In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, finding solace and guidance in nature's lessons can be a powerful practice. In this Two Piers podcast episode, Melissa Keyser joins host Erica D’Eramo to take us on a journey through her life, illustrating how nature serves as a profound analogy for navigating life's twists and turns.

In a world where resilience is often touted as a defining trait of success, it's essential to delve deeper into its nuances and applications. In this insightful episode of the Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D'Eramo engages in a candid conversation with Professional Coach LaToia Burkley. Together, they offer diverse perspectives on resilience, endurance, impostor syndrome (or phenomenon), and self-advocacy. Let's explore the highlights and key takeaways from their discussion.

In the rich tapestry of history, there exist threads often overlooked. This engaging conversation between host Erica and Maya Rook, a passionate historian, unravels the layers of women's history. Explore the influence of the Haudenosaunee, the dynamics of the suffrage movement, and the remarkable experiences of women like Anna Murray Douglas and Matilda Joslyn Gage.

In a recent podcast episode, our host, Erica D'Eramo engages in a rich conversation with Kirsty Bashforth, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in cultural transformation within organizations. They explore the intricacies of cultural change, shedding light on challenges, debunking misconceptions, and unveiling key insights. You can access a full transcript here, or dive into the highlights of their conversation below.

Embarking on a journey of business transformation can be both thrilling and challenging. In this podcast episode, host Erica D'Eramo engages in a conversation with Lisa Carlin, a seasoned strategy execution specialist, to unravel the intricacies of successful business transformation. The discussion spans topics from change management to the pitfalls organizations often encounter and strategies for overcoming them.

Let’s dive into a recent chat between Erica D'Eramo and Thea Charles, unraveling the fascinating connection between coaching and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In this post, we'll explore how these two disciplines compliment each other to cultivate authenticity, growth, and inclusivity in the workplace.

It’s January: The season of goal setting, good intentions and grand resolutions. It’s a fresh start to a new year and an opportunity to re-envision the future we’d like to build for ourselves. January is the month of new gym memberships, new app downloads and new habit trackers.

It makes sense that many businesses run on a calendar year and use this annual cadence to set performance targets. Yet the convention of setting personal goals at the beginning of the year introduces a host of challenges for us humans.

You may be hearing a lot these days about the importance of mentorship programs, particularly as we work to close opportunity gaps and pull-through talent representative of our communities. You may also be hearing a lot about professional coaches and perhaps have even considered working with one. Maybe you’ve been offered one through your workplace. January is National Mentoring Month, and we figured this would be a good time to provide a refresher.

In this podcast episode, Erica D'Eramo engages in a captivating conversation with Melissa Olivadoti, delving deep into the realm of mentorship. The discussion covers various aspects, from debunking common myths to sharing insights on how organizations can foster effective mentorship programs.

Today marks the winter solstice, the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. As the darkness envelops us, it prompts introspection and invites us to embrace rest and restoration. In a world that often emphasizes constant activity, finding a balance between restfulness and productivity can be challenging.

In this empowering episode, join us as we dive into the crucial topic of setting boundaries for long-term sustainability and effectiveness. Our guest, Ally Cedeno, a dynamic leader and changemaker in the maritime industry, and the founder of Women Offshore Foundation, shares her insights on the importance of avoiding burnout and prioritizing rest. As a successful woman wearing many hats including industry leader, non-profit founder, loving mother and partner, Ally brings a unique perspective to the conversation. Discover practical strategies and personal anecdotes that will inspire you to redefine your boundaries and foster a sustainable, fulfilling professional and personal life. Tune in and chart a course towards rested resilience and success!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! 🎶 Ehem. You know, the time when we get to have genuine and deeply insightful conversations between managers and direct reports about what went well and where we can grow next year. 

Oh. Is that not how the annual performance cycle feels to you? 

Well you're not alone. Plenty has been written and researched in terms of the ineffectiveness (and literal harmfulness) of year-end performance conversations. Even the Society of HR Managers gives them a failing grade.

So often, when we speak of resilience, we view it in terms of the individual. In reality, the likelihood of a resilient outcome depends on both individual, internal factors and external factors outside of a person's direct control. 

The fourth quarter is in full swing and the end of the year is within sight. This is an excellent time to take stock of where our time and energy are currently being invested as we look ahead to 2024. In Part I, we discussed the importance of setting boundaries around our commitments to ward off burnout and, importantly, to be more present and joyful in the activities that we do take on. I introduced a basic framework:

1. Less adding,

2. More subtracting, and

3. Making the most of what’s retained.

This episode we’re joined by Angela Parker, who shares her journey as a veteran and as a business leader.

Angela Parker, a seasoned finance executive and former Army officer, boasts diverse industry experience, spanning technology, security, consulting, aviation, energy, healthcare, and finance. Her strengths include mergers, restructuring, turnarounds, high-growth initiatives, and performance improvement.

She's set to take on a new CFO role, focusing on Mergers & Acquisitions and transforming finance with cutting-edge technology and processes.

As former CFO of Allied Universal Technology Services, Angela led teams across 50 locations, integrating seven new entities and implementing vital automation. In the energy sector, she drove business strategy and marketing for Halliburton and Baker Hughes, leveraging global trends for success. At American Airlines, Angela guided strategy, managed capital projects, and led merger teams.

A former Army officer, Angela holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor's degree in Literature and Computer Science Engineering from West Point. Her passions include travel, volunteering, running, yoga, and quality time with her grown children.

Angela shares with us the challenges and successes that she’s navigated first in the Army, and then in the corporate world, reflecting on how those experiences have shaped her journey as a leader and sharing her insights and words of wisdom along the way.

Join us for a captivating exploration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace with two distinguished experts, Darius Johnson and Leland Jourdan of FTI Consulting.

Darius Johnson, a visionary DEI practitioner, and Leland Jourdan, former Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Chevron, offer unique perspectives on the future of DEI.

In this episode, we uncover the journey of these two thought leaders and their invaluable insights. We delve into the evolving DEI landscape, touching on the challenges posed by societal shifts and polarized discourse. We also highlight the importance of genuine commitment and impactful actions to address systemic inequality.

Our expert guests emphasize integrating DEI into every facet of an organization and the crucial role of curiosity in problem-solving. They discuss metrics, sponsorship programs, and inclusive leadership as vital components of successful DEI initiatives.

Discover how DEI dynamics impact a company's success and how leaders can strategically incorporate DEI into core business practices.

Join us on this enlightening journey into the Future of DEI, where we unravel insights, strategies, and the path forward in building more inclusive and equitable workplaces.

Tune in now to be part of the conversation shaping the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion!

Nicte Cuevas is an award-winning bilingual brand strategist and designer, as well as the owner of Nicte Creative Design. She connects color, cultura, and design into a purpose-driven brand strategy for visionary companies. Through empathy-driven methodology, Nicte evolves, invigorates, and amplifies businesses’ unique brand positions. Her roots from Venezuela, Mexico, and Colombia deepen her love and commitment to cultural diversity in her work. Nicte has taught over 120,000 worldwide with courses on branding, color psychology, and design as a LinkedIn Learning instructor.

She joins us this episode to discuss the ways that culture and color can come together to support a brand's voice, strategy and impact. Nicte shares how her own personal journey and multicultural Latina heritage have shaped the way she uses the power of color to help people and brands tell their stories and connect with their audiences. Whether you're developing your own personal brand or contributing to the brand of an organization, this episode speaks to the art of communication and how the methods and media that we use can impact how our voice is heard.

In our ongoing Reclaim the Floor series, we began last week by exploring some of the context and considerations that will set the stage for how we handle interruptions. Before we tackle tools and techniques, we’re going to dive a bit deeper into what makes up an interruption.

This month's theme is all about “Finding Our Voice” 🗣

How and when we communicate affects our well-being and our ability to create an impact. Whether we’re expressing our needs in the form of a boundary or handling an interruption at work, our communication is often a pathway to our goals. 

This week, we're providing a glimpse into the inner workings of Two Piers. We've been revisiting our strategy, our brand, and our systems and processes. This episode covers some of the changes occurring now and gives a preview of what we've got in store up ahead!

‘Tis the season for burnout. Ah, yes, September is upon us. The summer holidays are behind us and schools are back in session, including sports practices, band practices, PTA meetings, and yellow buses joining our commute. The fourth quarter is staring us down, along with all the commitments and goals we made for the year. Daylight is waning, but the to-do lists are growing. Have you planned your Halloween costume yet? How about Thanksgiving dinner? They’re right around the corner, you know.

This month’s theme has been all about creating space. With summer coming to an end and fall activities ramping up, a lot of us are finding our calendars oversubscribed and our energy reserves depleted. September seems to be a prime month for launching programs, starting initiatives and making commitments. Everyone is back from summer holidays and travel, refreshed and ready to go, right? …Right?!

We’ve got a quick (ok, not-really-so-quick) exercise that you can use to reclaim some space in your world.

We’re joined in this episode by Ally Cedeno, the founder and president of the Women Offshore Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to reducing the gender gap on the water. She joins us for this collaborative episode with the Women Offshore podcast, where we have a candid conversation about interruptions in the workplace. We discuss some of our own lived experiences and learnings, and we share some ways to handle the disruptions.

In this episode, we’re joined by Two Piers Advisory Board member, LaToya Stallworth who shares her insights on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). LaToya is an Operations leader within the energy industry. As an alumna of both Florida A&M, a Historically Black University, as well as Harvard Business School, a predominantly white institution (or PWI), LaToya has a unique perspective into the different campus and educational experiences. She also shares a glimpse into her experience as a Black woman in a corporate environment and the ways that her education prepared her for success.