Stagione 1
Choosing Authenticity: Leaving Your Corporate Career Behind with Bakhtiar Talhah
Leading with Trust: People First, Numbers Second with Paul Helmore
Psychological Safety: Taking Care of Each Other with Prescott Gaylord
Have you ever felt like the corporate grind isn’t for you, but you’ve been worried that you may need to make some sacrifices to find truly fulfilling work? Meet Bakhtiar Talhah: founder, biodiversity advocate, and purposeful leader. Someone who gave up an international corporate career to choose a more fulfilling path. He has implemented Malaysia’s national AIDS policy, led operations for Malaysia’s Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, and now leads his own firm helping companies embrace biodiversity. Learn about how he made the hard decision to take a pay cut to move into truly fulfilling work, and how he feels about the decision now. Hear Bakhtiar’s take on: Factors to consider if you’re planning to pivot your career What career advice he has for young Malaysians Why he chose sustainability after a long stint in energy Timestamps (00:53) Introducing Bakhtiar Talhah—and my favourite story (04:59) Bakhtiar’s many names explained (08:11) Taking risks—and paycuts (13:01) Choices he most proud of—and least proud of (17:40) Transition to sustainability focus (20:15) Meaning and symbolism of Jejawi (22:00) Starting his own ESG advisory firm (26:21) Finding crossover skills from corporate career (30:00) Unexpected opportunities after leaving the city (32:58) Brain drain in Malaysia and Bakhtiar’s advice (36:34) Passion and authenticity—and how to get unstuck (39:50) Talking legacy You can connect with Bakhtiar here: https://www.jejawi-advisors.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakhtiar-talhah And if you’d like to learn more about Erika: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-behl Instagram @every_moment_is_a_choice_
Paul Helmore is a senior corporate sales leader who has managed thousands of employees and billions of dollars of revenue at global corporations. However, his career path has been anything but typical. After joining the Royal Navy as a teenager “to see the world”, Paul also saw leadership in action. Remarkably, it was the leadership secrets he learned at that young age that coalesced into the management instinct that has brought him so much success in sales. Learn about his management philosophy built around trust and allowing people to rise to the heights of which they are inherently capable. Listen in to hear Paul’s take on: Centering your leadership philosophy around trust—it’s more than a motto, it’s a choice you make every day What leader Paul admires and why How to lead with trust and its impact on performance Timestamps (01:07) Joining the Navy at 16 (03:57) Debunking myths about military leadership (06:04) Transitioning to a civilian career (08:42) ‘Focus on your people and the numbers will follow’ (13:15) Trusting your team implicitly (16:58) Paul’s hero and what he learned from him (18:33) It stops being about you when you lead (21:45) Alternative paths to leadership You can connect with Paul here: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-helmore-42aa52 And if you’d like to learn more about Erika: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-behl Instagram @every_moment_is_a_choice_
Prescott Gaylord has worked in sustainability his entire career…but curiosity also led him to improvisational comedy (“improv”) and the stage. Choosing a creative ‘double life’ has benefits beyond self-expression. And in this episode, Prescott and Erika discuss and debate the importance of psychological safety, for improv and for corporate teams. Prescott shares his views on sustainability, and what he believes will move the needle on climate change. He and Erika may or may not be starting a company together—or maybe it’s improv! Listen in to hear his take on: Why improv is a team activity that requires trust, not just quick thinking Sustainability and what role individuals and companies play How to get teams to work better together, from his experience in the corporate world and the stage Timestamps (00:42) Introducing Prescott: my first encounter with improv (04:10) Prescott’s improv “habit” and his day job in sustainability (05:38) How he started in improv (07:04) Creating safe spaces and being ‘terrible’ at the beginning (13:10) The hardest thing to teach in improv (15:40) Psychological safety in corporate teams (19:15) Sustainability and what will change our future (27:00) Prescott’s views on corporate responsibility in sustainability (32:25) How corporate teams can innovate better (35:56) Better world thinking You can connect with Prescott here: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/prescottgaylord New Kitten Party Improv Group: https://instagram.com/newkittenparty?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= And if you’d like to learn more about Erika: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-behl Instagram @every_moment_is_a_choice_
While she wasn’t a natural salesperson, Yasmine Khater’s life circumstances meant she needed to start selling her artwork as a teenager to fund her passion. Since that first instance of choosing what she loved over what made her uncomfortable, she’s lived a trajectory of courageous choices. She now advises Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, and entrepreneurs on transforming their sales using psychology and storytelling. She’s launched several businesses, is a TEDx speaker, and lives life to the fullest. Hear Yasmine’s take on: Embracing the “sh*tty first draft” approach to overcome the discomfort associated with trying new things The importance of pivoting and not letting circumstances get you down Advice for people feeling ‘stuck’ in their career Timestamps (00:59) Introducing Yasmine and what I first learned from her (04:04) Yasmine’s childhood and ideas about money (08:28) Learning skills to earn money—and finding her worth (10:10) Studying psychology rather than business (11:58) Matching what you are good at with what the market wants (15:59) Lessons from her father (18:09) Figuring out her first job—and what she wishes she’d known (22:46) Learning how to make an impact (24:25) What leaders ask Yasmine about sales (27:00) Advice for people stuck in their jobs (30:56) Bucket lists and gratitude (32:00) Beliefs and skills for career growth (36:06) “Enough-ness” (38:48) What everyone needs to learn You can get in touch with Yasmine here: https://salesstorymethod.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesalesstoryteller And if you’d like to learn more about Erika: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-behl Instagram @every_moment_is_a_choice_
Hello! And welcome to Every Moment is a Choice. I’m your host, Erika Behl, and I invite you to join me on a transformative journey to uncover the extraordinary potential that lies within every single moment of our lives. From the choices we make in our relationships, careers, and personal growth, to the mindset we embrace in the face of adversity, this podcast will empower you to embrace the notion that every moment holds a choice, and it’s up to us to seize it. Please consider subscribing to receive updates on new episodes! And you can follow me here to let me know what you think: @every_moment_is_a_choice_