Liza Engel and Daryl Urbanski discussed various topics, including the importance of prioritizing sustainability and inclusivity in business, reframing failure as an opportunity for growth, focusing on one's 'why' and 'why not' in life and work, and addressing common pitfalls of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the workplace. They also shared personal experiences with parenthood and the challenges of navigating complex emotions and relationships.

Reasons Why You Should Listen To The Full Interview

• Learn the importance of iteration and experimentation in personal and professional growth.
• Learn Legacy, impact, and purpose in life.
• Learn parenting, adoption, and navigating difficult situations with empathy and leadership.

Resources

• Reach out to Liza via her website Blog | Liza Engel
• Reach out to Lize Engel LinkedIn
• You may reach her on Deloitte
• For more Informative Interviews Click Here.

Episode Highlights

Liza Engel: Career path, failures, and growth with a prominent leader in sustainability and leadership transformation.

• Liza  shares her story and insights on leadership and sustainability.
• Liza realized early on that her parents' lack of involvement in her career path would mean she'd have to work harder to succeed.
• After studying genetics and realizing it wasn't for her, Engel took a year off and financed her own education, leading her to a career in commerce and business.
• Liza Engel shares her journey of overcoming challenges and failures in her career, realizing that each failure is a nudge in a better direction.
• She emphasizes the importance of planning and preparation, but also being open to opportunities and adapting to changes.

The importance of iteration and experimentation in personal and professional growth.

• Daryl Urbanski discusses the importance of failure and iteration in problem-solving.

• Liza Engel and Daryl Urbanski discuss the importance of play and iteration in various fields, including fitness, music, and parenting.

• They emphasize the need for a balance between drilling and playing, as well as the importance of interpreting songs and adjusting them to create something new.

Career growth, failure, and purpose with a focus on jujitsu and martial arts.

• Daryl Urbanski discusses the importance of drilling techniques in martial arts to achieve mastery.

• Liza Engel agrees that failure can be a catalyst for growth and faster progression in career and personal development.

• Liza Engel focuses on her "why" and "how" to prioritize her energy and productivity.

• She finds meaning in her work-life balance as a mom of three and full-time worker.

Legacy, impact, and purpose in life.

• Daryl Urbanski discusses immortality and sustainability, prioritizing personal trophies and ethical actions.

• Daryl Urbanski and Liza Engel agree that people have a desire for legacy and impact, but may have different perspectives on how to achieve it.

• They discuss the idea of duality and the importance of trying to get to merit and avoid stereotyping in various situations.

Potential pitfalls in implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

• Liza Engel notes that companies may superficially adopt DEI initiatives without addressing underlying issues.

• Liza Engel realized she could have done better in a project involving maternity and paternity leave after receiving an email from an employee group.

• Engel apologized for not considering the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in her wording, and vowed to do better in the future.

Gender-neutral language for parental leave.

• Liza Engel and Daryl Urbanski discuss maternity leave and gender-affirming language.

• Urbanski shares personal experience with donating sperm to a lesbian couple, and his perspective on the issue.

• Daryl Urbanski and Liza Engel discuss parenting roles and responsibilities.

• Urbanski suggests two men can take turns caring for their child, addressing survival concerns.

Parenting, adoption, and navigating difficult situations with empathy and leadership.

• Daryl Urbanski shares his personal experiences as an orphan and foster child, highlighting the importance of understanding the differences between people who just have kids and those who want to have kids.
• Liza and Daryl Urbanski discuss the challenges of being a single child raised in a single parent household, and the importance of recognizing the value of having a supportive family.

Embracing diversity and finding common ground through open communication.

• Liza  shares a personal story of learning to respond to criticism with a positive attitude.
• Engel uses a situation at work to demonstrate how to turn a challenge into an opportunity.
• Daryl Urbanski and Liza discuss vocational training programs in Canada and Switzerland.

Tribalism and polarization in politics and society, with a focus on personal actions for positive change.

• Daryl Urbanski discusses tribalism in politics, arguing that it's about outcomes rather than ideologies.
• Liza agrees, citing algorithms that foster polarization and the importance of engaging with opposing views.
• Liza  discusses her switch to vegetarianism, citing personal reflection and environmental impact as reasons.
• Daryl Urbanski questions the authenticity of some environmental movements, citing a study on squirrel behavior.

Trust, forgiveness, and the potential for hidden agendas in relationships.

• Daryl Urbanski and Liza discuss the importance of trust and skepticism in relationships.
• Liza reflects on her own experiences with hidden agendas and protection mechanisms in new relationships.
• Daryl Urbanski and Liza discuss the importance of trust and forgiveness in personal and professional relationships.
• They reference books such as "Humankind" and "The Art of War" to illustrate the impact of historical narratives on our beliefs about human nature.

Sustainable business practices and the importance of focusing on outcomes.

• Daryl Urbanski emphasizes the importance of focusing on outcomes in addressing global warming and sustainability.
• Liza Engel highlights the need to shift focus from short-term outcomes to long-term sustainability, citing Paul Polman's leadership in this area.
• Daryl Urbanski highlights the importance of sustainability in business, citing examples of innovative practices that reduce waste and promote circular economy.
• He emphasizes the need for business leaders to adopt skills and behaviors that prioritize inclusivity, ethical decision-making, and long-term thinking.

Sustainable transformation in business, focusing on creating positive value and investing in people.

• Liza  emphasizes the importance of redefining KPIs to prioritize positive value creation and social impact, rather than just reducing negative impacts.
• Daryl Urbanski agrees and highlights the need to invest in people as an investment, rather than just focusing on short-term profits.
• Daryl Urbanski discusses importance of investing in people, including parents, and the impact on morale and mental health.
• Urbanski highlights critical success factors for small and medium sized businesses, including corporate social responsibility, integrity, and transparency.
• Liza emphasizes the importance of identifying one's values and purpose, rather than solely focusing on financial success.
• Engel encourages listeners to embrace sustainability and AI, while remaining optimistic and believing in the good in the world.

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