The Power of Curiosity and Choice in Leadership with Brian August, CFO of Oregon Humane Society Part 1

04/27/23 • 39 min

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Brian August, Chief Financial Officer of Oregon Humane Society, an organization founded in 1868 dedicated to helping animals and people. Together, they delve into how leaders, teams, and organizations can better manage risk and thrive amidst uncertainty and change.
Brian has been with Oregon Humane Society for six years, first as the Chief Operating Officer and now as the Chief Financial Officer. Previously, he was a strategy and operations leader for notable companies including Slalom, E&J Gallo Winery, and the Gap.
Join them as they discuss:- The power of choice as a leader
- The dangers of binary thinking
- How to cultivate self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- The importance of eliminating judgment as a leader
- When to use your intuition–and when to ignore it
- When to stop planning for the worst-case scenario
- How successful leadership teams debate risk
- How to support productive conflict within your team
- Unconventional wisdom about giving and receiving feedback
- How to reduce meetings and schedule overwhelm in your organization
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn.

Previous Episode

Creating Safety, Trust, and Belonging in the Workplace with Mike Reese, Retired Sheriff of Multnomah County

In this first-ever episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Mike Reese, Retired Sheriff of Multnomah County, to discuss how leaders can inspire a shared vision and lead a thriving organization during times of crisis.
Mike recently retired from a 33-year career in law enforcement. Most recently, he was the Sheriff of Multnomah County. Prior to that, he was Chief of Police in the City of Portland. And he also happens to be Alexandra’s dad. Join them as they consider:

- The key attributes of exceptional leadership
- How leaders can inspire a shared vision in a large, diverse organization
- How to strengthen communication and a culture of feedback in large organizations
- What it takes to create safety, trust, and belonging during times of crisis
- How the pandemic continues to impact mental health and performance and what leaders must do in response
- The power of purpose in building credibility as a leader
- How to set up systems that drive your focus to the right things at the right times
- How to handle the loneliness and isolation of being at the top
- Why great leaders are students of history
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.For more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn.

Next Episode

The Power of Curiosity and Choice in Leadership with Brian August, CFO of Oregon Humane Society Part 2

In this episode of Empowered Leadership, host Alexandra Reese is joined by Brian August, Chief Financial Officer of Oregon Humane Society, an organization founded in 1868 dedicated to helping animals and people. Together, they delve into how leaders, teams, and organizations can better manage risk and thrive amidst uncertainty and change.
Brian has been with Oregon Humane Society for six years, first as the Chief Operating Officer and now as the Chief Financial Officer. Previously, he was a strategy and operations leader for notable companies including Slalom, E&J Gallo Winery, and the Gap.
Join them as they discuss:

- The power of choice as a leader
- The dangers of binary thinking
- How to cultivate self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- The importance of eliminating judgment as a leader
- When to use your intuition–and when to ignore it
- When to stop planning for the worst case scenario
- How successful leadership teams debate risk
- How to support productive conflict within your team
- Unconventional wisdom about giving and receiving feedback
- How to reduce meetings and schedule overwhelm in your organizationIf you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review the show (instructions available here), and share with a friend! Your support makes a tremendous difference in spreading the word, so thank you.For moFor more information on Alexandra Reese visit her website or connect via LinkedIn.