The Book Leads: Impactful Books For Life & Leadership

Mod #15: Communication As Currency w/Dr. Christina M. Lapierre

Mod #15: Communication As Currency Syllabus Contributor: College & Career Readiness Strategist Dr. Christina M. Lapierre [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinamlapierre/] We tend to underestimate the power of the words we use and how we communicate with each other. It’s never too late to listen to how we’re expressing ourselves, conveying our value(s) and ideas, and improving our process and approach. It’s especially important to share that understanding with students working toward their careers. In this episode, Christina shares just how powerful of a currency communication can be. About Christina Through her translator’s lens, Christina turns high-level educational jargon into community-facing programs that foster equity and self-advocacy. When it comes to Strategic Architecture, she designs frameworks that connect local Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) with the students who need them most. And when it comes to leadership, it’s about Leadership with Heart: She’s passionate about building "The Readiness Bridge"—ensuring that being "college eligible" actually means being "college ready". Find Christina * LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7GS9byf [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnkd%2Ein%2Fe7GS9byf&urlhash=obcn&mt=n8qSJsAk6Blr9KN_r1Wft2DKHfhqiOx55O0E5BYSw898qyk-3DE9zvMTvv3uIWk8JbUzFjT2jP39T8h3OzsmC9ujjNT8-dtCylYQAVcfsz73DCaBXrN9SN5HBQ&isSdui=true] * Pathways Forward Consulting: https://lnkd.in/eaGuYdqB [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnkd%2Ein%2FeaGuYdqB&urlhash=kYtx&mt=AdzLY_AOTmIemHEifrvptaJhC5s4rPVRFhlYeRV3cOO5SfH4kAM70cGIstVtcHgyn6ani-0yeCCUKXifaOsIUqR83fEOiqzQVchbVcGnreK9oXtQIc8kSHOYxQ&isSdui=true] ABOUT ⁠⁠THE LEADERSHIP SYLLABUS⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership-syllabus-lessons-30-minute-mods-jaramillo-mba-msop-otbme/] The Leadership Syllabus Podcast is a video/audio series providing insights from leaders on the main leadership lesson they’ve learned from their work, life, and experiences -- and who they are as a person. Each 30-minute mod will capture a bit about who the guest is, their work, and the one lesson they would contribute to The Leadership Syllabus. This collection of mods will offer the audience a one-series stop of real-world and life lessons to enhance their own self-understanding, awareness, and effectiveness in leadership and life. THE EPISODE BREAKDOWN Below is a general breakdown of the timeline of each episode. While recording, these markers are fluid, merely serving as guides to ensure we’re moving along steadily to cover everything in the 30 minutes allotted to each episode. * Podcast Introduction * Guest Introduction * How would you describe yourself – who you are as a person? * What do you want to share about your work? Guest shares about the work they do and/or the services they offer. * What has your work taught you? How has it changed you overall? * What is the biggest lesson you have learned, whether from your work or your life, that applies to leadership? * Audience Call To Action: Specific action steps to take or questions to consider regarding the lessons of this mod title added to The Leadership Syllabus. * Anything else you want to share about what you’re up to?

Episode 180:⁠ Jamie Turner⁠ & his book,⁠ Better: A Guidebook to a New and Improved You⁠

Episode 180: Jamie Turner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/askjamieturner/] & his book, Better: A Guidebook to a New and Improved You [https://amzn.to/4r81ngb] About Jamie Jamie Turner is an internationally recognized motivational speaker, author, and Emory University lecturer who helps people discover a better version of themselves. His  insights on leadership and business have been featured by top media outlets including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, and he has been recognized globally as a "Top 10 Speaker." In addition to driving the popular UnspokenRules.Live [http://unspokenrules.live/] platform and releasing his newest book, Better: A Guidebook to a New and Improved You, Jamie frequently delivers keynote speeches for major brands like Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz and Verizon. Outside of his professional endeavors, he is the co-founder of the global non-profit A School Bell Rings and the proud father of three remarkable women. CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS * Jamie Turner’s background in leadership, entrepreneurship, and his journey through life’s pivotal moments * The impact of ADHD and how meditation and mindset work transformed Jamie’s focus and productivity * Practical strategies for managing anxiety and living in the present * The power of affirmations and how to leverage them for life changes * Insights into emotional intelligence, including "name it to tame it" and reading the room techniques * Lessons learned from personal experiences with failure, resilience, and authenticity * The significance of self-awareness and building trust in relationships and leadership * The story behind Jamie’s book, "Better: A Guidebook to a New and Improved You," and its core principles * The four pillars for personal and professional growth: Mindset, Mentoring, Management, and Marketing The MAIN QUESTION for you that comes out of my conversation with Jamie is, To enable and empower real deep work, how do you seek out (and share yourself) the unspoken rules of leadership (or anything else, for that matter)?  Find Jamie * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askjamieturner/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/askjamieturner/] * Unspoken Rules Quiz & Communication Tools [https://unspokenrules.live/] - https://unspokenrules.live/ LinkedIn - Full Podcast Article:  CHAPTERS 00:00 - The Book Leads - Jamie Turner 01:02 - Introduction & Bio 01:57 - Who are you today? Can you provide more information about your work? 06:55 - How did your path into your career look like, and what did it look like up until now? 43:17 - How does the work you're doing today reconcile to who you were as a child? 53:52 - What do you consider your superpower? 54:27 - What does leadership mean to you? 56:00 - Can you introduce us to the book we’re discussing? 01:09:35 - What's changed in you in the process of writing this book? 01:20:50 - What’s next for your writing? 01:22:57 - What book has inspired you? 01:24:58 - What are you up to these days? (A way for guests to share and market their projects and work.) This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7150200326447382528/]. I'd love for you to join me and see what you take away from these conversations. Learn more about The Book Leads and listen to past episodes: * Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtNpTQTFjuN6Tjs52JB7zUQ] * Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1Dg1574PJ26ri1D1jLgsJ0?si=zLIwYrTLSr2CGL_B4_LN3g&dl_branch=1&nd=1] * Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-leads-impactful-books-for-life-leadership/id1578423049] * Read About The Book Leads – Blog Post [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/got-lead-great-book-thats-impacted-your-work-life-me-john/] For more great content, check out the catalog for my newsletter Last Week's Leadership Lessons [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/last-week-s-leadership-lessons-7058038561366794240/], if you haven't already!

Episode 179: Julian Lighton & his book, Navigating Your Next: Discover the Career You Want and the Path to Get There

Episode 179: Julian Lighton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianlighton1/] & his book, Navigating Your Next: Discover the Career You Want and the Path to Get There [https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Your-Next-Discover-Career/dp/B0G38WF3DF] ABOUT JULIAN Julian Lighton is one of Silicon Valley’s leading strategy practitioners and business coaches, helping individuals and organisations navigate what’s next. He has more than 30 years’ experience advising, hiring and developing talent as a senior operating executive, general manager, consultant and coach. Julian was a Chief Strategy Officer at four, billion-dollar revenue, public companies, a board director, and associate partner for McKinsey and a senior global sales and marketing executive at Fortune 100 companies Hitachi and Cisco. He holds a BA and MA in Law from Oxford University, a Masters-level in Negotiation from Harvard University, and is a Chartered Director by the Royal Institute of Directors. Julian is one of only four hundred coaches worldwide to be recognized as a senior professional coach at the individual and team level by both the ICF and EMCC. CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS • Julian’s diverse career journey from law to tech to private equity• The role of curiosity in innovation and leadership• How resilience and failure have shaped Julian’s career• The importance of focus, discipline, and storytelling in achieving goals• Leadership principles: responsibility, relationship, and service• The shift in corporate culture and leadership in the modern era• Practical advice for career navigation and self-actualization• Self-care, self-awareness, and balancing work with healthKey characteristics of effective leaders and collaborators The MAIN QUESTION for you that comes out of my conversation with Julian is, What do you really take into account and consider when it's time to decide what comes next for you? FIND JULIAN • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianlighton1/• Website: https://www.julianlighton.com• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julian.lighton/ • LinkedIn - Full Podcast Article: CHAPTERS00:00 - The Book Leads Podcast - Julian Lighton00:58 - Introduction & Bio05:15 - Who are you today? Can you provide more information about your work?08:24 - How did your path into your career look like, and what did it look like up until now?56:03 - How does the work you're doing today reconcile to who you were as a child?58:18 - What do you consider your superpower?01:01:06 - What does leadership mean to you?01:19:09 - Can you introduce us to the book we’re discussing?01:39:35 - What's changed in you in the process of writing this book?01:42:25 - What book has inspired you?01:45:48 - What are you up to these days? (A way for guests to share and market their projects and work.) This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7150200326447382528/]. I'd love for you to join me and see what you take away from these conversations. Learn more about The Book Leads and listen to past episodes: * Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtNpTQTFjuN6Tjs52JB7zUQ] * Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1Dg1574PJ26ri1D1jLgsJ0?si=zLIwYrTLSr2CGL_B4_LN3g&dl_branch=1&nd=1] * Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-leads-impactful-books-for-life-leadership/id1578423049] * Read About The Book Leads – Blog Post [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/got-lead-great-book-thats-impacted-your-work-life-me-john/] For more great content, check out the catalog for my newsletter Last Week's Leadership Lessons [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/last-week-s-leadership-lessons-7058038561366794240/], if you haven't already!

Episode 178: ⁠Desiree Martinez⁠ and her book,⁠ Stop Marketing, Start Belonging.: Real-World Marketing That Builds Loyal Customers Anywhere⁠

Episode 178: Desiree Martinez [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsdesireerose?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAKH2IMBKFFXIn_L7KQJH3pvMnzF51iABZU] and her book, Stop Marketing, Start Belonging.: Real-World Marketing That Builds Loyal Customers Anywhere [https://www.google.com/search?q=Stop+Marketing%2C+Start+Belonging.%3A+Real-World+Marketing+That+Builds+Loyal+Customers+Anywhere&rlz=1C1CHZN_enUS932US935&oq=Stop+Marketing%2C+Start+Belonging.%3A+Real-World+Marketing+That+Builds+Loyal+Customers+Anywhere&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRg80gEHNzE5ajBqNKgCA7ACAfEFO51Jq7fBSTo&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8] About Desiree Desiree Martinez has been marketing since Myspace, back when coding your profile was the ultimate flex. With more than 15 years of experience helping small businesses grow, she has built a career turning marketing overwhelm into clarity and connection. As the founder and CEO of The Kast Agency, Desiree helps service-based and community-driven businesses build strategies that actually work in the real world. Known for her straightforward, sassy approach, Desiree has partnered with brands like Adobe, Streamyard, and VidIQ, and has helped thousands of small business owners grow through trust, consistency, and community. When she is not coaching or creating content, Desiree can be found on her Michigan homestead, sipping tea, rolling dice in Dungeons & Dragons, or chasing her next big idea. Stop Marketing, Start Belonging is her guide for building loyal customers and a business people truly care about. Conversation Highlights * Desiree shares her path from aspiring animator to digital marketing expert with over 17 years of experience * Lessons learned from platform rises and falls, including MySpace, Facebook, and Google Plus, and how adaptation is critical for survival * The evolving role of AI in marketing, government influence, and the importance of owning your audience * How her childhood traits, like extroversion and creativity, have shaped her professional approach * The philosophy of “Start Suck Get Better” and embracing imperfection in entrepreneurship * An overview of her book, Stop Marketing, Start Belonging, and its foundational principles * The importance of human connection in digital marketing and authentic relationship building * Reflections on societal shifts, seasons of relationships, and the power of curiosity in personal and professional growth The MAIN QUESTION for you that comes out of my conversation with Desiree is, What kind of resilience, adaptability, and appreciation have you built in your life that you unknowingly have used to move forward, building up and elevating yourself and others in the process?  Find Desiree * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsdesireerose/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsdesireerose/] * Website: mrsdesireerose.com [http://mrsdesireerose.com/] LinkedIn - Full Podcast Article:  CHAPTERS 00:00 - The Book Leads Podcast - Desiree Martinez 01:00 - Introduction & Bio 03:27- Who are you today? Can you provide more information about your work? 07:46 - How did your path into your career look like, and what did it look like up until now? 28:39 - How does the work you're doing today reconcile to who you were as a child? 32:22 - What do you consider your superpower? 46:36 - What does leadership mean to you? 57:52 - Can you introduce us to the book we’re discussing? 01:05:18 - A breakdown of the chapters in the book. 01:07:35 - What's changed in you in the process of writing this book? 01:10:09 - What’s next for your writing? 01:25:11 - What book has inspired you? 01:29:57 - What are you up to these days? (A way for guests to share and market their projects and work.) This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7150200326447382528/]. I'd love for you to join me and see what you take away from these conversations. Learn more about The Book Leads and listen to past episodes: * Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtNpTQTFjuN6Tjs52JB7zUQ] * Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1Dg1574PJ26ri1D1jLgsJ0?si=zLIwYrTLSr2CGL_B4_LN3g&dl_branch=1&nd=1] * Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-leads-impactful-books-for-life-leadership/id1578423049] * Read About The Book Leads – Blog Post [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/got-lead-great-book-thats-impacted-your-work-life-me-john/] For more great content, check out the catalog for my newsletter Last Week's Leadership Lessons [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/last-week-s-leadership-lessons-7058038561366794240/], if you haven't already!

Episode 177: Katie S. Martin, Ph.D. and her book Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries

Episode 177: Katie S. Martin, Ph.D. [https://www.linkedin.com/article/edit/7451037758250356736/#] and her book Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries [https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Food-Banks-Pantries-Hunger/dp/1642831530] ABOUT KATIE Katie Martin is a thought leader on food insecurity and has spent over 30 years developing and researching programs to promote healthy food access and long-term food security. She is the CEO of More Than Food Consulting whose goal is to advance organizational and systems change to tackle the preventable problem of hunger. Katie is also the author of Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries. CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS • How Katie's background in political science and public health launched her advocacy • The importance of choice in food pantries for improved health and dignity • How COVID-19 shifted perceptions and policies around food insecurity • Evidence-based practices for hunger relief: culture, choice, and connection • Systems change approach: collaboration, data, and addressing structural inequalities • Leadership grounded in curiosity, empowerment, and systemic thinking • The significance of an abundance mindset versus scarcity in securing funding and collaboration • Future outlook on ongoing research, partnerships, and movement-building in hunger relief The MAIN QUESTION for you that comes out of my conversation with Katie is, How are you thinking your approach, tools, resources, and community partners when it comes to the issues you're more concerned and passionate about? FIND KATIE • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-s-martin-ph-d-14ba1213/ • Website: https://www.ittakesmorethanfood.org/ • Website: https://www.katiesmartin.com/ LinkedIn - Full Podcast Article: CHAPTERS 00:00 - The Book Leads Podcast - Katie Martin 00:51- Introduction & Bio 01:20 - Who are you today? Can you provide more information about your work? 02:10 - How did your path into your career look like, and what did it look like up until now? 16:27 - How does the work you're doing today reconcile to who you were as a child? 26:59 - What do you consider your superpower? 28:37 - What does leadership mean to you? 29:37 - Can you introduce us to the book we’re discussing? 38:29 - Can you provide a general overview of the book? 44:00 - What's changed in you in the process of writing this book? 46:31 - What’s next for your writing? 47:17 - What book has inspired you? 50:51 - What are you up to these days? (A way for guests to share and market their projects and work.) This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7150200326447382528/]. I'd love for you to join me and see what you take away from these conversations. Learn more about The Book Leads and listen to past episodes: * Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtNpTQTFjuN6Tjs52JB7zUQ] * Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1Dg1574PJ26ri1D1jLgsJ0?si=zLIwYrTLSr2CGL_B4_LN3g&dl_branch=1&nd=1] * Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-leads-impactful-books-for-life-leadership/id1578423049] * Read About The Book Leads – Blog Post [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/got-lead-great-book-thats-impacted-your-work-life-me-john/] For more great content, check out the catalog for my newsletter Last Week's Leadership Lessons [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/last-week-s-leadership-lessons-7058038561366794240/], if you haven't already!