High Octane Leadership – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of High Octane Leadership, Donald and co-author Kurt Meriwether join Roderick Lewis to explore the insights behind the Inclusive Leadership Handbook. Donald and Kurt discuss the challenges leaders face today, from navigating cultural intelligence to fostering collaboration in an increasingly complex and volatile world. They explain the impetus for writing the book, emphasizing the need for actionable leadership strategies and offering real-world examples of how inclusive leadership can drive success. Learn how to build stronger teams, break down silos, and lead with empathy—without sacrificing business results.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

In this episode, Donald delves into the hidden costs of a relentless schedule packed with back-to-back meetings and non-stop demands. Far from a badge of honor, overscheduling can erode your effectiveness as a leader, harm your mental health, and stifle your ability to innovate. Donald discusses the mental strain of constant context switching and how it can lead to burnout and decreased creativity. By prioritizing high-intensity work, embracing rest and recovery, and making time for continuous learning, you can not only survive but thrive as a leader. Tune in to learn how to protect your mental bandwidth, foster innovation, and lead with renewed energy and focus.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

Donald and Zach Nunn delve into the nuanced relationship between failure, feedback, and growth. They emphasize the importance of contextualizing critiques, reframing setbacks as learning opportunities, and aligning team efforts with the organization's overarching goals. Plus, they call out the need for leaders to provide constructive feedback that empowers their teams to reach new heights.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

In April 2020, Courtney Canfield saw a layoff coming a mile away. Like many, she lost her job because of COVID-19. But instead of sitting around, Courtney made something out of nothing - and now she's running a successful business while becoming a pet influencer (yes, a pet influencer!).  On the show today, Courtney talks to Don about her journey, then starts asking Don questions about how to build a successful marketing agency.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thompson.

Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on how to engage your community or build your personal brand through podcasting, visit Earfluence.com.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

How can virtual reality (VR) be used to identify unconscious bias in the workplace?  How can it be used to enhance empathy for patients and have a better understanding of their symptoms?  Mike McArdle is the founder and Chief Product Officer of Lucid Dream VR, based in Durham NC, and today he talks about how virtual reality has gone way beyond just being an amazing experience.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thompson.

Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on how to engage your community or build your personal brand through podcasting, visit Earfluence.com.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

Kendrall Felder is a former Duke football player, has an MBA from Duke, and is now the Global Head of Centralized Services (IT) at Cisco.  Impressive right? But Kendrall faced long odds to get to this point. Teenage mother. Drug dealer father. Abuse in the home. At 15, Kendrall was out on his own trying to find a place to live. And despite his odds, Kendrall forged his own path to greatness.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thompson.

Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on how to engage your community or build your personal brand through podcasting, visit Earfluence.com.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

Sometimes the journey to success means getting knocked down and figuring out how to get back up again. And for today’s guest, it means navigating the hotel industry in the middle of a worldwide pandemic that has devastated the market.

John Erhart is the founder and CEO of Inn Flow, a hotel management platform that consolidates all hotel operational needs into one comprehensive solution.

Obviously, the hotel industry isn’t in a great spot right now, but Inn Flow is handling this situation the way that John handles everything – by committing to constant improvement.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thompson.

Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on how to engage your community or build your personal brand through podcasting, visit Earfluence.com.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

The TLS Agency represents entertainers and athletes, and they'll do what it takes to provide their clients with the best direction for their careers. On the show, Cicero Leak, Tristian Turner, and Chuck Stinson talk about how it all got started, what it's like to work with celebrities, representing athletes in the new landscape where amateurs can profit off their likeness, being black in America, and what it's like to have "the talk" with your kids - and that doesn't mean about the birds and bees.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thompson.

Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on how to engage your community or build your personal brand through podcasting, visit Earfluence.com.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

On episode 2 of Z-Notes, Ciera Thompson is joined by three genz-ers to discuss the importance of diversity in the workplace, new ideas on brand loyalty, and why their generation is more fiscally responsible than millennials. Cassidy Leovic (21) is an RBT for children with Autism and will be starting a graduate program in the fall for applied behavior analysis. Diana (18) was a nationally-ranked, state champion track and field athlete and the founder and President of her high school's Black Student Association. Diana Garland is an equality advocate most recently featured in Substantial Magazine. T.J. Oleson (22) recently graduated from Appalachian State University where he majored in Electronic Media and Broadcasting and minored in Marketing. He specializes in creative copywriting, video production and marketing. 

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

It's not as complicated as you think.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Donald Thompson.

Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”.

The Donald Thompson Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on how to engage your community or build your personal brand through podcasting, visit Earfluence.com.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson and is a production of Earfluence.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.

High Octane Leadership is hosted by The Diversity Movement CEO and executive coach Donald Thompson, is a production of Earfluence and is part of the Living Corporate Network.

Order UNDERESTIMATED: A CEO’S UNLIKELY PATH TO SUCCESS, by Donald Thompson.