Leadership as an Experience in Humanness
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Cheryl DePonte
The Ken Blanchard Companies
Why Lead Now
Cheryl DePonte is a Human Resources Learning and Performance Specialist at The Ken Blanchard Companies and has over 15 years experience in the fields of organizational effectiveness and human resources development.
Leadership as an Experience in Humanness
At the beginning of my career, desperate for experience, I took whatever job I could in my field. Fortunately, my first manager treated employees and customers like gold. Luck struck twice when I was hired by yet another wonderful manager.
Regrettably, subsequent managers provided the “opportunity” to witness appalling treatment of both employees and customers. Still relatively naïve, I unconsciously swept their behavior under the rug in an attempt to gain valuable experience.
As my skill-set grew, I became disillusioned with my own attempts to lead. Emulating a combination of previous managers, who overall, seemed successful, led to followers who appeared blatantly angry, humiliated, and hostile. Advised not to take it personally, I couldn’t help but wonder what I was doing wrong and how I could change. With a warrior mentality, I read every work regarding leadership I could find and studied leaders as if by doing so I could internalize their success merely by being in their presence.
Environmental Stewardship
Why did we decide to join the 1% for the Planet movement? First, we’re in good company! Clif Bar, Volcom, Patagonia, Petco, Hess Collection Winery, Steelhead Vineyards, musicians Jack Johnson and Jackson Browne, Klean Kanteen, and New Belgium Brewing are just a few of the almost 700 American businesses participating. Second, we want to be a positive force in environmental stewardship through thought, word and deed.
Read More »How we’re sustainable
Sustainable Leadership
By merely living in the U.S., we are automatically using more of the Earth’s resources than we deserve. With this in mind, it’s important to do all we can everyday to minimize our carbon footprint, at home and at work. Perfection isn’t the goal: it’s awareness and continuous improvement. For starters, try taking this Ecological Footprint Quiz and make some targets, just as we have. Keep in mind that reducing your carbon footprint is also a surefire way to reduce your energy costs, add to your savings at home, and increase your profits at work.
Read More »About our founder
Hollan McBride, M.A.
Founder & Chief Engagement Officer
Hollan built a career in hospitality with a strong commitment to leadership development and organizational learning. After beginning in community development, she spent 15 years in corporate training and human resources for several luxury resorts and highly acclaimed restaurants, gaining significant experience in the areas of promotions and marketing.
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