Welcome to the 200th episode of the Arete Coach Podcast, marking a remarkable four-year journey exploring excellence in executive coaching. This episode is titled, "Wisdom Walkers: A Celebration of 200 Episodes in the Pursuit of Arete." In this special milestone episode, host Severin Sorensen weaves together insights and wisdom from 29 distinguished Vistage Chairs who have shaped the landscape of peer group leadership and executive coaching.

From the touching first episode featuring the late Richard Bosworth from the UK, to transformative perspectives from leaders like Fred Cheney, Ozzie Gontang, and Larry Cassidy, this episode captures the essence of what makes great coaching truly extraordinary. Viewers will hear powerful insights about authentic leadership, the art of strategic listening, and creating environments that foster transformation.

Listen as these great executive coaches and current and former Vistage Chairs share their personal journeys, challenges, and the profound lessons they've learned about helping others achieve excellence. Whether you're an experienced coach, an aspiring leader, or someone passionate about personal growth, this landmark episode offers invaluable wisdom about the power of peer learning and the enduring impact of skilled coaching.

This 200th episode features illuminating conversations and wisdom from twenty-nine distinguished current and former Vistage chairs: Richard Bosworth from the UK, who set the foundation with the first episode; Norma Rosenberg, Bud Carter, Dr. Gail Schaper-Gordon, Garth Jackson, GeorgeAnne Goldblum, and Jim Handy, who shared insights on leadership excellence; Mikki Williams, Perry Maughmer, Dr. Alan Weinstein, Bridget Wenman, and Tony Lewis, who brought diverse perspectives on coaching methodologies; Cindy Hesterman, Conor Neill from Spain, Laura Gordon from the UK, and Louis-Samuel Jacques from Canada, representing global coaching practices; Janet Fogarty, Dr. Michael Denning, Michele Berry, and Les Whitney, who demonstrated coaching innovation; Jeannette Hobson, Larry Cassidy, Carol Steinberg, and Ozzie Gontang, who exemplified coaching wisdom; and Katherine Crewe, Tom Cuthbert, Kevin McKeown, Chip Webster, and Fred Chaney, whose compelling stories rounded out this milestone episode.

#ExecutiveCoaching #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #Vistage #Excellence #Coaching

The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.

This episode was recorded on November 20, 2024. Portions drawn from podcast interviews recorded from April 2020 through October 2024.

Copyright © 2024 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast, hosted by Severin Sorensen. In this episode, recorded via Zoom on October 22nd, 2024, we are joined by Becky Tolnay, a Vistage Chair and Professional Facilitator based in Tallahassee, Florida. This episode is titled, "From Five-Star Service to Executive Excellence: A Vistage Chair's Quality-Driven Leadership Journey."

With over 30 years of experience in performance improvement, primarily from her distinguished career at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, Becky Tolnay brings deep insights into fostering customer-centric culture and driving continuous improvement within teams. As a certified professional facilitator through the International Association of Facilitators, she has mastered core facilitation competencies that enhance her ability to guide and develop business leaders.

Throughout the conversation, Tolnay shares her remarkable journey from starting as an accounts receivable clerk at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead to becoming an Area Director of Performance Improvement and Quality. Her career trajectory was shaped by a pivotal moment when she accepted a role as Director of Quality in 1994, despite initial hesitations about public speaking. This "happy accident," as she calls it, led to a transformative career in quality management and facilitation. After 25 years with Ritz Carlton, Tolnay established Tolnay Team Solutions and became a Vistage Chair, where she creates confident environments for business leaders to gain diverse perspectives and accelerate their growth. Her unique approach to group facilitation, influenced by her extensive background in quality management at Ritz Carlton, demonstrates how excellence in hospitality principles can enhance executive coaching and peer advisory group management.

The episode reveals powerful insights about the intersection of quality management and executive coaching. Tolnay's approach to group facilitation, shaped by her Ritz Carlton experience, emphasizes the importance of creating intentional cultures through clearly defined values and consistent reinforcement. Her implementation of core values - integrity, communication, commitment, growth mindset, courage, creativity, effectiveness, and relationships - provides a framework for building high-performing peer advisory groups.

A significant takeaway is Tolnay's emphasis on observation and diagnosis before action. Drawing from her father's veterinary practice and her quality management background, she demonstrates how careful observation and thoughtful questioning lead to better problem-solving outcomes. This approach challenges the common tendency among executives to jump to conclusions based on past experiences, instead encouraging deeper exploration and understanding.

The episode also highlights the importance of creating systematic approaches to excellence while maintaining flexibility and authenticity. Tolnay's implementation of the "Best B" recognition system and her method of anchoring group values at the beginning and end of meetings shows how simple yet consistent practices can reinforce desired behaviors and create lasting cultural change. This systematic approach to group dynamics, combined with genuine care for individual growth, exemplifies the balance between structure and humanity in effective executive coaching.

The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.

This episode was recorded via Zoom on October 22nd, 2024.

Copyright © 2024 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast, hosted by Severin Sorensen. This week's episode is titled "The Power of Self-Leadership: Transforming Executive Performance Through Internal Family Systems." In this episode, we are joined by Seth Kopald, PhD, a Level 3 Certified Internal Family Systems Practitioner with expertise in organizational management and leadership. Dr. Kopald's unique blend of academic rigor and compassionate practice offers invaluable insights into self-leadership, parenting, and creating meaningful connections. As an author, consultant, and IFS practitioner, he has dedicated his career to helping individuals and organizations achieve inner harmony and stronger relationships.

Dr. Kopald's journey began in education as a Montessori preschool teacher, later expanding to roles as a community college instructor and consultant for Head Start. His path took a transformative turn during a personal challenge when he discovered Internal Family Systems therapy, which became both his healing journey and professional calling. Since 2012, Seth has been an active IFS practitioner, leading individual and couple sessions, and contributing extensively to the IFS community through initiatives like the IFS self-led parenting and parts art Facebook pages. His book, "Self Led, Living a Connected Life with Yourself and with Others," exemplifies his dedication to helping people achieve authentic self-leadership. As a program assistant for IFS training and staff member for Dick Schwartz Retreats, Seth has played a pivotal role in training the next generation of IFS practitioners while maintaining his mission to help people increase their sense of courage, compassion, and understanding of themselves and others. One of my favorite quotes from Seth in this episode was: "I think of the parent as the ocean and the children are a boat, and as the ocean is going crazy, the boat can never settle until the ocean settles."

The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.

This episode was recorded via Zoom on September 20th, 2024.

Copyright © 2024 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.