Nina Godiwalla on How to Contribute to a Professional Network

In Chapter 14 of 22 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, author Nina Godiwalla answers "What is it Important Not Only to Participate in a Network But Also to Contribute?"  She shares personal experiences from writing and publishing her book.  Godiwalla notes why it is important to take responsibility contributing to a network, how to do it, and what personal and collective value it creates.  Godiwalla is the author of "Suits: A Woman on Wall Street". She is also a public speaker on workplace diversity and founder and CEO of Mindworks, where she teaches mind-based stress reduction techniques to help organizations improve employee wellbeing.  Godiwalla holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, an MA in Creative Writing from Dartmouth University and her BBA from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  Why is it important not only to participate in a network but also to contribute?

Nina Godiwalla:  You have to contribute when you’re part of a network partly because that’s what a network is about and the reality is, is when you’re saying contribute you’re still getting something out of that.  For me, it’s amazing to hear what people are going through so I’ve published a book, I’ve been able to do it, you, know fairly well and I have a lot of people that reach out to me for all different kinds of questions constantly like, “Hey I – constantly people have – I have an idea, talk to me about it.”  And the thing is, is that is giving back. 

I mean I’m more than willing to have conversations with people and help people understand the process, what it is and there’s something about, for me, I found even when I reached out to people sometimes I just want to hear them – I just want to be close to them because they’ve done what I want. I had a conversation with them, actually helps me get closer to achieving it and I think that’s – there’s always something to gain you know when you’re doing that and for me, I still think when you say contributing, you’re still gaining something from that.  I get to hear what people are working on, what they’re excited about, the challenges they’re having and I usually learn something from that process so I don’t think of it as -- I think it’s your responsibility definitely to have that iterative process with people and if you don’t I just don’t think you get nearly as much out of an organization.

Nina Godiwalla on How Selfless Leadership Creates Virtuous Cycles

In Chapter 15 of 22 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, author Nina Godiwalla answers "What Does It Mean to Be a Leader in What You Do?"  Godiwalla notes the importance of conviction in leadership - believing in what you do.  She compares and contrasts leading and managing.  Godiwalla notes how shared passions and beliefs complement selfless approach to serve others that creates virtuous cycles, or positive feedback loops.  Godiwalla is the author of "Suits: A Woman on Wall Street".  She is also a public speaker on workplace diversity and founder and CEO of Mindworks, where she teaches mind-based stress reduction techniques to help organizations improve employee wellbeing.  Godiwalla holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, an MA in Creative Writing from Dartmouth University and her BBA from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  What does it mean to be a leader in what you do?

Nina Godiwalla:  One the main things about that is believing in what you do.  I think there’s a difference between a manager and a leader and a leader is you’re going through and you’re inspiring people and it’s so important when you are inspiring people that you embody and love and enjoy what you do.  So being a leader, you’re able to take people along with your vision. You have a sense of what people want to do and you have a sense of what your goal is and you have to be able to marry those so that people are doing what they want to do too and I think that’s very challenging.  Managing is telling people what they need to do you know and that it should get done but you’re not really bringing in kind of their spirit with – along with that.  You need to bring in, you know what you want, you believe in it and how do you get the people below you to really believe in that as well.

Erik Michielsen:  And how is that translating into what you do and how you see yourself in the world?

Nina Godiwalla:  Well, part of it is I have a little more flexibility but it’s surrounding yourself I think by the people where you have that shared passion.  You have that shared belief and going back to what you said about networking is, the people that have helped me along the way, I am definitely there to help them as well and the people that haven’t necessarily helped me, I am there to help them because it doesn’t matter.  It’s like it’s not about you did this for me and I did this for you.  It’s kind of you just see it as larger community.  We’re part of this larger world and the more I give to other people, the more things will come back to me.  I mean it’s karma.  It just works that way.  It’s a natural thing. 

So when I’m talking to somebody I mean I have this really this young woman who is just like bursting with entrepreneurial energy and she’s kind of stuck in this, this world where she is not able to use it but she does it a lot in her personal time and I – she's the kind of person that she just wants to connect with me every now and again.  She sends me emails.  She just needs that connection and I don’t think about it as “well, what am I going to get from her, or later on what it’s going to be.”  It’s you’re putting that energy out into the world and I know that later on when she gets herself down and she gets what she wants, she will be helping that other person and it’s that feeling, that feeling that we’re all just looking out for each other and when you’re in this entrepreneurial world, I really feel that people are doing that.  Not everybody but I think the majority of the people and some people they’re not going to help you.  You reach out to some people and they won’t help you or every now and again, you might have to turn someone down but that’s just part of the process.

Nina Godiwalla on Why to Give a TED Talk

In Chapter 16 of 22 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, author Nina Godiwalla answers "What Has You Most Excited About Delivering a TED Talk?"  Godiwalla finds the TED people part of her tribe - willing to speak from the heart, willing to be vulnerable and focused on trying to change the world.  Watch Nina's TED Talk from TEDxHouston 2011 here.  Godiwalla is the author of "Suits: A Woman on Wall Street". She is also a public speaker on workplace diversity and founder and CEO of Mindworks, where she teaches mind-based stress reduction techniques to help organizations improve employee wellbeing.  Godiwalla holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, an MA in Creative Writing from Dartmouth University and her BBA from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  What has you most excited about delivering a TED talk?

Nina Godiwalla:  I’m very excited about the TED talk because I consider the TED people part of my tribe, part of the people I connect with, like there’s certain people that I’m just so excited to be around with this – it's that open-minded group, people that are willing to speak from their heart, willing to be vulnerable, they want to change the world and to me, those are my people. 

So when I was invited to do it, I was just I’m ecstatic because these are the people that are going to make the changes in the world.  These are the people that they want to learn. They’re curious and so for me, it’s interesting.  It’s been a little daunting at the same time because it’s so important to me.  I’m fascinated with them.  I love the people as part of TED and I just want it to be kind of that perfect, you know, what is it? 

You get that one chance to do that message and I’m actually ecstatic about it and I – you know I’ve gone through so many, “Well, I could talk about this.  I could talk about this.”  And you get that 18 minutes. For me it’s diversity.  I do want it to be about diversity.  I had, you know, I had a couple of ideas going back and forth but in the end like that is the core of what I want to speak about.  So I will have it focused on diversity and I’m just ecstatic about doing it.  I just feel like I’m going to be up there and I’m going to be on fire because this is where I want to be.

How Embracing Diversity Facilitates Leadership Development - Nina Godiwalla

In Chapter 17 of 22 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, author Nina Godiwalla answers "What Role Does Diversity Play in Shaping Your Own Leadership Style?"  Godiwalla shares stories about how learning to appreciate different perspectives and skill sets when hiring benefits her development.  Over time, she applies this approach in many parts of her life, including in an entrepreneurial venture.  Godiwalla is the author of "Suits: A Woman on Wall Street". She is also a public speaker on workplace diversity and founder and CEO of Mindworks, where she teaches mind-based stress reduction techniques to help organizations improve employee wellbeing.  Godiwalla holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, an MA in Creative Writing from Dartmouth University and her BBA from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  What role does diversity play in shaping your own leadership style?

Nina Godiwalla:  So one of the things I remember when I use to hire, I used to look for people that were like me, that I could connect to and it’s a natural thing that we do.  We talk to people and when they are very similar to us like, “Oh, I like you.”  You know you think along the way I think and I remember I had a manager who said to me – I said you know I love this person, we got along, we had a great conversation and she said to me, “But does she really compliment you?”  And I hadn’t thought about that.  I hadn’t – it was like “Does that person need to compliment me?  I just like them, I mean does it matter?”  She seems like she can do the job and she seems like she’s like me and I think it’s a tendency we have is we hang around people that are similar to us.  We like people that are – we have commonalities with and I think you have to step back a little bit when you’re trying to surround yourself with people. 

It is surrounding yourself with people that have kind of the values and beliefs that you have to some extent but it’s also understanding that you’re going to learn a lot from people that have different perspectives.  So for me, I have to stand back a little bit and think of, I mean it’s not diversity in terms of skin color or just gender; the diversity of mindset too is critical.  So I feel like I’ve as I’m working through and doing a lot of the entrepreneurial work that I’m doing, I need to step back and find people that are a little bit different. 

One example is I have MindWorks which is my stress management business and I – I'm actually now partnering with people and I was a little mixed at first because I’m used to doing it where I go in and I can do whatever I want.  I can go in and teach any sort of course with my own – only what I think and what I loved is I started partnering with people that have kind of different, they go about it different ways and they do it different ways and initially I thought, “Wait, I don’t know if I want to do that because they’re going to do something different.”  And what if that’s not something I agree with and the reality is, is I needed to step back from that and say, “That’s even better.” That’s going to be great that they’re going to be able to bring in a different perspective and some people are going to be able to relate a little bit better to what they’re saying and some people might relate to what I’m saying and then the reality is I’m going to learn something along the way in that process.  So it’s always thinking about the, you know, we can always learn something new from somebody.

Nina Godiwalla on How Meditation Training Improves Employee Wellbeing

In Chapter 19 of 22 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, author Nina Godiwalla answers "How Does Meditation Training Impact Employee Wellbeing".  Godiwalla shares how the training teaches employees to accept they have the right to choose their decisions.  This allows individuals to take control, which provides perspective that decreases panic and stress while raising the impact they create.  She is also a public speaker on workplace diversity and founder and CEO of Mindworks, where she teaches mind-based stress reduction techniques to help organizations improve employee wellbeing.  Godiwalla holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, an MA in Creative Writing from Dartmouth University and her BBA from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  How does meditation training impact employee well-being?

Nina Godiwalla:  When I speak to professionals, I hear, “I have so much stress that I don’t know what to do,” you know, “Help me lower the stress,” and I think the perspective which is -- it’s hard for people to understand initially but that you choose that stress.  I mean no one wants to hear that because the minute you say you choose how much you’re allowing your stress to be, I mean I’ll get a laundry list from some people like no I don’t because I have this project due and I have this project due and then I have to do this and I have to do that and the reality is, is you get to choose some of that.

One, you get to chose how you treat yourself so even if some people will have a list of 10 things to do and they can be the calmest people around and some people will have that list of 10 things that, you know, doesn’t necessarily look realistic that it could happen this week and they kind of just, you know, break down about it and so the reality is, is it’s building in for employees it’s helping them understand that we have control over how we treat ourselves and the stress that we create for ourselves and we also – when you get to a calmer place, you’re able to manage that a little bit better and it doesn’t mean -- part of it’s understanding what really needs to get done, asking the right questions but when you’re in that state of mind of panic or of fear, you’re not able to really realistically manage this, you’re not in control and it’s helping people feel comfortable bringing themselves from the panic to the “Okay, maybe I can do this and maybe there are certain things I need to change about the situation so that I can manage this better” and it – so much of it, this first step, is about perspective and the reality is it just changes peoples lives and their productivity permanently because having different perspectives allow you to actually get things done and it allows you to be a better manager, a better leader, a better person colleague for other people so it has definitely a complete ripple effect and when you have – especially when you have leadership and senior managers who don’t know how to handle their stress.  All of that has a ripple effect on the employees.

Matt Ruby on What Entrepreneurs and Standup Comedians Have in Common

In Chapter 9 of 18 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, standup comedian Matt Ruby answers "What Do Entrepreneurs and Standup Comedians Have in Common?"  He shares how he gets connected to Peter Sims, author of "Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries."  Ruby finds parallels between entrepreneur and standup life in the idea or product testing and editing through the feedback process. 

Matt Ruby is a standup comedian based in New York City.  He co-produces the weekly show "Hot Soup", co-hosts the monthly show "We're All Friends Here", and manages a comedy blog "Sandpaper Suit".  Ruby graduated from Northwestern University. 

Why to Stop Working from Home and Get an Office - Lulu Chen

In Chapter 1 of 10 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, fashion stylist Lulu Chen answers "Since We Last Spoke What Has Been the Most Exciting Thing to Happen in Your Life?"  Chen notes how her fashion styling small business is expanding and she has gotten her own office space.  She values separating personal and professional space, especially given she has assistants and has many client meetings.  She finds chemistry with an artistic community in an office space nearby her apartment.  Lulu Chen is a New York City based fashion stylist.  Chen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree studying design and art history from the University of Michigan.

What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 1 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?"  Elliot encounters new challenges as she grows her business, including an lawsuit that forces her to change the company name.  She learns to accept things when they do not work out as expected.  She learns through experiences, does her best, and lives life with no regrets.  Increasing challenges include managing the business as it blossoms, including coaching as well as working on a reality TV show pilot.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

How to Find a Small Business Lawyer - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 3 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Should Small Business Owners Consider When Choosing a Lawyer?"  She begins by advising small business owners to avoid going to court due to personal and financial costs and stresses.  She recommends using online resources and personal recommendations to identify lawyers and check specialty, references, and rates.  Use this approach to find the right lawyer given the issues you need to address.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Finding Career Purpose as a Connector - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 5 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Makes Your Work Meaningful?"  As an entrepreneur providing a service for singles, she has unexpectedly found reward and excitement not only making love connections but also helping others meet new friends and do business.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Where to Draw the Line When Doing Business With Friends - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 6 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How Do You Approach Doing Business With Friends?"  As someone connecting people for a living, she finds ways to help others out by hiring them or working with them.  However, Elliot makes a distinction between doing business with and going into business with friends.  The former she embraces; the latter she avoids.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

How Rebranding Project Refines Small Business Model - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 9 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How Are You Improving as a Matchmaker?"  Elliot details how a rebranding project helped her refocus her business, The Grace List, as a singles event company.  In addition to focusing communication, client expectation, and service offerings, Elliot grows as a founder, learning to be more judicious and confident making decisions in the best interest of her business.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Downsizing as a Small Business Growth Strategy - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 12 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "Why is It Important to Be Able to Both Scale a Business Up and Scale a Business Down?"  Elliot creates a very personal business where friends and clients are often interchangeable.  She decides to scale down the business and cut losses on nationwide expansion.  This allows her to lean up her business, distill its focus and allow the brand to blossom across not only a singles event service but also a television show and book deal.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Why to Be Decisive as an Entrepreneur - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 11 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "As an Entrepreneur, Why is it Important to Be Decisive?"  Elliot notes entrepreneurship comes with no guarantees.  It requires deciding on what direction to take and having a constitution strong enough to maintain that direction confidently.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Entrepreneur Life Myths and Realities - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 13 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "In Retrospect, What Has Been the Most Difficult Part About Being an Entrepreneur?"  Elliot shares how entrepreneurship is an exhausting pursuit full of fast and unexpected changes and lots of hard work.  She notes how youth culture is conditioned via media to expect big prizes and rewards come with little effort.  Elliot notes how far away this is from the entrepreneur life reality.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

How Reality TV Show Goes From Pitch to Pilot - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 14 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Has Developing a Reality TV Show Taught You About How the Entertainment Industry Works?"  As a businessperson, Elliot faces a steep learning curve understanding how things work in television.  She learns to manage expectations, work with a large, talented team, and adapt her business world to the television world as her reality TV show goes from pitch to sizzle to pilot.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Hiring a Talent Agent to Negotiate TV Show Terms - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 15 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Value Does an Agent Bring When Pitching a Television Show?"  Elliot notes the invaluable role her agent has played in negotiating talent fee, wardrobe, hair and makeup, travel, hotel, hours worked, etc.  She notes the importance of having someone on her side to ensure she can stay balanced between running her business and filming the show.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder - Ken Rona

In Chapter 1 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, data analytics expert Ken Rona answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting More Difficult in What You Do?"  He notes how he is maturing with a manager, being more consistent and clear in behavior and communication.  Additionally, experience has taught him how to more easily extract value from data.  From a challenge perspective, he notes how commuting to another city - from DC to Atlanta - has been stressful and is something he will address by moving the family to Atlanta.  Rona is currently VP Audience Insights and Ad Sales Partnerships at Turner Broadcasting.  Previously, Rona has worked in roles in data analytics at IXI Digital and AOL and management consulting at McKinsey & Co.  He earned a BA and MA in Political Science from Stony Brook University and a PhD in Behavioral Economics from Duke University.