Something Extra with Lisa Nichols

Have you heard the expression, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today, except for the people you meet and the books you read?” As a serial media entrepreneur, Steve Gatena has found this to be true. Join us as this week’s guest, Founder & CEO of Pray.com, shares about a breaking point in his career, the podcast that changed his life, and how this inspired him to create a digital destination for faith-based content.

“What’s your Panera fave?” While we all know and love the menu at this iconic bakery-café, we may not realize the innovation and digital transformation that has gone on behind the scenes. Tune in as Lisa speaks with John Meister, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, to learn how technology plays a key role in enhancing the customer experience. Their conversation is sure to leave you hungry for more.

As we look at leaders, we often ask what they have gone through in life to establish their credibility. This week’s episode features Bruce Sheridan, Author, Certified EOS Implementer, and President of Life Compass, Inc. Listen in as he shares inspirational stories about his healing from childhood struggles and substance abuse, which in turn has helped him coach countless leadership teams and young adults. It won’t surprise you to find out that resiliency is the ‘Something Extra’ he believes every leader needs.

According to Debbie Portell Morris,“Food is life or death. Choose life and eat clean.” She speaks from experience, as Debbie passed out suddenly one night in her driveway and was rushed away in an ambulance. Over the course of the next two years, she worked with 22 doctors to find out why. Now, as the owner of Integrity Training Systems and Sophie’s Bakery, she has seen countless people saved through the same means as herself – by using nutrition as the key to healing.

Uniquely going beyond excellence” sums up the work taking place at Williams Academy STL, an innovative early childhood learning and technology center training today’s minds for future success. This is also the personal mission statement of the school’s co-founder, Yonnick Jones. Tune in as he and Lisa discuss how the organization gives students a hands-on opportunity to explore the world of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

How do you avoid getting bogged down in the quicksand of competing demands as a leader? According to Mark Miller, Vice President of High-Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A, it all boils down to your choices. In this episode, Mark shares insights from over 20 years of leadership coaching and team development. With over one million books in print in more than 25 languages, you will see how Mark’s insights into leadership are sought by organizations across the globe.

We often hear people tell us to follow our passion, but may hit a roadblock once we realize that we have more than one. Scott Richert shares how he overcame the pressure to identify a ‘grand vision’ and instead focused on taking work one step at a time. Now, as the CIO at Mercy, Scott is passionate about helping people find meaningfulness in work by understanding their impact, no matter the role. Tune in for a story of authentic leadership and hard-won success.

Mr. Rogers once said, “Anyone who does anything to help a child in their life is a hero.” As an Adoptive Mom, Author, Podcast Host, and App Designer, this quote takes on special meaning for Marcy Bursac. Join us as she shares her personal journey of pivoting her career, advocating for foster care adoption, and aligning her life to make family her top priority.

Do you provide an environment where employees feel empowered and engaged? Mindi Cox, Chief Marketing & People Officer at O.C. Tanner, calls this workplace fulfillment – and she actually describes it as the future of work. In this episode, Mindi discusses the software that has created more than 222 recognition moments every minute and will inspire every business owner to think about how their company can leave the world a better place.

Did you know that 21.7 million people experience job losses in America every year? Though unemployment is a common life stressor, many people do not know how to handle themselves after being let go. Dale Kreinenkamp, President of Thriving Through Transitions, looks at how to lean into your support system and embrace the change curve to move toward a better life.