Daniela Papi: Changing the Way We Give

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Douglas Scherer

Daniela Papi

Daniela Papi

This month on Voices of the Cliff Douglas is joined by Daniela Papi, cofounder of PEPY an international non-governmental organization working to provide and promote quality education in rural Cambodia. Daniela’s experiences over the last 6 years as Executive Director of PEPY provide energetic and earnest guidance on overcoming the challenges of starting an educational development organization, quickly moving through setbacks, and leading with passion. 

 

Listen to this Podcast (30.5 Mb, 42:16) — Program 7 –June 17, 2011

Podcast Outline with Time Codes

  • 00:00 – 00:35 — Intro
  • 00:36 – 01:02 — The Challenge of Doing Good with Money
  • 01:03 – 01:25 — Daniela Papi’s Biography
  • 01:26 – 07:01 — PEPY and PEPY Tours: Their Development and Evolving Vision 
  • 07:02 – 08:35 — Engaging and Building Trust with Community and Government
  • 08:36 – 10:30 — Power and Financial Dynamics of Aid
  • 10:31 – 12:47 — Creating a Sustainable Organization
  • 12:48 – 14:12 — Finding and Growing the Right Expertise
  • 14:13 – 18:49 — Today’s Interactive Cambodia that PEPY Operates in
  • 18:50 – 21:16 — Daniela’s Evolution as an Entrepreneur 
  • 21:17 – 21:48 — Recap
  • 21:49 – 24:50 — Using Anecdotes and Stories in Measuring Systemic Change
  • 24:51 – 26:15 — Role of Passionate Leadership and Organizational Change
  • 26:16 – 29:00 — Dealing with Naysayers
  • 29:01 – 30:17 — Building Success from Quick Failure / Quick Recovery
  • 30:18 – 32:41 — Lessons Learned for Education in the West
  • 32:42 – 39:56 — Conscious Living / Conscious Giving
  • 39:57 – 41:18 — Changing the World by Coming Alive
  • 41:19 – 42:16 — Sign-off Continue reading →
Posted in Earth's Environment, Leadership Development, Podcast, Social Responsibility, Socially Conscious Leadership, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tom Chapin: Talk about Things that Matter

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Douglas Scherer
Tom Chapin
Tom Chapin

This month on Voices of the Cliff – a wonderful conversation with three time Grammy Award winner Tom Chapin. Tom shares his journey as a performer and community leader from growing up in Brooklyn and Northern New Jersey, to forming a folk group with brothers Harry and Steve, and finding his own voice. Throughout Tom talks about the importance of making decisions based on what moves you and making the world a sustainable and enriched place for younger and future generations.

 

 

Listen to this Podcast (15.1 Mb, 15:33) — Program 6 — March 29, 2011

 

Listen to the Extended Interview  (55.9 Mb, 59:26) — Program 6e — March 29, 2011

 

Podcast Outline with Time Codes

  • 00:00 – 00:30 — Intro
  • 00:31 – 01:09 — The importance of Working Together
  • 01:10 – 01:42 — Tom’s Biography
  • 01:43 – 05:59 — The Journey of Music, Self and World
  • 06:00 – 13:18 —  Commitment, Quality, Career/Life Choices, Finding Voice
  • 13:19 – 14:23 — Filling Our Own Shoes a Little Fuller
  • 14:24 – 15:33 – Sign-off Continue reading →
Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility, Earth's Environment, Leadership Development, Podcast, Social Responsibility, Socially Conscious Leadership, Sustainability, Team Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Julia Sloan: Learning to Think Strategically

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Douglas Scherer
Dr. Julia Sloan

Dr. Julia Sloan

Without the ability to set strategy there is no guide for the development or execution of a plan. Strategy is at the core of sustainability which evolves out of creativity and innovation. But is it possible to learn such a deeply creative process?
In this edition of Voices of the Cliff Douglas Scherer discusses that question with Dr. Julia Sloan – who answers it with a resounding, “yes” and shares how she helps individual leaders and groups achieve it.
Julia teaches strategic thinking in fortune 100 corporations worldwide as well to organizations like the United Nations, The World Bank, and UN Peacekeeping Operations. Her book, Learning to Think Strategically draws from her direct research and work with strategists in global corporations, and forms the foundation of her consulting practice. Her research finds that strategy is not only learnable, but evolves in unexpected ways. Join us for their discussion on this critical organizational capability.

Get this Podcast (15.8 Mb, 16:16) — Program 5 –April 11, 2011

Program Outline with Time Codes

  • 00:00 – 00:28 — Intro
  • 00:29 – 00:59 — Strategic Thinking is Learnable
  • 01:00 – 01:31 — Dr. Sloan’s Biography
  • 01:31 – 03:08 — Critical Dialogue Work Sessions for Uncovering Assumptions
  • 03:09 – 03:52 — Turning Critical Dialogue Work into New Strategy
  • 03:53 – 06:15 — Balancing of Strategic Thinking, Planning, Implementation
  • 06:16 – 07:24 — Pipeline Rather than Compartmentalized Strategy
  • 07:25 – 08:40 — Importance of Pausing to Challenge Operating Assumptions
  • 08:41 – 09:48 — Coming to Terms with New Strategic Ideas
  • 09:49 – 10:53 — Informal and Formal Techniques in Strategic Learning Process
  • 10:54 – 11:45 — Overcoming Group Think
  • 11:46 – 13:45 — Polarities as an Essential Strategic Component
  • 13:46 – 15:37 — Innovation, Imagination, and Playing with the Tension in Strategic Polarities
  • 15:38 – 16:16 — Sign-off

Links Associated with this Episode

Dr. Julia Sloan’s Biography

Author of the definitive book Learning To Think Strategically (Elsevier, 2006), Dr. Julia Sloan is widely recognized for her pioneering work in the application of complex cognitive theory to everyday global strategic thinking practice.

Julia’s work draws upon more than two decades of her own expatriate corporate experience in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the United States working on strategy to align the business agenda with prevailing economic, cultural and social issues.

Julia has lectured at some of the premier academic institutions including: Columbia University, MIT and Harvard University (U.S.); Nanjing University (China); Tokyo University and Keio University (Japan); Singapore University and India Institute of Management (India).

A resident of New York City, Julia’s educational background includes a doctorate from Columbia University; master’s studies at Yale University and University of Alaska; and undergraduate studies from Kent State University.

Contact Dr. Sloan: http://www.sloaninternationalconsulting.com/contact.html

Posted in Leadership Development, Podcast, Strategic Thinking, Sustainability, Team Work, Transformative Learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman: Leadership, Service, and Intention

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Douglas Scherer
Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman

Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman

Douglas Scherer explores the connections between leadership, service, and intention with Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman in this second part of the interview. Sharon speaks about the importance of being centered at the individual, leader, and team levels — and how disorienting dilemmas can develop a sense of unity in the group consciousness.  Finally our discussion explores the challenges in making the unity message stick at the public level and what practices we can use independently to serve in line with our own callings.

 

 

Listen to this Podcast (11.2 Mb, 11:32) — Program 4 — February 24, 2011

Program Outline with Time Codes

  • 00:00 – 00:23 — Intro
  • 00:24 – 01:05 — The importance of Being Centered
  • 01:06 – 01:24 — Dr. Lamm-Hartman’s Biography
  • 01:25 – 06:23 — Leadership Learnings about Unity from Shared Tragedy
  • 06:24 – 07:53 – Changing the Collective Consciousness, Changing the World
  • 07:54 – 10:50 — Intention, Individual Development, Social Change Agents
  • 10:51 – 11:32 – Sign-off Continue reading →
Posted in Leadership Development, Podcast, Spirituality, Transformational Leadership, Transformative Learning | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman: Inside / Out Learning for Groups

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Douglas Scherer
Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman

Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman

In part one of this two-part edition of Voices of the Cliff — Douglas Scherer explores group oriented transformative learning with Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman. The work builds on providing the highest level of service to each other driven by authentic leadership. The outcome encourages teams to move from self-centered orientation to having each others’ backs. Sharon also speaks about ways of identifying groups that can benefit from this work, defining and measuring success in transformative teamwork, and integrating transformative team learning into the larger corporate climate.

 

Listen to this Podcast (16.9 Mb, 17:30) — Program 3 — February 24, 2011

Program Outline with Time Codes

  • 00:00 – 00:23 — Intro
  • 00:24 – 00:51 — Being of Service in the Greatest Way
  • 00:52 – 01:27 — Dr. Lamm-Hartman’s Biography
  • 01:28 – 03:46 — Inside / Out Learning for Leaders
  • 03:47 – 04:41 — Serving as Authentic Leaders and Teams
  • 04:42 – 05:30 — Reintegration of Learning Into the Workplace
  • 05:31 – 09:29 — Identification Candidate Group for Inside / Out Work
  • 09:30 – 11:30 — Overcoming the Challenges of Group Reintegration
  • 11:31 – 13:01 — Tools for Measuring Success in Inside / Out Teamwork
  • 13:02 – 14:25 — Ways of Speaking about Spirituality in Group Work
  • 14:26 – 15:40 — Finding Passion at the Group Level
  • 15:41 – 16:48 — Group Passion, Mission Statements,  and Goals
  • 16:49 – 17:29 — Sign-off Continue reading →
Posted in Leadership Development, Podcast, Spirituality, Team Work, Transformational Leadership, Transformative Learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Robert Scherer: Business Students and the Environment

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Douglas Scherer

Dr. Robert Scherer

Dr. Robert Scherer

The journeys of business leaders are often shaped by their experiences in business school. This affects their behavior as leaders and their respect for the world around them. Their attitudes towards the earth’s environment can also be shaped during their time at business school (Cordano, Ellis & Scherer, 2003).

In this edition of Voices of the Cliff Douglas Scherer explores the role of culture, norms and beliefs in shaping the attitudes towards the environment with guest Dr. Robert Scherer. Bob co-authored a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Education (Cordano, Parada, Pradenas, Scherer & Welcomer, 2010) which looked at the attitudes business students have toward the environment in two different cultures. The study found that business students in Chile have a stronger pro-environmental stance than business students in the United States, and that those attitudes are shaped in part by their culture and course work.

Bob discusses the study, along with his three key components of leadership, and joins the study’s findings with economic and corporate sustainability.

Get this Podcast (12.9 Mb, 13:12) — Program 2 — November 15, 2010

Program Outline with Time Codes

  • 00:00 – 00:16 — Intro
  • 00:17 – 00:53 — The most important way to be effective
  • 00:54 – 01:19 — Bob’s Biography
  • 01:20 – 02:36 — Business leader development in Chile and the United States
  • 02:37 – 03:47 — Pro-environmental attitude in Chile
  • 03:48 – 05:27 — Altruism and sustainability, Chilean and United States mining rescues
  • 05:28 – 07:36 — Importance of individual initiative and responsibility
  • 07:37 – 08:38 — Developing leaders with initiative and responsibility
  • 08:39 – 10:45 — Three most important ingredients for leadership
  • 10:46 – 12:36 — Infusing the three ingredients into business and organizational training programs
  • 12:37 – 13:12 – Sign-off

Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility, Cultural Influence, Earth's Environment, Leadership Development, Podcast, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carmela Bennett: Somatic Learning

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Douglas Scherer
Carmela Bennett

Carmela Bennett

In this edition of Voices of the Cliff – Douglas Scherer explores the connections between somatic learning and leadership development with guest Carmela Bennett. Somatic learning or body work has emerged as a powerful way to develop authentic leaders who are more aware of their values, emotions, and beliefs. Carmela helps us better understand how leaders can become more centered and effective through body awareness. She also discusses how authentic leaders enhance their relationships with others, become more caring leaders, and gain a closer alignment with what has meaning for them.

Get this Podcast (8.0 Mb, 11:34) — Program 1 — October 6, 2010

Program Outline with Time Codes

  • 00:00 – 00:14 — Intro
  • 00:15 – 00:24 — Quick Somatic Learning Overview: Douglas
  • 00:25 – 01:01 — Quick and More Detailed Overview: Carmela
  • 01:02 – 01:16 — Carmela’s Biography
  • 01:18 – 03:21 — Authentic Leadership and Body Awareness
  • 03:22 – 04:24 — Authentic Leadership, Centering, and Aikido
  • 04:25 – 10:01 — Authentic Leadership Relationships and Spirituality
  • 10:04 – 10:59 — Summary: Carmela
  • 11:00 – 11:30 — Sign-off
Posted in Body Work, Podcast, Spirituality | Leave a comment

Welcome

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Douglas Scherer

Leaders come in all shapes, sizes, purposes, and contexts. Some lead corporations while others lead local communities. At times they may not even see themselves as leaders — yet they still impact those around them.

This website will hold podcast interviews, notes and stories about the journeys and transformations of leaders. It may also help uncover new and deeper definitions for the meaning of leadership.

I’m targeting October / November 2010 to start posting the first interviews. If you would like to be notified about the podcasts, please send me a note at d_scherer@hotmail.com.

The cliff in the program title is a metaphor for times when we’re faced with challenges that seem utterly new, ambiguous or daunting. These moments change us as individuals and leaders. The cliff metaphor is seen in various works from John Dewey’s Experience and Education (1938) to Clutterbuck and Megginson’s Mentoring Executives & Directors (1999).

Voices of the cliff will sound from leaders and experts who traverse, facilitate, and are touched by these moments.

Regards,

Douglas Scherer Ed.D.

Posted in General | Leave a comment