All Women Need a Leadership Compass!

While women have different experiences than men in the workplace, there is no dispute that women need a leadership compass. Gender equality expert Michelle Redfern has written the book that every woman must read! Her new book, available today, THE LEADERSHIP COMPASS, is truly what her subtitle calls, "The Ultimate Guide for Women Leaders to Reach Their Full Potential."

Michelle has appeared here on my blog three times, and I thank Susan Colantuono for making the introduction. Before I share highlights from the book, here's a brief introduction for this amazing woman and author!

Michelle Redfern is a globally recognized gender equality, diversity, and inclusion strategist based in Australia. She advises organizations in the business and sporting sectors on DEI strategy development and implementation and works directly with women leaders to advance their careers. She has been recognized as one of Australia’s Top 100 Women of Influence and has won awards for her contributions to women’s advancement. She is passionate about what sets her soul on fire, closing the global leadership gender gap, and enabling women to have a career that soars!

That bio may describe Michelle, but in her own words, here are the three things she does:

1. I fix workplace systems that prevent women and organizations from reaching their full potential.
2. I help women navigate the systems in their workplace to reach their full potential. I am like a human compass to guide women towards success."
3. I advocate for the rights of women and girls, particularly in the sporting sector."

Amazon describes Michelle's book as:

"An inspirational and evidence-based guide for women leaders. The Leadership Compass is not about fixing women. Rather, it is a compass to guide women to reach their leadership potential and navigate a system that is still fundamentally stacked against them. It is also a tool to help those already in leadership positions to close the leadership gender gap in their organizations. According to author and award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategist Michelle Redfern, women need to know, and be known for, critical business skills to reach their full leadership potential. Drawn from the experiences of a leader who has been there and done that, The Leadership Compass is essential reading for women at all stages of their careers."

And now, some highlights from the book:

Michelle provides an important reason for her book. She explained that in a 2020 report by Fortune magazine, of the top 200 best-selling business books, only 17 were written by women: "Why am I sharing this? Because old white guys do not have a monopoly on good ideas and the writing of good business books." More WOMEN LEADERS need to write business books!

A great leadership scenario was presented when Michelle asked readers to "Imagine you are the captain of a cruise liner. You have passengers (customers) who depend on you for a great time on their holiday. The cruise ship organization depends on you to ensure customers have a great experience so they become repeat customers. Your crew depend on you to ensure the working environment is safe and respectful, and that they have all the tools and resources to get their job done. As the captain, you're working from the bridge, and in front of you is the large dashboard that tells you where the ship is headed and how it is performing. You have executive team members who report to you to tell you how the customer experience is going and how the crew are performing. Now, imagine if you spent the entire cruise down in the engine room focusing on the mechanical aspects of the ship...[You'd be] missing out on the perspective you'd get on the bridge, watching out for the overall performance of the cruise liner and all the people on it." An effective leader cannot live (translation, work or hide) in their organization's version of the cruise ship's engine room!

A useful tool Michelle presented was understanding what great leaders and organizations cause. She asked if readers knew what happens when they walk into a room, walk out of a room, have a one-on-one conversation, chair a meeting, send an email, walk around the workplace, and more. Her list of possible outcomes included: support, trust, vision, wisdom, caring, clarity, guidance, innovation, inspiration, knowledge, motivation, movement, outcomes, progress, and results. If these positive outcomes are not your outcomes, then there's much work to be done!

Do you know the difference between the six different types of leadership styles? Michelle explains the differences, key phrases, and impacts on people and culture when discussing the styles:

1. coercive (directive)
2. visionary (authoritative)
3. harmonizing (affiliative)
4. participative (democratic)
5. exacting (pacesetting)
6. empowering (coaching)

And probably the most important lesson in the book is what I have always told my female (and male) colleagues throughout my career, create a personal brand that accurately reflects your expertise and purpose. As Michelle wrote, "You already have a brand, whether consciously crafted or passively shaped by external factors, so be intentional and proactive about the narrative you want to portray...Always remember that you are the best advocate for your brand, so brand intentionally, consistently, and brilliantly." And, a tip, make sure to create a detailed LinkedIn page that aligns with your personal brand.

As Michelle wrote, "Society tells women in many ways that speaking up is not OK. Many of us have been shushed, spoken over or interrupted, or simply cannot get a word in edgewise when some bloke is blathering on and taking up all the oxygen in the room...[So] as a leader, it is your responsibility to speak up on behalf of the following people and groups: yourself, your team members, those who cannot, and your organization." Tell your inner voice, speak up!

Michelle posed the scenario where the word "mentor" was struck from our vocabulary for two reasons:

(1) Because "Mentoring alone will not create forward movement in a woman's career." 

and

(2) Because "women are over-mentored and under-promoted."

According to a Harvard Business Review article, "Women need what men get all the time, someone prepared to go out on a limb for them. A champion is someone who, behind closed doors, slams their fist on the boardroom table and says, 'If there's only room for one bonus in the budget, it's going to Jane, not John.'"

SHARE THIS: All leaders must consider closing the leadership gender gap as a business priority. ~@RedfernMichelle #LeadershipTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Michelle for writing her book, sharing a pre-launch copy with me, and above all, for being an inspiration to all women leaders and for women who aspire to become leaders!

Image Credit: Amazon.

Connect with Michelle at these links:

Website: https://michelleredfern.com/

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RedfernMichelle

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/michelleredfern

and https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadtosoar/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdvancingWomeninBizandSport/

and https://www.facebook.com/LeadToSoar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelleredferndotcom/

and https://www.instagram.com/lead.to.soar/

Book link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Compass-ultimate-leaders-potential/dp/1922611999/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kYWhwMDEFDalKOLCtovEHg.wGuuxM3pvYI50GBb6j4pORPhTE9kAQzyuYzPOMNubR4&qid=1712759528&sr=8-1

Check out Michelle's previous appearances here on this Blog:

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Michelle Redfern (November 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/11/fall-back-to-reading-series-featuring_01085647309.html

Start Listening to Women = Removal of Barriers for Women Leaders (June 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/06/start-listening-to-women-removal-of.html

Tips to Create Gender Equality in Your Workplace (March 2022)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/03/tips-to-create-gender-equality-in-your.html

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Rebecca Herold

Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. Today, I’d like to introduce Rebecca Herold, and following a brief introduction, Rebecca shares some nontraditional ways to think about leadership!

Rebecca Herold has over 30 years of IT, security, and privacy experience and is the founder of The Privacy Professor Consultancy (2004) and of Privacy & Security Brainiacs SaaS services (2021). Rebecca has authored 22 published books so far, and co-authored NIST catalogs NISTIR 7628, NISTIR 8259, SP 800-213, NISTIR 8425 and TN 2066. She has served as an expert witness for cases covering HIPAA, criminals using IoT devices, social engineering, stolen personal data of retirement housing residents, and tracking app users with Meta Pixels. Rebecca hosts Data Security & Privacy with the Privacy Professor. Since early 2018, Rebecca has hosted the Voice America podcast/radio show, Data Security & Privacy with the Privacy Professor, and is based in Des Moines, Iowa.

QUESTION: Which TV show or TV series showcases leadership in a memorable way? This could be due to a specific character and their actions, a series of events, the plot of one or several episodes, or a specific time reflected in history.
REBECCA HEROLD: The classic series COLUMBO contained so many fabulous lessons and leadership examples for how to analyze evidence, that are directly applicable today for technologies that did not even exist back when the show first aired.

One excellent example directly applicable today to Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and most directly to medical devices, is the "How to Dial a Murder" episode from the show’s first season (Directed by James Frawley in 1978). In this episode, Columbo used ECG evidence to solve a murder. His dialog explained it perfectly in ways that the general public can understand without getting all techie: "You claim that you were at the physician's office getting your heart examined...which was true," Columbo states as he unravels a roll of the ECG readings. Yes, a physical, paper log back then, that correlates directly to the digital trails left today from all IoT devices that are responsibly engineered to log such data for those with authorization to identify health problems for their patients.

Columbo, while inspecting the electrocardiogram data states to the suspect while looking at the data on the paper roll of the ECG, "Sir, just before three o’clock, your physician left you alone for a resting trace. At that moment, you were lying down in a restful position, and your heart showed a calm, slow, easy beat." Then Columbo points to the ECG for the suspect to see and says, "Look at this part, right here. Lots of sudden stress, lots of excitement, right here at three o’clock, your heart beating like a hammer just before the dogs attacked. Oh, you killed him with a phone call, Sir. I'll bet my life on it. Very simple case. Not that I'm particularly bright. Sir, I must say, I found you disappointing. I mean, your incompetence. You left enough clues to sink a ship. Motive. Opportunity. And for a man of your intelligence, Sir, you got caught on a lot of stupid lies.”

Columbo did his due diligence, applied the data collected, and solved a crime using that data. Actually, many different episodes of Columbo have great data and IT security and privacy leadership lessons within them. Along with many other series, such as, Monk, Murder She Wrote, Fargo the series (the Molly Solverson character was so far above all her co-workers in critical thinking skills that all types of leaders need) and many more.

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?
REBECCA HEROLD: Another throwback to a classic: 1983’s WAR GAMES. Leadership by the military? Not directly. But indirectly by finally listening to a couple of teens who loved computers and were being leaders themselves by admitting they inadvertently found a huge security vulnerability in what could have been the most deadly military computer system that existed.

The main characters, David (Matthew Broderick) and Jennifer (Ally Sheedy), using modems to find what they initially thought was a computer game, Global Thermonuclear War. After they start playing this "game," they, and the military overseeing that program, realize they are just a computer button away from bombing the Soviet Union.

This showed leadership, that was flawed and delayed, to show how important computer security is, and the need to diligently secure all types of computer systems. Otherwise, dire harms could impact millions. This is quite simplistically stated. But, this has provided a great class topic for my security and privacy courses over the years, where we dig deep into all the associated vulnerabilities and threats, while also enjoying an entertaining movie. And, it is important to point out, that in 1983, most of the public did not even know what computer hacking was or understand the need for computer security.

Sadly, the majority still does NOT understand the need for comprehensive computer and data security and privacy. This includes the majority of business leaders, who often view security and privacy programs as "necessary evils" to meet "unnecessary regulatory requirements." Those views need to change. Those types of leaders are negligent through perpetuating their willful ignorance of the risks that exist and their responsibilities to mitigate those risks, under any situation not just when compelled by legal requirements.

SHARE THIS: The majority of business leaders often view security and privacy programs as "necessary evils" to meet "unnecessary regulatory requirements." Those views need to change. ~@PrivacyProf #SpringLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Which work of fiction showcases leadership in a memorable way?
REBECCA HEROLD: PIPPI LONGSTOCKING demonstrates many leadership qualities with which most people can relate. Certainly children, but also adults who also need to have such lessons, since so many demonstrably did not learn them as children, when leadership seeds take root. Pippi demonstrates throughout her adventures strength of character and mind, confidence, open mindedness (especially to try new things), acceptance of diversity, the need to be responsible for actions, and that everyone makes mistakes sometimes but should learn from them and adjust themselves and their thinking accordingly.

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
REBECCA HEROLD: I tend to view products and the associated leaders through my lens of security and privacy practices. I struggled to identify any product or product line that I would view as a symbol of leadership for these necessary areas. And the ones I considered still are not leaders in my view. Probably the best products or product lines in this regard would be the professional membership associations that exist to help organizations of all types implement stronger and more effective security and privacy programs. ISACA, ISC2, IAPP, CompTIA and ISSA would be good examples.

QUESTION: Lastly, since I’m a marketing professional, I would be remiss not to ask this question. Which brand do you consider the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
REBECCA HEROLD: Another tough question. I do not think there is a "best" brand that embodies an industry leader in this regard. No organization has the best information and computer security and privacy management programs that they could have.

Did these questions open your eyes to thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope. My gratitude to Rebecca for appearing on my blog, and for sharing her leadership insights.


Image Credits: Debbie Laskey, iStockphoto, Amazon, and Classroom Clipart.

Connect with Rebecca at these links:
Websites:
Privacy Security Brainiacs: https://www.privacysecuritybrainiacs.com
and
Privacy Guidance: https://www.privacyguidance.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/privacy-and-security-brainiacs
and
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaherold/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.herold.1/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrivacyProfessor
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PrivacyProf

Check out Rebecca’s previous appearance here on my blog:

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Rebecca Herold (October 2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/10/fall-back-to-reading-series-featuring_01678868989.html

Best Brand Post of the Month!

From a brand strategy or brand marketing perspective, what post do you recall during the month of April? Keep in mind, April First was April Fools' Day, which means that brands had an opportunity to stand out from their competition in a unique or memorable way. Whether the platform was Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, LinkedIn, an email blast, a specially-created web page, or another form of messaging, April First was the day for brands to shine!

This year, on April Fools' Day, Oreo posted the best post after changing its brief description to: "We're done."

Oreo posted the following message on Twitter/X:

"After time and consideration, we have made the decision to separate the cookie and the creme duo that you all know to be as OREO cookies. There are no secrets or anyone to blame, we are just two best friends who met at a very young age and have grown over the past 112 years in our own ways. We appreciate your continuous support as we enter this new chapter, separately."

Then, "Follow @just_the_water and @just_the_creme on Instagram for more."

The message was signed: "Wafer and Creme."

On Instagram, @just_the_creme described itself as: "Better off alone."

On Instagram, @just_the_wafer described itself as: "This cookie won't crumble."

A follow-up post stated: "Just the Creme and Just the Wafer hit shelves 4/31."

However, note that, April has only 30 days. So, if you had not realized that this content was an April Fools' Day joke, that final post provided the gotcha!

Does this content rival previous April Fools' Day jokes, such as, the Google to Topeka name change in 2010, the BMW lunar paint color to charge electric vehicles in 2019, the Tiffany & Co. color change from iconic blue to yellow in 2021, or the Volkswagen to Voltswagen name change in 2021?

My answer is a definite YES!

Now, the big question is, which brand will WOW us next April Fools' Day?

Image Credits: Oreo.

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Gregg Vanourek

Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. Today, I’d like to introduce Gregg Vanourek, and following a brief introduction, Gregg shares some nontraditional ways to think about leadership!

Gregg Vanourek is a writer, teacher, and TEDx speaker on personal development and leadership. He is co-author of three books, including LIFE Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives (a manifesto for integrating our life and work with purpose, passion, and contribution) and Triple Crown Leadership: Building Excellent, Ethical, and Enduring Organizations (a winner of the International Book Awards). He teaches at the Stockholm Business School; served as a senior executive at a tech startup, now a market leader with $1 billion in sales; and has given talks/workshops in eight countries.

QUESTION: Which TV show or TV series showcases leadership in a memorable way? This could be due to a specific character and their actions, a series of events, the plot of one or several episodes, or a specific time reflected in history.
GREGG VANOUREK: The TED LASSO series is brilliant on many fronts, including the way it showed the human aspects of leadership and the complex dynamics of being part of a team and community. For leaders (and others), it has powerful lessons about heart, humanity, dignity, love, hope, belief in people, and the transformation of pain and hardship.

Ted observed, "If you care about someone, and you got a little love in your heart, there ain’t nothing you can’t get through together." This was true for owner Rebecca Welton: "I lost my way for a minute, but I'm on the road back."

Even though Ted admitted, "You could fill two Internets with what I don't know about football," his keen sense of observation and unique approach brought so much to the team. He remarked, "I do love a locker room. It smells like potential."

Ted connected with others - and inspired them - while proving the naysayers and cynics wrong. He reminded us that love and humanity are at the heart of great leadership.

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?
GREGG VANOUREK: In the film DEAD POETS SOCIETY, we see how heart, inspiration, passion, and conviction can be at the heart of leadership.

Teacher John Keating says, "Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, 'Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.' Don’t be resigned to that. Break out!"

Keating taught that how we show up matters. We have a choice as to how much to bet on our dreams and convictions. He taught, "This is a battle, a war, and the casualties could be your hearts and souls."

QUESTION: Which work of fiction showcases leadership in a memorable way?
GREGG VANOUREK: When we read J.R.R. Tolkien’s THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS, we can learn much about leadership (and life):

(1) Leaders step up: "I will take the Ring," Frodo said, "though I do not know the way."

(2) Leaders must make grave choices: Frodo said, "I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." Gandalf said, "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

(3) Leaders rely on trust and fellowship: "You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours - closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo." ~Merry Brandybuck

(4) Leaders fight for what's right: "...there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo...and it's worth fighting for." ~Samwise Gamgee  

(5) Everyone can lead at times: "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." ~Lady Galadriel

From the Ring Quest, we see that leadership is a group performance, not a solo act. Leadership was a dynamic that bounced around between Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn, Sam, and others.

SHARE THIS: Leadership is a group performance, not a solo act. ~@gvanourek #SpringLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
GREGG VANOUREK: The RUBIK'S CUBE, like leadership, is a challenging puzzle. It requires a combination of different skills: observation, attention, concentration, pattern recognition, and agility. To rise to the challenge, it requires patience, determination, and grace under pressure. It helps if we practice a lot, and it's incredibly rewarding if we stick with it and develop mastery.

QUESTION: Which brand do you consider the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
GREGG VANOUREK: Here are two:

APPLE is a great embodiment of an industry leader. The standard at the company is "insanely great." Steve Jobs once advised, "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." And the assumption is not just to sell a lot of products but also to put a "dent in the universe."

SPOTIFY is also notable because it brought a new way to experience music while being innovative, collaborative, and playful. It also seeks to celebrate music, creativity, and artistry.

Did these questions open your eyes to thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope. My gratitude to Gregg for appearing on my blog, and for sharing his leadership insights.


Image Credits: Debbie Laskey, iStockphoto, Amazon, and Classroom Clipart.


Connect with Gregg at these links:
Website: www.greggvanourek.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-vanourek-5347b11
Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/gvanourek

Check out Gregg’s previous appearance here on my blog:

Does Your Organization Have Culture Champions and Cultural Stewards? (January 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/01/does-your-organization-have-culture.html

Marketing News of the Week: Barbie, Starbucks, Tesla, and More

During the past week (okay, couple of weeks), there were news stories that reflected advertising, personal branding, brand identity, product packaging, and more.

THE NEWEST "INSPIRING WOMEN" BARBIE DOLL

Mattel's Barbie "Inspiring Women Series" pays tribute to courageous women who took risks, changed rules, and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before. To celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, Barbie is paying homage to trailblazing figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, a two-time World Champion and Olympic gold medalist from the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France - and the first Asian-American woman to win a gold medal in figure skating. The doll sparkles in a black leotard with gold accents, a reproduction of the costume she wore for her gold medal performance. Following her Olympic career, she became an author and advocate, serving as the founder of nonprofit Always Dream, which is aimed at increasing children's literacy.

ONLINE RETAILER WAYFAIR ANNOUNCES PHYSICAL STORE

While many online retailers improved their sales, Wayfair (the Boston-based online furniture and home furnishings seller) has announced that it will open its first physical store in suburban Chicago in May. According to CBS News, "Wayfair has struggled with a dwindling customer base as the pandemic wound down and people returned to the office and began spending less time at home." How will this dramatic change impact the Wayfair's brand identity?

STARBUCKS' PLASTIC CUPS GET A MAKEOVER

According to the coffee brand's website section entitled, STORIES AND NEWS: "How much plastic can you remove from a cup while making sure it still feels sturdy in a customer’s hand? Turns out, 10 to 20 percent. In April, Starbucks is proud to announce the debut of a lineup of more sustainable cold cups in stores across the US and Canada. They're not only made with less plastic than previous cold cups, they are also projected to reduce emissions and conserve water in the production process, while streamlining the workflow for store partners (employees) by consolidating the lid combinations and simplifying storage. The new cups are part of Starbucks commitment to cut its carbon, water, and waste footprints in half by 2030. Also in that timeframe, Starbucks has committed to making sure all customer packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable. Based on analysis of life cycle assessments, producing the new cups is projected to save, annually, emissions equivalent to taking about 5,200 cars off the road, and conserve about 2,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water. The new cups will keep more than 13.5 million pounds of plastic from landfills each year. And they cost less to make." Will these changes make Starbucks customers love the brand more?

RED LOBSTER BANKRUPTCY

Due to the seafood restaurant chain's famous "endless shrimp promotion," the chain reported $11 million in losses and is currently considering filing for bankruptcy. "The "Endless Shrimp" promotion, a beloved tradition for over 18 years, reached a new level of permanence in June 2023 when the chain declared it would become a constant offering. Dubbed the "Ultimate Endless Shrimp," the updated promotion allowed customers to enjoy unlimited servings of shrimp for just $20, including the iconic Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Initially a periodic special, its immense popularity spurred the decision to make it a permanent feature on the menu. Despite its success in attracting large crowds, this deal has not translated into sustainable profits for the company."

RUSSIAN ATHLETES AND PARIS OLYMPICS

Due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, athletes from Russia (and also their ally Belarus) will not be competing in the upcoming Paris Olympics under the Russian flag. Instead, they will compete as "individual neutral athletes" (INAs) without their flags, anthems, and emblems. In addition, Russian and Belarusian athletes must not have actively supported the war in Ukraine. The athletes must meet all anti-doping criteria, and only individual athletes can compete - no team sports.

TV FICTION MEETS REAL LIFE

Most television viewers are familiar with the show LAW & ORDER: SVU. Actress and advocate Mariska Hargitay recently paused filming in New York City to help a lost child, who recognized her due to her character on the show as a helpful police captain. Talk about the power of personal branding - and in this instance, for a fictional character!

SAN FRANCISCO VERSUS OAKLAND

San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against Oakland, its neighboring city across the bay, to stop the name change from "The Metropolitan Oakland International Airport" to "San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport." The Port of Oakland, who runs the Oakland Airport, believes that a rebrand would cost about $150,000.

SAN FRANCISCO ZOO WELCOMES PANDAS

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has announced that China will send giant pandas to live at San Francisco's zoo for the first time, "San Francisco is absolutely thrilled that we will be welcoming Giant Pandas to our San Francisco Zoo. It's an honor that our city has been chosen for the first time to be a long-term home for Giant Pandas." According to CNN, "Pandas have served as something of an unofficial barometer of China-US relations since 1972, when Beijing gifted a pair to the Smithsonian National Zoo, following US President Richard Nixon's historic ice-breaking trip to China. Fewer than 2,000 giant pandas remain in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund, which lists the species as vulnerable."

TESLA LAYS OFF MARKETING TEAM

For most of its history, Tesla has survived without any traditional advertising. But last May, Elon Musk said he would "try out a little advertising and see how it goes." Mush has said that he hates advertising, but agreed to the move after investors called for it, with the plan to be more like Apple. The marketing team of 40 launched four months ago, and the decision to cut out the team came as a result of slumping sales. Will the end of Tesla's advertising efforts impact Tesla's brand?

HIGH-SPEED RAIL BETWEEN LAS VEGAS AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The idea of having a quick train between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area has been discussed for decades, and finally, ground has been broken. The project is set to be completed for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in July 2028. Just think of all the marketing for the train once it has been completed, as well as all the advertising and co-branding between LA-Las Vegas trips.

SNICKERS NEW AD CAMPAIGN

A new ad campaign called "Hungry Skies" will launch in 30 countries and run through the first quarter of 2025. The featured tagline is, "Maybe hungry flyers just need a Snickers." According to a company press release, "The campaign pokes fun at out-of-sorts passengers with spots featuring airborne agitations like in-seat yoga, repeatedly pressing the call button, and even sharing a seat with an emotional support snake."

According to Rankin Carroll, Chief Brand Officer of Mars Snacking, "For nearly 20 years, SNICKERS has been the satisfying solution for moments when hunger has us feeling out-of-sorts. With international tourism expected to grow 15% in 2024 and over 6 million people flying every day, this campaign captures those increasingly and absurdly relatable instances we've all encountered traveling and reminds hungry travelers to grab a SNICKERS, to help them as they navigate the turbulent skies of travel."

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credits: Mattel, Oakland Airport, and Snickers.

Let's Celebrate World Book Day and Promote Reading!

Today is World Book Day. How will you celebrate? Is there a particular book that you'll re-read, or are there some books you'll finally make time to read? No matter how you celebrate - or which books you'll either start or finish today - today is the day to celebrate reading.

According to Wikipedia, "World Book Day, also known as World Book and Copyright Day or International Day of the Book, is an annual event organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. The first World Book Day was celebrated on April 23, 1995, and continues to be recognized annually on that day. The original idea was conceived in 1922 by Vicente Clavel, director of Cervantes publishing house in Barcelona, as a way to honor the author Miguel de Cervantes and boost book sales. In 1995, UNESCO decided that World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on April 23rd, since the date is also the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare."

I have met some amazing people during the last 15 years thanks to social media, and last year, I discovered Melanie Bell's Leaders Who Fiction virtual book club. To quote Melanie, "Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or already a seasoned leader who has read all the books and done all the training, Leaders Who Fiction will help you meet your next leadership goal. Each month, we facilitate intellectual, business-oriented conversations centered around a selected novel. In our world, reading fiction AND leadership development co-exist."

One Leaders Who Fiction book club member and I shared admiration for one book in particular, Remarkably Bright Creatures - you'll see why below. As a result, I issued an invitation to this insightful reader to appear here on my blog so that we could celebrate World Book Day together, but first, a brief introduction.

Rebecca Rucker is a psychotherapist who resides in Houston, Texas. She belongs to the Leaders Who Fiction book club because she enjoys the quality of the discussion about leadership that transpires among the book club members. When not reading fiction, Rebecca meets with a weekly group of eclectic elders who study the works of Shakespeare.

QUESTION: We met via the Leaders Who Fiction virtual book club. So, since we share a passion for reading and enjoy discovering aspects of leadership in works of fiction, my first question is, what does GOOD LEADERSHIP look like to you?

REBECCA RUCKER: To me, good leadership is represented by those in charge who maintain good character, are active listeners and innovative thinkers, and work collaboratively with their employees. 

One of my favorite supervisors was the CEO of a hospital. He had strong values of faith, family, and integrity. When in meetings, he would often place good questions at the beginning of meetings for discussion. He would listen very closely, ask more questions, and then summarize with his unique contribution or perspective on how best to proceed. I often walked out of the meetings with a sense of what a good team player felt like and that the mission of the hospital was moving forward on behalf of patients, employees, and the community. The CEO seemed to lead effortlessly.

SHARE THIS: Good leadership is represented by those in charge who maintain good character, are active listeners and innovative thinkers, and work collaboratively with their employees. ~Rebecca Rucker #Leadership #WorldBookDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: I’d like to share my two favorite quotes about reading. What do they mean to you?

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~Kristin Harmel

REBECCA RUCKER: I like to immerse myself in a good book. I allow the book to take me to the world of my imagination where I escape from my daily routine and enter the possibilities of new perspectives, new people, and the new cultures that the book offers. It is a sheer pleasure for me to create a movie in my head of all that the book and its characters offers.

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

REBECCA RUCKER: When I first read "Outlander" by Diana Galbadon, the books took me to another place and time that felt so familiar. For a year, I did research about 16th century Scotland to the present. I researched how Diana did her research on the Outlander series, and then booked a trip to Scotland with the historian who Diana had as a travel guide while writing her books. I returned to Scotland two years later and provided my friends with tours of the Scottish countryside along with the tales that went with those places. Doing research on my ancestry, I found the small group of my ancestors who traveled from Ireland to Scotland in 1745 to establish their home. Those books were a key of discovery to a land and people that are my heritage.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?

REBECCA RUCKER: The author, Kazuo Ishiguro, is a writer whose books I can read repeatedly and come away with a different perspective and understanding of the characters each time. Ishiguro has a writing style that is efficient with words while being rich in description. He allows readers to connect with our own humanity while realizing that despite doing our best, we are not quite the people we want to be. His writings remind me of parables that are moral and spiritual lessons about the lives we live. He delivers these parables and leaves it to us to decide the lessons we need to learn.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?

REBECCA RUCKER: In college, I read "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl, a psychologist from Vienna who was the only member of his family to survive the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz. Frankl developed "logotherapy" or meaning therapy while he was in the camp. It was his theory that each of us can find meaning and purpose in life, and that this attitude is the key to our personal happiness and well-being. I was stunned by his ability to find such meaning and purpose for his own life during the horrific events of the concentration camp. After reading the book, I wrote my college essay for this psychology course on how I would adopt this perspective as a means of living my own life. Now, forty years later, I will say that logotherapy or meaning therapy has helped me live a life of happiness and well-being with an outlook to live each day finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.

QUESTION: What was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?

REBECCA RUCKER: I'm going to fudge a bit on this question as the last book of fiction I read was not one of my favorite reads. So, I will tell you about my favorite fiction book of 2023: "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt. What first caught my attention about this brilliantly written first novel was the relationship between an octopus and a human being. The next surprise was that the story centered around a 70-year-old heroine and her relationships with the people in her community. She was relevant, sexy, and inspiring in the way she seized her life and woke up from a period of grief. I appreciated the fact that Van Pelt gave this elderly protagonist a sense of liveliness and portrayed the rich relationship that humans and animals have when they are attentive to each other. Van Pelt's short story-turned-into-a-novel (and a best-selling novel) nudged me to explore the lives of octopi and learn more about these sentient beings.

QUESTION: What was the last work of non-fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?

REBECCA RUCKER: The last non-fiction book I read was "Humankind: A Hopeful History" by Rutger Bregman. This is a work on the history of human nature from two opposite ends of a spectrum: Thomas Hobbes perspective that humans left to their own devices are ultimately selfish and the Jean-Jacques Rousseau perspective that it was the structures of civilization that made humans self-interested. While giving an extensive overview of history that includes the best and worst of humankind, Bergman arrives at the conclusion that human nature is inherently good. He asserts that were we to change our dominant view that humans are self-interested, we could gain new perspectives and problem-solving skills to address the major issues of our current times. This book was a thought-provoking read.

QUESTION: Sometimes authors use book titles to send a message to readers. What are some books you’ve read that you noticed messages or underlying or double meanings in the titles? 

REBECCA RUCKER: In his book, "Project Hail Mary," author Andy Weir uses the book title to represent the mission that the protagonist is on...a trip to outer space to save Earth with no real chance for the space man to survive and return to earth. However, as the protagonist comes to believe he can survive, he is offered a "Hail Mary Pass" by an alien to survive on the alien's planet. The title was a clever interplay throughout the novel about the protagonist's willingness to survive in very unexpected ways by accepting help where he least expected it.

Bonnie Gamus' book entitled, "Lessons in Chemistry" was another great title with multiple meanings. Her female protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, is working overtime to become a respected chemist in her all-male institute. While she is seeking to excel in her field and tackle the office politics of her male peers, she begins to have physical chemistry with the chief researcher. Despite keeping their relationship out of the office, their chemistry results in a long-term relationship and a child. After her partner dies, she is faced with one job offer – teaching cooking on a television show! Elizabeth Zott rises to the challenge and begins to teach cooking with a twist – she produces recipes that teach the chemistry involved in cooking! Her innovative teaching of kitchen chemistry makes her a sensation, and those male peers at her former institute invite her back to work. There are lots of fun lessons in this delightful read, especially for female readers who believe in equality.

My gratitude to Rebecca for appearing on my blog and for sharing her leadership (and reading!) insights. Happy World Book Day!

Image Credits: Sweta Sharma via Pinterest. 

Connect with Rebecca at this link:

Website: https://texasinstituteforconsultationandclinicalsupervision.com/about-us/

To learn more about World Book Day:

https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-book-and-copyright

To read my post about Remarkably Bright Creatures: The Best Book I Read in 2023 (February 2024)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/02/the-best-book-i-read-in-2023.html

If you'd like to join the next Leaders Who Fiction virtual book club meeting, check out @LeadersWhoFiction on Instagram or the club's website for details: https://www.leaderswhofiction.com

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring James Strock

Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. Today, I’d like to introduce James Strock, and following a brief introduction, James shares some nontraditional ways to think about leadership!

James Strock is an independent writer, speaker, reformer and entrepreneur, based in California. He's the author of several books about leadership, politics, Ronald Reagan, and Theodore Roosevelt.

QUESTION: Which TV show or TV series showcases leadership in a memorable way? This could be due to a specific character and their actions, a series of events, the plot of one or several episodes, or a specific time reflected in history.
JAMES STROCK: I would propose two very different television series.

The first is MADMEN, the multi-year hit program that memorably recreated American life in the postwar era into the 1970s through the lens of the mass advertising industry. Various characters develop over time and interact in fascinating ways, yielding many insights, including in nontraditional roles.

The second is the HITLER CHRONICLES. This series, from German director Hermann Poelking, covers the entire life of the Nazi dictator. Not only does it feature newly-discovered archival footage, but it also provides many insights by moving chronologically with observations from Hitler’s contemporaries at the time. Seeing Hitler through their eyes, as they try to comprehend what emerged as inconceivable catastrophe, without the hindsight of history, yields a layered and deeply troubling perspective of how one of the most educated and advanced nations in the world was transformed into a force for evil.

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?
JAMES STROCK: DARKEST HOUR, the award-winning film focused on Winston Churchill’s assumption of authority in 1940 in the face of the Nazi onslaught of Western Europe, is memorable as a showcase of historic leadership. In 1940, Churchill stands as an exemplar of the highest level of leadership: But for his actions, history would have been demonstrably different. In a contesting, mirroring image, Hitler also stands as a consequential leader, causing destructive results that only he could envision and initiate. Their interaction and mutual comprehension (and incomprehension) of one another is an enduring, timeless source of study.

QUESTION: Which work of fiction showcases leadership in a memorable way?
JAMES STROCK: Gore Vidal’s LINCOLN is a masterpiece of historical fiction. Vidal, who possessed unusual knowledge and experience of politics, applies deep research and eye for detail to create an extraordinary portrait of the improbable President who emerged from humble beginnings to become a reluctant warlord, ultimately the driving force of our nation’s "second founding." From the foundation of facts and the vantage point of history, Vidal conjures credible insights into the thoughts and action of one of the greatest leaders that America - and the world - has ever produced.

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
JAMES STROCK: ROLEX watches stand out as symbols of leadership, from aspiration to achievement. They are associated with political leaders (from Presidents to Martin Luther King, Jr.) and people of accomplishment or celebrity in various fields, including both males and females. Rolex even shows up as a signal of status in fiction, such as, on the wrist of James Bond. An interesting question is whether such timepieces, combining excellence with intimacy, will maintain their cachet in the era of Apple and other purveyors of digital, connected, multi-functional, deeply personalized timepieces.

SHARE THIS: Can timepieces like Rolex maintain their cachet in the era of Apple and digital, multi-functional timepieces? ~@jamesstrock #SpringLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Lastly, since I’m a marketing professional, I would be remiss not to ask this question. Which brand do you consider the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
JAMES STROCK: There are a number of candidates for such recognition. At this moment, I would settle on TOYOTA, which has become a byword for excellence, reliability, and value, with products across the range of uses and users. One anticipates that as the motor vehicle market evolves amid electrification, Toyota will continue to earn leadership, as with its spectacularly successful hybrid offerings over the past thirty-plus years.

Did these questions open your eyes to thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope. My gratitude to James for appearing on my blog, and for sharing his leadership insights.


Image Credits: Debbie Laskey, iStockphoto, Amazon, and Classroom Clipart.

Connect with James at these links:
Website: https://servetolead.com
Website: https://jamesstrock.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servetolead
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jamesstrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesstrock

Check out James' previous appearances here on my blog:

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring James Strock (October 2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/10/fall-back-to-reading-series-featuring_0711042239.html

What Happens When Leadership, Service and Encouragement Join Forces? (July 2020)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2020/07/what-happens-when-leadership-service.html

Sharing Timeless Leadership Lessons (November 2018)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/11/sharing-timeless-leadership-lessons.html

Leadership Is All About Serving Others (March 2014)
http://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2014/03/leadership-is-all-about-serving-others.html
 
Serve to Lead - What a Visionary Concept (March 2011)
http://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2011/03/serve-to-lead-what-visionary-concept.html