadership coaching.Now in all that time she must have impacted thousands of leaders.Oh – so where does love come in ? Helena believes in the power of love in leadership. And I want to know more !So let’s talk leadership - and love - with Helena Clayton.

My guest this week has just received an award for 30 years service in the Department of Social Service in the state of Texas.More specifically, her work has been in the critically important area of Protective Services.Lawandra Smith is passionate about developing leaders who work in this area of government helping families and people at risk. So passionate is she that two years ago she became a Certified Master of The Leadership Challenge to be able to take her development of others to another level. And her passion and sense of purpose drove out of early retirement to continue to make a difference on the department she loves. I'm so pleased to  introduce Lawandra Smith

I’m really excited to be starting my podcast journey for 2024 with a woman who I think is truly remarkable. The role that she has, literally impacts on the lives and more specifically the health of just over 6 million people.Dr Heidi Miller is the Chief Medical Officer for the state of Missouri …. in the US, of course. The CMO of any state or government has to manage the multiple interests and pressures which come from so many - from government, to all the states healthcare practitioners and organizations, pharmaceutical companies and of course her primary clients, the citizens of Missouri. She even makes time to conduct regular consultations in her clinic.I can assure you, a role like this requires not only extensive medical expertise across the entire spectrum of medical attention but also great understanding and demonstration of … you guessed it - leadership.Dr Heidi Miller is a graduate of Harvard Medical school and has been a committed leader for many years, well before taking on the role of CMO.Let’s find out more about her amazing leadership journey .

My guest this week comes with a passion for developing leaders. And to deliver the best results she can, not only does she have a PhD with the focus being on leadership, but she has 23 certifications – and growing – on behavior, personality and leadership which she uses as necessary to get the best results with individual leaders.Dr Rachel Monteverdi is also a Certified Master of The Leadership Challenge.Dynamic, passionate and committed are three words I could use to describe Dr Rachel.But you decide for yourself. Either way, I know, like me, you’re going to learn so much from her in this conversation. So let’s say Hi to Dr Rachel  

This week - a ‘first’. This is the first time in forty podcasts that I’ve invited a guest back. And yes, this is podcast 40 in my journey having conversations with inspiring woman leaders. Last year Elise Sinha joined me, and we talked about the inspiring leadership she and other dedicated healthcare executives delivered to get us through the Covid crisis.Now Elise is a very busy leadership coach. I recently read a blog she wrote about Vulnerability – the Untapped Leadership Superpower.I needed to know more. So this week let’s say ‘welcome back’ - and Hi to Elise.

If you’re a regular listener to my podcasts, I’m sure you’ll know that I’m a great supporter of anything which can help women in the workplace, That means anything which can help their careers, their empowerment, their leadership development – and even their most important role, being a mom.My guest today is Rowen Nadia Astrom.Rowen had a career in corporate communication, branding and marketing and now has her own company doing just that – and more.As a new mom, Rowen identified critical issues – even obstacles - for women who wanted to return to their careers after maternity leave or any other prolonged absence from the workplace.Even after a short period away for maternity leave, women can have doubts about work performance, a loss of confidence, and other maybe subtle workplace issues - apart from the major concern of being away from her beautiful child. As a mom of a young child, I can relate to all of that.Rowen has set up an online platform to help women return to work after a prolonged absence for whatever the reason – and I know I’m going to learn a lot about this help which is now available for women.

In my last podcast, I was really pleased to be talking to an experienced and very successful woman from Bahrain, Khulood Al Qattan.But there are always young women who are setting themselves up for a successful, long-term leadership journey. Sometimes in the corporate context, they’re labeled ‘emerging leaders’. My guest this week is a perfect candidate for that description – and in addition, she’s from Dubai, where women leaders are now reaching high-profile, significant leadership roles.Alia Al Ali is a young woman who is already being noticed for her leadership skills.In our conversation I want to find what lead her to becoming recognized as an exemplary leader, what she’s learned about leadership and where she sees her leadership journey taking her.

My guest today is living proof that determination and commitment brings huge rewards.She began her career in the customer service area of a bank, and after various positions in that bank, joined another bank as general manager…, then another as CEO of an investment bank twelve months later. Khulood Al Qattan is from Bahrain. At the peak of her banking career she was appointed as the first female board member of Bahrain’s national telecommunications company, Batelco and she served on the board of several international companies. But after a successful career in investment banking, how can she make the transition to international telecommunications ?And here's another change of direction – and a great honor - recently, she was appointed by His Majesty, the King of Bahrain as Vice Chairman of the national Municipal Council.Above all, she has some strong views on leadership which I believe are the reasons she‘s been so successful. 

I have a very special guest this week. I say ‘very special’ because of what she’s been through and what she’s now doing with the experience of what she’s been through.Angie Chaplin had a 20 year career in HR and capacity management. Among her many qualifications in the area of human behavior, she’s a Certified Master of The Leadership Challenge.And she was Professor of Strategic Communication & Leadership at Seton Hall University.Her company is called, appropriately, Mindful Leadership and she brings the power of mindfulness to leaders and organizations She also focuses on the importance of mental health in the workplace – and that’s important for all of us. Just a few years ago, Angie suffered an alcohol-use disorder which became life threatening.Now she’s on her journey of recovery and she’s agreed to share that with us – as well as the important leadership work she’s doing, developing others.I know this is going to be a powerful, and I’m sure inspiring conversation.

Today, we’re going back to Bahrain. I’ve said before this maybe a small country, but it punches above its weight.And the women there are amazing. I’ve had two inspiring guests from Bahrain recently: Sonja Janahi  and Dina Bseisu.My guest today is Eman Dea’bil. Eman is passionate about women becoming outstanding leaders. She’s a highly qualified project manager and is pushing for more women to become project managers.She’s also researching the impact of women in the boardroom. I’m sure you won’t be surprised that the impact is positive ! But it's just not happening enough. But we’ll let Eman explain that.

I’ve always said my podcasts are ‘conversations with inspiring leaders from around the world’.In the podcast before last we were in Nepal. The one before this, in Bahrain and now the US – Los Angeles.My guest this week is Michele Kawamoto Perry. Michele has been involved in leadership development for over 20 years. She’s a Certified Master of The Leadership Challenge, among the other qualifications she has acquired over the years to help leaders and organizations be more successful.She has a qualification from Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion.And she’s a certified Sommelier. So I’m sure we’ll talk wine.Like me, Michele is passionate about developing women leaders.

This week we’re going back to Bahrain to meet a truly remarkable woman.A former banker dealing with private clients for 20 years, my guest had what she calls a ‘life changing’ event. She describes one particular day as the most important day of her life.My inspiring guest this week is Dina Bseisu.Dina is Palestinian – but she only lived there until she was four, as her family left there as refugees and moved to Bahrain.Obviously, her Palestinian heritage is so much a part of who she became.I’ll let her tell you what happened on that particular day that changed her life – but what it was is something that I believe more woman should talk about.The result of that day, in her case, lead to the establishment of a foundation which has provided help to over 25,000 women who have been marginalized as a result of conflict and continues to do so today and has changed their lives. Let me introduce you  to  the amazing Dina Bseisu.

If you’re a regular listening to my podcast, you’ll know that the focus is on inspiring leaders for around the world and usually the focus is on inspiring women leaders. Today the leader I’m talking to is certainly inspiring – and it’s a man. Bhupendra Ghimiri or as most people call him Bhupi, is from Nepal.  Bhupi began his career as a teacher but soon realized there was a need to improve the lives of the people of Nepal in so many ways.He established a foundation which he calls Volunteers Initiative Nepal or VIN for short.Bhupi’s life purpose now is improving the lives of his fellow Nepalese.  I was introduced to Bhupi through an earlier guest on my podcast, Diann Grimm. Diann established early education programs with the help of Bhupi - now there are over 50 schools in Nepal with early education classes, which is the foundation of effective learning for children..  But Bhupi is operating in a much wider area. His story is one of struggle and determination and he now has a clear vision to improve the lives of Nepalese. I am really looking forward to talking to him about his wonderful journey.

I always love to talk to women who are innovative and who become successful in the process. Isn't that what leaders do ?My guest this week is Hope Zvara and she is certainly innovative and successful.Hope was introduced to yoga to help her with some issues she was having.She became so involved that she then became a yoga teacher and set up her own yoga school to teach others. But then something happened which means she is now making a difference to the well-being and therefore the lives of truckers across the US. Yes, truck drivers, you know, the ones that do the long-haul transport where they’re sitting in the cabin of their truck, driving for hours.Hope had a brilliant business idea to improve the wellness of truck drivers. She calls it Mother Trucker Yoga.And now she’s changing lives … just as leaders do. Hope has some clear ideas about how she’s leading and what she wants to do as a leader.I know you’re going to enjoy my conversation with Hope.

This week my guest is a woman who, like me, left Bangladesh to begin a new phase of her life in another country. Ayesha Bibha is an Australian Bangladeshi thought leader in the neuroscience of leadership.  She has experience designing and delivering learning solutions to develop global corporate, non-profit, and academic leadership capabilities. For over 17 years, she walked an ambitious path as a mom, educator, L&D consultant, facilitator, performance coach, mentor, and advisor. Ayesha is a TEDx speaker, She is the author of author of Mindspeed, she’s an affiliate professor at the University of Denver, mentor in Inspiring Rare Birds and founder of Mindspeed Academy. And she’s an expert on using neuroscience based-strategy for leadership. I’m fascinated to learn about the impact of the work she has done on neuroscience and leadership.

Just occasionally in my podcast, I move away from having an inspiring woman as my guest. But always the focus is leadership.This week, my guest is one of the most highly recognized people in the area of leadership and leadership development – globally. Forty years of evidence-based research and seven editions of the book he co-authored, certainly has him as the most highly recognized in this area. I am honored that this week my guest is Jim Kouzes.Jim and his co-author, Barry Posner have influenced the development of literally millions of leaders around the world. How many people can genuinely claim that?Their book, The Leadership Challenge has long been regarded as being in the top five leadership books of all time. And not many books make it to seven editions. I have so many questions for Jim and I’m excited to have him with me this week, 

This week, I’m so pleased to be talking to the first woman leader I’ve had on my podcast who is from Bahrain.Bahrain is a small country in the Arabian Gulf – and boy, does it ‘punch above it’s weight’. Small in size maybe but as you’ll hear in this podcast, amazing and exciting things are happening there. I’m so pleased to be talking to Sonya Janahi. Sonia had a very successful career in large organizations - until she decided to set out on her own. She’s the CEO of a number of companies, she’s on the Board of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce AND the International Labor Organization. Her reputation and her impact as a leader goes well beyond Bahrain and is having a positive effect globally. And she’s a mother.

Of course, my podcast is about leadership.And we know that leadership is important.  We know leadership is needed in government, in organizations – large and small, in education, the military… and more, right ?But what about art ?  Yes, of course. My guest today is Alia Lootah. Alia is a prominent artist in the United Arab Emirates – and she is certainly a leader in the world of fine art - not only in the UAE but internationally. So much so, that the French Government recognized her contribution to the art scene by awarding her a French knighthood. Alia helped set up The Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi and she continues to make a difference not only with her art but in promoting art for others to enjoy and learn from.I'm sure, like me, you'll be inspired by what she has achieved  and her commitment to her passion.I am so pleased to introduce Alia Lootah.

This week is going to be a little different … well, perhaps a lot different.On my podcast journey so far, I’ve had the pleasure to share with you conversations I’ve had with truly inspiring women.This week, I thought I’d take a look back and share with you excerpts from some of those conversations. I know, in selecting them for this, I learned more from each of them – and I hope you will, too.The guests I’ve chosen are five very different women, from five different parts of the world. First Kelly Ann  McKnight, from Canada was my very first guest and I'm pleased to introduce her again.Then Annabel Harper.  Annabel is a very experienced leadership coach with so much experience in the Middle East that she authored the book Shujaa'ah - Bold Leadership for Women of the Middle East.Next is Cheryl Gray, Certified Master of The Leadership Challenge. She has so much to share with women, with her corporate experience and now coaching and developing leaders.Dr Harum Makhaya is an amazing woman from Sudan and now works with the World Bank in Washington.Finally, Ittela  Ali. She's a dear friend who's also from Bangladesh. What a career she has had, having worked for the UN, the BBC and now is in Canada.I'll introduce you to each one before we hear from them.So let's get started.