Work Pod | Work 2.0 & Future Of Work Upgrades Vishal Kumar, TAO.ai[Talent And Orgs Company]

Passion is the fuel that drives us to do what we love. Without it, we can get stuck in a routine that doesn't fulfil us. If you have a passion, purpose, or goal committed to achieving, your life will be more fulfilling and meaningful. In this episode with Frankie Russo, we discuss how passions and purposes can change your life for the better. It also includes some ideas on the best ways to find your passion and purpose in life.
Since 2005, Frankie Russo has been building the Russo Capital portfolio of companies throughout multiple industries, including technology, advertising, marketing, music, automotive, agriculture, publishing, and finance. The companies he has invested in have offices in the USA and India and serve 121 U.S. Markets.

Russo and his team have led 2 of his companies to become some of America’s fastest-growing privately owned companies 8 years in a row. In 2017 his company became one of the top 50 companies in southwest Louisiana. Russo was named ABIZ entrepreneur of the year and recognized as one of Louisiana's top 20 under 40 honorees.

The Art of WHY (2016), Russo’s first book, was on Amazon’s bestseller list in the self-help category and has been readapted and expanded into his second book, the rules-defying Breaking WHY (2022). He currently conducts a series of book tours and talks around the country to help his audience master their own purpose. Frankie’s highest calling is his family, and he happily lives with his wife and six children in Louisiana.

Tune in!

During this episode, you will learn about;
[00:00] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Frankie Russo
[01:02] A short backstory of who Frankie is and where he came from
[06:20] Founding Russo Capital and its mission
[07:35] Frankie Russo, through his school of WHY
[09:45] A journey to find his purpose
[13:05] Common mistakes among entrepreneurs and leaders in their pursuit of self
[16:19] The culture shift in organizations
[19:00] Ensuring a company sticks to its WHY in the growth trajectory
[25:01] How successful businesses and leaders adjust to the realities of life
[28:37] Frankie’s decision-making process he shares with us
[34:10] Quick fixes that companies and leaders need to implement
[39:02] How you can reinforce passion and wisdom in the workforce
[42:54] Analysis paralysis on understanding your WHY
[43:47] What motivated Frankie to become an author
[48:34] Rapid fire round
[52:31] Qualities that have made Frankie who he is today
[54:27] Book recommendation
[56:15] Golden take-away nuggets from the guest
[56:50] Episode wrap up

Frankie’s Books and other Resources Mentioned
1. Breaking WHY: Hacking and Rebuilding Strategic Emotions for Authentic Success: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NMB3LQC/

2. The Art of Why: Master Your Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0TO2MU/

3. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Q6XUE4/.

4. The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton M. Christensen: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012BLTM6I/

5. Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life by Gary John Bishop: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071F7C5NQ/

6. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058DRUV6/

7. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007QWLLV2/


Connect With Frankie Russo
Website: http://www.frankie-russo.com/
Company Website: https://russocap.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankie-russo-30ab531a/
Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/Frankierusso

Before an organization can succeed, it must have a team. This team is the foundation upon which success will be built. Teams are not just a collection of people. They are the combination of skills and personalities that come together for a common cause. Join this conversation with Patrick Touhey as we talk about why, as a leader, you need to have effective work teams which are collaborative, supportive, and positive in your organization.

Patrick Touhey is president at Elite Performance Too – E, LLC. He was a high school basketball head coach for both boys’ and girls’ teams and a college assistant coach.
When his brother, Hall of Fame basketball coach Kevin Touhey, was dying from lung cancer, Patrick promised him he’d continue his passionate work of athletic coaching. With Elite Performance Too-E, Patrick mentors both coaches and players to tap into their hearts and passions, pursue the spirit of team sports, and become the best version of themselves.

Elite Performance Too-E emphasizes intrinsic elements rather than extrinsic metrics that sports often prioritize, such as work hours, scholarships, and individual statistics. By teaching the value of service, leadership, and team connection, Patrick and Elite Performance Too-E help athletes overcome the common selfish and self-absorbed mindset and use the athletic experience to develop as people and potential leaders. Patrick has played an integral part in coaching multiple teams to win state championships and reach their highest potential.

Tune in!

During this episode, you will learn about;
[00:00] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Patrick Touhey
[01:12] Through Patrick’s journey. What brought him to this day
[02:35] The work of Elite Performance, a company where he serves as President
[04:44] A bit of Patrick’s backstory into what he does in his space
[09:45] Patrick’s comparison of the dynamics of a team in the two areas of his career
[15:45] How the team dynamic has changed before, during, and after the Covid pandemic
[25:49] How leaders can get people on track from the pandemic
[35:33] Why Elite Performance encourages people to embrace failures
[46:11] Patrick’s advice to leaders who find it hard to relinquish control to others
[53:24] Patrick as an author of Create Forever Teammates, and why he chose that title
[58:28] Rapid fire round
[01:02:56] Qualities that have made Patrick who he is today
[01:05:27] Current book reads he enjoys
[01:07:05] Golden take-away nuggets from the guest
[01:08:39] Episode wrap up

About TAO.ai[Sponsor]:
TAO is building the World's largest and AI-powered Skills Universe and Community powering a career development platform empowering some of the World's largest communities/organizations. Learn more at https://TAO.ai

About WorkPod:
Work Pod takes you on the journey with leaders, experts, academics, authors, and change-makers to design the future of work, workers, and the workplace.

About Work2.org
WorkPod is managed by Work2.org, a #FutureOfWork community for HR and Organization architects and leaders.

TBD

Nassim Abdi, Ph.D., is the CEO and Co-founder of StoryBolt. She is a storyteller and evangelist on finding the intersection of entertainment and learning in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has 12 years of academic experience in the field of intersectionalities of gender, race, and other identities as they relate to systems of discrimination or disadvantage. Nassim is also the leading actress of a Netflix-featured film, Secret Ballot, (by Sony Pictures). The film was on theatrical tours across the US and Europe and was the winner of many international film festivals and a Golden Lion Nominee at Venice Film Fest in 2001. Her vision for StoryBolt was shaped by the life-changing experience of the film as it engaged her in Q&A sessions and exposed her to the power of movies and how candid human connections could build empathy, change perspectives, and facilitate courageous conversations in the workplace.

Discussion Timeline:
TBD

Some questions we covered:
Stage 1: Lead-in
1. Starter: Give your starter pitch 1 point that this book points to:
2. Vishal briefly introduce guest
Stage 2: Subject Matter Expertise
3. What is the state of diversity in these times?
4. What are some challenges for leaders pursuing DEI in their organization?
5. What are some quick and easy ways to gain momentum and success in DEI initiatives
6. What are some role models when it comes to DEI programs
7. Challenges in leadership through current diversity riffs.
Stage 3: Introduction as a diversity leader & conference
8. What should employers Stop, Keep, and Start doing to make the workplace better for all people in your organization?
9. 79% of organizations plan to allocate more budget and resources to DEI initiatives in 2022, despite ongoing research published in top HR blogs and publications like HBR that indicates DEI training largely isn’t working. What are the biggest issues you see with DEI training right now? Why does DEI training need to change?
10. How does empathy relate to DEI, and is it required to make DEI training more effective?
11. What empathy-driven skills are required to inspire inclusion rather than avoid harassment?
12. Why would I be different if I am growing and healthy the way I am(as a non-diverse org)?
14. How has the pandemic changed our perspective on DEI?
15. Why have such a conference?
16. What would one expect?


Stage 4: Rapid Fire [Say what comes to your mind]
17 a. #Diversity
17 b. #Inclusion
17 c. #Equity
17 d. #FutureOfWork
17 e. #Culture
17 f. #Leadership
17 g. #Disruption
17 h. #JobsOfFuture
17 i. #FutureOfDiversity
17 j. #FutureofOrganization
17 k. #DEI Leader

Stage 5: Closing
18. What are 1-3 best practices that you think are the key to success in your journey?
19. Do you have any favorite read?
20. As a closing remark, what would you like to tell our audience?

In this video, Courtney Abraham, Chief People Officer at GE Current, discusses some pressing issues in the development of a people-centric organization. Along with her personal experience of working for the well-being of employees, she shares helpful tips on topics such as learning and development, mentorship, dealing with pandemics, technology, and the future of work.

Podcast Link:
iTunes: http://math.im/jofitunes
YouTube: http://math.im/jofyoutube


Bio:
Courtney Abraham is the Chief People Officer, GE Current, a Daintree company. Her leadership experience in organization development includes leading change across public, private, and private equity-owned businesses. Her experiences reflect leadership in roles of increasing responsibility, including ownership of the overall Human Resources function - driving results in areas such as human capital strategy, talent acquisition, leadership development, mergers and acquisitions integration, total rewards, employee learning, diversity, equity and inclusion, and employee policies development. At her core, she is a reflective and trusted partner to executives and employees alike. She believes doing right is essential to doing her job effectively. Courtney has lived in Zurich, Switzerland, a few handfuls of states across the US and most recently resides in Cleveland OH with her husband, youngest daughter, rescue dog, and the 'alpha' rescue cat.


Timelines:
1:06 Courtney's journey.
2:59 Courtney's leadership journey.
9:51 Tips to finding the right mentors at work.
16:01 Tips to becoming a successful people's leader.
18:12 Anatomy of a good people's leader.
21:33 Dealing with the pandemic.
29:11:00 The right balance of technology and today's work culture.
36:37:00 Learning and development challenges in today's work culture.
44:22:00 Designing a workplace for the future.
49:32:00 Retraining the workforce with internal training.
58:19:00 Rapid fire
1:04:08 Courtney's secret to success.
1:06:45 Courtney's favorite reads.
1:09:58 Closing remarks.

About TAO.ai[Sponsor]:
TAO is building the World's largest and AI-powered Skills Universe and Community powering career development platform empowering some of the World's largest communities/organizations. Learn more at https://TAO.ai

In this session, Thibault Manekin, author of Larger Than Yourself, discusses some of the points in his book about turning an idea into a large-scale movement. His vast on-the-field experience on working on massive social initiatives gives us an insider's story on how companies, leaders and employees can dream big, challenge the status quo and undertake disruptive projects and assignments in an organization.

Podcast Link:
iTunes: http://math.im/jofitunes
Youtube: http://math.im/jofyoutube

Bio:
From the time he was little growing up in Baltimore City, Thibault wrestled to understand why we as human beings seemed so divided. He continued to ask himself what truly causes those divides that separate races, cultures, and communities, and can anything be done to bridge them?

Armed with that burning question, in 2002, Thibault traveled to South Africa, where he combined his passion for bringing people together with a love of sports to help create Peace Players, a nonprofit with the mission of bringing together children from war-torn countries around the world through basketball and dialogue. PeacePlayers has since worked with over 75,000 youth from over 20 countries around the world and has trained over 2,000 coaches/changes agents. The program has won numerous global awards, including the 2007 ESPYs Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

Timelines:
1:11 Thibault's journey.
10:43 Thibault's inspiration for doing something different.
15:48 Recipes to create large ideas and turn them into movements.
20:09 Turning obstacles into opportunites.
26:55:00 Importance to be adaptable for the growth of an idea.
30:55:00 Steps to take an idea to create a movement.
44:57:00 Creating an organization where everyone can challenge the status quo.
51:04:00 Inspiration behind Thibault's book "Larger than yourself".
54:11:00 Idiea reader for "Larger than yourself".
56:10:00 Rapid fire.
1:01:38 Thibault's success mantra.
1:03:04 Thibault's favorite reads.
1:05:08 Closing remarks.

About TAO.ai[Sponsor]:
TAO is building the World's largest and AI-powered Skills Universe and Community powering career development platform empowering some of the World's largest communities/organizations. Learn more at https://TAO.ai

In this session, Gabriel Dalporto, chief executive officer at Udacity, discusses some of the key issues concerning retraining and reskilling the workforce. He also shares best practices and strategies on how companies, leaders and educational institutes can tune their systems to the demands of modern world of work.

Podcast Link:
iTunes:
Youtube: https://youtu.be/6zGsiCMJfSU

Bio:
Gabriel Dalporto is Chief Executive Officer at Udacity. Prior to joining Udacity, he worked at LendingTree, where he held several leadership roles, including Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
During his time at LendingTree, he was instrumental in driving the company’s transition from a microcap, mortgage-focused marketplace to a multi-billion dollar, fully diversified financial services marketplace. During his tenure, LendingTree delivered a remarkable 6745% stock price appreciation, one of the highest of any publicly-traded company. Dalporto joined the LendingTree Board in 2017 and continues to be an active board member there, and he is also a board member of Guitar Center.
Gabe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from MIT.

Timelines:
1:00 Gabriel's journey
5:45 Gabrial's on his diverse career path.
9:09 Reflection on the two decades of reskilling and education at the workplace.
13:34 Udacity's contribution to workplace learning and reskilling.
16:49 The future of the university system vis a vis the new reality of work.
21:02 Ways to bring technology to the remotest corners for learning and development.
25:30:00 Impact of Covid on the learning and development scene in companies.
30:04:00 The role of a learning and development company while collaborating with companies.
33:57:00 The right depth and breadth of a tech transformation in workplace.
38:53:00 Challenges in retraining and reskilling the workforce.
42:06:00 The role of a legislature in reskilling programs implementation.
44:48:00 The role of Udacity in reskilling workforce around the world.
47:31:00 Are university degrees still useful?
50:29:00 Rapid fire with Gabriel.
56:19:00 Gabrial's success mantra.
57:30:00 Gabrial's favorite reads.
1:00:30 Closing remarks.

About TAO.ai[Sponsor]:
TAO is building the World's largest and AI-powered Skills Universe and Community powering career development platform empowering some of the World's largest communities/organizations. Learn more at https://TAO.ai