WEBVTT
00:00:00.266 --> 00:00:02.369
Welcome back, Amazing Leaders.
00:00:02.369 --> 00:00:08.942
I'm your host, Coach Dora Mendez, and today's conversation is one you absolutely need to hear.
00:00:09.708 --> 00:00:15.515
We're diving deep into what it truly means to create a culture where people don't just show up.
00:00:16.149 --> 00:00:33.232
They thrive where inclusion isn't a buzzword, but a lived experience where 600 plus employees across 23 locations feel connected, valued, valued and empowered to reach their full potential.
00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:39.972
Our guest today is doing exactly that work and he's been recognized for it.
00:00:39.972 --> 00:00:55.688
Joining us is Stephan Spilkowitz, executive leader, board member, organizational culture architect, and recent honoree as a nonprofit trailblazer by City and State Magazine.
00:00:56.756 --> 00:01:15.941
By the end of this conversation, you will walk away with actionable strategies to transform your workplace culture a deeper understanding of what inclusive leadership truly requires, and the inspiration to lead with intention, empathy, and impact.
00:01:15.941 --> 00:01:23.115
This episode is your blueprint to build organizations where people flourish, not just function.
00:01:23.983 --> 00:01:28.620
So settle in, take a breath and get ready.
00:01:29.555 --> 00:01:34.093
Hello and welcome to Building Leadership Community Podcast.
00:01:34.227 --> 00:01:37.230
I'm your host, Dora Mendez.
00:01:37.430 --> 00:01:40.966
I am the founder and CEO of Coach Dora LLC.
00:01:41.367 --> 00:01:48.340
Our guests will be entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders that drive social impact.
00:01:48.641 --> 00:01:54.280
It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn't have to be.
00:01:54.379 --> 00:02:05.724
I want to pick up on something that you mentioned about serving others and, I mentioned that I started, a wellness club.
00:02:06.058 --> 00:02:06.959
Right.
00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:15.568
And so, I maybe I'm taking advantage of your expertise, but what do you do to take care of yourself?
00:02:15.735 --> 00:02:22.442
You're giving so much to others, and, you know, 20,000 clients, 600 staff.
00:02:22.876 --> 00:02:25.478
You're giving so much to others.
00:02:25.478 --> 00:02:28.313
What do you do to take care of yourself?
00:02:28.313 --> 00:02:30.182
Yeah. Thank you. Dora.
00:02:30.182 --> 00:02:37.856
I think it's essential, you know, and especially those in leadership roles, you're holding not only for yourself, but you're holding for others.
00:02:38.258 --> 00:02:40.193
You know, add to that I'm. I'm a dad.
00:02:40.193 --> 00:02:45.397
So, you know, first and foremost, my my bosses are my little people running around at home.
00:02:45.798 --> 00:02:52.104
And I don't get quite as much time as I used to, but I still carve out some time to make sure.
00:02:52.237 --> 00:03:04.250
One, I love to find myself in nature, feel really, connected when I am, hiking in the woods or if I'm out on the water, I'm a sailor.
00:03:04.984 --> 00:03:09.354
So again, something I don't get quite as much time as I used to to enjoy.
00:03:09.855 --> 00:03:12.292
But I do sail.
00:03:12.292 --> 00:03:13.960
I do you ride motorcycles as well.
00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:18.897
I'm a little bit of an adrenaline junkie, which is something that's also followed me.
00:03:18.897 --> 00:03:32.812
But that's something that I, you know, I found myself kind of, falling into a bit of a flow state, you know, kind of being one with, with the bike and the road or one with, boat and the wind.
00:03:33.246 --> 00:03:42.788
And, you know, as we find ourselves in colder days now looking forward to hopefully getting on the ski slopes for at least a couple days on my snowboard.
00:03:42.788 --> 00:03:46.793
So those are those are some things that I that really kind of fill my cup.
00:03:47.860 --> 00:03:52.699
And outside of that, I, I just love spending time with with my kids, with my dog.
00:03:52.966 --> 00:03:55.668
He barks a lot, but he's a great little pup.
00:03:55.668 --> 00:04:07.479
And, Yeah, I think it's it's, you know, it's critical to prioritize wildness for yourself, even when it feels like, a nice to have or you don't have time for it.
00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:11.617
You have to remind yourself that, that it's critical, right?
00:04:11.617 --> 00:04:18.925
You know, I think about the, the analogy of the oxygen mask on an airplane.
00:04:19.291 --> 00:04:19.625
Right.
00:04:19.625 --> 00:04:22.327
And what are the instructions you get with an oxygen mask?
00:04:22.327 --> 00:04:29.636
It's always to put it on yourself first, because if you're not helping yourself, you really can't be in a position to help others.
00:04:31.271 --> 00:04:56.963
I, I agree, and I, I have, I have we have, 11 year old and a nine year old, so, I put the I put them first often, like, if if we were ever in an accident, my instinct would be to put the mask on them first, because that's just always how I am. But, we do have to put the mask on ourselves if we can't help.
00:04:57.163 --> 00:05:00.165
If we're not, well, we can't help others.
00:05:00.266 --> 00:05:03.002
So thank you for elevating that. Yeah.
00:05:03.002 --> 00:05:06.238
And I just want to say that, you know, that instinct.
00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:09.242
I mean, that's that's an understandable instinct, right?
00:05:09.242 --> 00:05:14.514
As a parent and truth be told, I would probably do the same thing in that situation.
00:05:14.514 --> 00:05:20.920
But that's, you know, the perfect kind of metaphor for why it's important to be intentional about wellness.
00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:21.286
Right?
00:05:21.286 --> 00:05:29.062
And that's, you know, whether you're providing a wellness program to staff, which is often seen as, okay, that's nice to have, but, you know, we're busy.
00:05:29.062 --> 00:05:30.262
We have a lot of work to do.
00:05:30.262 --> 00:05:43.608
And then there's other critical benefits and one thing or another, but it's about a mindset shift to really kind of dedicate yourself to a practice of wellness that ensures that you're well functioning.
00:05:43.608 --> 00:05:45.444
You know, I'll give you another metaphor there.
00:05:45.444 --> 00:05:56.788
You know, if you have a car that you know is just on the go constantly and you're not gassing up, you're not paying attention to the oil level and you're not paying attention to that check engine light.
00:05:57.255 --> 00:06:04.596
Eventually you're going to break down, and then you're going to be forced to tend to the wellness, so to speak, of that vehicle.
00:06:04.797 --> 00:06:06.165
And we're the same.
00:06:06.165 --> 00:06:09.535
So, you know, being proactive there I think is essential.
00:06:10.103 --> 00:06:32.858
But I feel like, because of your line of work, you work with with, you know, I feel like it's even more important to sort of practice what you preach because you're helping people with their mental health and their, traumas, and you're supporting people.
00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:38.163
And I think it's important to practice what you preach.
00:06:38.163 --> 00:06:42.000
And I think that's why your role, is not a nice to have.
00:06:42.634 --> 00:06:56.915
It is essential, also for burnout, just like for practical, from a practical point of view, as, like an employer and a business, you don't, you don't.
00:06:56.915 --> 00:07:04.790
If people stay and people do their best work when they feel valued and supported and making sure their wellness and having a.
00:07:04.824 --> 00:07:07.026
Well, I mean, I feel like your role is so unique.
00:07:07.026 --> 00:07:13.466
I don't think that that's there are a lot of organizations that even have that specific role.
00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.235
It's usually relegated to HR.
00:07:16.235 --> 00:07:21.740
Like when I, I spent many years in HR for nonprofits and and it's like relegated.
00:07:23.276 --> 00:07:35.887
And so I think it's just speaks volumes to your organization to have a role that's really intentional about wellness and really practicing what is preached and walking the walk and talking the talk.
00:07:37.156 --> 00:07:40.158
listening to Building Leadership Community.
00:07:40.225 --> 00:07:42.562
Watch on YouTube @CoachDoraM.
00:07:42.562 --> 00:07:49.634
Listen, wherever you get your podcast, follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube @CoachDoraM.
00:07:49.634 --> 00:07:53.372
Visit me on the web at CoachDoraMendez.com.
00:07:53.372 --> 00:07:57.776
Hosted by me, Dora Mendez.
00:07:57.776 --> 00:08:01.814
Produced by Dora Mendez and Dylan Rogers.
00:08:02.314 --> 00:08:05.985
Graphics, editing, and sound mixing by Dylan Rogers.
00:00:00.266 --> 00:00:02.369
Welcome back, Amazing Leaders.
00:00:02.369 --> 00:00:08.942
I'm your host, Coach Dora Mendez, and today's conversation is one you absolutely need to hear.
00:00:09.708 --> 00:00:15.515
We're diving deep into what it truly means to create a culture where people don't just show up.
00:00:16.149 --> 00:00:33.232
They thrive where inclusion isn't a buzzword, but a lived experience where 600 plus employees across 23 locations feel connected, valued, valued and empowered to reach their full potential.
00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:39.972
Our guest today is doing exactly that work and he's been recognized for it.
00:00:39.972 --> 00:00:55.688
Joining us is Stephan Spilkowitz, executive leader, board member, organizational culture architect, and recent honoree as a nonprofit trailblazer by City and State Magazine.
00:00:56.756 --> 00:01:15.941
By the end of this conversation, you will walk away with actionable strategies to transform your workplace culture a deeper understanding of what inclusive leadership truly requires, and the inspiration to lead with intention, empathy, and impact.
00:01:15.941 --> 00:01:23.115
This episode is your blueprint to build organizations where people flourish, not just function.
00:01:23.983 --> 00:01:28.620
So settle in, take a breath and get ready.
00:01:29.555 --> 00:01:34.093
Hello and welcome to Building Leadership Community Podcast.
00:01:34.227 --> 00:01:37.230
I'm your host, Dora Mendez.
00:01:37.430 --> 00:01:40.966
I am the founder and CEO of Coach Dora LLC.
00:01:41.367 --> 00:01:48.340
Our guests will be entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders that drive social impact.
00:01:48.641 --> 00:01:54.280
It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn't have to be.
00:01:54.379 --> 00:02:05.724
I want to pick up on something that you mentioned about serving others and, I mentioned that I started, a wellness club.
00:02:06.058 --> 00:02:06.959
Right.
00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:15.568
And so, I maybe I'm taking advantage of your expertise, but what do you do to take care of yourself?
00:02:15.735 --> 00:02:22.442
You're giving so much to others, and, you know, 20,000 clients, 600 staff.
00:02:22.876 --> 00:02:25.478
You're giving so much to others.
00:02:25.478 --> 00:02:28.313
What do you do to take care of yourself?
00:02:28.313 --> 00:02:30.182
Yeah. Thank you. Dora.
00:02:30.182 --> 00:02:37.856
I think it's essential, you know, and especially those in leadership roles, you're holding not only for yourself, but you're holding for others.
00:02:38.258 --> 00:02:40.193
You know, add to that I'm. I'm a dad.
00:02:40.193 --> 00:02:45.397
So, you know, first and foremost, my my bosses are my little people running around at home.
00:02:45.798 --> 00:02:52.104
And I don't get quite as much time as I used to, but I still carve out some time to make sure.
00:02:52.237 --> 00:03:04.250
One, I love to find myself in nature, feel really, connected when I am, hiking in the woods or if I'm out on the water, I'm a sailor.
00:03:04.984 --> 00:03:09.354
So again, something I don't get quite as much time as I used to to enjoy.
00:03:09.855 --> 00:03:12.292
But I do sail.
00:03:12.292 --> 00:03:13.960
I do you ride motorcycles as well.
00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:18.897
I'm a little bit of an adrenaline junkie, which is something that's also followed me.
00:03:18.897 --> 00:03:32.812
But that's something that I, you know, I found myself kind of, falling into a bit of a flow state, you know, kind of being one with, with the bike and the road or one with, boat and the wind.
00:03:33.246 --> 00:03:42.788
And, you know, as we find ourselves in colder days now looking forward to hopefully getting on the ski slopes for at least a couple days on my snowboard.
00:03:42.788 --> 00:03:46.793
So those are those are some things that I that really kind of fill my cup.
00:03:47.860 --> 00:03:52.699
And outside of that, I, I just love spending time with with my kids, with my dog.
00:03:52.966 --> 00:03:55.668
He barks a lot, but he's a great little pup.
00:03:55.668 --> 00:04:07.479
And, Yeah, I think it's it's, you know, it's critical to prioritize wildness for yourself, even when it feels like, a nice to have or you don't have time for it.
00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:11.617
You have to remind yourself that, that it's critical, right?
00:04:11.617 --> 00:04:18.925
You know, I think about the, the analogy of the oxygen mask on an airplane.
00:04:19.291 --> 00:04:19.625
Right.
00:04:19.625 --> 00:04:22.327
And what are the instructions you get with an oxygen mask?
00:04:22.327 --> 00:04:29.636
It's always to put it on yourself first, because if you're not helping yourself, you really can't be in a position to help others.
00:04:31.271 --> 00:04:56.963
I, I agree, and I, I have, I have we have, 11 year old and a nine year old, so, I put the I put them first often, like, if if we were ever in an accident, my instinct would be to put the mask on them first, because that's just always how I am. But, we do have to put the mask on ourselves if we can't help.
00:04:57.163 --> 00:05:00.165
If we're not, well, we can't help others.
00:05:00.266 --> 00:05:03.002
So thank you for elevating that. Yeah.
00:05:03.002 --> 00:05:06.238
And I just want to say that, you know, that instinct.
00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:09.242
I mean, that's that's an understandable instinct, right?
00:05:09.242 --> 00:05:14.514
As a parent and truth be told, I would probably do the same thing in that situation.
00:05:14.514 --> 00:05:20.920
But that's, you know, the perfect kind of metaphor for why it's important to be intentional about wellness.
00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:21.286
Right?
00:05:21.286 --> 00:05:29.062
And that's, you know, whether you're providing a wellness program to staff, which is often seen as, okay, that's nice to have, but, you know, we're busy.
00:05:29.062 --> 00:05:30.262
We have a lot of work to do.
00:05:30.262 --> 00:05:43.608
And then there's other critical benefits and one thing or another, but it's about a mindset shift to really kind of dedicate yourself to a practice of wellness that ensures that you're well functioning.
00:05:43.608 --> 00:05:45.444
You know, I'll give you another metaphor there.
00:05:45.444 --> 00:05:56.788
You know, if you have a car that you know is just on the go constantly and you're not gassing up, you're not paying attention to the oil level and you're not paying attention to that check engine light.
00:05:57.255 --> 00:06:04.596
Eventually you're going to break down, and then you're going to be forced to tend to the wellness, so to speak, of that vehicle.
00:06:04.797 --> 00:06:06.165
And we're the same.
00:06:06.165 --> 00:06:09.535
So, you know, being proactive there I think is essential.
00:06:10.103 --> 00:06:32.858
But I feel like, because of your line of work, you work with with, you know, I feel like it's even more important to sort of practice what you preach because you're helping people with their mental health and their, traumas, and you're supporting people.
00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:38.163
And I think it's important to practice what you preach.
00:06:38.163 --> 00:06:42.000
And I think that's why your role, is not a nice to have.
00:06:42.634 --> 00:06:56.915
It is essential, also for burnout, just like for practical, from a practical point of view, as, like an employer and a business, you don't, you don't.
00:06:56.915 --> 00:07:04.790
If people stay and people do their best work when they feel valued and supported and making sure their wellness and having a.
00:07:04.824 --> 00:07:07.026
Well, I mean, I feel like your role is so unique.
00:07:07.026 --> 00:07:13.466
I don't think that that's there are a lot of organizations that even have that specific role.
00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.235
It's usually relegated to HR.
00:07:16.235 --> 00:07:21.740
Like when I, I spent many years in HR for nonprofits and and it's like relegated.
00:07:23.276 --> 00:07:35.887
And so I think it's just speaks volumes to your organization to have a role that's really intentional about wellness and really practicing what is preached and walking the walk and talking the talk.
00:07:37.156 --> 00:07:40.158
listening to Building Leadership Community.
00:07:40.225 --> 00:07:42.562
Watch on YouTube @CoachDoraM.
00:07:42.562 --> 00:07:49.634
Listen, wherever you get your podcast, follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube @CoachDoraM.
00:07:49.634 --> 00:07:53.372
Visit me on the web at CoachDoraMendez.com.
00:07:53.372 --> 00:07:57.776
Hosted by me, Dora Mendez.
00:07:57.776 --> 00:08:01.814
Produced by Dora Mendez and Dylan Rogers.
00:08:02.314 --> 00:08:05.985
Graphics, editing, and sound mixing by Dylan Rogers.
