Dov Pollack – Dov Pollack Executive Coaching

March 8, 2021March 4, 2021

Mary Stutts: On Demystifying the System, Taking Risks, and the Vital Importance of Having Diverse Networks

Mary Stutts

Mary Stutts is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations at Sumitovant Biopharma, a worldwide biopharmaceutical company that is dedicated to the accelerated development of innovative medicines. She is also a Consultant on Inclusion, Diversity, and Health Equity at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, California.

Growing up as a foster child has inspired Mary in her personal and professional career, going on to found The Center for Excellence in Life, a 501c3 organization whose Virtual Internship Program prepares underrepresented youth to be the workforce of the future. Mary is also the Author of The Missing Mentor: Women Advising Women on Power, Progress and Priorities.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Mary Stutts talks about directing a youth-focused anti-violence initiative while working at Kaiser
One of the biggest challenges for female leaders: willingness to take risks
How Mary’s mentor and sponsor, Bernard Tyson, taught her the importance of showing initiative in the workplace
Mary’s advice to ambitious professionals: read the handwriting on the walls in your organization
Why should you care about corporate social responsibility?
The importance of leading with data, instead of just intuition, when creating change in an organization
Mary shares how her childhood taught her the power of using her voice
The difference between diversity and inclusion—and why both are essential in every organization
What does it mean to “demystify the system?”
Mary’s advice for final leaders—especially white, male leaders—in the corporate world: individual accountability

In this episode…

Do you have opportunities in your organization to use your voice for good? Or, is your voice stifled and ignored because of your gender, race, or socio-economic status?

Mary Stutts is a female leader, person of color, and former foster child. Throughout her life and career, Mary experienced a great deal of discrimination from leaders around her—but, she also received abundant support and empowerment from her friends, family members, and mentors. This dual perspective on opportunity and ambition has given Mary a passion for using her powerful voice to help the disenfranchised, marginalized, and disregarded people in her community and workplace. Today, Mary is here to share how you can use your voice to affect change today.

In this episode of Next Wave Leadership, Mary Stutts, Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations at Sumitovant Biopharma, sits down with Dov Pollack to discuss the importance of diversity, inclusion, and empowerment in companies and communities. Listen in as Mary talks about how her childhood developed her self-confidence, the power of taking initiative in the workplace, and what every organization needs to know about diversity and inclusion. You don’t want to miss this episode!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Next Wave Leadership.

Founded by Dov Pollack, Next Wave Leadership is an executive coaching firm focused on helping CEOs, executives and emerging leaders overcome their limiting beliefs which is an essential part of creating a growth mindset culture.

If you are looking to grow as a leader and create a vibrant and innovative culture in your organization, Next Wave Leadership can help you get the results you want and need.

To know more about what we can do to help you and your team grow, visit our website at NextWaveLeadership.com or send us an email at dov@nextwaveleadership.com.

March 1, 2021March 1, 2021

Marla Sofer: On Bringing Lessons and Learnings From Women’s Networks into Fintech

Marla Sofer

Marla Sofer is the Strategic Partner Development Director of Financial Services at Microsoft, one of the world’s largest technology companies. As a fintech executive, Marla propels growth through her client-focused attitude while utilizing her background in conflict resolution to negotiate practical solutions for complex problems.

As a champion of women’s equality in the workplace, Marla co-founded LendingClub’s Women’s Internal Network and also recently founded a Bay Area chapter of the Invesco Women’s Network. Marla was awarded the title of 2020 Woman of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Marla Sofer talks about working in the Middle East for American University’s Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution program
Why Marla went into the financial services industry instead of diplomacy
What is the correlation between well-developed communication skills and professional success?
The ugly truth of sexism in organizations: female executives often gain responsibility but not career growth
Marla discusses the importance of creating women’s networks, especially in male-dominated organizations
How Marla is making a difference in the workplace by encouraging feedback and trust in female-focused groups
How do you establish company culture while challenging tradition and convention?
Marla’s bright vision for the future of fintech (hint: empathy and diversity!)

In this episode…

Are you a woman in an industry dominated by men? Do you want to be in a tight-knit community of professional women who empower each other?

Over the years, Marla Sofer has repeatedly experienced the feeling of being one of the only women—or the only woman—in a room full of men. As a financial technology executive, Marla has fought fiercely for gender equality in organizations that believe equity means having one woman at the boardroom table. Despite constant frustrations and setbacks, there has been one major shining light in Marla’s fight for equality: women’s networks. Marla has created and participated in many female-focused groups over the years—and today she is here to reveal why creating a women’s network in your area is the secret to success you’ve been looking for.

In this episode of Next Wave Leadership, Marla Sofer, Strategic Partner Development Director of Financial Services at Microsoft, sits down with Dov Pollack to talk about her inspiring journey as a female fintech executive. Listen in as Marla discusses her storied background in international conflict resolution, the ugly truth of deep-rooted sexism in large organizations, and the importance of building tight-knit women’s networks in your organization. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Next Wave Leadership.

If you are looking to grow as a leader and create a vibrant and innovative culture in your organization, Next Wave Leadership can help you get the results you want and need.

To know more about what we can do to help you and your team grow, visit our website at NextWaveLeadership.com or send us an email at dov@nextwaveleadership.com.

February 22, 2021February 21, 2021

Julie Rasmussen: On Leadership as a Mindset, Breaking Into Male-Dominated Fields, and The Power of Mary Kay Ash

Julie Rassmussen

Julie Rasmussen is the Founder, CEO, Chairman, and Principal Owner of Dagmar Associates, a strategic management company that provides business development services for boards, teams, and C-level executives across the globe. She is also the Founder and CEO of Simply Finances, a financial technology company that is developing a financial management app and fintech platform for women.

For the past 25 years, Julie has led international business startups, turnarounds, and high-growth companies, served on multiple private and nonprofit boards, and amassed extensive CEO, COO, and founding experience in a variety of industries.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Julie Rasmussen talks about her background as an interpreter and translator for American and Russian executives
The empowering success story of Mary Kay Ash, the Founder of the cosmetics and skin care brand, Mary Kay
How Julie convinced the CEO of Mary Kay to sell their products in Russia during the 1990’s
Where did Julie get her confidence, business savvy, and knack for leadership?
Julie’s surprising experience as a female executive for Mary Kay in Russia
A real-life story about the power of self-assertion as a female leader in male-dominated industries
Julie talks about developing a financial management app and platform for women through her company, Simply Finances

In this episode…

Do you want to know how to build self-confidence and authority as a woman in an industry dominated by men? Or, are you a man who is trying to take practical steps that will support and empower the women in your field? If your answer to either of these questions is “yes,” then this episode of Next Wave Leadership is where you should begin!

Even though Julie Rasmussen considers herself an “accidental leader,” she has formed a robust career of more than 25 years as an entrepreneur, executive, and all-around trailblazer. Make no mistake: Julie has experienced misogyny galore from business leaders across the globe. But, Julie’s unwavering self-assertion has launched her past the naysayers and into success. So, how did she formulate such a strong sense of self—and how can you emulate her strategies in your own career every single day?

In this episode of Next Wave Leadership, Julie Rasmussen, Founder, CEO, Chairman, and Principal Owner of Dagmar Associates, sits down with Dov Pollack to talk about international leadership as a woman in industries dominated by men. Listen in as Julie discusses the empowering story of entrepreneur Mary Kay Ash, convincing the CEO of Mary Kay to sell skin care products to Russian customers, and developing a female-focused financial management app. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Next Wave Leadership.

If you are looking to grow as a leader and create a vibrant and innovative culture in your organization, Next Wave Leadership can help you get the results you want and need.

To know more about what we can do to help you and your team grow, visit our website at NextWaveLeadership.com or send us an email at dov@nextwaveleadership.com.

February 15, 2021February 15, 2021

Leslie Shannon: On Following Your Intuition, Speaking Your Truth, and Creating Your Own Job in Large Organizations

Leslie Shannon

Leslie Shannon is the Head of Ecosystem and Trend Scouting at Nokia, a telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics company. In this role, Leslie investigates new developments in the tech industry to understand what technological innovations humans can expect to observe and interact with three to five years in the future.

Outside of her exciting work at Nokia, Leslie also serves as a Board Advisor for Myplanet, a web design and employee support systems provider based in Toronto, Canada.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Leslie Shannon talks about the process of helping Nokia implement 3G technology
Why women are forced to rely on data-driven arguments in the workplace
How Leslie’s academic background in Art History has impacted her career in the tech industry
Leslie discusses creating—and immediately filling—the job of “trend scout” at Nokia
How the TV game show, Jeopardy!, built Leslie’s long-term self-confidence
The well-developed support system for women at Nokia
Leslie reveals the formative piece of feedback that improved her interpersonal relationships
Leslie’s important advice for women in the tech industry: follow your heart and don’t worry about “permission”

In this episode…

Do you ever find yourself dreaming of bigger and better professional ventures? Do you want a fulfilling job that involves your skills and interests—but you aren’t quite sure what is holding you back from achieving your goals?

According to Leslie Shannon, there could be just one thing that’s holding you back: yourself. Unfortunately, a lack of self-confidence is often the culprit for not making our dreams a reality. This meekness can stem from almost anything: trauma, family dynamics, and sexism, to name a few. However, Leslie argues that the important thing to consider isn’t necessarily where your lack of self-confidence comes from, but how you recognize this reality and take control of your future success. Ready to start?

In this episode of Next Wave Leadership, Leslie Shannon, Head of Ecosystem and Trend Scouting at Nokia, joins Dov Pollack to talk about her journey towards building an impenetrable backbone as a woman in the technology industry. Listen in as Leslie discusses why women have to establish their voice in the workplace, how she created a brand-new position for herself at Nokia, and why being on Jeopardy! transformed her self-confidence forever. Stay tuned for more!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Next Wave Leadership.

If you are looking to grow as a leader and create a vibrant and innovative culture in your organization, Next Wave Leadership can help you get the results you want and need.

To know more about what we can do to help you and your team grow, visit our website at NextWaveLeadership.com or send us an email at dov@nextwaveleadership.com.

February 8, 2021February 7, 2021

Lawrence Ford: On Discovering Your Purpose and Changing the World’s Perspective on Capital

Lawrence Ford

Lawrence Ford is an entrepreneur, author, financial advisor, consultant, coach, speaker, and spiritual leader. He is the Founder and CEO of Conscious Capital Wealth Management, a financial advisory group that is dedicated to helping clients align their dreams and values with their finances. Lawrence is also the Founder and Chairman of Future Capital, an organization that is focused on fostering a fully operational and conscious global economy.

Outside of his role as a founder, Lawrence is a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, a Member of Nexus Global, and the author of The Secrets of the Seasons.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Lawrence Ford reveals how—and why—his company Future Capital knits consciousness and capital together
What is Lawrence’s theory of “seasons,” and how can it help you live a fuller life?
Dov and Lawrence discuss the dangers of chasing after someone else’s dream instead of your own
The importance of empowering the people around you to achieve their maximum potential
Lawrence explains the concept of “hotspots” from his book, The Secrets of the Seasons
How Lawrence practices meditation and prioritizes long-term mindful habits
What reaching the “fourth season” feels like (hint: it’s not all rainbows and butterflies!)
Lawrence’s professional passion for transforming the world’s perception of wealth

In this episode…

Let’s cut to the chase: are you happy with your life right now? Do you feel satisfied and content with your job, habits, and goals, or do you find yourself daydreaming about eventually bursting with purpose?

According to Lawrence Ford, most people are asleep to their true purpose in life. As a result, we tend to lead distracted, discontented lives that barely scratch the surface of our maximum potential! So, what is the secret to getting in touch with your truest self and living an authentic existence? Lawrence might just have the life-changing answer you’re looking for—but you have to press “play” to learn more.

In this episode of Next Wave Leadership, Lawrence Ford, renowned entrepreneur, author, and spiritual leader, sits down with Dov Pollack to discuss his real-life journey towards self-actualization—and how you can find an enlightened purpose, too! Listen in as Lawrence talks about his concept of life’s “seasons,” the importance of practicing consistent meditation, and some of the most transformative elements of his book, The Secrets of the Seasons: You’re Here for a Reason. Stay tuned!

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Next Wave Leadership.

If you are looking to grow as a leader and create a vibrant and innovative culture in your organization, Next Wave Leadership can help you get the results you want and need.

To know more about what we can do to help you and your team grow, visit our website at NextWaveLeadership.com or send us an email at dov@nextwaveleadership.com.