Latest Blog Article: Culture Transformation for High Performing Teams with Brenda Dysinger, CHRO

Achieving Organizational Health During Change - an Interview with Lori Borg, Vice President, Americas Go-To-Market Strategy, Global Partner Solutions at Microsoft

 

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Lori Borg, Vice President of Americas Go-To-Market Strategy for Global Partner Solutions at Microsoft. In this heartfelt conversation, Lori opened up about her leadership journey, the transformative power of organizational health, and why leading with vulnerability and transparency matters now more than ever.

Lori’s leadership story began with overcoming stereotypes. Growing up, she found herself boxed in by limiting labels, only to later reject them by leaning into her passion for business and performing. A pivotal moment came in high school when she shifted her focus from piano performance to business competitions, discovering her true love for leadership, influence, and growth.

She shared how embracing her unique strengths has helped shape her career—from founding successful businesses to now leading at Microsoft. Lori emphasized that organizational health is the secret sauce behind high-p...

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Culture Transformation for High Performing Teams - an interview with Brenda Dysinger, Chief Human Resources Officer of Seneca Gaming Corporation

 

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Brenda Dysinger, Chief Human Resources Officer of Seneca Gaming Corporation, about the evolving landscape of leadership, the power of authenticity, and how HR can be a true strategic driver in an organization.

Brenda’s leadership journey is a testament to resilience and adaptability. She spoke about her early career, where she had to navigate male-dominated spaces and learn how to advocate for herself and others. Her approach to leadership is rooted in fostering trust, prioritizing culture, and leading with transparency.

She shared how HR has transformed from a compliance-focused function to a core driver of business success. In her role, Brenda ensures that employee engagement, leadership development, and inclusion are at the forefront of corporate strategy. She believes that when leaders invest in people, they create stronger businesses and better results.

Brenda also emphasized the importance of con...

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Empathy for High Performance - an interview with Deep Mahajan, Vice President of Talent Management at Juniper Networks

empathy high performance Mar 25, 2025
 

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Deep Mahajan, Vice President of Talent Management at Juniper Networks, about the transformative power of empathy in the workplace—and how it’s anything but a “soft” skill. Deep shared her personal journey, the pivotal influence of her father, and how empathy is not only a moral imperative but a performance-driving force within high-achieving organizations.

Deep's leadership philosophy began taking shape in a small town in Rajasthan, India, where she watched her father—at the peak of his career as a surgeon—pivot to a life of service. His courageous example inspired her to choose a people-centered path, ultimately leading her to the world of talent development and performance strategy.

Throughout her career, Deep challenged conventional norms and followed a purpose-led approach, opting for authenticity and human-centric design over prestige or tradition. Her commitment to building empathetic systems ...

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The ROI of Being Kind in Leadership

 

In today’s fast-paced, results-driven world, it can be tempting to prioritize efficiency and hard metrics over softer skills like kindness. Yet, research consistently demonstrates that kindness isn’t just a “nice-to-have” quality in leadership—it’s a transformative tool with measurable returns. For leaders striving to create lasting impact, embracing kindness isn’t just a moral choice; it’s a strategic one.

Kindness Builds Engaged and Loyal Teams

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou’s words resonate deeply in the workplace. Employees don’t leave jobs; they leave managers. Gallup research shows that managers influence 70% of the variance in employee engagement, and kindness plays a pivotal role in creating workplaces where people want to stay.

A client of mine, a senior executive in a global tech firm, struggled with high turnover on her team. Together, we worked on integrating kindness ...

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Creating High Performing Cultures - an Interview with Mindi Cox

culture high performance Mar 14, 2024
 

I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Mindi Cox, Chief Marketing and People Officer at OC Tanner, who shares her insights on fostering a high-performing culture within organizations.

We discussed the importance of prioritizing employee well-being, especially during economic uncertainty.

Mindi emphasizes the need for leaders to build strong relationships and provide support, which can lead to increased loyalty and productivity. She also touches on the shift from seeing roles as transactional to viewing them as responsibilities that bring joy and connection.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mindi's Journey (00:01:09) Mindi shares her journey to leadership, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and making promises to oneself.
  • Importance of Relationships (00:12:30) Mindi emphasizes the significance of relationships and the impact on the organization's culture and long-term results.
  • Work-Life Balance and Flexibility (00:16:21) Mindi shares her personal experience with work-life bala...
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Don't Let This Happen to You

Don't Let This Happen to You

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Success never seems to happen in solitude.

Great business leaders and world-class athletes all ask for and receive help. A lot. They have a personal board of directors that helps them climb, and so should you!

Before we can request help however, we must acknowledge where we are struggling. After spending the first quarter of 2019 speaking and training more than I have ever done before, I had a new problem. Actually, I had two problems.

Problem #1:
I was not saying "no", enough. I was so excited and honored to have these speaking opportunities that I was speaking many more times than I planned into my calendar.

Problem #2:
I was tired. Really tired. This wasn’t just rough on me, just ask my husband Scott what I’m like to be around when I’m tired. No bueno.

Are you too guilty of being a "yes" girl or guy?

Sometimes, even us coaches are not masters of Mental Toughness and Sustainable High Performance :). The good news is th...

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3 Reasons Why You Should Dream Big (and Not S.M.A.R.T.)

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In 1976, Steve Wozniak suggested to Hewlett Packard (his employer at the time) the idea of creating a personal computer. He was rejected, so he and his friend Steve Jobs got to work themselves on their dream of individual creativity for each user.

Martin Luther King had a dream that someday we would all be equal.

When Michael Phelps was 7 years old, he had a dream that there were no limits on what he could achieve.

Did these world-class performers meet all of the criteria of S.M.A.R.T. goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely)? No. They dreamt big and worked every day like that dream was possible, even through massive setbacks and failures.

Here are a couple of reasons why YOU should dream big too:

1.)  Broad to Narrow:
When you dream big, are more optimistic, and shoot for the stars, you are more aware of opportunities that present themselves. This broad awareness may lead you to be more confident and throw your hat in

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