Explore every episode of the podcast High Octane Leadership

Building a scalable business without burning yourself out may seem like a dream. The latest episode of High Octane Leadership with Donald Thompson proves that it doesn’t have to be. Tune in as we sit down with James Forrest, a renowned attorney and entrepreneur, to explore why listening to your clients matters more than talking and how building genuine relationships accelerates business growth like nothing else. Plus, the critical strategies for navigating M&A transactions, embracing AI without losing your competitive edge and creating sustainable success without burning out. This conversation serves as a much needed reminder that balancing ambition with intentionality transforms not just your career, but your life.

Discover how AI is reshaping meaningful work and leadership in this powerful conversation with industry experts Bob Batchelor and Jackie Ferguson. Together, they provide practical strategies for creating self aware leadership, fostering psychological safety, and implementing AI effectively across organizations of all sizes. Whether you're leading a startup or a Fortune 500 company, gain valuable perspective on building high performing teams through meaningful work and intentional leadership development.

Transforming workplace learning and leadership through the power of storytelling and shared experiences.In this episode of High Octane Leadership, I connect with Emily Best, founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, to explore how her company is revolutionizing both creative funding and corporate learning through Film Forward, an innovative platform that uses short films to drive meaningful behavioral change and team development.What You'll Learn:- How to transform psychological safety from concept to practice through specific behavioral frameworks- Why traditional online learning fails to build team cohesion and how shared experiences drive lasting change- The critical difference between empowerment and actually understanding power dynamics in the workplace- How women leaders can navigate workplace expectations without falling into the "comfort provider" trap 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.

Today we’re going to give you something a little bit different. As we listen to this podcast, themes tend to pop up. DT and his guests talk about leadership, entrepreneurship, investing and handling the stress and chaos of normal life. But 2020 has been anything but normal. In March, COVID-19 put us all on a two week pause, a pause that has now lasted 33 weeks with no end in sight. In May, the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests throughout the United States amplified the systemic racism our country has faced since its inception.  This episode is a compilation of some of the conversations that DT has had with his guests about racism, white privilege, diversity, equity, and inclusion.  You'll hear from:Sonya Hopson, CEO of HIRE Strategies (Full Episode with Sonya)Ashlyn Sanders, CEO of Neurovice (Full Episode with Ashlyn)Jen Hoverstad, Community Engagement at Kay Yow Foundation (Full Episode with Jen)Akinwole Garrett, Director of Global Strategic Alliances at Lenovo (Full Episode with Aki)Gary Salamido, CEO, NC Chamber (Full Episode with Gary)Anson Dorrance, UNC Women's Soccer Head Coach (Full Episode with Coach)Kendrall Felder, Global Head of Centralized Services at Cisco (Full Episode with Kendrall)Tim Humphrey, VP Chief Data Office, IBM (Full Episode with Tim)Joe Bunn, Bunn DJ Company (Full Episode with Joe)Cicero Leak, TLS Agency (Full Episode with TLS) 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.

This episode is a replay of a special live edition of the Donald Thompson Podcast. Don had a chance to talk with Levitate’s Jesse Lipson, and we shared it on Facebook Live, twitter, and Youtube. On the show, Jesse shares advice for entrepreneurs based on his experience in running Sharefile – which he bootstrapped and sold to Citrix for almost a hundred million dollars – and his experience running his new company, Levitate.  We’ll be doing more of these live episodes, so be sure to check out Donald Thompson on Facebook, LinkedIn, or any social media platform, and sign up for his newsletter as well at DonaldThompson.com/newsletter. 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.

Tim Humphrey is the VP of the Chief Data Office at IBM. As a high ranking executive at a Fortune 50 company, Tim has a unique perspective on what employers need to provide in a time of social and racial unrest. 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.

DJ Joe Bunn was recently featured in the New York Times with the headline, "Some Wedding Vendors Face Fallout After Speaking Up on Social Issues." He never speaks up on politics, but in the case of Black Lives Matter, it wasn't about politics - he felt a pull to do what is right. And he wasn't concerned about the consequences to the empire he has spent 20+ years to build. 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.

Kristen Mullins from Slice Pie Company has been all over the place - on MSN, USA Today, on Startup Stage, Cary Magazine 2020 Movers and Shakers, winning Blue Ribbons at the NC State Fair...just everywhere.  On today's show, find out how it all started, and what inspired Kristen to leave her comfortable life of being in Corporate America and take a risk on herself. Also, Kristen has recently been knocked down - with the pandemic and then the downtown Raleigh riots that damaged her popup shops - so how has she stayed positive through all of that? 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.

See if you can follow this career path. Jarrett Nobles has gone from legendary DeMatha High to FAMU to event planning to Edward Jones to the Houston Astros to Duke MBA to a startup to the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Chargers, and some other stops along the way. He's moved 10 times (10!) since graduating high school. Jarrett is all about the hustle, actively helping his network, and building brand loyalty for his team, his clients, and his connections. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this insightful episode of High Octane Leadership, I sit down with recent UNC-Charlotte graduate and rising professional Diana Garland to unpack the realities of Gen Z in the workplace. With candor, insight, and a touch of humor, Diana challenges stereotypes and offers a fresh perspective on what Gen Z truly values: purpose, mentorship, psychological safety, and meaningful work. This episode offers a two-way masterclass in leadership across generations. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this conversation bridges the generational divide with empathy, truth, and actionable takeaways.We talk about what Gen Z actually wants from work, redefining hustle and rejecting quiet quitting, how to deliver (and receive) tough feedback, the power of mentorship and mutual respect and why leadership is always about relationships. 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.

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.

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.

We've seen the statements. Black Lives Matter. What has happened in the past is not ok. Diversity is important to our work culture. That's all great, but how do we move from statement to strategy? Jes Averhart and Rob Shields are leading that conversation forward through their work at Recity, the Reinvention Roadmap, and the JUST Podcast, which tackles race relations in our country and what we all can do to improve them. Recity CoworkingRecity ConnectThe Reinvention RoadmapThe Reinvention Roadtrip PodcastJUST Podcast 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.

As a leader, from the moment you wake up, you already feel like you're behind. So how can we be ruthlessly efficient to get the job done effectively while not taking away from family and life outside of work? 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.

Keith Langbo just celebrated the 8th anniversary of his talent acquisition firm Kelaca, and today Keith talks about recruiting and finding the right talent, especially in our work-from-home environment today.  But what's remarkable about Keith is that 8 years ago, Keith and his family decided to move down from Michigan to Raleigh, a place where they didn't know a single soul.  Keith set a goal of having 600 cups of coffee in the first six months to meet people and grow his business - and he ended up far exceeding that goal and planting the seeds for his company's success. 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.

Anson Dorrance is quite possibly the most successful coach of any sport all-time, having led the UNC Women's Soccer program to an astounding 22 national titles. On the show today, Anson talks about how he quantifies competitiveness, lessons learned from watching Dean Smith run practice, his perspective on the Black Lives Matter protests, and why he's much more focused on human development than athletic development. Coming Soon - Anson's Book, Vision of a Champion, will be available on audiobook and adapted into a podcast series. For more information including sponsorship opportunities, check out the Vision of a Champion website.  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.

We have a guest host for this bonus episode, as Ciera Thompson sits down with two generation z-ers based in Canada. Kaia Counter is pursuing her Master's degree in International Affairs and Ben Codrington is a recent Queen's University graduate who is breaking into the tech industry. These three young professionals discuss what they look for when choosing a place to work, the importance of diversity, and what makes generation Z unique.  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.

Akinwole Garrett has been super successful in his education and career, having gone to the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, and leading divisions of ABC, CBS, SheKnows Media, and now Lenovo.  As a black man, Aki is no stranger to being the only one in the room. Today he talks about what that's like, the value of higher education, networking, what it's like to build a podcast network from scratch, and why if he had a magic wand with one wish, he'd choose to eliminate white privilege. 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.

Joe Colopy is the founder and former CEO of Durham-based Bronto, which sold to NetSuite in 2015 for $200M. Joe is now involved in the Triangle startup scene, running both Colopy Ventures and Jurassic Capital, and he has an online tech startup newsletter – Grepbeat – which a lot of you probably read in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday. With a $200M exit, you might expect Joe to have a huge ego, but that’s not him at all. He’s all about community, family, and helping other entrepreneurs.  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.

Gary Salamido is the CEO of the NC Chamber, and he wants to know why Donald Thompson created The Diversity Movement, how NC businesses can create a more diverse and inclusive workplace, what can be done about white guilt, and how he can sign up to be a Certified Diversity Executive. 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.

What if nearly half of Alzheimer’s cases could be prevented through lifestyle changes, and you could deliver that impact at scale?In this episode of High Octane Leadership, host Donald Thompson interviews Adam Schultz, founder of Mindr, a groundbreaking digital health startup focused on preventing Alzheimer's and dementia through lifestyle interventions. In this episode, you'll discover: The medical study that changes everything we know about brain health The hidden workforce crisis: 1 in 6 employees are secretly caring for loved ones with cognitive decline How smart employers are about to gain a massive competitive advantageThis isn't just another health app story; it's about digitizing hope for millions of families. 📍 Follow me on: 📌 LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | FacebookFollow Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/durmadam 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.

Sonya Hopson is "The Lady with The Pink Hard Hat", but she's so much more than that. She's an African American woman working primarily in the construction industry, and she's overcome so many challenges - bias, mistakes, imposter syndrome, racism, and her own personal struggles - to build HIRE Strategies into one of the preeminent job recruitment firms in North Carolina. 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.

David Gardner is a serial entrepreneur (7X founder, exits over $100M) turned angel investor (FilterEasy, Archive Social) turned venture capitalist (Cofounders Capital, raised over $40M for NC tech companies). At this fireside chat at American Underground in Durham NC, David talks about his book, "The Startup Hats: Master the Many Roles of the Entrepreneur", what North Carolina can do to help the startup community, why he invests in founders rather than ideas, and why retirement isn't as great as it sounds. Startup Hats on AudibleStartup Hats on Paperback and Kindle 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.

Ashlyn Sanders was super successful academically and on track to become a doctor. She graduated from UNC a year early, interned in the Obama White House, and went to grad school at Duke. But while at Duke, a life altering diagnosis steered her to the path of entrepreneurship and an eventual investment from NBA legend Charles Barkley. NeuroViceWRAL Techwire: NBA Legend Charles Barkley Invests in Cary medtech startup 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.

What are the leaders of tomorrow looking for in companies they're working for? What brands to they admire (or not)? What do they want Boomers and Gen X to know about them?  Join us in our virtual roundtable discussion with 4 future leaders from Gen Z - Tea Blumer, Gaven Kerr, Ciera Thompson, and Jalen Hatton. 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.

Jen Hoverstad is a cancer survivor, attorney, Tedx speaker, marketer, mom, wife, podcaster, all around amazing person, and now the Director of Community Engagement at the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. On the show, Jen talks about her cancer journey, what it truly means to be an influencer, how she does it all, and her new role with Kay Yow. Jen's Tedx Talk, How to Change the World by Being an InfluencerKay Yow Cancer FundGreater Than Podcast 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.

Hassan and Meleata Pinto are rockstar parents and professionals. All three of their children are on full scholarships playing soccer - at Elon then transferring to Duke, at UNC to play for the legendary Anson Dorrance, and at Princeton - all elite schools both academically and athletically. Hassan is now the Senior VP of Business Development at Creative Allies, and Meleata is the Global Marketing Director at Lenovo. So while chasing their dreams professionally, how did they raise such great talent? What's the magic? What's in the Pinto water? 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.

As my company was getting used to this new work-from-home reality, I noticed that some people on the team – and it was usually women – were opting not to show their faces. And it got me to wondering, why do we put so much pressure on women in the workplace to look a certain way? I wrote about it in a LinkedIn post, and I hit on something that people wanted to talk about. My guest today, Loren Shumate, commented right away, “I had this exact realization this week. I honestly think it is more how women feel about themselves. It’s a need to be perfect that many women struggle to overcome. Understanding this about women is critical to inclusion strategies.” And so I asked her to share her insight as a professional woman in the workplace. Loren referenced several books in the show: How Women Rise by Sally Helgeson Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith Dare to Lead and The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown.  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 the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

The Startup Hats: Master the Many Roles of the Entrepreneur, by serial entrepreneur turned venture capitalist David Gardner, is now available on audiobook. On this feed is Chapter 1: The Entrepreneur Hat. The entire audiobook is available on Google Play. David is a 6X successful startup founder who now runs Cofounders Capital, which has now invested over $40M in North Carolina tech startups.  In Startup Hats, David provides an easily digestible resource to growing your company based on the many different hats you need to wear every single day. The Startup Hats is a production of Earfluence. 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.

We wrap up Season 2 by talking about a topic that all professional leaders need to have knowledge of and take action on if they want employees to be happy, if they want to have the best ideas, and if they want their companies to grow the right way; diversity and inclusion. Hosted today by Jason Gillikin with guest (and normal host) Donald Thompson is extremely passionate about Diversity and Inclusion. He is the CEO of Walk West, which is the fastest growing marketing agency in North Carolina, but he is also an angel investor involved in several companies in the Triangle area. More importantly for this conversation, he's a a diversity and inclusion consultant, identifying how companies can start or change their diversity and inclusion initiatives. And he’s working on a diversity and inclusion online course PLUS a podcast which will both by launching in the Spring of 2020.   On the show today, we talk about why it’s so important to him, what inclusivity means, we talk about the diversity you can’t see, and how Don implements D&I in the companies he’s working with. Hustle Unlimited is (usually) hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and hustler himself, Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. Hustle Unlimited is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

Donald Thompson talks to guest host Meghan Hockaday about what it takes to succeed in business, who his mentors are and what they taught him, why he doesn’t like the term work-life balance, some of the strategic partnerships at Walk West, and the craziest thing he’s done for a client.  Hustle Unlimited is (usually) hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and hustler himself, Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. Hustle Unlimited is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

What do people really say about you when you're not in the room?In this crossover episode of High Octane Leadership and Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox, I sat down with Jackie Ferguson, yes, my better half, to talk about all things personal brand: how to build one, why it matters more than ever, and how it can open doors before you even knock.Your brand is working with or against you every day. Time to take the wheel.In the episode, we dive into:* Why personal branding is no longer optional* How your brand drives business, influence and opportunity* The invisible message you're sending when you don’t own your narrative* How to create impact before you even walk in the roomThis episode is for leaders, entrepreneurs, and the brand-curious. If you want to win with clarity and purpose, this one’s for you.Follow me on:  LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Website  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.

Pete McEntegart, managing editor of Grepbeat.com has had quite the windy career path, starting as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, then going back to college, then writing at Sports Illustrated – if you ever read SI.com in the 2000’s, Pete was the guy who wrote The Ten Spot, which was a daily column on 10 funny things in sports that day. During his time there, he was rudely interrupted by a six-month trial of the Tyco CEO and CFO who were accused of embezzling millions from the company – and he wrote about it for Time Magazine. He then went out to LA to be a film and sitcom writer, and then to Chicago where he co-founded a company called CharacTour, which is kind of like a Netflix algorithm that tells you what shows and movies you should be watching. That ended up not working out, and so in July of 2018, he started working for Bronto founder Joe Colopy’s passion project, Grepbeat.com, which is an online publication that supports the tech startups in the Triangle. On the show today, Pete talks about lessons learned in his windy path, what he sees from successful entrepreneurs, and what’s different about the Triangle ecosystem.  Such an interesting guy, and the only one of our guests so far who has a Wikipedia page. Subscribe to Grepbeat's twice-a-week newsletter at Grepbeat.com. And be sure to read his article in Time, One Angry Man, about his time as a Tyco trial juror. Hustle Unlimited is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and hustler himself, Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. Hustle Unlimited is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

As Director of Entrepreneur Initiatives at Wake Tech in Raleigh NC, Katie Gailes has been able to help thousands of entrepreneurs with networking, funding, mentoring, and training. But she also says that entrepreneurship does NOT necessarily mean starting a business.  On today's episode, Katie talks about what being an entrepreneur actually means, some of the amazing things she's doing with Wake Tech AND Launch Wake County, diversity in entrepreneurship, and so much more in this inspiring episode! Hustle Unlimited is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and hustler himself, Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. Hustle Unlimited is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

Hustle Unlimited is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and hustler himself, Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. Hustle Unlimited is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

“Any time you shop local and independent and you spend money in our community, more of that money recirculates back here. And that means money for roads, money for schools, you know, money for general infrastructure. And it just helps create more jobs here.” Jennifer Martin is the Executive Director of Shop Local Raleigh, and she comes on the Hustle Unlimited Podcast to talk about why it’s so important to shop local, the incredible events (like Brewgaloo) that they’re running to support the community, why businesses should join Shop Local Raleigh, and the advice she has to up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Hustle Unlimited is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and hustler himself, Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. Hustle Unlimited is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

Tim McLoughlin is a Trianlge native and partner at Cofounders Capital, a Cary NC based venture capital firm that has raised over $30 million to invest in tech startups. On the show today, you’ll hear how Tim and David Gardner (founder of Cofounders Capital) got connected, why the Triangle is such a special place for Tim and his family, why not all businesses are investable businesses, and why the only way that your investors can help you is if you’re honest with them. Hustle Unlimited is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and hustler himself, Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provided by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. Hustle Unlimited is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

Javier Leiva is a creative director at Red Hat and former Emmy winning TV producer. But today, we talk to Javier about his podcast side hustle, Pretend, which now has over a million downloads. We talk about how Pretend started, its successes and opportunities, sacrificing sleep, keeping priorities straight, and advice for all the side hustlers and podcasters out there. Hustle Unlimited is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and hustler himself, Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provide by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. Hustle Unlimited is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

Heather Chandler literally wrote the book on how to make a video game, and was the senior producer on the most popular game in the world, Fortnite.  She chats with Donald Thompson on this episode of Hustle Unlimited about her career as a trailblazing woman in gaming, why she wrote the book on how to make a game, her time at Epic games making Fortnite, mentorship, and now transitioning into entrepreneurship with her new company, Whole Brain Escape, in Apex NC! Hustle Unlimited is hosted by Walk West CEO, mentor, investor, and hustler himself, Donald Thompson. Music for this episode provide by Jensen Reed from his song, “You Can’t Stop Me”. Hustle Unlimited is edited and produced by Earfluence. For more on the Earfluence Podcast Network, visit @EarfluenceMedia on any social media platform. 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.

In this episode, your host, Donald Thompson is interviewed by podcaster and producer, Max Trujillo, about his second recently released eBook, All Hats On Deck.  Max and Donald discuss his journey to success and this eBook, where Donald shares his perspective on using the Six Thinking Hats methodology in multiple businesses to get a competitive edge in communication, decision making and problem solving.  If you are craving ways to be more productive, tune in and then download All Hats on Deck here. 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.

In this episode, the host becomes the guest as podcast producer, Jason Gillikin, interviews Donald Thompson on the first of two recently released eBooks, Driving Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace which tackles this topic from both sides providing insights for c-suite leaders and minority professionals. Learn what inspired Donald to write this book and what he hopes to impart on its readers. You can download this eBook now for free by clicking here. 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.

Hailing from Durham, NC, Greg Boone has gone from being a leader as a college athlete to becoming the 2018 NC Technology Executive of the Year. Greg leads a growing technology firm, he shares his wisdom with you on getting the best from his team and how he identifies exceptional talent. Overcoming some personal health issues in the past gave him the hunger to fight even harder for others around him – his family, his teammates, and his company. 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.

What’s the real secret to building a high-performing team? Donald Thompson is joined by Amri B. Johnson—author, business strategist, and founder of Inclusion Wins—for a conversation about why employee engagement, not empty initiatives, is the true driver of organizational excellence.Together, they explore how today's leaders can create thriving workplaces where trust, psychological safety, and shared purpose aren't just ideals—they're measurable advantages. Amri reveals why companies that prioritize authentic engagement outperform competitors, and how relational skills, empathy, and culture-building are essential tools for future-proofing leadership in a turbulent world. Donald and Amri also take a global view, examining how the shifting perception of U.S. leadership impacts companies worldwide—and why empathy and civility are more critical than ever to attracting and retaining top talent. 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.

North Carolina native, James Forrest left his role at one of the largest corporate law firms in the state to strike out on his own almost ten years ago. That leap of faith is something to be admired and with his personal relationships, grit, and hustle, James Forrest has built one of the largest single owner firms in our area, boasting almost 2,500 clients, over 50 attorneys, and 7 offices across North Carolina. If you think listening to a lawyer for 40 minutes wouldn’t be that interesting, you haven’t met one of the coolest guys on the planet in James Forrest. In this episode, you will learn what he focuses on for success – clients, culture, and community.     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.

Sharon McCloud has a lot of stories to tell about her dreams of being on Broadway, her career as a news anchor, all the way to becoming an entrepreneur in North Carolina. She is driven by the sound advice of her late father, the inspiring fight of her late daughter, and the courage she has after beating cancer. When you are faced with so many challenges in life, balance is something that may never be achieved. Sharon talks about how she instead integrates her work and life as a way to choose where she focuses her time to find happiness, peace, and motivation to charge forward. 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.

David Pratt is the definition of a hustler and his success comes from being hungry. After being let go from his civil engineering job in Atlanta, David fell on hard times where was living out of his car and squatting in empty homes. He was relentless though, and always knew he would find a away to make it. In this episode, you’ll understand that your current situation doesn’t have to be your destiny. David talks about what inspired him to start his own video production company that he wants to become the biggest production studio on the east coast. And by the way, if you’ve never tasted his pies from his other company, David’s Dream Pies, you are really missing out! 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.