John Quincy Adams days. If your actions Inspire others to dream more learn more do more and become more Your Leader. This is episode 6 with special guests yemi talking Sonia and were talking about leadership development in challenges business owners face. Hi friends, welcome to my podcast. Let's talk about it. My name is Akashi. I can seye party planner event designer business coach author and founder of Kesh events, and I am your host each week. I'm going to bring you conversations about life business events lifestyle weddings and everything in between. Thank you for joining me for today's episode. Let's Dive In This episode is sponsored by anchor. If you haven't heard about anchor it's the easiest way to make a podcast. It is free and an amazing and easy creation tool that allows you to record and edit your podcast right from your phone or your computer and could also help you distribute your podcast through Outlets like Spotify Apple podcast and many more. It is everything. You need to make a podcast all in one place download the free anchor app, or Oh to Anchor that afem to get started. I'm so excited to share my interview with our special guest yummy acting Sonya yummy is a global leader strategic thinker and passionate speaker with over 11 years of experience in the financial Market sector yummy has spent over 10 years leading teams and Technology Business Development and strategy. He's currently the director and head of diversity and inclusion. At OCC the world's largest Equity clearing organization and the foundation for secure markets. His mission is to inspire and engage OCC to build a more diverse and inclusive workplace and own a positive corporate culture right for social impact in the community. Yummy is a graduate of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management Executive MBA program. Also holds a master of science in communication degree from Northwestern University. Let's dive into this conversation. Well, hello. Hello. Yummy. Hello. Hello, akash you thank you for what? Hello. Hello cash you how are you? How are you really? Laughs? Let's get it out. Now that I think this is important. Okay, seriously, this is a legit podcast. I need you to take this seriously. All right, hyemi ayakashi. How are you? I am wonderful. So first of all, thank you for gracing us with your presence today because you know, it's hard to literally track you down and You to commit to our of a conversation. So I feel so honored but can I be honest this feels a bit uncomfortable for me because we are in town. We are never desirous we've known each other for many decades and we've always been very silly wait another two consoles very seriously. So it's kind of weird to be Citrus on the mic, but I'll do my best. So you're saying that this park has it not happening, you know, it was happening. Okay. We already started right? All right, so goodbye happy to be here. Thank you. For inviting me and I know how much this means to you. Right? So I'm really I kid you not it's truly an honor to be here to be part of this journey that you're taking upon yourself amongst many other things that you're doing. Thank you very much for help. Good. Well one of the reasons I wanted to bring you in park asses. You've literally talked me off the ledge like Few times I'm on some other time hold on to talk about that one mostly off. And then and it's always great advice. It's advice. I can literally apply right away and I'm talking about running a business and many many many other situations. So I wanted to make sure that we can also do the same for our listeners and share the wealth because I truly believe like you're smart human being me and you have so much to share and you can really help not just me. Everyone else is listening. This is so beautiful. I feel the exact same way about you and what you're doing. So thank you. I'm happy to share the Little nuggets that I might have a lot of nuggets. Yeah, so we'll see what we'll do our best go for it. Alright. So first of all, tell everyone well, first of all, congratulations, thank you when your graduation you only had like five graduation parties. Yeah, just just fine one. That was really mine that cash events also helped plan and does actually you did almost all the parties with if you guys had me working. Yeah, we had you're busy this this thing December, so I recently graduated with my Executive MBA from Northwest University Kellogg School of Management, and it feels it feels listen. It feels good. But you know, thankfully I have kind of acquired a lot of things in my life. life that you know, you just never sometimes feel like You aren't as much as like well, maybe me I this one I feel like tapping it back at me you earn this one. This was this was this was a big one. And this was very difficult and challenging. Well, what I liked was that you own this one? A lot of times you fight like celebrating things and owning stuff for whatever reason to Shea this time. All right, you would like to celebrate and that was amazing. It's good time. Thank you so much. Thank you, but that's good. That's such a huge accomplishment. So we're all rooting for you and proud of you. Yeah and looking for it. What's next? Yeah, you know, yeah, that's a good question. You know, so we'll take it a step at a time. You know, I want to put too much pressure on myself. Everyone keeps saying so what's next. What's next? I'm like, well, what's next is the next day? Oh, you have to breathe like a minute. Yeah. No, I am I I took some time partying. Yeah. No, I took some time off and spent the last, you know last couple weeks of the year with my daughter and just kind of making up time of the past two years. I've been gone and so busy, so it's been good. Let's begin and then next year. I'll come. Of started really think about what the next step looks like. Oh good for you. I'm excited. I think I'll be here watching and rooting for you together. You got to be doing this thing. It's together. Yeah, pulling your shoulder and your you know, tapping into your network and everything and therefore and vice versa. All right. So for those of you for those that do not know you tell us about your current role. Okay and your current position. All right, so a couple of things my current role so From a corporate perspective is I look myself. So I have multiple lines have a life that's corporate world. I have the life. That's my entrepreneurship Journey right try to be more like ayakashi here. So my corporate world life. I am currently the director and head of diversity and inclusion at options Clearing Corporation and that role is mainly to build an office right? So I took this position about a year ago and I so OCC is a derivatives clearing organization. In acquiring house and prior to last year prior to this role. We never had anything that was really focused specifically on having a workplace to be more inclusive and more diverse and the idea is to build an office hire the right team to help Inspire and engage our colleagues to soften can more about how we can be more inclusive. How can be more diverse and how can we you know have it a culture that is For social impact on community and things like that. So so that's what I'm doing from a corporate perspective from a personal perspective. I I am a how to put this I'm a recovering entrepreneur instead of me. It means that I have tried a number of Entrepreneurship Ventures that have not gone as successful as I wanted, but I'm still trying so so right now I myself and a very good friend of mine. Mine own a investment firm called. Yeah towel. That's why 80, aw my business partners to what works to our ganga Williams. He's in Atlanta. And what we do is we try to refocus on a portfolio of between loans listed microfinance and between $10,000 and $250,000 and we have a network of high net worth individuals. And we also have a network of small entrepreneurs and small businesses who are looking to Expand and skilled their businesses and they need a loan of some sort between 10 grand and 250 Grand and they need that loan to and they have a tenner or slice a a return timeline of a year. Then we could help them acquire that that that amount of money from our you know, like I said group of network. I know where people sell so that's what we do. So we provide financing opportunities or options outside of your typical institutions today. Remember I financed was your first like your Bachelors isn't what I know things. So my bachelor's in management information systems. It was more it related. But what you're alluding to is my entire experience from corporate work perspective has been mainly financial institutions working Angela Chase. I did work for Chicago Mercantile Exchange work for the options Clearing Corporation. So it's been very kind of heavy but it's safe to like I always say like you're born it. Literally you're born to need a query You go people kind of follow your lead you like the Obama of you like the president of wherever you work. I don't okay. I'll tell you I'll tell you here's why I agree with you. I am a very social person. So yeah, I found myself in the lots and lots of communities wait and you're in no shape for more introvert, which I am your out extrovert. I guess would have happened. Yes. I'm more of an extrovert and introvert but You have any trouble at all? Okay, do you feel like you're an interview? Yes, please. Tell her many times. I do feel like I don't know the truth be told that there are times where I just feel like I just wanna be alone being myself and kind of could you have to understand like being in quote unquote of people person and a lot of extroverts out there would attest to this. It takes a lot of energy. It's exhausting. It is very it's exhausting being you it is very exhausting being an extrovert it is well, I remember like last week we had an event in Houston. Great another graduation party. Yes in Houston and here literally chasing us around thing like get out there and go socialize and I'm like, I am tired. Yes, but that's yes, that's a good point and but you guys have worked the whole because I remember I at the hotel I stopped by about when 11 o'clock in the morning and your team were busy working and what a kind of thing that is safe. Thank you. And then and then I come back at like 9:00 and 10:00 o'clock p.m. And you guys are still trying to work know the work is done. The place was gor I mean absolutely stunning. Okay. She has always thank you, but sometimes you got to kick back and just go, you know, yeah, but for as as designers and and I'm glad we're actually kind of said going into this a little bit that wasn't the plan but I like this topic because as designers or planners we tend to kind of do the work in like disappear. Yeah. I know I'm tired and like the last one I want to do is like so should I Eyes and you know do some marketing or feel like you're selling you know, that kind of thing. So like I just tend to kind of retreat. Yeah, but I know you've done a lot of like trying to pull me out of my no. No, that's true. And that's a very good point because I feel like it maybe it's and you know, I'm so I was raised in Nigeria as you work as she and I was raised from two months old. So I was 14 years old and there's this sense of humility that our culture teaches us where you're not supposed to brag about yourself and that's what to talk about your achievements. You're not supposed to kind of toot your own horn and as much as I respect and appreciate and I think that's great for that family culture, but I think when it comes to like corporations and business and work, we need to turn that sucker around and find ways to do that. About being without being overbearing like yes, like you just mentioned a second ago. Like I don't want to be out there. Like I'm trying to like Nike or selling at the event right first probably the work is going to speak for itself. But sometimes it doesn't both both like it's not mutually exclusive it speaks for itself because your work is great, but then you could speak for your work as well to kind of show your passion, you know people, you know, we've done it and then I do not want a piece preach. So please stop me as I if I start preaching too much preacher what I think we've got into this whole technology Ecology has been amazing to mankind, but it's gotten to the point where we're starting to lose touch of that human nature of it at the end of the day people love cash events in cash design and the work that you do because of you as much as your work is phenomenal, but at the end of the day, there's something about your personality something about your passion son about your drive something about this trust that I know that at on my most important day or my celebration. I know that I have someone who would would go crazy Make sure they deliver that part people need to feel that so when they meet you, they like what like you're like wow, like you're so human you so normally it's like me but then you're in anyway, so I think you should put yourself out there a little bit more so they could get to feel and see who this genius is and not hide behind your work like most developers. I mean, I I kind of became aware of that but I think we tried a little bit to mingle. Yeah, and then we were tired I can only imagine so How does that so I guess sources were speaking to intrapreneurs mostly on the podcast and people that want to be or struggle with an intrapreneur. Just so many things we wear so many hats. We're leaders were managing. Our teens were managing ourselves. We're trying to make money. We're trying not to be dead or trying to do better. Like there's so many things and I feel like where people struggle the most is leadership and where you excelled the most Is motivating people and being a good leader. I'm kind of jelly a little bit because I feel like if I tell if I had your skill, I would be like, I don't know so much better. But so we struggle because we're always having conversations in our heads. Is this too much. Am I being too friendly and I party with my team members should I you know, when do we draw the line? So first of all, how would you define a good leader? Okay, so so I'll torch it this way right I think in yeah, I think that leadership in itself. is about the ability to inspire others to action that's leaderships plainly now when you put the word good in from it in front of it, it means that You want to inspire people to action to do good things. It's how I think about it. So when I think about a good leader, it's a person who their ability to inspire is inspiring for good for the better for so what are what has better outcomes whether that's positive impact in the culture and the community you fill in the blank because good is relative. All right, what's good to me? Maybe not so good to you. So it's kind of you know what so it's not like a it's not a it's not black and white. It's yeah, it's more of a You're going to point th it's all about what is good to you. If good aligns with you. Then a good leader is a person who is inspiring people to action on something that the outcome of that is beneficial and have a positive impact on others. Do you think people are born leaders? Yes. I think there are some people who are naturally born leaders who who who who who are naturally attracted to the opportunities that That leadership, you know driving like you know what I mean? So I think yes, I think but I don't think that all the leaders are born leaders. I don't think so too. And I think especially, you know, like in a creative environment where there is no actual like ABCD. We're like ZL were all over the place, right? So it's it's a constant conversation a constant Battle of what to do next. Right? And then we questionnaires or question ourselves and they were question ourselves. Then our team is watching so it's how to me like we're kind of struggling with ways to motivate. Yeah. All right teen and retain them right is another thing, you know and let me touch on that because I think it's a very important to from my my experience and I mentioned just a minute ago into this into this podcast that I have filled on some entrepreneurship Ventures and my failures just means that I didn't make money and the attack was to make money and So I think that in the corporate setting my leadership skills are effective and I have seen a track record a record of success and I can renew ships headed. It has not been quite a successful so as much as you and I know you mentioned like if I had your leadership skills XYZ like yeah right and resilience, maybe my business would have been successful. So I think it goes beyond that and the point about Employee retention and inquiring about onboarding new people and training in the time and money you spend on that. It's something that it's very very difficult for and entrepreneurs and comparisons to corporate corporations. I can my company. We we have a track record. We have a trend of our church and you can see oh my God, so we are five percent attrition from year to year and you can you can measure that and then we have trainings and we have budget for this things and we kind of have the financial wherewithal to withstand and say We don't want people who are not effective in their job so we can kind of help manage them out of the best other company and we want people who are high performing people. We can kind of help hire them and attract them to the company. So from a corporate standpoint, there are there like safety guard rails for that, but from entrepreneur, you're not dealing with the same type of capital. Oh, yeah, right. So loosen an employee could almost crash your entire business. All right, and the presence of Force where you know you're done with companies like Fortune 500 Fortune 100 companies were losing one two, three, even sometimes 50 doesn't really have a German so I want to make sure that we you know, I want to be honest about the difference between both almond. I don't think versus versus, you know, entrepreneurship why I think it's very different and I've seen that firsthand where I've tried to apply my same skills from corporates to entrepreneurship and it was not it was not easy transition over right because I feel like to what you mentioned. Hiring in like the budget I never really actually thought about that how so do you feel like for small business when you hire someone it's a it's a hard decision because now you have to think about money that's now going to leave your company. So that's do you think that actually affects how we like engage with that employee or the expectation just I yes and I think that in this is this applies to both entrepreneurs and as well as corporations. That we are hiring people in most cases based on the wrong side of things. So typical T. Right? No, but typically we've always hired based on CV resumes skill set. What have you done in the past? Let me see your work. Oh good job. Great work. You know you hard-working. Are you driven like so it's typically those tangible, right and an entrepreneur, I think what we want to focus more more. Or on is more of their softer skills more on their resiliency more on their tenacity more on their ability to be resourceful mourn ability to handle pressure. Like these are the important things that I want my employees to have I can train us skill sets. I mean right like you can hide ringing. Yeah, right. You won't your web Great Character. How do you judge Great Character? You gotta you gotta make sure you use the references and question of references. Well, what do you think it? Find that in those those steps. Are you actually get to find that once they start working like a combination of both that there's I don't think there's a way there's not one way I think and that's why referrals are typically the best right, you know hiring people that are referred to you so you can say okay. Well, I trust your judgment. I trust a catcher so it's just this person is great then maybe I could take a chance on them. Yeah and again, so I don't think there is that, you know, it's not science. It's not like it's like okay you do this Al is and then where we have a great person, right? But I think that we need to spend more time trying to figure out people's true character here in the stories. They all bring in their background their family structure like that is more it's just as if not more important than the ability to actually do the skills that necessary for the job. Oh my goodness. Okay. So are you so is it okay to say like as a good leader? Maybe I need to own that. I'm the worst in hiring people and that doesn't make me a bad leader. Listen, that is powerful cash. And I think that's something that I've started to learn as I've learned from other leaders. I was watching a documentary I believe is on Netflix and it was with P Diddy. Hmm speaking one of his mentor. I think his name is Ray Dialogue on the biggest hedge fund managers in the world and PD had an epiphany in that conversation where it was like hey, I just realized I am bad at what you just said. I'm bad at recruiting people and there is power in knowing what your weaknesses are because they're looking for the wrong things. Right? Right, and there is power in saying hey, I'm bad at this. So I'm going to find someone who's good at it to help me do that part and being okay with given complete autonomy to that person. So I think the biggest thing we do is that we can into this control thing. Everything has to be perfect because I've been successful I built this from scratch for the past seven years and to allow someone to come in and make decisions that can impact the trajectory of your company. It's difficult. Yeah, but I think that there is a lot of power and saying I am not great at X. I'm not great at y. So therefore ketchup please if I do believe you are you've showed a track record of being good at something leaked that for us and and that's that's a big part about being a leader and I talked about earlier in our conversation off offline. Was that going on a journey within yourself to truly understand you like like truly gets understand what your weaknesses are get to understand what your strengths are get to understand the whys behind your emotions and what drives during which will trigger emotions something triggered during motion to think about can what triggered it. Why did it trigger it like, you know, and that kind of therapeutic, you know type of Journey is critical to becoming a great leader and like we've kind of we talk about this because every time I have Find myself in the pickle I call you and you actually help me reason with like when I do listen are like why ABC you know why it is the way it is and a possible outcome, but I feel like those are bandages. So like for example owning that and like and that's something I realized recently. I'm not good at hiring and I need to stop hiring people because I'm an emotional. Is that a thing? I Higher with emotion. Yeah, I hired a Vibe. Yeah, because you can put all the beautiful things on paper, but then people also have a sense of portraying what they think you need to you need to see and then eventually the real person comes on. You're like what and according to Bella what the what yeah. Well, right, so and that happened to me this year. I literally convinced myself that we made a good hire and it was not good and it wasn't good not just for me wasn't good for everyone. It literally just created this horrible Vibe and like bad whatever but that's out the window. Yeah, but the truth is I'm not good at hiring. So for someone like myself, who do I go to to hire that understands my business in my goals, right? Yeah, and you know, that's so they're their firms out there consult edged out that are that there's they specialize on hiring Talent. So that's one way to go. Now. There is a cost to that fair to is you could tap into your own network of people that you trust your sounding board your thirst trust Circle, whatever you want to call them and say, okay. I know this individual this character has a knack for identify people's true character. They just know how to exer right questions or Pope the right holes or what have you And they could be your Batman and Robin so you could steer start to and say okay my next interview. I'm going to invite you to come be with me as I interview and that person can play like a coal interviewer 1 but to kind of watch you and as you kind of go through the interview process to make sure you actually kind of right kind of questions. And so it's a pro. I don't think there's an answer to it. I think it's one of those things where you have to try lots of experiment but I think the the the the great thing about this is that you've identified that that's a skill that you're not wrong at and then maybe talk to others may be speaking. Maybe you're going to know you have lots of friends in the industry. Maybe people who are like, how do you hire and just extras? Like hey, I've struggled with higher end. What have you done to make you successful? So maybe those kinds of questions could be crushes that come I hope bring out some of the ads but I don't think there's an answer that I can give you to the one:1 can give you like. Oh, here's the answer because she you know, why is it a bad idea to hire have someone within your organization that probably has a it's saying like you don't get some time. Have jobs that you don't get to meet the CEO and Weekly, right? Is it? Okay to have someone in your space that has you know on some level do the hiring or recruiting? Yeah. I think it's all depends at the end of the day. It all depends. There is not a one size fit all for any of those things. You have to try and error just like you've done your entire career some things you're trying to do testing. It fills horribly like well, what can I learn from that and you apply take the learning and Abandon everything else and use the money for something else. Right? So you you would have but I just think that I'm very happy to hear that you've identified that that - yeah, I owner of yeah, and and I think the next step is to try to find ways to like I said talk to colleagues friends here or try to but I think like the issue too is people think like when you say that you're a bad leader or you're bad no, no, no your bad business owner. Can I pause your network? So to say that you have deficiencies. There's not that you're a bad leader. Right right or to say. That you're weak at something or you're poor at something. Does that make you a bad leader again? We talked about leaders about us inspiring people because you're better'n curtain doesn't mean you're better inspiring people like these two things are not one in the same. You don't mean but we naturally feel that way. Even I feel that way. It's is as of recent that aside come to the point where I'm able to truly hold myself accountable for my mistakes and be forthcoming with them and I work a lot of times at work when when stuff hits the fan. I'm like, okay, let me just be quiet and all that. So I asked me a question. You didn't ask me anything. I don't know what happened. No, literally that's that's the way I because I've been maybe you're afraid not a sir if it was my job. It's just embarrassed. Hmm. But what I've realized is that when I speak up and when I drop and say hey something is wrong and I'm the first one to go. Okay, something's wrong here, right my dad and I can identify where I made a mistake or we could have done something different to change the outcome at the ownership. Despite who are my team did the mistake what I realize is that Team, not only I'll give you a couple stories. So there was a time when something that happened that one went too much details, but someone on my team made a critical mistake that cost us a lot of money in our company and it was a really big deal what those things were so I'll make a mistake. It was like which one's getting fired, right? And and as soon as it happened and I saw him, oh, no threat go on I jumped up and I took accountability right away like and and the reason is accountability was because I told that individual to do that. No, Knowing that person didn't have all the skill sets or wasn't the best at it than someone else and I wanted to entrust them right in this was going back to my account of leadership inspiring people and they made a very common common mistake. That was very expensive, but I jumped in that email thread in front of everyone including them and say I made that mistake. It's on me. Well, let's fix this and we'll find a way to kind of do a post-mortem on it and and after everything happened, but my balls come in the office and talk to Anna and I talk The ship and I didn't get any nothing happened to me, right? But what was interesting was that about maybe six weeks later or maybe a couple months later that individual said nothing to me throughout the entire time, but spoke to me at a happy hour and she was showing me how thankful. She was that I spoke up for her and That's mighty and she was almost in tears and I told him like listen, that's my role. This is Army as well as his arm you and Devin without and we kind of talked about it. But it to see her today. She don't want my team now but to see how she blossomed from that moment like it. Sometimes it might be that little thing right. So I think it goes back to the whole point of being okay with being wrong and saying I'm weak at this doesn't make you a bad leader or insufficient leader just means that you're able to kind of lie for them. Why nothing was saying like own it because we tend to avoid or like out of Shame like if you do something wrong like sometimes at planning an event will The ball and we have to I have to make that call to the client. Even if it's not my fault. I have to own it and like that that process kills me. Yeah, literally it's something that's painful. It's not easy at all. If it was we're always doing it would be all doing was easy. Yep kills me, but like you're saying you have to own it and you have to just deal with it head-on then dance around it and it was like to leadership. Right? I think we you know inspiring people is not always about saying the right words or being able to you know, you know by people things and give him hike bonuses of hype a its about truly get into their heart and knowing what makes them tick. Okay, so you said by new things and all that stuff. So I do I do have more questions on that book. I have a other questions before that question. So this is going to be a long podcast but so good. Good. Yay. All right, Jamie. So the second part of it interview is going to be like, I'm going to throw a bunch of questions at you. These are questions I get A daily basis in my emails and diems from other business owner. So they want to know and I want to know what are the qualities key qualities of a good leader it May 5 Frogger colleagues. Okay one outs a compassionate. Mm2, I would say. Hard working and when I mean hard work and I mean they are Hands-On type of person where they're able to kind of roll their sleeves up and get their hands dirty when they need to not always right, but in times of need whether it's chaos or issues or training to be what kind of lettuce leaves up and do that. I would say a Visionary China has Vision that can kind of see things from like a 10,000 foot level and is able to kind of see Has a Clear Vision of where the group should go or get to I think it's something very important. And with the fourth one. I would say a good communicator and I mean communication not just in terms of using the right words not just verbal and nonverbal but being able to deliver messages to people and let the message meet people where they're at even know what I mean. And I think that's a tough one. Yeah. It really is a toughest it is it is because because For you to be a great communicator. You have to be a person who was able to be a be a good have a high EQ right? Meaning your emotional intelligence is to the point where you're able to feel and I think you talked about this earlier cashier. We talked about Vibe. That's a great thing to have like, it's great to kind of feel someone's by have to say, you know what though right now anything that I tell the cashier she's not going to receive it because one she's emotionally Charge or she's upset or she's you know focus on this or she has this going on or I can be like and I thought I can see okay, she's ready to receive information. So now it's time to kind of deliver that really important than I wanted to tell you yesterday, but I couldn't tell her because she wasn't at that point, but she is now let me do the white so to be able to strategize and say now is a good time. Now's not a good time because we're both upset right? So I think that's a and I tell her that all the communication rights of your EQ rights Wang zi and and number five I would say And I want to tie these two things together because you only gave me five. I want to tidy on six I would it help if I gave you right? So the only two that thing I want to talk about we'll talk about integrity. I think. Oh, yeah a good leader has to sign of high integrity. And again that what Integrity is very subjective so differs from person to person what people care about but when I think about integrity, I think about consistency so someone that is consistent in certain behaviors characters quality. Happy where I kind of know what to expect from a person like you you deliver on time. We'd already deliver X Y and Z. Okay, that's one so Integrity the other one. I wanted to mention in to slip my mind here. Guess I'll stop at six seven. But yeah, so those those those six out of six, I think every good leader should have some sort of there's a big one. Yeah Integrity. Like I feel like a lot of in my especially I see it all the time. There is we operate with like we see it no integrity and it's it literally weakens me to watch it. Yeah, but the communication I feel like is where I struggle we all everyone else struggles with that because you kind of have this battle yourself like what I am the business owner and I want to deliver this information today, but then you're saying know your team and see if they're able to receive the information which is the last thing we're thinking about AB so as we're ready to address the problem, but like you're saying it's pointless because they leave with like what no, and that was one thing I learned when I got my first Masters at Northwestern in communication. And one of the definitions I learned from my professors. I forget the person's name. Now that I thought was so great was communication is about is about Securing the delivery of your intended message. Oh, wow securing that in the delivery of your intended message meaning is not necessarily that you shared a message. For example, let's say I said, you know, I don't give a silly example, but this I want to tell a keshe that I think she is the most amazing woman I've ever met and she is phenomenal. Thank you and me one on a congress. That's it. That's my intent to my story. But for some reason I use some words or So grade or I use an analogy that you found fensive. Let's I said a cashew you remind me of Oprah and because I see Oprah as a person that is powerful and strong and xyt but in the caches mind when she sees Oprah she's as Oprah as someone who is let's just say Oprah forgive me someone who's like, you know unhealthy and you know careless or something like that. She's like you think about Healthcare and careless. Hmm and rather than at that. In time say pause right? Let me let you know right now. Let's drop that whole Oprah thing is what I'm trying to say. I found myself trying to say no no and try to try to fix that old personal or perhaps not this up and then the conversation is about Oprah and not about the fact I wanted to really deliver the fact that you are amazing it and I find myself in predicaments like that so many times so I'm like, okay once I see that it's the rim for my intended message. I have to pause. Go back to the drawing board and say okay. How do I get us back on track? And I so that's something that I learned and I think it's been so powerful in such a struggle for even me to today. So wow. So another key question. And again, I hear this in coaching sessions and in my one-on-ones all of that is how do you how do you inspire people to be great on your team? How do you make them work for you? Yeah, right and be productive and make money. Right. So the way that I do it on my team is and this is a yummy way, right? I Am Naturally a very passionate person and I do my best to show my passion to show what I'm vulnerable and to remain as honest and transparent as possible and the keys as possible. You could only be so transparent sometimes right right because your roles and I will let you be more transparent or if it's something that's highly illegal what have you know, so there's some things that that hold your transparency. But from being vulnerable, I am honest about how I feel about certain things whether it's good that of the other and I am very passionate truly about the work that I do today. So and I do my best to show that and wear that on my skin and I do my best to encourage others when they show such a passion not to like, you know, hold them accountable negatively to that right? So I tell people this when you think about inspiring human beings human beings we act to to It's we react to. Accountability and consequences so meaning if you do x y z you get consequences for it means that you're telling me that I shouldn't do these kinds of things. That's what consequences they are forced to tell you kind of write your way from doing something that I'm not so good and they their incentives when you do X Y and Z you get incentives for these things, which means like these are the behaviors that we want you to continue to do. So when you think about inspiring your team think about those two things, what are the characters and behaviors of your team that you consistently give incentives for? What are incentives verbal praise, you know good jobs, you know bonuses whatever filling a bike what are consequences negative attitude towards them are frowning face a tough email, you know, a corrective action report of some sort, right? So so think about what energy am I given my team in terms of how about incentivizing good behavior? How am I holding people? Accountable to not good behavior and how you doing that consistently across the board. Yeah, and that's how you treat inspired it. So when you do when you see a great behavior of the high-five just a simple could make a big difference with something as little as just you know, yeah XYZ and right because it's on the other side you were saying like just a frowny face or sometimes like we're not even aware we're doing it. So I guess is leaders like I've had to have conversations with myself to Like because you check your attitude and then go back out there. Listen, and it's tough. It's tough for everyone. It's tough for me not easy or suffer. Like everything I'm telling you is a battle for me, but this is not like I got it figured out. This is one of those I am more intentional about these things now and that's what this is about. Right and I'm choosing to share it as I learned and I'll share another good thing about what you just talked about. I'll talk to my boss at work and and and we have this thing called work from home where people are able to Work from home if they need to I don't know XYZ with it and some positions at the company work from home walk and then others like if you're a developer when we have these kind of like, you know, you don't interact with people often. But anyway in my in my in my previous role at the company, I have a leader who never work from home. She was always in the office and always has the office from like 7:00 a.m. To like 8:30 p.m. Every day like she even comes Is on Sunday, she's like one of those hard workers and and in meetings, you know, there was always room for some people saying they are afraid to work from home and it's a benefit you can use if you want to but people are afraid to use it because they like I'm not sure that I'll boss wants music because I mean, I don't want to get in trouble. I don't want to seem like I don't work hard, you know, and she's like, I don't understand why everyone keeps and uses her and I having a conversation and I don't I don't keep saying that they're afraid to work with home like I've never anyone, I'm always surprised everyone staying look everyone I've ever said no to you yummy ever said no to use for and I'm like I get it, but I want you to consider the shadow that you cast as a leader. So this is not what you said. There's a certain shadow that we all have and we cast as Leaders when people look at you when just walking across the street when you walk into the office we look at you in that shadow tells us a lot hmm moocher having today XY and z and the shattered is she's casting is a shadow that states that One Not only would I never work from home? I don't believe in working from home. I believe in hard work. I've been working 12 hours a day. I'm leaving XYZ and that shadow is not consistent with the words that she stays in the meetings and people get kind of stuck in between so she needs to be more not to say she needs to work for home, but she needs to be more conscious of that shadow and now solicit like Hey, listen, you have a problem coming over once you were coming tomorrow my suggestion courage a secret and that inspired like, okay maybe this person It really does. Well anyway, so that's a quick story about the Shadows that your cats and being as a leader being being aware of example and to her like she she probably doesn't see it like again at all. I have never said don't work from home and it's and I'm sure we do this in different different different ways capacities in our business, but it's again like being aware and be more intentional and it again looking at looking. Yeah, it's you it starts with you. Yeah, that's tough. It's easy to tell someone to give someone feedback. Then to take to look at yourself because that's that's crazy. Yeah to say. Hey cash you need to change this or you know, like actually have that honest conversation with yourself. And that's a battle. Yeah, this this this leadership thing is a little tough It's a good but you know, so I was running a Business and Entrepreneurship but these are that's why we you know, I love this episode because you've given me and I wanted to kind of share you with the world a little bit because you've given me even if it's a five-minute conversation, I Express you little be quiet and say you did you did that. Okay. Well, here's what I think and then like you give me your which I find annoying at that moment and then I process it. I'm like, oh, he's actually right look and then I apply it mostly sometimes. Okay. So this is a biggie and I have to kind of looking at losing people as a loss. So as small business owners or is creatives me bringing someone into my space means I'm going to open up my processes my doors, but also I have to train you so I have to trust you but also have to spend money on you with the possibility of you learning whether it's six months or a year and leaving and then we look at it is as a loss. So what is your take on or how do you even manage because it This we need help in order to get good help we have to train them. So we have to give them information. They have to learn not everything but like most of it to do their job, right but then sometimes they do leave like I've had you've witnessed situations when I first started where someone was with me for a year and on the false pretenses and launched a business someone's was with me for six months and no intention of doing that Allah and then eventually wants to stay in business. Yes, but in another city, right? And these are people that you take under your wing and how do you even like to me resetting from that was very tough it was because it whether you want to be as gangster if you want, it's emotional so reset it and trusting other people was tough for me at that point. I literally remember getting rid of everyone and I literally sat in my office sitting like okay time to reset but how do you And I don't know how it goes over from that. But how do you know advice for anyone else? And I think I have I'm very strong-willed once I get over my anger. I go back into motivation. Some people don't some people just get the stuff in there. So how do you handle that? You know, that's a catchy. First of all, let me tell you that I do not have the answer for that. Just just put that out there and of podcast done party done, but but but but I do want to talk about a couple things that you mentioned. And some of them actually title we talked about prior in this podcast, right? So you talked about you talked about the fact that or the realization that recruiting and hiring is not a strong skill set of yours. Right? Right. So I think that some of these experiences maybe these experiences helped you realize that that's not a strong point and I think that being a good recruiter can help mitigate and reduce. Some of this type of experience is not eliminated because these things can happen no matter how great a recruiter you are not right, but I think that as you get better at that and as you work with people to help you get better at that or maybe even help you do that you would see less and less of people who are truly just coming straight for intellectual property property to take off and do their own thing. I'm so that's one too. I think the the idea of doing something that you're passionate about. If you're able to and I'm not sure if this is realistic and nine. Please guide me if you're able to think of it as you're trying to impact the world. Like I'm truly giving you information and teaching you skill sets that I hope one day you do go on and build your own business and be very successful based on what I have helped teach you I feel like that is what Legacy is to me. Surely now with that being said there is time into this thing. I have a business. I'm running as well. So I'm not looking for you to do this learn and drop me go build your business. I'm over here helps crime trying to figure out my business where it might be detrimental to me based on your departure. But I think that there is I find tremendous. Pleasure and pride in seeing people that I've worked with whether they worked for me or my team work with me hands on that have able to somehow impact in a way whether it's training whether it's what have you when they move on and become successful. I kind of feel like it's like I grew extra Wing somewhere and I can always tap to them at some point is a help me out or help someone in my network out and that's how I begin to grow this really truly powerful network of really amazing. He went that's how I hope we can look at it, but it's difficult when you have deadlines balances pay for right you know, so that's so once again, it's what I it's like a wish I hope that's where we could all look at it in the corporate world. It's a lot easier to do that right Professor. I'm not paying a paycheck right right coming from a company so I could do that easily. But in entrepreneurship is a lot different and so I'm not sure that's the answer to your question. I know it's not but I think that would be great. If you could stop to find ways to say this is like that's I'm not just training you to help me get this job done. I am paying it forward I give you skill sets for learning from the best if you know, that's great because I feel like if you take that approach when you let the fear go you take that approach. They would stay longer because they see, you know, investing in them as a person they will communicate with it. I can say listen. I want to do my own business and I will help you once that business. I will help you. What can I do to help you? I can collect yourselves. You can be part of that rather than them taken in a run in a way. From you you could help them build that business and they can any communiques tension of what you're doing and they can become a partner. You could be the first partner and this is how you like. I would encourage that and I would know that an interview process. Do you plan to do your own business in the future one day in this Andrew is no but I get it and I'm like why why don't you and I'll sit and try to persuade them to one day. Wow, like I want people that drink this this is a phenomena industry. I can help you. I'm going to teach you some things maybe can help you. Start your own business. Let me know what you and that's so in their mind. They like it might be thinking like oh shit. I really did want to come in doing this but you um tomorrow I'll go like a shoe because I thought you said I think I do want to have all this is all great. Well, it's seriously and that's how it makes sense when you say it and that's why these are qualities that you have that inv like like, oh hell no, but then again it has that you are OK with you not just don't because you just want to do it, but you know my Like when I can truly help and yeah, you do this already when you have master classes as you do but I be few weeks. What do you think you're doing there? The only difference is that they're paying you to spend time writing for a period of time but you instill in them with great skills experience hands-on experience all this context networks. They're building that was amongst each other like that is that is what this is about is not it's not be perfect. Yeah, it's not just about giving people the best event and experiencing their weapons and the corporate event. And all that. Yeah. Yes, you give them that but to is that you are building a soldier a team an army of other phenomenal event designers and creators and XYZ that can go on to kind of have that akechi less experienced in that. You know what I mean? Yeah. No, I get it and it's interest in someone asked me. I was given a speech I have to speak in Dallas in the summer and whatever that they asked me about success what diff What does success mean to you? And my response is always been the impact you have on other people success to me is not money I could care. I mean, yes, I love money but it's how the impact I've made on other people, right? So so I feel like I've hit my goals whatever but like that to me is not successful till I make someone else successful so it kind of ties into that and I guess it's just like a mind mindset shift of fear and a lot of it is fear. Yeah and then like being okay with movement like they leave they leave I guess right? Yeah because eventually they're going to do what they want to do regardless very true. And I think it goes back to I think I talked about earlier about our culture and how we were raised in a culture where you know, you're supposed to be humble at all times and you know, you're not supposed to feel like you are impacting people's lives like that you're you know, like you're not supposed to feel that way because you're not supposed to put yourself on a pedestal. Like that, right and whereas I'm like no like, you know, like as much as you want to be humble about it and you should be humble about it. You should also seek to truly impact people and truly like authentic like listen, I am going and I tell you one quick thing and I'll pause is when I say I think about networking and people was actually a me. You know, how do you know? You're good networker your this network? Are you just not working? I think about I'm like, okay. Yeah, I agree. But the way that I approach networking is a lot different. And I think many people do right so and not different than how I used to approach known as its evolved. I use of course Network and like I want to network with people to increase my social capital in a way that I aspire to you. So for example, a Kashi, oh my God, Kashi Kashi event or she's just you know, Global entrepreneur who designs around the world has done great event. She's Rich Hey, where's a Molex is what you cheese? That's all. Purses drives a nice car has this beautiful Studio, you know downtown Chicago all these different things. I'm like, I want to be in her network because so many people just like her and I Look to create relationship with you and I talked to you and I try to find ways to impress you and let you know that I should be in your level and that was the way that I always want networking and that's where many people Network today. Uh-huh into my in my new world of the time Network and I look at it more like who are the people that I still aspire? How to become or I am inspired by that I can add value to hmm like that is like key for me like doing this podcast is exciting for me because I'm like, okay, maybe it's one that I can share with you that you might appreciate. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Maybe it's something right and then the next thing you know, I'm looking for ways to find how can I add value to people within my network? I want to be a value provider of sort without stretch myself too thin or without realizing my own full potential. Truly saying if I can and sometimes added value might not be me. It could simply be a person who is also a luxury events designer that is looking for contacts in Chicago or my Paws. I know the best one in the world because you hang out catchy. Here's this person Connect Now whatever happens happens if you guys talk me like who's on Christmas Eve? I'm sorry. I just met him. I just thought you could help him out or you could be like yo that's person the world. In fact, we're doing business together. I'm like Bravo I'm glad we're going to help and I'm moving. I'm not saying I cash a man. What's up with that? 5% I can actually that's not quite so my ideas if I could find ways to add value is truly. I think the best way to truly build your network as a sister. Yeah, but speaking it's funny night it never I mean, I do appreciate you and I appreciate what you did but I actually didn't connect the dots just now until you did an intro in January and you remember he would like I have a I have a friend in school. Call ya la la la la An event and you did the connection and since then I've done got three events for her great and you guys are Griffin even human being we're friends, right? Yeah. It went beyond that great friends, right? Absolutely. And that's value that that is that is what I say. That's to me. Yeah, that's I seek that I seek to be able to do you mind if I can do that the biggest skill in the biggest skill and you know, I'm biggest going and because the impacts that you amazing people have I feel like I can share in some of that. I'm back because you That's that's you know, now I'm getting too excited. I get some water I think so with that said let me ask you another question your shift on so, okay big nugget going to a network. So in our world a lot of people are intimidated by networking events, like they're terrified and I get it because sometimes you see this person you can aspire to be And you're like, what do I say? So you go in with the sense of you're adding value to that person. How do you even do that? Yes, let me tell you it's quick question and I struggle with I struggle with networking events as well because I feel like the intent is to network and they pushed question of pressure on me for sure. So I rather go to an event where we're just we just happened to meet each other or talking. Anyway, I digress so the question is, how do you Add value right? So I seek to add that's my goal I seek to add so as we are talking I'm listening to you and I'm looking for ways. I could add. I'm not just it's not like I'm like, hey, what's your name? Because she I mean she was like, it's not that it's not that deep. But as we have conversations, I'm looking I'm asking questions about your background your childhood what your work on what you do if you're new in the area. And so I knew that or you are also when you hang out why don't hang up. I wasn't hangout spots. That's value-add. Yeah, go to Soho House go to eastbound Club. What do you like German or I know this or actually no pastries because she knows the best pictures in the Chicago Hang on we're gonna catch up on its nose a little is the things that you don't think is like, I guess the word value makes it sound like it's something has to be done monetary is no I just magically give you something. Yeah. I don't care what it is like but it'll come naturally it will come within the conversation because if you seek in it you have to To seek a way to kind for me. It's Connecting People half the time. I don't know crackers. I don't know shit, right, but I know keeping busy and I see this didn't happen all the time on TV. I'd like to see it and everyone has something of value and I think just recognizing that so like going in Just hoping to add to someone whatever right but there's a key word. Is that a Dan doesn't have to come from you. Right? Right right adding whatever way white Network. Thank you. Everyone has a network connecting with somebody else. Yeah, because we want to talk about networking and I think that's always cool. Yeah. Wow. Okay. Well, I'm going to try that next time. I'm going to a networking event. I'm gonna go like a, you know, change my mindset and just have a conversation it seems I can connect you with someone that I know. Yeah, let me know Scott sounds like about Scotch you like Scott you want Scotch? I love song. Dinos. Catch me. We should collect that's it. Doesn't matter. What happens with that decision is that you never know. That's at least make you know, yeah. Okay, so I have many more questions and this is so good juicy. So we're going to keep going. All right. All right, so yummy you're dropping gems and I'm loving every single one because I felt like this was for me and then it's for everybody else for me to learn it. Don't you learn by teaching people you kidding me. Now, we just teach you the speaking it out. Yeah a little bit like what's up and Nation I speak around and it's like not at you said you better do it. You know, I mean like that's yeah awesome. Okay, so more questions. What are some and I want you to be as candid and raw and hot What are some harsh realities that leaders need to just get a grip on like yeah. Yeah, you know, you know many. Okay one. I think one is something that you alluded to earlier as well. So we don't know what all like leaders need to know that we do not have all the answers and in some cases. We don't have any answer and we need to stop stop faking it to it. Make a sometimes depending on the people. We impact it could hurt. Many people and I'll say this as over heater. There are times where I've been presented with a challenge or a question or what have you that I literally a cat. She had no fucking clue and rather than saying I have no fucking clue. I gave that response that would buy me time. Mmm and just act like I know yeah sure. That's what it is or no problem. We'll figure that out would get coupled. You don't have to put some weight and I'm like why why and typically what happens when I reflect back and this one that tried to do a lot now is reflect on moments like that. It's okay. Why did I do that? Why didn't I tell truth? Why didn't I do this? Why don't write and why did I feel that way? And anyway, but that's one big one. I think with his and this is not just leaders. This is everyone in anyone's it is to be a little bit more honest with ourselves, right? That's one the other thing. I think I'm not a harsh truth is that we are we all especially leaders need therapy. Hmm. I think it's should be a necessity like when I run my own company one day hopefully or I'm in position to influence strong decisions. I would require all my leaders to have therapy sessions, right? We've had this one. Maybe I can require it, but I will strongly That way and I'll say it's free like on the on us we've had a session. Yeah, we've had this conversation. I just had with someone else and we're well, I haven't gone I haven't been and I will but I haven't been in therapy just because or is it since I've owned my business and I feel like I would for many conversations with you and everybody else that I would be so much more effective as a leader if I did and yes, absolutely. And the reason why and let me drill that deeper. The reason why you be so much more effective as a leader is because you be so much more in tuned with a cashew. Hmm. That is the key. That's why you be effective leaders. I like your therapist. I'm gonna say maybe effective leader, you know where they are going to give you questions. They're going to give you exercises that you're going to go through in your own head in there that's going to take you in places that you're going to see Street in mirror. And see certain, you know, you know, you look into a mirror. Once in a mirror in front of you. There is no way to say the back of your head. You look in the mirror. So you spend the majority of your lifetime always looking at your face. You never really look at the back unless you're doing something in the back. Right? Right a therapy session gives you this 360 mirror where there are no blind spots. That's the idea is that you talk through your thoughts and go to places that you have some kind. Consciously not allowed yourself to go through anyway, but that's what this major I love that. Yeah, and I think as Leaders because since and the reason why it's so important for these because we impact so many people's lives so many and taught in ways that we have no idea, you know, if you know for example in the corporate world The number one reasons why people leave their jobs is because of their managers. Number one reason wow bad manager. They don't online. Well something else number one, they're not giving them opportunities or to progress or Advanced number one reasons. Now if you think about what job loss does to people hmm right in their own family, you know forces kids going to school. Rules are being pulled out of schools. I mean the impact is significant. So my point is if you have people who are leading people whether they're leaders because they are there were chosen by the people whether it leaders because they were born leaders whether leaders they just because they were good at a skill set that put them in that position, but they're not people managers. Whatever. The reason is. My point is when you get into position where you impact other people's lives you are in a position of leadership. Leadership, right? So therefore you need to make sure that you are putting yourself in a predicament where you could be your best self. So so that's I think that's the harsh realities that we because the word therapy has been. For lack of a better word I want and I intently want to use a strong word has been demonized to make it seem like something has to be wrong with you. What does been a stigma that too many Broken app? Yeah. Absolutely, right? So that's my sign and those are the two things. I think that as Leaders we should we should definitely you know, like help ourselves with is one just be always be it's okay to say, I don't know it doesn't make you any less of a leader doesn't make you a bad leader doesn't make you a no-good leader to say Don't know and I want to seek out your thoughts and to go see that just go for go for a mental exercise. Just like you go to the gym to work out and get your body around and get your health. Right go get your mind, right you can't get that anywhere else. Like we can have conversations with friends and loved ones, but it's probably not the same. So I just came to that realization. Now after having multiple conversations, we really like what you don't go to therapy. I go to therapy at least, you know every Tuesday and I've been doing that for years. I'm like, wow, I've been missing out on this. Pie, that's like vital for survival because even this job like my job is tough. It's probably one of the toughest things I've ever done and I tend to like you said you don't you surprise so your manager you just coasting through and I think I posted to a place where I'm like, I need a mental exercise. So it's on my list. I'm like getting recommendations, but for sure that's yeah doing it soon. Yeah. Wow, okay practical tips that we can apply every day as a leader. Like what when you go in the office, what are you do? And the office yeah when you walk in in the morning, so to what I do, so when I walk in the morning I go into the office I said that way I get my coffee obviously the obvious but I get my coffee I sit down and go through emails identify one of my top priorities for the day realistically so my weight my journey to the office and think about these things already and I'm kind of like kind of strategizing how I won't go about my day and so my strategy going to the office when I get into office never alive. They just don't but you set your intention, but I saw myself. Okay. Here's the thing. Yet before I get right I set those anyway, and I said I never meet them but it gives me a sense of I guess accomplishments. So that's why I'm coming the office. I'm running into office. I you know get in my office and I get myself together knowing like okay. What about parties for today? What do I need to get done? Who do I need to see what me, you know XY and z and then what I do is I get out on the floor. Like I am a I'm a people person. I'm not you know, I you know, and it's funny because you're like as she talked many many years back when used to work from home. And I was like, I don't know how you were because I would go crazy not being able to engage with people and I guess that's an introvert extrovert pain. But anyway, so at the office I go out on the floor and I talked to those people who who are open to speaking with me. And when I when I say when I mean by that is when I walk on the floor and we have a number of floors when I walk on the floor. Sometimes I have no intent to go any specific way. I just have a path that I walk and then as I walk I look and I do I contact I do head nods and I And from that I mean, this is why I think what you comes I get to sense people who seek out conversations. You can see them be like, you know, either the not or is the sticky post are longer or they any and then I'm like, oh hey and then we get into conversation and I yeah, I'm very cautious about what they are. They in a rush was a body posture like and I'm doing these things that I speak with them and literally every day and sometimes I can take a full walk and everyone seems to be busy and didn't want to talk to them. Don't be bothered and I just go about our business. I just Hi, buddy. Hi, right and then but I do that often very often. It's for me. It's a big thing as a leader to be visible and be like I said out there so when issues happen and when and unlike some other leaders were you'll only see them when there's an issue or when you see them when there is celebrations. I want to be the person that you see all and I don't think he's dilutes the respect that I receive. In fact, I think it makes it a little more real. All right, you know. Um, yeah, so that's that and then I do work. Okay. So what do you actually do work if you work where do we draw the line between and I battle with this sometimes being too personal being a boss being you know what I mean? Yeah, especially environment where you guys have to engage all day, right? Well not at working from home. We see each other we spend time with each other. We have lunch with each other. It's kind of hard to be like, oh don't talk to me don't come in my office. Right like the office here. I don't have a private office. It's big enough for one but I never wanted one. So where do we draw the line? Like, what's what I guess there's no direct answer for that. But like what's too personal, you know and catch as you're talking. I'm looking for my phone here and I'm gonna try to send this to you later. If I don't find it. I found it good. So it may be composed his I'm not sure you can put a picture with this but I'm sure indication is this picture of Equality versus Equity hmm Ryan. This is more of a diversion inclusion thing. Right and I'm going to try to describe it to you. And so I'm very quality you can see there are three boxes. They have three individual Standing On Top of the boxes. Now these three boxes I'd exact same height and the three people said on top of it are different heights as one that's like four four two that's one as like, you know, five four five and this one is like 7 foot and there was a fence in front of them. That's kind of blocking their View. And the fence about 5'4 tall? So the person who's 6-foot can see with the fence. The person who is 5.5 can see over the fence and person who's four-foot-tall cannot see over the fence, even though they all have the same size equal boxes. Okay. Now the other side the other screen shows you Equity. Where is the same size fact, that's five foot tall and you had a person that 6-foot. However, this person has six foot does not have a box. There's an on the ground itself standing on the ground itself person. That's five foot four hassle. One box so they're able to see over the fence and the person that that's the shortest was like four foot for has two boxes to elevate the person upsetting. I have the same site. So to your question about how you balance the relationship with your employees or with your staff on how close you get what them how do you mean professional? I think I look at it. Just like I look at this boxes, like look at it as Equity. Hmm like it. And on that person so there are some people staff a new team that have the ability to be close with you but still respect the space that when you speak when you're serious about something they get the job done and they are fine with that line. There are certain people who just don't have that that when you get closer to me, you are my friend and you always my friend you're not my boss and because I were friends and you have to identify their height in terms of their ability to handle such relationship and this is driven from personalities. This is driven from the upbringings their family their culture. So it's up to you as a leader to say. Who who are you and how can I build relationship with you as and you have to know them that's Caitlin relationship with everyone that's you said the words about solutely and that's your responsibility to do and once you're able to Appropriately and you're gonna miss something. Let me get me of course you want but and it's a work in progress, right? It's it involves consistently. I think that is truly how you have to approach that. I don't think there is a it's not like, you know, that's a door or do it. No, I think there's some people that you can buddy up with and that inspires them and some people who are like you just cannot buddy up with them. You just have to be very straight with them and be fair and be kind and be everything but the way you deal with them and interact with them a little bit. For than others. Wow. Okay. Well, that's no great advice for me and every human are probably coming control is so that's so helpful. See so wise only stop when I read a special book, please send the link. I will link to this book will be in the show notes guys. Okay, so last questions And this is basically end the interviews with like some fun questions or did you have for breakfast? Oh God. I did not eat breakfast, but I did have lunch my mom came over and she made some I'm Ally of4 re-roll and fist you if your Nigerian you're probably dying and I am right now, okay, but that wasn't my real question my real question. No, but thank you for sharing sure. My real question was if you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive. Well, preferably alive. Okay, because they have would that work? No, no, no, let me scratch that doesn't matter if you can have lunch with anyone because there's a possibility may not happen because it might but it might who would it be? Okay, I feel like I'm like always complicated but I will give you two answers one get one of my a person that's pass is Nelson Mandela. I would love to have lunch with Nelson Mandela. Hmm and alive. I would love to have lunch with Michelle Obama. Yes. Those are two people. I would love to have lunch with right now at this point in time of my life. What what one if you had one question to ask my What would it be? So that one which acts Nelson Mandela I will ask him at what point in his life. Did he know for a certainty for certain if ever that he found his true purpose like at what point did he say this is my purpose in life. And I'm going to go Full Throttle on this one thing or maybe two things whatever it is. I like to know at what point in his life. He identify that what age he identify that I like to know what helped him get there like what experiences or was it a mentor to told him some And I'm sure there's a job that he had was it when he was in jail. Was it mean what like what triggered that right and then and then from a shell the tough one? You only have one question. Of course God I'll ask if she can marry me too so I can be just like Obama. No, no jokes aside, you know my admiration for Michelle Obama is just that it's through the roof, right? You know, it is for her to and and sadly and I think this is somewhat sad sadly. I think what she has done as a Of Obama and a person who I think is a great leader of Obama and I think you know we have witnessed and if you read Obama's books, you would see how he speaks of Michelle. She has been a mentor she has been on this is beyond wife Mentor partner a sounding board and and I would like to ask her how how I could seek partnership. And find partnership. In an individual that can help inspire me like she has not just Obama but the world like yeah, that's a good you don't mean like I'm struggling my question but something in terms of makes sense. Yeah makes sense of kick it. All right. Well yummy. This has been so good. I can we can literally do this for two hours. So we may have to bring you back into a part 2 I do want to talk about diversity and inclusion in another episode. So we definitely get back what this was. Therapy for me and I'm sure everyone else is literally receiving nuggets and nuggets and Nuggets to thank you. Lastly where can our listeners find you LinkedIn is the best place to find me LinkedIn yeni. Ikey Sonia such my name, I think I'm open there and yeah, put the link in the show notes. Yeah. This has been so fun. Are you ready for that does not show for that? What now? Whiskey's oh listen, I am it's Saturday evening. I've nothing better to do. So now let's do it and the cashier before we end this it thank you so much for this. I you know, you've been doing all the sharing all the compliments but I really truly appreciate you you have been more than a friend. Thank you. You have been an inspiration to me and many just the growth you've had over the past number of years has been outstanding. Your quality of work is outstanding I can go on and on and on but more importantly thank you for doing this. You don't have to have a podcast you don't have to share the information you. Not to show your skill set. You don't have to have your master classes. You don't have to do half the things that you do, but you do it anyway, and we appreciate you we see you. Thank you for that. And thank you for having me. This is fun. This is so fun. If you loved Today's Show share with your friends and tag me on social media at Cash events. Also, if you haven't heard I launched my new online coaching membership program for planners and designers called creatives corner to learn more about it visit the cash experience.com. And there are more details in the show notes.
About Episode 6: In this episode, host Akeshi Akinseye features special guest Yemi Akisanya, global leader, strategic thinker, passionate speaker and Director and head of Diversity & Inclusion at OCC About Our Guest: Yemi Akisanya is a global leader, strategic thinker and passionate speaker with over 11 years of experience in the Financial Market sector. Yemi has spent over 10 years leading teams in Technology, Business Development and Strategy. He is currently the Director and head of Diversity & Inclusion at OCC, the world's largest equity clearing organization and the foundation for secure markets. While he has held multiple positions at the company, Yemi's extensive experience in strategic advisory, data analytics, research, design, product development and affinity toward social impact inspired his decision to transition to his role as Director and Head of Diversity and Inclusion in 2018. In this role, he is responsible for building a Diversity and Inclusion office at the Clearinghouse. This includes recruiting and hiring the dream team to develop the strategy and policy creation of OCC’s short and long-term Diversity & Inclusion plan. The mission is to inspire and engage OCC to build a more diverse and inclusive workplace and own a positive corporate culture ripe for social impact in the community. Yemi is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management Executive MBA program. He also holds a Master of Science in Communication degree from Northwestern University. About The Topic: We discuss some of the biggest leadership challenges that entrepreneurs face! We talk about:   What is means to be a leader  Qualities of a good leader   Ways to motivate your team   Knowing when its time to let someone go   Knowing when to give a hug and when to give a kick in the butt. To learn more about Yemi Akisanya, follow him on: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/yemiakisanya/ If you loved today's episode, share with your friends and tag me on Instagram, facebook or twitter @keshevents Follow Akeshi on instagram @keshevents If you would like to featured as a guest on the "Let's Talk About It Podcast" or have feedback or questions, send an email to info@keshevents.com Are you part of our community “Creatives Corner”? Creatives Corner is a monthly business online coaching membership created for event planners and event designers. 