Transformation through Mentorship

Lynn Sontag, Menttium owner, shares valuable lessons from her 25+ years leading the global mentoring organization. In this inaugural episode of the Menttium podcast, host Solveig Brown explores Lynn’s journey and key insights that have shaped her leadership style. They also discuss how to achieve transformation through mentorship.

Life and Leadership Insights

Artie Lynnworth, Author and retired GM at Oxychemical Corporation, shares his life and leadership insights including the importance of mentoring, and how to make meaningful change. With over 40 years of corporate leadership experience and 25+ years as a Menttium mentor, Artie reflects on the lessons that have shaped his journey.

Inclusion in Corporations

Dell Birch, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Technology Operations at APCO Holdings, LLC, has a robust background in strategy, operations, and mentoring, Dell shares invaluable perspectives on systemic barriers, effective programs, and leadership strategies that foster inclusivity.

Thriving in an Age of Disruption

Tom Schlick, a business operations executive and author of Jumpstart Your Service Revolution: Transform Your Company’s DNA and Thrive in an Age of Disruption, discusses thriving in an age of disruption. Schlick shares key lessons on leadership, adaptability, and creating an inclusive culture in today’s disruptive environment.

Inclusive Workplaces through Intentional Leadership

Shunda Robinson, Global Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at GM Financial discusses how to create inclusive workplaces through intentional leadership. She emphasizes the power of courageous conversations, authentic allyship, and actionable strategies.

Leadership for Multi-Generational Teams

Al Johnson, a results-driven business leader with Fortune 300 experience and a strong foundation in strategy and execution sits down with Solveig Brown to discuss the keys to leadership for multi-generational teams, effective leadership strategies, and how to influence and inspire teams.

Wisdom Traditions in Leadership

Eboni Adams Monk, engineering, operations and sales leader joins the Menttium Matters podcast to discuss the transformational power of wisdom traditions in leadership, the importance of cultural authenticity in business, and how leaders can foster belonging in the workplace.

Effective Leadership Growth

Kimberly Strong, Founder and CEO of Strong Connexion, joins the Menttium Matters podcast to discuss effective leadership growth, emotional intelligence and fostering a thriving workplace culture. In this episode, she shares invaluable insights on how leaders can develop their skills, navigate challenges and create a meaningful impact.

Intentional Communication in Leadership

Peter Vorbrich, CFO at CarVal Investors a $10 billion Cargill subsidiary shares insights on the importance of intentional communication in leadership. He discusses the value of adapting communication styles across leadership levels and cultures.

Creating a Thriving Work Culture

Krish Ramakrishnan, VP of Client Engagement, joins Solveig Brown to discuss leadership, workplace culture, conflict management, and mentoring. Krish shares insights on creating a thriving work culture where employees think independently, collaborate freely, and drive innovation.

Resilience in Turbulent Times

Dr. Roz Tsai, Vice President of Talent, Learning, and Org Effectiveness at Thrivent, joins the Menttium Matters Podcast to discuss resilience in turbulent times. She shares insights on personal and professional resilience, the role of mindset in overcoming adversity and how to lead with courage in uncertain times.

Powerful Questions for Goal Setting

Deb Herrera, an Executive Coach and former CFO joins Solveig Brown to discuss powerful questions for goal setting and their the transformative power. Deb shares her structured approach to defining and achieving goals. If you’ve ever set a goal only to feel lost on how to achieve it, these questions will help you get specific, stay motivated, and take actionable steps.

Personal Branding for Leadership Success

Pam Hollander, Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Client Success, joined Megan Cummings-Krueger on the Menttium Matters podcast. Pam shares insights on personal branding for leadership success, driving career growth, reinvention, and work-life balance.

In this episode, Elsie Chapa and Artie Lynnworth demonstrate the enduring power of the mentor and mentee connection!  Elsie and Artie tell a wonderful story about what it was like to meet for the first time in person 17 years after their mentoring partnership.  Elsie highlights some of the issues she has faced being in a male-dominated industry, that requires constant innovation and change management.  Artie and Elsie have an in-depth discussion about how to take more control of your career planning and become more influential in your workplace.  They both offer excellent advice for authentically promoting yourself in the workplace, and they share the most important things they have learned in their career.

Elsie Chapa

Consultant | Bosch Management Services

In this episode Dr. Sue Stanek talks about how leading real change starts with yourself. She outlines steps for creating self-awareness and internal change and gives examples of the powerful results that this can have in one’s professional and personal life. We will hear about the profound “aha” moment Sue had that inspired her to create a presentation about the slippery slope of being right. Sue reflects on the strategies she has learned to create an empowering work-life balance. She also shares her habits for success, her advice to young professionals, and her favorite quote.

Sue Stanek, Ph.D.

In this episode, Jeannine Rivet delivers a fantastic presentation on “Climbing the Ladder without Getting Dizzy or Falling Off.” Jeannine, who has been called one of the most powerful women in business, generously shares the lessons she has learned throughout her life and career. The presentation is filled with memorable stories, sage wisdom, and actionable advice. Listeners will come away feeling inspired to honor their priorities; to mentor others; and to be more intentional in thinking about the legacy they would like to leave.

Jeannine Rivet

Retired, UnitedHealth Group Executive

In this episode, Jim Gwaltney, retired Ford Motor Company Senior Executive and author of The 20 Immutable Laws of Leadership, shares his leadership advice. Jim discusses best practices for motivating employees; learning to delegate; transitioning from being an individual contributor to a manager; and making time to focus on vision and strategy. He identifies specific strategies to successfully navigate organizational politics, and he reminds listeners of the importance of getting out of one’s comfort zone. Jim also shares his habits for success, his advice to young professionals, and his favorite quote.

Jim Gawltney

Author & Retired Ford Motor Executive

This episode features Bobbi Dahlgren, a highly accomplished business operations and supply chain leader.  Bobbi will share her strategies for bringing out the best in your team; working with people who have different interaction styles; and leading a team through organizational change.  She shares tips she has learned in conflict resolution training as well as some essential skills for being an effective negotiator.  Bobbi discusses the importance of creating workplace cultures where people can have flexibility.  She also shares her habits for success, her advice to young professionals, and her favorite quote.

Bobbi Dahlgren

Supply Chain Executive

This week’s episode features CurVie Burton, executive coach and consultant at TheRoadB4U.  CurVie has dedicated his career to helping individuals, teams, and corporations achieve their full potential.  He reflects on how mentors helped him early in his career and his passion for developing mentoring programs that have successfully increased the representation of black professionals at senior levels in technology.  He highlights the process he uses to help his clients define, create, and maintain successful outcomes in their life and career.  CurVie also shares his habits for success, his advice to young professionals, and his favorite quote.

CurVie Burton

Executive Coach & Business Consultant

This week’s episode features a conversation with Jennifer Meyer, Senior Director with United Health Group at a very unique moment in time – the day before she steps away from her successful career, to take a professional sabbatical for the benefit of her family. Jennifer intentionally chose this timing to ensure she would be open and honest with her perspective on this life transition, in recognition of the reality that so many others are also facing changes and challenges. In a great example of a mentoring mentality, she decided to use this interview as an opportunity for others to hear that they are not alone on this journey.

During this conversation Jennifer reflects on the fact that we are not meant to lead a pain-free life; and the hard won wisdom that can result when we choose to face the pain instead of looking away. And she shares her list of 4 P’s, which she credits for all of her success: People, Perspective, Patience, Perseverance.

Jennifer Meyer

Senior Director | UnitedHealth Group

This week we have our conversation with Zoa Norman.  Drawing on her role as the Director of Client Success at ADP, Zoa walks us through her strategies for bringing out the best in individuals and teams.  She illustrates that understanding what motivates individuals is a powerful way to create positive change and boost team performance.  Zoa also will demonstrate the art of managing up through concise communication, observing reactions, and asking for feedback.  You will also hear about the habits that have helped Zoa be successful and her advice for up-and-coming leaders.

Zoa Norman

Director, Client Success | ADP

In this episode, Toya Werkheiser discusses the role intentionality has played in her life and career (hint, she planned ahead for her empty nest phase). Toya sees the current blurring of the boundary between work and life as an opportunity to recognize the reality that we have always brought our whole selves into work. Whether we are dealing with challenges that are personal or are happening in the world, when we intentionally choose to be open with others it allows us to make real connections, and see from other vantage points – and that subsequent diversity of thought benefits both individuals and organizations. She also reframes the “great resignation” as an opportunity for a great reshuffle, providing new perspectives and new career pathways.

Toya Werkheiser

Director, Marketing Operations | Cigna – Healthspring

This week’s episode features a conversation with Nabil Raad, a global leader who has successfully built upon the benefits of his multicultural roots. Known as “MacGyver”, for his ability to always find a solution, Nabil shares a number of his creative approaches to increase team communication and productivity; including (i) rotating leadership, (ii) harnessing data to provide leaders with a “virtual mirror” of their communication/network, and (iii) contracting with an authored professor to serve as both an SME, and teacher to his team.

Nabil also shares his unique insight into cross-cultural communication, resilience, work/life integration, and the system he developed for himself to ‘build the habit of making habits’. This session provides both perspective and positivity!

Nabil Raad

Vice President, Data Science | GM Financial

This week’s episode features a conversation with Allan Bifield, an accomplished global senior-finance executive with more than 30 years of experience.  Allan shares the biggest lessons he has learned in his career related to taking risks, not trying to do everything yourself, and prioritizing self-development.  He highlights his essential leadership strategies for setting vision and direction; empowering people to be successful; creating team synergy; and leading transformational change.  Allan talks about his commitment to mentoring and the reward he feels in helping another professional reach their highest potential.  He also shares his habits for success, his advice to young professionals, and his favorite quote.

Allan Bifield

Retired, Deputy Chief Financial Officer | George Weston

Jayne Heggen

Founder | Heggen Business & Management Consulting