Disrupt Yourself Podcast With Whitney Johnson

Before you can be an agent of disruption, you first become its subject by disrupting yourself. Keeping this in mind, today’s podcast is a bit different. If you’ve been a long-time listener, this will probably come as no surprise (disruption is what we do, after all)! Join as Disrupt Yourself host Whitney Johnson coaches you, our listeners! Today we discuss: The top 5 reasons you might want to disrupt yourself. Disruption – what does it truly mean? How do we get started? How do I disrupt? For a complete transcript and links from this episode, please visit: http://whitneyjohnson.com/disrupt-yourself-today/

Today we discussing the new book called Missing Each Other: How to Cultivate Meaningful Connections, with its co-authors Edward “Ted” Brodkin and Ashely Pallathra. In Missing Each Other, they argue that we need to tune back into each other. Especially now. Because of COVID, we’ve all been pushed to a new S Curve, one that increasingly involves digital forms of connection, making it possible to miss each other even more. Ted is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and has been named a top doctor in America for over a decade. He holds his MD from Harvard Medical School. Fun fact: he attended the pre-college division of music at Julliard where he studied the clarinet. Ashley is a Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate at The Catholic University of America; p previously she was the Clinical Research Coordinator at the medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode we learn about what Ted and Ashley call attunement, an elevated form of human connection – one that considers not

In this episode we talk with Roger L. Martin, Professor Emeritus of Strategic Management, and former Dean at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. In 2017 Roger was named the world’s #1 management thinker by Thinkers 50, a global ranking of management thinkers. He’s written 28 articles for the Harvard Business Review and has published 11 books. Roger’s latest book, When More Is Not Better, analyzes society’s increasing inequality and the impact it has on democratic-capitalism. Today, we discuss: The idea that we are actually better off with things not being perfect. He’s talking about this from an economic perspective, but I believe this also applies to the individual. How over-emphasizing efficiency drives unequal distribution of the benefits of growth. How we as individuals can modify our behavior to influence how our economy looks and operates in the future. Roger and I discuss this from the perspective of citizens, consumers and educators. This is an episode that will get you thinkin

Our guest this week, Sandy Stelling, is fluent in the language of growth. She started her career with Boeing, fresh out of college. After nearly eight years and rising to the level of Senior Engineer, Sandy took a leap and accepted a position with Alaska Airlines as a Project Manager. Twenty years and six titles later, she became the Vice President of Strategy, Analytics and Transformation. This may seem like an unexpected rise for someone who was hired on to manage projects, but Sandy’s approach to every role she takes tells a different story. In this episode… We hear a true insider take on how the airline industry has been navigating the pandemic and how the power of choosing optimism – despite it all – has helped Sandy and the organization weather this storm. We learn how the ability to operate in ambiguity can help you support and lead. We talk about grace and space – the power of expressing radical forgiveness in the midst of exceptional circumstances.   For a complete transcript and links from this ep

Our guest this week is Ryan Westwood, the CEO and founder of Simplus. Ryan, a serial entrepreneur and disruptor, began creating a bit younger than most – and he has never looked back. At just eleven years old Ryan discovered he had an ability to create wealth. Several years and a few tough lessons later, he is a wildly successful creator. Simplus, his most recent venture co-founded with his brother, has grown to 600 employees on four continents and was recently acquired by Infosys. In this episode we discuss Ryan’s approach to his employees S curve journeys, his views on partnership and how the power of saying no transformed his leadership. This is a conversation you do not want to miss! For a complete transcript and links from this episode, please visit: http://www.whitneyjohnson.com/ryan-westwood/

Our guests this episode are Bettina Hein and Andreas Goeldi, a husband and wife duo. Bettina is the founder and CEO of juli Health, a company that helps people manage their chronic diseases with an AI powered app. Andreas is a partner in btov, a European venture capital firm. This couple understands the s curve of learning™ uniquely well and are gracious enough to share their learnings with us. In this episode we discuss their approach to running companies and their marriage. We learn about Bettina’s passion for starting technology companies and hear Andreas' journey of self-discovery that led him back to his passion for coding. In addition to founding juli Health, Bettina is the founder of Pixability, a company that optimizes video on social media. She is currently an investor in Dragons Den, Switzerland's version of Shark Tank. Andreas is also a serial entrepreneur. He's formerly the co-founder and CEO of Namics, Switzerland's leading e-business services firm and was the Chief Technology Officer at Pixabil

“Disruption,” as a word, has always had an explosive sound to me. Disruption causes your world to shift and change—an earthquake in the making. However, every once in a while, I’m reminded that disruption does not have to be earth shattering. Sometimes, the smallest changes can have a long-lasting impact on your life, especially when those changes become habits. Our guest this episode is James Clear author of the New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits, An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones.  James advocates that the way to build habits is to try and get just one percent better each day—something that sounds almost too easy to do, and yet builds a firm foundation for continual improvement. In this episode we learn practical and manageable tips for improvement… Habits are the “compound interest of self-improvement”. The two-minute rule – be wary of going big. Point and call, an audible habit builder. Implementation intentions; be specific! Track your habit – seeing is believing. Repe

Few things are as terrifying as vulnerability. Yet, when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we allow ourselves to be free. Free from shame, free from fear and free from the untrue stories we tell ourselves. That is why I am excited for this episode. Our guest, Dr. Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and her latest book, Dare to Lead. In this episode Brené shares what first inspired her to dig into research on vulnerability and how that decision changed her life. We discuss the stories we tell ourselves and how to deal with the negative effects of working in the public sphere. Brené shares her views on scaling up versus keeping things slower and closer, and we discover a new way to lead when someone leaves our organization. Brené is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington F

At just 20 years old, Marcus Whitney was a young father with another child on the way. He had dropped out of college, was working as a waiter and living in an efficiency hotel. But as Marcus, a now successful Entrepreneur and Venture Capitalist explains, what you do when your back is against the wall makes all the difference. Listen as we discuss: Overcoming poverty, depression and past trauma to become a thriving individual and successful entrepreneur. How success can camouflage unaddressed trauma, showing up as Marcus teaches, in the form of some dysfunctional behavior that you probably don’t love about yourself. Marcus' book, Create and Orchestrate, an elegant and fresh business framework applicable across industries.  Honestly evaluating the "ROI" of your educational dollars.  Marcus Whitney is a self-taught software developer, was the head of technology at Emma Email Marketing, is the co-founder and co-owner of Jumpstart Foundry, one of the most active healthcare venture capital firms in the United St

This week, our guests are Syd and Shea McGee of Studio McGee. This power couple run and are the sole owners, no outside capital, of one of the most successful and fastest growing interior design businesses in the country. Shea graduated from college with a degree in public relations but quickly realized that her passion was to create… she wanted to be an interior designer. Syd started his career building a startup for digital marketing but found himself unfulfilled in the mechanics of the business. Then, the light bulb went off and Studio McGee was born. Now, with more than 1.4 million followers on Instagram, a popular YouTube channel, a newly launched brand with Target, a new book titled Make Life Beautiful, and a Netflix show Dream Home Makeover – Syd and Shea are climbing the S curve of their dreams. Join us as Syd and Shea share the beautiful and messy stories of building a thriving business with your significant other. For a complete transcript and links from this episode, please visit: http://www.whitne

My guest this episode Kara Goldin, is the CEO and founder of Hint, Inc., a healthy lifestyle brand based in the United States, in San Francisco, California. Kara is a textbook disruptor. Although she never intended to be an entrepreneur, she has become just that. On a quest to improve her own health, Kara was struck with the realization that her go-to beverage, was holding her back. This realization triggered an avalanche of ideas. Kara had identified how to improve her health and she charted a mission to do the same for others. Today Hint water is the number one flavored water in the U.S., generating more than $150 million in revenue / year. Kara started her career in sales at Time Magazine and CNN. She moved to AOL, where she served as the VP for E-Commerce and Shopping. In 2005, she founded Hint, Inc. At the time unsweetened flavored water wasn’t a thing. But that’s what disruption looks like–––you play where no one else is playing – and Kara does this so well. Kara has been widely recognized as a leading

The ability to pivot well during a time of crisis is crucial. When the pandemic hit last spring spurring a global crisis, chef, entrepreneur and philanthropist Ben Shewry did this and more. At a time when many, if not most restaurants are struggling to stay in business, Ben and his team have thrived through disruption. Since taking over Attica in Melbourne, Australia in 2005, chef Ben Shewry had earned reputation for excellence. The restaurant has made the World’s 50 Best list multiple years. But Ben’s mission is much deeper than cooking great food. He is a deeply compassionate and caring leader, and a trail blazer in his industry. In this episode we discuss Ben’s journey, how he came realize his dream of owning his own restaurant, the high and lows along the way and his unique approach to leadership and hiring. Join us as we learn how this creative entrepreneur is feeding disruption. For a complete transcript and links from this episode, please visit: http://www.whitneyjohnson.com/ben-shewry/

Some people wait for life to happen and then there are those who make it happen. Our guest this episode, Shelly Archambeau, is definitely the latter. Blazing trails seemingly her entire life, Shellye is one of the first African American women to be named CEO of a Silicon Valley company. Through a combination of sheer will and the strong, guiding influence of her parents, Shellye learned to persevere through whatever life sends her way.  Her parents didn’t coddle her in the face of adversity, instead they asked “What are you going to do about it? Shellye answered full throttle with “I will succeed.” Shellye currently sits on several boards, including Nordstrom and Verizon. She's formerly a chief marketing officer at two public companies, began her career at IBM and has a new book out titled "Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers and Create Success on Your Own Terms". In today’s episode, Shellye shares about her life and career – the successes, disappointments, love, family and how she became u

Disruption helps us grow, stretching and developing us in ways that comfort cannot. Our guest this episode, Zaza Pachulia, is a great example of this truth. He is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former professional basketball player. Born in Georgia, when it was still part of the U.S.S.R., Zaza moved to Turkey to play basketball when he was just 14. A year later, he made the Turkish national team and became one of the youngest players ever in the Euro League. And at 19, he was drafted into the NBA. Zaza played for Orlando Magic, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Atlanta Hawks, the Dallas Mavericks, the Golden State Warriors, and the Detroit Pistons. He was with the Warriors in 2017, 2018, when they won back to back NBA championships. In addition to his experience as a professional athlete, he owns two hotels in his hometown of Tbilisi, Georgia, the nation's capital. He's a partner and brand ambassador for Crosti, an athletic shoe company, he's the partner of a real estate development firm, and runs the Zaza Pachu

Experiencing pain and fear can shape us in good, and bad ways. We can recoil, avoiding that which inflicted the pain, or we can let it drive us to positive change. Our guest this week is a prime example of the latter. Mikaila Ulmer, through the thoughtful guidance of her parents, transformed a painful childhood experience of being stung by bees into a thriving and growing business with a purpose. And now, her product, Me & the Bees Lemonade, is sold in stores nationwide. Mikaila appeared on Shark Tank and got buy in from Damon John, she also received an eight hundred-thousand-dollar investment from a consortium of football players. She started a nonprofit and now, has written a delightful book titled Bee Fearless. Although Mikaila is only 15 years young, she and her family spent the last 10 years growing the business and the brand. Their efforts have brought awareness to a bee population in peril and have highlighted the importance purpose plays in organizational growth. We are grateful to have Mikaila

In business, we often talk about the value of learning from our own and other organization’s mistakes, but what about learning from what is going well? What might we gain if we open ourselves up to a new way of working? If we did, could work actually be fun? Our guest today is Pim de Morree, Co-founder of Corporate Rebels, an organization dedicated to making work more fun. In January of 2016, he and his business partner, Joost Minnaar, gave up promising careers to explore companies and organizations that were making work fun. They spent the last few years on a learning mission, gathering research by interviewing amazing companies around the world.  Fortunately for us, the two have documented their discoveries in their new book, Corporate Rebels: Make work more fun. Today, Pim shares the mission of Corporate Rebels and reveals the innovative organizations they discovered that are doing work differently. For a complete transcript and links from this episode, please visit http://www.whitneyjohnson.com/pim-demorr

In Episode 80 of our podcast, we started a series, on our seven-point framework of personal disruption. In Episode 100, we took a deep dive into accelerant #1, take the right risks. We moved to play to your distinctive strengths in Episode 120 and then on to embrace your constraints in Episode 140. In Episode 160 we confronted battling our entitlement––the S Curve Killer. Which brings us to today, Episode 180. We are focusing in on accelerant number five, step back to grow. This is an especially challenging point in the framework. So many of us think in linear terms. This is to be expected as it seems our entire lives are arranged sequentially. We measure time in linear terms, days, weeks, months, years – it is the undergirding framework for most of what we encounter on a day to day basis. Maybe this is why so many of us struggle to see the value in stepping back to grow. The cognitive leap it requires seems so out of step with the structure of our lives – and we ask, “How can taking a step back help move me

Most of us desire to be more intentional in our personal and professional lives. We want to steer life rather than have it steer us – but where do we start? Our guest this episode believes we start by defining our core values. “One of the things about core values I've come to understand is I think they've been there since you were little. You just don't get the instruction manual, you know, when you're born saying, hey… here's, here's how you work.” – Robert Glazer Robert Glazer’s intentional yet curious approach to life has yielded success. He is the founder and CEO of global partner marketing agency, Acceleration Partners and is the co-founder and Chairman of BrandCycle. A serial entrepreneur, Robert has a passion for helping individuals and organizations build their capacity to elevate. A regular columnist for Forbes, Inc. and Entrepreneur, Robert’s writing reaches over five million people around the globe each year who resonate with his topics, which range from performance marketing and entrepreneurship t

Our guest this week Mark Metry, is as he puts it, a 22-year-old trying to do his best during his limited time on planet earth. Mark is a genuine and driven individual with a list of impressive accomplishments already behind him. He is a successful entrepreneur and the host of Humans 2.0, an iTunes top 100 podcast. Mark is the founder of VU Dream, a virtual reality tech company based in Boston. At 12 he started a YouTube channel which grew to 35,000 subscribers and at 15 he started the World’s #1 Minecraft Serve experiencing a six-figure business. However, despite Mark’s early successes, he experienced Social Anxiety and Depression. Outwardly, Mark appeared to be a highly successful young entrepreneur but inwardly, he was struggling. His, is a story of feeling beyond lost, yet somehow, finding himself. Mark was able to work his way through the darkest points and now, he is on a mission to share his learnings with others. Mark has recently published a new book titled “Screw Being Shy: Learn How to Manage Social

Our guest today Darrell Rigby, is an expert in the philosophy called Agile. According to Darrell, “Agile always begins thinking from the customer backward. What is the customer’s problem? What is the customer’s dilemma?” Basically, identify the issue and solve for it. Agile, when practiced correctly, is like an operational superpower - helping employees and organizations outperform their capabilities and circumstances. Darrell knows this superpower better than most. Darrell is also a consummate disruptor, but his story is unique. in He discovered a way to disrupt and continue to grow all while staying at the same company for four decades! In this episode, Darrell shatters every preconceived notion about needing to leave your organization in order to disrupt yourself. Darrell’s research is widely published in the business pages of many U.S. and international publications, including The Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, and The Financial Times. He is a frequent speaker and author o