Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong with Jerry Colonna

Episode Summary of Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong with Jerry Colonna

• Leadership, growth, and overcoming fear. 0:02

  • Jerry Colonna and Phil Gerbyshak share advice they received early in their careers, with Jerry's father's "more ash shows" advice leading to boldness and Phil's boss's warning of limited career growth proving to be motivation for success.

• The speaker reflects on the experience with the lens of age and now sees that the boss was experiencing fear and disconnection from the company's needs.

• Personal growth and healing through recognizing shared experiences. 4:54

  • Jerry reflects on their childhood and how their father's fearfulness and lack of standing up for themselves influenced their desire to leave their hometown and create a new life.

  • Phil shares their own experience of leaving their hometown at 18 to join the Navy, and how they now recognize the importance of reconciling with their past and reuniting with parts of themselves they escaped.

  • Leaders recognize shared universal experience of longing to belong, heal gaps in self and others.

• Immigration and ancestry. 11:31

  • Phil reflects on his grandparents' immigration story and early life in America.

  • Jerry reflects on the bravery of immigrants who left behind traumatic experiences to start anew in a foreign land.

  • Jerry shares personal experience of immigration and highlights lack of political action to address the issue.

  • Jerry reflects on the importance of acknowledging one's ancestry and cultural heritage in personal and professional settings.

• Leadership, empathy, and personal growth. 20:06

  • Ancestors' trauma response: don't talk about it, anglicize names, and be grateful for landing, but recognize community support.

  • Phil and Jerry discuss the importance of empathy and vulnerability in overcoming division and divisiveness, with a focus on personal experiences and authenticity.

  • Jerry emphasizes the importance of self-inquiry and personal growth for effective leadership.

  • Jerry shares his book "Reunion" and encourages others to take action.

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