The Mission Driven Leader – Details, episodes & analysis

On this episode of the Mission Driven Leader, Ed Hoffman and Laurel Sim are joined by David Nedohin, Founder & Chief Customer Officer at Scope AR and 3x World Curling Champion.

David brings more than 20 years of experience in business development and supporting customers at all stages of the customer journey to drive the company’s vision to revolutionize the world of industrial training, maintenance, manufacturing and field support with augmented reality (AR) technology. 

In this role, David manages key relationships with industry partners and works with some of the world’s leading global companies including, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Johnson&Johnson, and Medtronic, among others. He also is an industry thought-leader, often presenting on some of the most practical use cases and AR success stories across industries at leading industry events.

Residing in Edmonton, Canada, David is also a 3x World Curling Champion and National team member for 10 years in waterskiing.

David has recently been inducted into Canada’s Sport Hall of Fame (Class of 2023) as part of Team Ferbey Curling Team.

Learn more about Scope AR: https://us.scopear.com/

On this episode of the Mission Driven Leader, Ed Hoffman and Laurel Sim are joined by Laura Dostaler, Professional Hockey Player and Program Director Girls Hockey Calgary.

Laura Dostaler plays hockey professionally with the PWHPA and the CWHL with the Calgary Inferno, winning a Clarkson Cup Championship with the Inferno in 2018.

Laura is currently the Program Director for Girls Hockey Calgary, where she enjoys the opportunity to give back to the game and pass on the skills she’s learned to the up-and-coming generation.

Laura is passionate about inspiring and empowering female athletes to become the best athlete they can become. She believes sports hold a unique role in becoming the best version of ourselves, and living a healthier, and joy filled, life.

Follow Laura on Instagram @lauradostaler

On this episode Ed Hoffman and Laurel Sim are joined by Gregory Robinson, Former Program Director, James Webb Space Telescope.

Mr. Robinson has over 30 years of engineering, program and project management, and senior executive leadership at NASA.

Mr. Robinson was the Program Director of the $10B James Webb Space Telescope (Webb), which launched Christmas Day 2021.  Webb is currently providing never seen before images and data of our amazing universe.  He was formerly the Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs, NASA Science Mission Directorate, overseeing the development and operations of 114 flight projects.

Mr. Robinson held the position of Deputy Director of NASA’s John Glenn Research Center, consisting of 3,200 employees, where the scope spans research and technology, aeronautics, science spaceflight, and human spaceflight.  He served as NASA’s Deputy Chief Engineer and was engaged with numerous satellite developments and launches, as well as the final 21 space shuttle launches.  Mr. Robinson also served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Systems at NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, leading the acquisition and management of all weather satellite systems. He previously spent 11 years in various leadership positions at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Mr. Robinson serves as faculty at the Columbia University, School of Professional Studies, Information & Knowledge Strategy program; he also served as faculty at the George Washington University, Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering.

Awards:

• TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2022.
• 2022 TIME 100 Impact Award
• TIME 2022 Innovator of the Year - Gregory Robinson and The James Webb Telescope
• Federal Employee of the Year Medal recipient for the 2022, Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies).
• EBONY 2022 Power 100 List - STEM Trailblazers
• Roy L. Clay Sr. Technology Pinnacle Award, “Innovation & Equity 21: 50 Most Important African-Americans in Technology” in 2022
• Presidential Distinguished Executive Rank Award in 2022, 2013; Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award in 2007

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Averett University, 1993
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Howard University, 1983
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, Virginia Union University, 1983
• Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executive Fellows Program, 2005
• Federal Executive Institute, Leadership for a Democratic Society, 200

Ed Hoffman, former Chief Knowledge officer of NASA and Laurel Sim, Partner and Vice President of Portfolio Management at Taleo are back for Season 2 of The Mission Driven Leader! 

In this episode, Ed and Laurel reflect on all of the incredible guests we had in Season 1, and look forward to another exciting year of great conversation and learning. 

Be sure to subscribe to The Mission Driven Leader so you never miss an episode!

On this episode Ed Hoffman and Laurel Sim are joined by CJ Gross, Founder of Ascension Worldwide, Author and TEDx Speaker.  

Ascension Worldwide is a firm dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity training and consulting based in the Washington, D.C. area. CJ has 20-years of experience as an international organizational development consultant specializing in leadership development and Diversity and Inclusion. CJ is a certified Social + Emotional Intelligence coach, trainer, Keirsey Temperament professional, Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Administrator, and executive coach, with additional expertise in organizational mediation.  

In addition, CJ has worked with domestic and international leaders from Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and government agencies on their Diversity and Inclusion strategies and initiatives. This training and experience enabled CJ to help clients explore impactful strategies for identity, diversity, inclusion, equity, and access from a unique vantage point.  

CJ recently published a book titled, "What's Your Zip Code Story?: Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace". What’s Your Zip Code Story helps clarify the intersection of class bias and racial disparity in the workplace and arms organizations with the knowledge to not only have productive discussions, but also adopt effective solutions.   

Learn more about Ascension Worldwide here: https://ascensionworldwide.com/

On this episode Ed and Laurel are joined by Laurence Prusak, Ph.D.

Laurence Prusak was born in Brooklyn, NY and studied the History of Ideas in undergrad and graduate schools. After leaving academics as a career, he became interested in how organizations work and found work at several management consulting firms. Laurence was fortunate to land a job helping Ernst and Young develop a research and development office in Boston, and it was there when he met Tom Davenport and they became very interested in the role of knowledge in organizational life. Together they wrote a book called Working Knowledge which propelled the knowledge management movement. After that Laurence founded the IBM Institute for Knowledge Management and then became an advisor to NASA, the World Bank, and McKinsey and CO.

Laurence has co-authored 7 books and edited 4 others, as well as having written over 60 articles and have facilitated talks and courses at over 40 universities around the world. Laurence is also the co-author of The Smart Mission: NASA’s Lessons for Managing Knowledge, People, and Projects (MIT Press, August 2022), alongside Ed Hoffman and Matthew Kohut.

On this episode, Ed and Laurel are joined by Matthew Kohut.

Matthew Kohut is the managing partner of KNP Communications. He has prepared CEOs, elected officials, entrepreneurs, ambassadors, scientists, and best-selling authors for events ranging from television appearances to board meetings to TED talks. Matt has held appointments at George Washington University and Bennington College. He is the co-author of The Smart Mission (MIT Press, August 2022) and Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential, and his writing has appeared in publications ranging from Harvard Business Review to Newsweek.

Social Media:

@Matthew_Kohut on Twitter

LinkedIn 

Laurel and Ed are joined by Heather Nedohin, Canadian and World Junior Curling Champion.

Heather Nedohin grew up in Fort St. John, British Columbia as Heather Godberson is now a non-competing Canadian curler from Sherwood Park, Alberta. She is a former Canadian and World Junior Champion (1996), 3 X Scott Tournament of Hearts Champion (1998, 2012, 2021) and a 2 X World Bronze Medalist. She has competed on the Canadian tour for 20 years and has been a national training athlete/ team member. Most recently, Heather was the coach of Team Canada Women's Curling (Team Einarson) in the 2020 - 2021 season. She is married to 3 X World Champion David Nedohin.

Fun Facts about Heather: 

• She graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Physical Education
• She is in her 8th year as Manager of the Sherwood Park Curling Club (1000+ members). Chair to host the GSOC Champions Cup in Sherwood Park April 2016 & U18 Canadian Junior Curling Championships April 2019.
• Has two daughters, ages 16 & 19, that compete in the sports of curling & varsity field lacrosse (Michigan)
• Loves to kayak with her dogs at the lake & do all sports behind the ski boat
• Enjoys Tea & pink Himalayan sea salt caramels from Purdys

Find Heather on Social Media! 

Twitter - @hnedohin / @shpkcurlingclub

Facebook - @shpkcurlingclub

Instagram - @shpkcurlingclub

On this episode Ed and Laurel are joined by Jessica Fox.   

Jessica is a tv/film director, author and nerd whisperer with over 15 years of directing experience and credits that span award-winning film, theater and TV. Her memoir, “Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets” was ‘romantic memoir of the year’ (Daily Mail) and is in development with Annapurna Pictures. Her latest film, “Stella” is a historical retelling of Cinderella, and she currently creates/stars in the Youtube series “My Famous Dead Boyfriend”.   

Off set, Jessica created The Open Book, Airbnb’s most popular destination in the world, and is a storytelling consultant for science organizations like NASA. Jessica is XpoNorth's film sector specialist.   

Follow Jessica Here:  

https://www.instagram.com/filmfoxwrite/  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicafoxwriterdirector/

Laurel and Ed are joined by Olympic Silver Medalist and professional hockey player Daryl Boyle on this episode of the Mission Driven Leader Podcast.  

Daryl was born and raised in Sparwood, BC. and moved with his family when he was around 12 years old to Lethbridge, AB and has continued to call Lethbridge home ever since. Daryl put on his first pair of hockey skates and stepped on the ice when he was 3 years old when his dad was coaching his older brother’s hockey team and would bring him out to all the practices.  

Daryl played 4 years in the Western Hockey League and after that he started his professional hockey career and has been playing ever since. Internationally, Daryl played for the German National Team for about 5-6 years. He played at the 2016 World Hockey Championships and then at the 2018 Olympics, where he took home a silver medal. Daryl has since retired from the German National team and has shifted his focus on continuing his career with EHC Red Bull München and spending more time with his family. Daryl has been married to his lovely wife Dawn since 2018 and together they have a 2.5 year old son named Brees, who keeps them on their toes. Daryl and Dawn are expecting their second child in August.