On this episode, we are joined by Cliff Berrien, an amazing heart centered leader with over 40 years of experience as a professional drummer and percussionist, DJ and music educator. His passion is studying cultural expressions of collective joy and sharing that with the world to teach cultural dexterity and contemplative spirituality. He does so most often as a member of the Program Design Team at Center for Action and Contemplation as Curator of Contemplative Practice. Here, he answers the big question – Why do conversations on race matter in organizations committed to the flourishing of all?

We hope you enjoy! If you find this meaningful and helpful, please consider sharing with a loved one or a colleague. Visit/Message Cliff at CAC at : https://cac.org/staff-reflection-cliff-berrien-2018-11-28_alumni-spotlight/

On this episode, we sit down with Keith Hall, Chief Diversity Officer at Azusa Pacific University, to talk about how he utilizes strengths-based leadership to lead teams based on where people are strongest and compliment each other. The heart of strengths based leadership is seeing others’ strengths as assets and unique—affirming them. The 3 strands in the strengths philosophy are self awareness, others awareness, and collaborative engagement (we awareness). He sheds valuable light on how to lead on your own strengths, your team’s strengths and the importance of being in communication with people with lived experiences of the problem you want to solve.

“It’s not enough to have someone at the table, there need to be opportunities to redistribute power.” – Keith Hall

On this episode, our special guest, Hap Klopp sits down with us to share some gems from his life as an adventurer, executive, academic, author and force behind the brand that is The North Face, where he served as President and CEO for over 20 years. He answers the big question of how this current moment (pandemic, poverty, and protest) demands us to shift our approaches to leadership and the beauty in a ‘planetary well-being’ perspective, over a ‘profits as paramount’ approach to business. He offers insightful invitations for the leader in all of us, to have a creative wide- open, fun approach business. He’s the author of the highly acclaimed book on leadership: “Conquering The North Face, an Adventure in Leadership” and a recently released best selling book on business in Silicon Valley entitled, “Almost”, both available on Amazon. If you’d like to dive deeper and see more of Hap’s work, visit him on Instagram @hapklopp.

Living Workshops by Ignite Institute

1

Hap Klopp on Building a Brand that Transforms

Join our very own, Aizaiah Yong and Jonathon Murillo, in a Season One recap of key insights gleaned from the business, nonprofit, education and tech space leaders we’ve featured, to talk about issues of social transformation. You’ll hear highlights and practices from those, outside of explicitly religious or spiritual spaces, doing very spiritual work. We hope you’ve been inspired by this work, happening in the trenches on so many different levels outside protests, that opens us up to what we might imagine and do together across industries.

On this episode, we are joined by the fabulous Dr. Joyce Del Rosario, Assistant Professor, Practice of Ministry and Director of Community Engaged Learning at Pacific School of Religion. She is a second Generation Filipino American whose current research is with an affectionately named group of Filipino American religious scholars called the “Theo Adobo Collective”. She’s run programs in various cultural and economic communities for over 20 years and launched The Wedge, a videocast series for Asian Americans about Asian Americans doing social justice work. Here she shares more about the potluck approach to leadership and why culturally empowered expressions of leadership are critical in this time.

Resources mentioned on this week’s episode:

Inheritance Magazine

Liberated Together by Erna Kim Hackett

On this episode, we drop in conversation with Rev. Joanne Rodríguez Executive Director of the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI), and phenomenal woman who leads with a passion to amplify and promote the educational and theological formation of Latinx students across the United States. Here she talks with us about “en conjunto” partnerships are why they are so important to do impactful transformational work. She invites those from minoritized experiences to resist the temptation to sacrifice one’s own knowledge, whether it be language or culture, or something else, just to fit in at an organization. She shares more about how a wisdom based leader is one who embraces their cultural leadership style, is rooted in their spirituality, and is committed to leading from their personal authenticity. She also reminds us that this generation is facing so many different challenges, and that instead of trying to give them the answers, we need to listen to them and enjoy them, because they are amazing!

For more information on Joanne’s work with the Hispanic Theological Initiative or to connect, please visit: https://hti.ptsem.edu/

On this episode, we sit down with Roger Heuser, an amazing leader, Professor of Leadership Studies at Vanguard University, and cancer survivor. He has a heartfelt conversation with us about gifts that exist, for emerging and established leaders, when they embrace spirituality, and invites us all to see spirituality as a journey inward to reframe the journey outward. He talks about why, in this time of multiple crises, we need leaders who are hospitable, humble, courageous, and who can sacrifice in the service of others. You’ll also hear some practical invitations to begin seeing your work through a spiritual lens.

To get in touch with Roger, email at rheuser@vanguard.edu or LinkedIn

Resources mentioned on the episode:

Inclusify by Stephanie Johnson

Robert Greenleaf – Servant Leadership

A Spiritual Audit of Corporate America by Ian Mitroff

Better World Books

OurSpareChange

Emma Seppala – Author, Speaker & Science Director, Stanford Center For Compassion And Altruism Research And Education

On this episode we sit down with Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, a truly inspiring higher education and immigration leader and President of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, a progressive, multi denominational seminary and center for social justice. He is a committed pastor, a sought after speaker, and leads at the intersection of faith, higher education, and social change. He regularly contributes a faith perspective to the national conversation on immigration and has consulted on a number of documentaries on immigration, labor, and human rights and is the author of various publications that explore migration stories in sacred texts and in people’s lives. He talks with us about how migration is bigger than just people moving from one place to another, and that those immigrating know something about leaving everything behind to venture into a new place, and inspires us to think about how we can translate that into business by being willing to take risks and trying new things!

He also shares reflections on how leaders need to able to foresee alternative solutions and also be willing to “widen the table” to allow more people to be present and fed. It takes courage to be able to step out and be confident in one’s abilities to lead others and tackle difficult issues. That includes resisting fear, so that we are able to serve and empower our communities.

 If you’d like to get in touch with Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, email: president@psr.edu