Podcast | Jennifer McClure`

Simplify Creative Problem-Solving and Innovation Using Light Bulb Thinking™ With Innovation Coach Ellia Harris

Discover the power of creative problem-solving!

On episode 90 of the Impact Makers podcast, I’m chatting with Innovation Coach Ellia Harris – an expert in creative problem-solving and creating cultures of innovation. Ellia works with managers, business owners, and their teams to get them out of habitual thinking, so they can find creative solutions that they couldn’t see before.

The creator of Light Bulb Thinking™, Ellia has over a decade of experience as an organizational trainer and coach, and her own experience as a manager seeking a creative approach to leadership led to her expertise in using creative thinking as the fastest route to becoming an effective leader of a high-performing team – which, in a time when we all need to be at the top of our game, is more crucial than ever.

I think you’ll enjoy my conversation with Ellia, because she reminds us that everyone has the capacity for creative thinking and creative problem solving — and thinking differently about some of the challenges that you’re facing may be the best way to identify the solution that you need to move forward.

Topics Discussed In Today’s Episode:

What is creative problem-solving?
Ellia’s Light Bulb Thinking™ framework for creative problem solving: planning, ideating, choosing, and then implementing or innovating.
The four categories of creative thinking tools for when you’re ideating: Re-expression, Revolution, Random Links, and Related Words.
Why many of us struggle with being creative, and how we can overcome how our brains are naturally designed to work.
How AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard can be used to fuel creativity — and how they should not be used.
Ellia’s passion for helping young people to develop leadership and creative problem-solving skills.

LISTEN TO IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 90

Listen on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts or Spotify

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

Ellia Harris – LinkedIn

Contact Ellia – Hello@ThePotentialCenter.com

The Potential Center – Website, Facebook, YouTube

Light Bulb Moments™ online course

Book: Winner’s Mindset: Peak Performance Strategies for Success (contributor)

Impact Makers podcast episode 067: How to Make Work Suck Less By Making It Fun with Jeff Harry

Impact Makers podcast episode 084: Poetry, Hip Hop, and HR: Creativity and Leading in the Future of Work With Arend Boersema

Written by Jennifer McClure

Challenging Traditional HR Paradigms to Create More Inclusive and Equitable Workplaces With Shahzia Noorally

On episode 89 of the Impact Makers podcast, I chat with Shahzia Noorally, a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practitioner, Speaker, and podcast host.

With her dynamic voice, Shahzia is changing the narrative around workplace authority and equity. In our enlightening conversation, she shares her inspiring journey from a place of isolation in her first leadership role, to becoming a passionate advocate for equity within the utilities industry and beyond. Her unique insights are shaped by her experiences as a woman of color, a child of immigrants, and an HR practitioner.

Our conversation takes us through the challenges and biases that persist in traditional leadership and mentorship models, and we also explore the concept of sponsorship, which can create a space for authentic expression, amplifying not just talent but also the voices that often go unheard.

I first met Shahzia when we were both speaking at a DisruptHR Calgary event back in 2019 and have been following her and her work since that time. I find her to be insightful and purposeful, and I really appreciate how she approaches equitable work and workplaces through a lens of possibilities rather than challenges, and a purpose that is rooted in influencing a more just-world.

Outside of her work, Shahzia hosts The Equity Gap podcast, and she leans into community, anchoring her energy towards amplifying Black, Indigenous and women of color to show up in the world, and take up all the space that they desire and deserve.

I think you’ll enjoy learning from Shahzia in our conversation, and I encourage you to share this podcast with others in your network who may benefit from rethinking some of our traditional approaches to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace.

Topics Discussed In Today’s Episode:

The challenges of relying solely on the concept of “diversity of thought” and why demographic representation is vital.
Why current leadership models need rethinking to encourage individual authenticity instead of molding individuals to fit pre-existing molds.
How sponsorship stands apart from traditional mentorship and can be more helpful in addressing systemic barriers faced especially by BIPOC.
Why modern workplaces must adapt to become inclusive, ensuring everyone has equal access to influence, and challenging traditional white male-centric leadership models.
The broader implications related to equity that extend well beyond equal pay.
The importance of optimism in addressing diversity and inclusion challenges with an open mind and proactive attitude.
Why a paradigm shift from a one-size-fits-all approach in HR practices to one that centers the experiences of the most marginalized employees is necessary, and how that can lead to broader benefits for all.

LISTEN TO IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 89

Listen on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts or Spotify

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

Shahzia Noorally – LinkedIn, Website, Instagram

The Equity Gap podcast – On Apple Podcasts, LinkedIn, Instagram

HR, We Have A Problem | Susy Ko & Shahzia Noorally | DisruptHR Talks

Do You Know the Reference Man? | Shahzia Noorally | DisruptHR Talks

Rethinking podcast with Adam Grant: Finding–and becoming–great mentors and sponsors with Carla Harris

The Equity Gap podcast: From saviorism to solidarity in the workplace – a conversation with Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi – Changemaker, Speaker, Author & Founder of Accelerate her Future

Accelerate Her Future

Written by Jennifer McClure

Creating People-First Cultures Through Transparency, Trust, and Transformative HR With Noah Warder

Get ready to reshape your HR practices with my guest on episode 88 of the Impact Makers podcast – Noah Warder!

Noah has been leading people teams across Canada and the US for over 10 years, and now leads the People Team at Guusto, a company that provides a recognition and rewards platform focused on both front-line and office employees. In this role, he gets to marry his passion for building a people-first culture that focuses on creating purpose, opportunity, and well-being for every member of Guusto team.

He’s also the Principal Consultant and Founder of PeopleOps Consulting, where he helps early-stage Founders to build people-first cultures in rapidly growing organizations, and he brings a fresh perspective to the role HR should play in advocating for a culture that stimulates open dialogue and forethought.

In our conversation on the podcast, Noah shares his thoughts on how to balance daily tasks and strategic initiatives while also debunking the misconception that effective people practices need to be intricate or costly. We also chat about the vital role of diverse leadership teams in recruiting a diverse workforce, and the significance of tying DE&I strategies to business objectives.

Finally, Noah share his views on trust-building within HR, and his strategies for providing constructive feedback, including the challenge of communicating with those skeptical of HR. He firmly believes that transparency in leadership leads to more openness and clear communication that can empower employees and foster greater engagement.

I think that you’ll enjoy our conversation, and will leave it with some actionable takeaways to create, or further build a people-first approach in your own workplace.

Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:

Why HR leaders should get more comfortable with starting small, making mistakes, and avoiding perfectionism.
Strategies for prioritizing people initiatives when HR leaders have so much on their plates.
How to approach making a business case for important people strategies when the ROI is hard to quantify.
The importance of building influence and trust as a people leader, in order to get things done.
Why it’s important – and healthy – to embrace conflict in order to reach better outcomes.
Why transparency is so important for company culture and trust in organizations.
The importance of being intentional about adding diverse voices and perspectives to the people you listen to, follow and learn from.
Suggested communities and resources for people leaders to share ideas and best practices, and gain support from others facing similar challenges.

LISTEN TO IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 88

Listen on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts or Spotify

People & Resources Mentioned in This episode:

Noah Warder – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahwarder/

Noah Warder – Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoahWarder

PeopleOps Consulting – https://www.peopleopsconsulting.com/

Guusto – https://guusto.com/

Lars Schmidt – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsschmidt

Amplify Academy – https://amplifytalent.com/academy

ChartHop People Ops Community – https://www.charthop.com/the-people-ops-community/

The People People Group – https://thepeoplepeoplegroup.com/

Written by Jennifer McClure

From the Block to the Boardroom: Impact Architect Khalilah Olokunola Breaks Boundaries in HR

It’s not often that I come across a story as astonishing and inspiring as that of my guest on episode 86 of the Impact Makers podcast – Khalilah Olokunola. Khalilah (also known as KO) transformed a troubled past into a beacon of hope and empowerment, and her journey from the streets of Brooklyn to a prison cell, and eventually to the boardrooms of the corporate world, is a testament to her talent, as well as her unwavering resilience and determination.

Khalilah is an extraordinary human, HR executive, community leader, and now business owner – for the 6th time – and the story of her life to date, is amazing. In our conversation on the podcast, Khalilah takes us through her inspiring journey and the wisdom she gleaned along the way. She recounts how a simple letter from her father gave her the strength to persevere, and how her role as a Chief People Officer at a startup with a mission to unite gang rivals shaped her perspective on life. In her latest endeavor founding her own company — Re-Engineering HR — she helps companies thrive by prioritizing people, purpose, and profit.

We also discussed the impactful work that Khalilah does through Re-Engineering HR, where she helps leaders and organizations to understand how to be people-focused, purpose-driven, and profit-aligned, and also how to put strategies in place to avoid sinking the business ship by identifying and addressing internal icebergs before they take an organization down. She also introduces her Alphabet Audit tool, which measures people and practices, and her Serve Principle training.

Finally, you’ll hear about her upcoming book, set to release in 2024. This episode is filled with inspiration, resilience, and valuable insights that will leave you empowered and ready to create change!

Topics Discussed In Today’s Episode:

Resilience and determination can turn even the harshest experiences into opportunities for growth and impact.
HR isn’t just about managing people; it’s about transforming lives, building communities, and driving meaningful change.
Embracing educational opportunities, learning from industry veterans, and not being afraid to take on challenges are keys to growth in the HR field.
For companies to thrive, leaders must rely on the wisdom of their partners and employees, maintain transparency, and communicate effectively.
Effective HR practice involve being proactive, aligning decisions with values, and being purpose-driven.
The Power of ‘D.I.R.T.Y. HR’ – being divergent, intentional, responsible, trustworthy, and focused on your ‘why’.

LISTEN TO IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 86

Listen on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts or Spotify

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

Khalilah “KO” Olokunola – LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

ReEngineeringHR website

Khalilah Olokunola personal website

The HR Social Hour Half Hour podcast episode 80: Jon & Wendy talk to Khalilah Olokunola

Dirty HR (D.I.R.T.Y.) | Khalilah “KO” Olokunola | DisruptHR Talks

Written by Jennifer McClure

Transformative HR Leadership: Embracing Disruption and Shaping the Future of Work

On episode 85 of the Impact Makers podcast, I’m sharing a conversation with you that I had recently with Shari Simpson – Senior Manager of Thought Leadership at Paylocity – on the HR Mixtape podcast, which she hosts.

I asked Shari if I could also share the conversation with the Impact Makers community, because I thought she asked some great questions about the challenges and opportunities that HR leaders are facing in a world where work and employee expectations have changed forever.

We discussed how technology and artificial intelligence impacts HR, as well as how HR can lead in the future of work in the areas of attracting and retaining talent, redefining employee engagement, and connecting employees with meaning and purpose in their work. We also touched on how HR leaders can build their influence, and make a significant impact in their organizations as well as the broader HR community.

I’ve linked to the episode of the HR Mixtape podcast where this conversation originally appeared below. I encourage you to connect with Shari, and to follow or subscribe to the HR Mixtape podcast so you can listen to more thought-provoking interviews, compliance tips, coffee chats, and the latest HR-related news.

Topics Discussed In Today’s Episode:

Current and future challenges confronting HR leaders.
The crucial role of HR in adopting technology impacting the workplace.
The influence of consumer experience on employee satisfaction and competitiveness in the labor market.
Defining employee engagement and strategies for positive impact.
The significance of a learner’s mindset for HR leaders and methods to gain beneficial insights.
Guidance for HR leaders on enhancing their influence and contributing to meaningful conversations in their profession, company, and industry.