Lead with a Question

What possibilities can empathy unlock?

Lizzi Perkins, Senior Brand Strategist
When you read a really moving story or watch a powerful film, you can often experience a taste of what the characters are feeling. You grieve with them as they suffer loss. You cheer them on to victory and share in their celebrations. Our capacity to see ourselves vicariously in others’ lives is one of the most human things about us. So today, let’s spend a few minutes with a woman whose upbringing in Asia, identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and a person of faith, combined with her compassionate work in suicide prevention, enable her to seek to understand, before seeing to be understood. She’ll take us on an eye-opening journey, guided by the question:  
What possibilities can empathy unlock? 
A conversation with Lizzi Perkins, on this episode of Lead With a Question.
Guest Bio:
Lizzi’s experiences growing up in Southeast Asia for 17 years, mentoring troubled teens, and working as a brand strategist for big brands like American Airlines to nonprofits like Stop the Opidemic have given her an in-depth understanding into connecting with young, diverse audiences. With a focus in research and branding, Lizzi turns data into compelling stories and resonant experiences.
Get to know Lizzi on her LinkedIn profile. 
 
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How can deep connection and trust lead to a culture of innovation?

Archie McEachern, Global Enterprise Leader & former VP at Nike
When I was a kid, I learned about fire safety. One of the visual frameworks adults presented to me was the “fire triangle”: the idea that for fire to exist, you had to have three ingredients: heat, oxygen, and fuel. Take one of these three things away, and you had NO fire. Well, just like fire needs certain conditions to thrive, business outcomes require specific ingredients too. Finding the right blend can be especially tricky when teammates are separated by time, geography, background, and language. So that’s why it’s been important for today’s guest to keep the following question in his mind:
How can deep connection and trust lead to a culture of innovation?
A conversation with Archie McEachern, on this episode of Lead With a Question.
Guest Bio:
Archie grew up in Kittery, Maine. a small, coastal town an hour north of Boston. He attended Ithaca College in Upstate, NY, and played collegiate basketball. He spent 28+ years at Nike, starting in a warehouse in Greenland, NH. He's had leadership experiences across multiple functions including sales, product creation, general management and merchandising. From 2009 to 2020 he spent the majority of my executive career in merchandising where he had the chance to lead teams in North America, Japan (Tokyo) and China (Shanghai). During that time, he lived with the family for 5 years in Asia (2012-2015 Tokyo), 2018-2020 (Shanghai).
Archie's current work includes a start-up company, 360 Hoops, which makes a 3-sided basket attached to one adjustable pool…patented design. He also works in an advisory capacity with a few smaller companies and/or individuals. He volunteered as a high school coach in Maine recently, which was one of the more rewarding experiences he's had. Best season the team had in 25 years (not due to him, in his opinion!) Finally, he's the lucky husband to his wife Bridget, and they have 2 great kids ages 20 and 17.
Get to know Archie on his LinkedIn Profile. 
 
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What are your first principles as a leader?

Jaydeep Ranade, Director of Wireless Engineering at Facebook
Let’s dig into the “misfit” principle for a minute. What is a misfit, really? Is a misfit defined by language, culture, appearance, or personality? We’ve tapped into that topic before, but today, our guest has a different take, one that has to do a lot with seeking out opportunities to learn and be stretched as a leader. And for him, it all starts with a set of core values, none of which actually includes being more talented or intelligent than anyone else in the room. In this personal account, he’ll guide us through his experiences seeking answers to the question: 
WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST PRINCIPLES AS A LEADER?
A conversation with Jaydeep Ranade, on this episode of Lead With a Question.
Guest Bio:
Jaydeep is a high energy, results driven technical leader with demonstrated ability to build and lead engineering organizations in delivering high-tech and innovative system solutions for wireless products. Credited with building and growing organizations into consistent top performers and delivering high quality hardware and software components and products on time. Recognized for outstanding technical expertise, hands-on style of organizational leadership, excellent team building skills, integrity and superb communication and inter-personal skills. Jaydeep is interested in designing, developing, and deploying hi-tech wireless products. Specifically interested in the intersection of wireless technology and healthcare.
 
Get to know Jaydeep and his impressive history on his LinkedIn Profile. 
 
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How can you create a culture of curiosity? - Part 2

Randy Nelson, founder of Pixar University
It's time to wrap up a conversation where we were learning so much from our guest that we couldn’t fit it all into one episode. So if you haven’t heard our last episode, “How can you create a culture of curiosity? - Part 1,” we really recommend going back to that one first. 
But just in case, here’s a review–we recently caught up with Randy Nelson, founder of Pixar University. He walked us through his early days as a juggler, meeting and getting hired by Steve Jobs, seeing what Pixar looked for in a new hire, and eventually being tasked with standing up an educational arm within Pixar that could help the company preserve its alchemic culture, even as it continued to grow.
So today, we’ll keep digging into the question… 
HOW CAN YOU CREATE A CULTURE OF CURIOSITY?
It’s part 2 of our conversation with Randy Nelson, on this episode of Lead With a Question.
Guest Bio:
Randy Nelson has spent his career working with organizations to make the best use of the people, wisdom and skills they already have, want to attract and need to develop. He has helped build amplifiers out of groups, using appropriate and dynamic mixtures of training and education, traditional skills and innovative technology, flexible programs and high standards. In addition to increased productivity and effectiveness, hijinks and shenanigans have sometimes resulted.Specialties: • Teacher, trainer, curriculum designer, life-long learner• Manager, project architect, recruiter, coach• Juggler, actor, performer, improvisor, speaker• Artist, designer, calligrapher• Filmmaker, writer, producer, editor• Programmer, systems analyst, database programmer
 
Get to know Randy and his incredible work experiences on his LinkedIn profile. 
 
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How can you create a culture of curiosity? - Part 1

Randy Nelson, founder of Pixar University
Some guests are harder to describe than others. Take today’s invitee, for example. How should we summarize his CV? 
A teacher. A trainer. A recruiter? A coach? How about a juggler, or an actor? An artist. A calligrapher. What about a filmmaker, programmer, or systems analyst? The fact is that all these labels, and more, apply. With such diversity of interest, it might not surprise you that our guest would eventually end up working at places like Apple and Pixar–places known for incubating great ideas, mold-breaking design, and play. So... 
How can you create a culture of curiosity?
That’s the question we’ll consider today with Randy Nelson, in part 1 of a special 2-part episode of Lead With a Question.
Guest Bio:
Randy Nelson has spent his career working with organizations to make the best use of the people, wisdom and skills they already have, want to attract and need to develop. He has helped build amplifiers out of groups, using appropriate and dynamic mixtures of training and education, traditional skills and innovative technology, flexible programs and high standards. In addition to increased productivity and effectiveness, hijinks and shenanigans have sometimes resulted.Specialties: • Teacher, trainer, curriculum designer, life-long learner• Manager, project architect, recruiter, coach• Juggler, actor, performer, improvisor, speaker• Artist, designer, calligrapher• Filmmaker, writer, producer, editor• Programmer, systems analyst, database programmer
 
Get to know Randy and his incredible work experiences on his LinkedIn profile. 
 
 
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What if we didn’t have to achieve our way into feeling worthy?

Pualei Lynn, Startup Founder, Humanitarian, and Style Consultant
Let’s get real for a second–it’s really easy to get caught up in comparisons: who’s taking the most amazing vacations? Who’s the fittest? Whose business is prospering the most? Who has the most admirable family? The list never ends. Now, if things are going well, these external comparisons leave you feeling pretty good about yourself. But what happens when your world comes crashing down? Where do you find your self-worth? This is exactly the scenario that confronted our guest today. A series of personal hardships rocked her sense of self and forced her to search deep within–maybe for the first time–to find out what she was really made of. In this episode, she’ll share her soul-stretching, personal story, and help us navigate the question:   
What if we didn't have to achieve our way into feeling worthy?
A conversation with Pualei Lynn, on this episode of Lead With a Question.
Guest Bio:
Pualei Lynn is the owner of EDYNKEI Boutique & Event Space and the founder of ELEVATE Women's Group. As a stylist and image consultant, Pualei began her career in the fashion industry as a young woman modeling, and later returned to fashion in 2012 where she has worked for over a decade dressing & styling women.  Her boutique, EDYNKEI, named after her daughters, carries inclusive sizing and has been created as a space to empower women. Recognizing the need for community, Pualei intentionally works to build community within herself & her business. Through different events, and her women's networking group, ELEVATE, she works to teach and inspire others to do the same. 
 
Find out more about Pualei and her work here:
 
Site: 
https://edynkei.com/
 
Instagram:
@pualeilynn
@elevatewomensgroup
@shopedynkei 
 
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How can character development in storytelling improve our leadership?

Ryan Woodward, Storyboard Artist for Marvel, Warner Bros, and more
Have you ever wondered why some movies connect with us, while others don’t? Flashy special effects can help, but at their heart, good films include meaningful stories, and characters we care about. Our guest today knows a few things about the creative process, having logged dozens of credits working on movies like The Iron Giant, the original Spider Man trilogy, Where the Wild Things Are, Cowboys and Aliens, Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. Along the way, he’s also picked up a few leadership lessons. And so today, he’ll help us consider the question   
How can character development in storytelling improve our leadership?
A conversation with animator and storyboard artist Ryan Woodward, on this episode of Lead With a Question.
Guest Bio: Ryan Woodward has been in the film and animation and gaming industry under various roles such as animator, storyboard artist, concept artist, writer and director for 23 years. He began his career in 1995 as an efx animator on the films Space Jam, Quest for Camelot, The Iron Giant and Osmosis Jones for Warner Bro’s Animation. In 2002 he transitioned his career to storyboards and contributed to the films, Spider-Man 2 and 3, Cowboys and Aliens, Where the Wild things Are, Iron Man 2, Snow White and the Huntsman, Thor 2, Captain America 2 and The Avengers etc. Some of Ryan’s passion projects include the short film Thought of You, and the animated graphic novel app, Bottom of the Ninth. Ryan taught students for 10 years at BYU as a tenured associate professor of animation before returning to industry. While at Riot Games, he released, Zed - Deathmark, a solo-effort, 2d animated short film. Ryan is currently Art Director at Roar Studios.
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Are you brave enough to face the impossible?

Jessica Cox, Aviator and World Record Holder
This week, we’ll start off with a quote, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci: “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” For this installment, we want to take you to a higher place. We’ll meet a woman who faced huge physical challenges, right from her birth. But through her fearless spirit and innovative mindset, she’s conquered her limitations and now, she fights to empower others as well. She’ll ask all of us:  
Are you brave enough to face the impossible?
A conversation with Jessica Cox, on this episode of Lead With a Question.
 
Guest Bio: Jessica Cox is a motivational speaker, best known for becoming the first armless pilot in aviation history. Her achievement earned her a Guinness World Record medal, invitations from six continents, and being featured on tv programs like Ellen, Inside Edition, Fox and Friends, Oprah Winfrey Network, CNN, CBS Evening News, and the BBC. She’s currently working with her organization to develop the first design on a plan designed specifically for pilots without arms and hands.
You can learn more about Jessica’s story, donate to her work, and even book her as a guest speaker at https://jessicacox.com/
Buy Jessica’s book here.
Watch Jessica’s documentary here.
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