Menttium Matters

Reflecting on The Leadership Journey: 7 Powerful Tips for Getting Things Done with Tom O’Brien, Vice President of Human Resources at Trinchero Family Estates

On this episode of the Menttium Matters Podcast, Menttium's Megan Cummings-Krueger sat down with 15-time Menttium Mentor, Tom O'Brien, for an authentic and insightful conversation about life-changing events, how they alter our perspective, and how to open ourselves up to what is possible. He also shares how his own personal and professional experiences led him to find his passion for mentoring. 

Challenging the Status Quo: Tips for Influencing and Leading Change with Dr. Leon Zeng, Senior Director of Behavioral Marketing and Analytics at Morningstar

In this episode, Dr. Leon Zeng reveals a newly developed interview technique to find the best talent for a position. He shares what it felt like to come to the US as an immigrant and describes the positive impact his Menttium mentor had on his career trajectory. We discuss why it can be difficult to change behavior, and he suggests two simple steps that help people make positive changes. As an expert influencer, Dr. Zeng also shares his #1 strategy for influencing.

Life After Tragedy - Navigating Through Grief and Change to Find Purpose with Jody LaVoie, CEO and Coach at Widows in The Workplace

In this episode, we hear from a grief and loss expert, whose path of purpose took a sudden turn when her CEO husband was killed at work. Jody LaVoie shares the life lessons she’s learned as she navigated through this abrupt, painful change that impacted her personally, professionally, and as a parent. Her story of resilience is inspiring and offers a unique perspective on managing the reality of constant change.

Empowering Women Leaders and the Importance of being a Continuous Learner with Sarah Blomquist, HR Consultant and Owner of SB Resources, LLC

We celebrate Women’s History Month with Sarah Blomquist, who is a passionate advocate for empowering women in the workforce. Sarah offers timely advice for navigating the contradictions we all face, like “fit in” and “be authentic.” She shares what she wishes she would have known 10 years ago and reveals lessons she’s learned from being a working mom.  Sarah draws on her extensive HR experience to suggest structural changes and best practices that will support women to reach executive levels. 

A Journey to Leadership and Celebrating Women Trailblazers with Missy Chicre, CEO at Menttium, and Lynn Sontag, Chairwoman and Owner at Menttium

We kick off Women’s History Month by featuring this inspiring episode with Lynn Sontag and Missy Chicre. Lynn and Missy will share their powerful stories of how they came to Menttium. They will discuss how Menttium has thrived for over 32 years and why mentoring is needed more than ever in this current environment. They will also reflect on what it means to lead a woman-owned business and share their vision for the future of Menttium. 

Executive Presence in a Hybrid World and Tips to Prioritize DEI Efforts in the Workplace with James Prince, Director of Customer Success Strategy and Strategic Client Experience at ADP

In this week’s episode, James Prince draws on his 30 years of leadership in the Human Capital Management Space for iconic Fortune 500 brands to share best practices for developing a strong executive presence.  In celebration of Black History Month, James also discusses barriers African American employees continue to face in the workplace and offers strategies that leaders can implement to address these challenges.  James outlines how organizations can move beyond DEI fatigue to create impactful practices to prioritize DEI throughout the year.  

Turning Imposter Syndrome into a Strength and Leading with Heart - Tricia Price, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Operations at GM Financial

In this episode, Tricia Price, SVP of Customer Experience Operations for GM Financial discusses her experiences with imposter syndrome, being authentic, and thriving in a male-dominated industry. She highlights how hard work, continuous learning, and adopting a servant-leadership mindset have been key elements in her success. She reminds us that confidence is a skill that can be developed, oftentimes with the help of a mentor. Tricia also reveals her strategies for creating best-in-class customer service. 

Imposter Syndrome and the Importance of Setting Healthy Boundaries with Heather Whelpley, Speaker, author of An Overachiever’s Guide to Breaking the Rules

In this episode, Heather Whelpley follows up her imposter syndrome webinar by giving a brief overview of imposter syndrome and then answering webinar participants’ questions. Heather offers actionable advice on shifting from over-work to setting healthy boundaries.  She talks us through how to protect yourself from feeling “not good enough” when you work with perfectionists or are treated as an outsider.  She also offers some best practices for responding to feedback. 

Global Mentoring Programs to help Empower Women in Science with Dr. Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Principal Research Scientist at Kenya Medical Research Institute

In this special episode, we focus on the power of mentoring to develop and empower women throughout the world. We will hear from Dr. Damaris Matoke-Muhia, who is an entomologist and a leader in the fight against malaria and other vector control diseases. Dr. Matoke-Muhia is passionate about identifying and mitigating gaps women face culturally in implementing community-based solutions to reduce malaria and in going into vector control research. Her story illustrates how one woman’s courage to challenge a system has positively impacted the lives of women and children throughout Africa.

Leaning into Fear or Discomfort: The Power of having Tough Conversations in the Workplace with Gloria Cotton, Senior Partner at inQUEST

In this episode, Gloria Cotton, Senior Partner at inQUEST, offers a powerful strategy to address the fear or discomfort that often makes people resist having a courageous conversation. Gloria highlights how to move from having a courageous conversation to getting input from stakeholders to implement meaningful action that will make a positive difference. She also shares her best advice for leaders.