In this episode, we speak to Cordelia Gaffar, an author, leadership coach and founder of Replenish Me. Through her work as the Emotions Opener Transformation Strategist, she is guiding leaders to use their darkest and most difficult emotions to show up powerfully and be courageous.
Cordelia is also the co-host of the Unlearning Labels Podcast together with us.
Cordelia has been at the forefront of facilitating difficult conversations surrounding diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion on an organisational level, beginning with the Co-Creating the Bridge event in June 2020 with Devon Bandison. She has also spoken on several international platforms, Amplify DEI, based in the Netherlands, L&D Cares Summit based in Germany and Discovering the Truth, based in the UK. In February, she was selected as a peace ambassador by INSPAD, which is based in Belgium and Pakistan.
She is also a force in women’s empowerment. She was selected Top National Influencer of the Success Women's Conference, a Sexy Brilliant Ambassador and Leader and inducted into the Global Library of Female Authors by Ona Miller. She is also the best-selling co-author of America’s Leading Ladies, who positively impact the world with Oprah Winfrey and several dynamic women.
Despite all her accolades, her biggest brag is being a homeschooling mom of six children.
Timestamps:
05:46 Cordelia helps leaders open up and be comfortable showing up emotionally.
07:55 How different education systems and lack of diversity in schools can impact how we show up as leaders in the future.
13:46 The best leaders see their role as being of service and not thinking about themselves all the time and how others see them.
17:36 Leadership is all about knowing when to show up authentically and be ok being vulnerable.
19:06 The most underdeveloped skill right now is a lack of awareness and an ability to slow down and reflect.
22:00 How the pressures of having to stay late in the office are hopefully changing, since COVID-19, as we debunk the misunderstanding between business and productivity.
25:30 How to step off the hamster wheel of pressure and avoid peer pressure.
29:09 How can you help your team be more creative and effective without micromanaging them and adding pressure?
31:30 Knowing how to set boundaries for yourself in terms of work-life balance will make you a better leader for others and your community.
36:00 What can we do to nurture ourselves better?
39:16 Success is subjective, and we should define what that looks like instead of comparing ourselves to others.
