The Leadership Window

How fast is too fast in leadership? It depends on the speed of the culture you are in! TV Producer, CEO of The Yes Academy explains. Born in Hong Kong, raised in England, and now residing in Los Angeles, Didi Wong is an Award-Winning International Keynote Speaker, TV Producer, Business Mentor, Best-Selling Author, and Angel Investor. Didi is the CEO of The Yes Academy, a results-driven educational mentorship program for entrepreneurs. She was given the highest level award “Women of the Decade for Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital” from the Women Economic Forum as well as an award of Achievements, Recognition and Excellence by the National Council of Women from the Egyptian Government. She has also been honored to speak at the Global Entrepreneurship Initiative at the United Nations and she was the resident speaker on the Think and Grow Rich Legacy World Tour 2019. As a TV Producer, she is the Executive Producer of “In Case you Didn’t Know with Nick Nanton” featuring Robert Kiyosaki of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and another TV show “SpeakUP”, both on Amazon Prime Video. She has starred as a guest judge on the #1 Digital business show “Elevator Pitch” as well as a feature documentary on her journey as a speaker called “Impact.” Didi was given the Certificate of Recognition by Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles for helping women entrepreneurs succeed. She is featured in the article “Women Who Mean Business” in the current March issue of Oprah Magazine. In Fall of 2020, she will be knighted as “Lady Didi” where she will join the Royal Order of Constantine the Great and St. Helen of Spain to further the Royal initiatives both domestically and internationally. Her superpowers lie in managing her four children under the age of nine (including a set of identical twin girls) as well as all her projects and clients — always with a smile on her face. Subscribe and listen on your favorite platform, or simply listen on this page below:

16x Emmy Award-Winning filmmaker Nick Nanton shares his views on servant leadership and the secrets to serial entrepreneurism. Nick helps brands tell their stories through media in real-time. An Emmy Award-Winning Director and Producer, Nick produces media and branded content for top thought leaders and media personalities around the world. Recognized as a leading expert on branding and storytelling, Nick has authored more than two dozen Best-Selling books (including The Wall Street Journal Best-Seller, StorySelling) and produced and directed more than 60 documentaries, earning 16 Emmy Awards and 36 nominations. Nick speaks to audiences internationally on the topics of branding, entertainment, media, business, and storytelling at major universities and events. As the CEO of DNA Media, Nick oversees a portfolio of companies including DNA Films, Astonish Entertainment, 11th Street Films, Abundance Studios, DNA (an international agency with more than 3,000 clients in 63 countries), and Ambitious.com. Nick is an award-winning director, producer, and songwriter who has worked on everything from large scale events to television shows with the likes of Steve Forbes, Ivanka Trump, Sir Richard Branson, Larry King, Jack Nicklaus, Rudy Ruettiger (the inspiration for the Hollywood Blockbuster, RUDY), Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield (The Secret, creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series), and many more. His show In Case You didn’t Know can be seen on Amazon Prime. Subscribe and listen on your favorite platform, or simply listen on this page below:

Full circle, from leader to consultant, and back to leader — AS a consultant. Patrick talks with 1000 Feathers President Forrest Alton about the shift. What changes? What stays the same? Forrest has spent more than 20 years in the nonprofit and social service sectors in a variety of capacities. After a decade of service in the C-suite of a highly successful nonprofit organization, Forrest stepped down to focus his energy on the launch and operations of 1000 Feathers. Forrest made this transition because he saw a need to improve the social service sector and strategically advance work in underserved communities. He has committed his life’s work – and the work of 1000 Feathers – to training and developing leaders; helping organizations think and act more strategically; posing the difficult questions organizations are afraid to ask; and encouraging big, bold, courageous conversations at all levels of organizations and throughout communities. A dynamic and inspirational leader, Forrest has developed a contagious energy for helping others identify their vision and strategy, and for disrupting the status quo. He has become a frequently sought-after speaker for conferences and events and is a respected voice on topics related to adolescent health, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement. During his tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (Now, Fact Forward), the organization experienced unprecedented growth and success. That doesn’t happen via random chance – especially on such a contentious issue, in a conservative, southern state. It happens because of strong vision, strategic thinking, bold leadership, and certainly a little luck. Forrest’s contributions to the field of adolescent health have garnered wide praise, including a review of a book he co-authored in 2011, “[the book] is a tour de force… [and] represents the cumulative experience, expertise, and practice of some of the leading sexual health researchers and practitioners in the United States. It is a ‘must-have’ on any bookshelf.” Previously recognized by The State newspaper as one of South Carolina’s “20-under-40 emerging leaders” and by the Free Times as one of the “50 Most Influential People in Columbia,” Forrest is also a Riley Institute Leadership Fellow and a member of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network (Liberty Fellowship). Forrest currently serves in leadership roles on the boards of Power to Decide and the University of South Carolina’s Alumni Association. He is a past board chair of Together SC—South Carolina’s nonprofit, membership organization. He earned his Master of Public Health from the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health, where he has been recognized with a Young Alumnus of the Year award (2011), and received his Bachelor of Science from Coastal Carolina University where he was named a Distinguished Alumnus (2009). Subscribe and listen on your favorite platform, or simply listen on this page below:

Leading social change is a complex, difficult job. The Mary Black Foundation in Spartanburg, SC is working to create health equity, and their CEO, Molly Talbot Metz is leading the way. In this episode, Molly and Patrick discuss why leading community change is challenging and rewarding, how leadership transitions are managed, and what the leader’s role in performance metrics — especially for a nonprofit. Molly is the Mary Black Foundation’s fourth President/CEO since it was founded in 1996. She joined the Foundation in 2001 as its first Program Officer, became the Director of Programs in 2007, and was named Vice President of Programs in 2013. Prior to joining the Foundation, Molly worked on local and statewide efforts to reduce teen pregnancy. Molly has a Master of Public Health Degree from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Education from the State University of New York at Cortland. Molly and her husband are natives of Syracuse, New York and have lived in Spartanburg, SC since 1999. They have two children. Molly is actively involved in the community. She serves on the boards of directors for the Northside Development Corporation, Spartanburg Academic Movement, and Spartanburg Community Indicators Project. She served as board chair for the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (now Fact Forward) and Spartanburg Housing Authority. She co-chaired the design committee and fundraising campaign to build The Franklin School, a national model in early childhood development care and education. Molly is a current member of the Spartanburg Downtown Rotary Club and the SC Grantmakers Network. Subscribe and listen on your favorite platform, or simply listen on this page below:

Culture is king. How does a leader create an authentic leadership culture? Ron Harvey is the founder and president of Global Core Strategies and Consulting through which he helps leaders create a winning culture that is aligned with the vision of the organization. Ron is a retired U.S. Army Veteran, with over three decades of leadership experience. His purpose is to “Make A Difference” by inspiring leaders to excel through learning, growth, and adding value to others. In fact, Just Make a Difference is the title of Ron’s book, which is a simple but powerful collection of leadership tenets and maxims. Ron serves as the Chairman for the Columbia Chamber Small Business Council and serves on the boards of Midlands Communities in Schools, and the Carolina Virginia Minority Supplier Diversity Council. As a certified leadership coach, his clients and audiences describe him as motivating and engaging. Ron has collaborated with Small Business Leaders and Government Leaders at all levels to ensure that collaboration is conducted at the most effective levels for everyone. He has a specific passion and focus, to add value and “Make A Difference”, because “People Always Matter”! Subscribe and listen on your favorite platform, or simply listen on this page below:

Patrick’s first guest is one of the country’s leading executive coaches, Dr. Jim Smith. Jim and Patrick talk about the 8 leadership attributes today’s CEOs seek for their teams, the top leadership challenges leaders are facing, and the power of coaching. Jim has coached and trained coaches for the Center for Creative Leadership for 3 decades. As founder and president of Leadership Systems, Inc. (LSI), he coaches executives, designs leadership development programs, and writes – all to help move people from their current state to their desired state. Jim trains coaches using his Master Coach Model that surfaced from his doctoral dissertation. He has led over 18,500 coaching sessions with mid to senior-level leaders around the world and has trained hundreds of coaches. Jim and his wife, Karyn have successfully launched four adults and enjoy traveling and working with college students as they plan their careers and future life steps. Jim is the author of The Master Coach Model and loves to apply the art of coaching to pull, not push; to ask, not answer; and to listen, not lecture as he helps develop his clients to think, learn and solve their current challenges. Subscribe and listen on your favorite platform, or simply listen on this page below:

In this inaugural episode, Patrick Jinks introduces the show by challenging leaders to open the window of leadership — in other words, opening ourselves to learning and growing as a leader, no matter what field we are in. Patrick defines leadership and covers his 5 Tenets of Leadership. Patrick is a certified leadership coach, and president of The Jinks Perspective, helping leaders achieve greater clarity, simplicity, and alignment in their work. Read more about Patrick HERE Subscribe and listen on your favorite platform, or simply listen on this page below:

Coming soon! The Leadership Window Podcast — This is the teaser episode. Stay tuned for the launch on Monday, October 5, 2020. Amazing guests are already lined up. If you are a leader, this podcast is a must. Subscribe and listen on your favorite platform, or simply listen on this page below: