Overcoming Doubt and Pursuing Passion with Redfoo and Piers Ridyard

07/11/23 • 50 min

2 Listeners

Who are Redfoo and Piers Ridyard?

Redfoo, born Stefan Kendal Gordy, is a multi-platinum-selling singer and two times Grammy nominee, songwriter, producer, and Web3 coder. Despite facing hurdles and criticism, Redfoo pursued his passion for music and achieved success. He is best known for his hit single "Party Rock Anthem" in 2011 and his performance for Super Bowl Half-Time Show in 2012. However, he has recently shifted his focus towards coding, considering it the ultimate creativity that combines math, science, engineering, and language.

Piers Ridyard is CEO of Radix, a Web3 and DeFi company. He collaborates with Redfoo to create accessible and user-friendly digital platforms. They both share a common goal of making Web3 and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) easily approachable for everyone. They collaborated to develop #Scrypto, a programming language that simplifies the process of building on Web3 and DeFi, enabling individuals to create projects in a short time frame.

What will you learn?

The potential for personal growth and reinvention when transitioning to new career paths or passions.
Effective leadership skills and strategies for driving transformative advancements in a chosen field.
The idea process of development of user-friendly programming languages that facilitate easy participation in digital innovation.
The importance of fostering relationships, nurturing communities, and promoting collaboration in driving innovation within decentralized technologies.

Story Summary:

Growing up, Redfoo harbored aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player, only to have his dreams dashed when his mother asserted that his height would prevent him from making it. Undeterred, he turned his attention to music, immersing himself in rap and showcasing his talent with a Casio keyboard. Despite facing further skepticism from his father, the influential music industry figure Barry Gordy, who doubted his vocal abilities, Redfoo defied the odds and achieved remarkable success as a multi-platinum rapper. These experiences taught him the importance of pursuing personal dreams and not allowing external opinions to sway his path.

Driven by a newfound passion, Redfoo has recently shifted gears towards coding, which he regards as the epitome of creativity. His journey led him to connect with Piers Ridyard, the CEO of Radix, who was impressed by Redfoo's knowledge and inquisitiveness about programming. Together, they organized Foo Hack, an event that brought together their shared love for chess and the objective of creating a non-hackable, web-based application. Their collaborative efforts aim to build digital platforms that are user-friendly and accessible, with the introduction of Scrypto, a programming language designed to simplify the adoption of Web3 and Decentralized Finance for individuals of all backgrounds.

Central to the endeavors of Redfoo and Ridyard is the recognition of the influence of building relationships and community. Redfoo emphasizes the significance of people skills, the ability to trust and judge character, and the desire to learn from others. His initial connection with Radix and Piers was fostered through shared humor, vegan food, and a shared affinity for dogs. Ridyard, as a CEO, emphasizes the importance of aligning people with a common vision and understanding their motivations. Both individuals firmly believe that networking is not solely about personal gain but about cultivating a network that nurtures collective innovation and inspiration. By bringing people together, they have witnessed the remarkable outcomes that arise from the mutual exchange of energy and ideas.

Join us and listen to Redfoo and Piers’ insights about building confidence, overcoming doubt, pursuing our passion, and recognizing the benefits of networking for our community, not just for ourselves.

Thought Leadership Segment:

In our Thought Leadership Segment Christine Ramirez, Managing Partner of Dale Carnegie South Florida, shares her valuable insights on building confidence in both our personal and professional lives. Listen to Christine’s insights on gaining confidence and get a valuable resource on how to face doubts, pause when needed, and continue to seek the inner strength to overcome challenges, pursue ideas, and our dreams, and thrive in various aspects of life.

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We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

Who are Redfoo and Piers Ridyard?

What will you learn?

The potential for personal growth and reinvention when transitioning to new career paths or passions.
Effective leadership skills and strategies for driving transformative advancements in a chosen field.
The idea process of development of user-friendly programming languages that facilitate easy participation in digital innovation.
The importance of fostering relationships, nurturing communities, and promoting collaboration in driving innovation within decentralized technologies.

Story Summary:

Thought Leadership Segment:

Please rate and review this Episode!

Previous Episode

From Engineering to Empathy: A Leadership Journey with Merrie Williamson

Who is Merrie Williamson

Meet Merrie Williamson, an accomplished leader with a diverse background. With 20 years of experience leading engineering teams at Intel and currently serving as the Corporate Vice President of Azure Infra at Microsoft, Merrie's career trajectory has been remarkable. In this episode, Merrie shares her personal journey of discovery and the pivotal moment that led her to embrace empathy and transition into her current leadership role as CVP of Azure Infrastructure and Digital & App Innovation at Microsoft.

Gain insights into the following key areas:

• Merrie's Leadership Style: Discover how Merrie's unique leadership style, rooted in empathy, has helped her navigate the challenges of leading diverse teams in the tech industry.

• Career Transition Moment: Learn about Merrie's transformative shift from engineering to sales leadership and the valuable lessons she gained from engaging directly with customers and understanding the intersection of technology, sales, marketing, and business transformation.

• Diversity in the Tech Industry: Explore the importance of diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, as Merrie shares her experiences and insights on creating an inclusive work environment.

• The Power of Mentoring, Coaching, and Executive Presence: Delve into the significance of mentoring, coaching, and developing executive presence, as Merrie highlights their impact on personal growth and leadership development.

Merrie’s journey from engineering to sales at Azure and Microsoft was a significant and eye-opening shift. She transitioned from working with complex technologies in the cloud supply chain to engaging directly with customers, understanding their technology needs, and guiding them through business transformation.

This transition became Merrie’s "empathy moment," where she gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of sales and developed empathy for engineering, sales, and marketing. As a leader, Merrie leverages a diverse "knowledge base" within her company, drawing expertise from various departments. She adopts a coaching approach to empower her managers and teams to make informed decisions.

Merrie emphasizes the importance of looking inward and approaching team members authentically. She values the support of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), such as women in tech and Black tech networks, as a sounding board for ideas, coaching, and peer mentoring. Through these communities, Merrie found her voice and was able to engage with senior managers and trusted individuals.

As a leader, Merrie recognizes the significance of role modeling and continuous learning. She prioritizes understanding when team members need breaks to rejuvenate and perform their best in challenging tasks.

Also, listen to our thought leadership spotlight featuring Travis Daniels, CEO of Dale Carnegie Washington, who reflects on the vital role of empathy in today's business environment. Learn how applying Dale Carnegie's principles and approaching situations with an open mind can elevate your leadership effectiveness.

Please rate and review this Episode!

Next Episode

Culture of Belonging and Empathy with Britta Wilson

*Note: This episode was recorded in March 2023

About our guest:

Meet Britta Wilson, who most recently served as the Vice President of Inclusion & Outreach at Pixar Animation, where she led initiatives to discover, nurture and empower diverse voices. Her primary focus is on cultivating resonant content, fostering a culture of belonging, and promoting compassionate community service.

Prior to Pixar, she served as the Chief Diversity Officer/VP for Inclusion Strategies at Expedia, where corporate partners were often engaged in the filmmaking business, and as the SVP of Organization & People at Paramount Pictures.

Her journey was far from conventional, comprising a series of adventures that shaped her career and life philosophy. This perspective became her guiding principle: a closed door leads to new opportunities.

Britta's life journey also involved prioritizing her family and pursuing a Ph.D. in Education, specializing in organizational leadership. She consistently sought opportunities to make an impact and learn, even if it meant taking on roles with less prestigious titles. Setbacks were seen as learning moments, never reasons to wallow.

What you will learn:

How to turn setbacks into opportunities for personal and professional growth
How to embrace a unique and non-linear career path
How to adopt a jungle gym approach to mindset and skill development
The art of active listening and learning from team members at all levels
How to cultivate a culture of belonging and empathy within an organization
Strategic methods for driving change within diverse organizations.
The power of storytelling as a platform for creating a lasting impact on people's lives

Leadership Style & Story Summary:

As a leader, Britta values the input and insights of her team members, firmly believing that everyone has the capacity to lead, regardless of their job title. To drive cultural change within organizations, she employs a strategic approach, engaging her team to collaboratively define the culture and envision a future where inclusivity thrives. The "Inclusion Summit" she organized serves as a powerful catalyst for fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion among all employees.

Her approach aligns seamlessly with Pixar's "Culture Trust Process," which involves actively involving everyone in the filmmaking process, irrespective of their role. Britta recognizes storytelling as a potent tool to impact lives and feels privileged to contribute to stories that will endure long after her involvement.

Join us in this captivating podcast episode as we delve into Britta Wilson's inspiring journey and her dedication to creating a positive impact through storytelling and inclusive leadership.

Dale Carnegie Thought Leadership Segment

Also, listen to Brittany Schmid, President/CEO at Dale Carnegie of San Diego, Los Angeles, Bay Area & Sacramento, as she shares insights on the profound influence of Empathy on both people and businesses.

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