Today, we are joined by Tekeisha Zimmerman, who leads Professional Development for the People Team at Expedia. In this episode, Tekeisha shares her journey in a role intentionally created to foster growth among talent development professionals. We dive into the challenges she faced, like the initial lack of developed career pathways, and explore innovative initiatives such as Expedia’s quarterly “Day of Learning” and a leadership podcast aimed at making learning more accessible.
Tekeisha also reflects on her transformative experience at Amazon, where she honed her skills in a high-pressure, customer-centric environment, learning valuable lessons in resilience, innovation, and leadership. We discuss the importance of stability during times of organizational change, the emotional impact of leadership transitions, and how empathy and communication play crucial roles in navigating these shifts. Additionally, Tekeisha opens up about her personal journey, emphasizing the need for intentionality and empathy in leadership, inspired by her experiences and passions.
Don’t miss this episode filled with practical insights and inspiring stories that will leave you eager to foster a learning culture within your own organization.
Full Episode
Guest Links
Show Notes
- [00:00 — 03:13] How elephants show human-like empathy after loss.
- [03:14 — 09:09] Empathy shared during challenging times brings support.
- [09:10 — 11:34] Unexpected slow career progress; needing goal clarity.
- [11:35 — 14:44] People Team Day of Learning gains popularity.
- [14:45 — 18:13] Amazon’s six-page narrative fosters comprehensive idea evaluation.
- [18:14 — 20:20] Begin with “why” in structured writing culture.
- [20:21 — 23:51] “Go fast, but as slow as necessary.”
- [23:52 — 28:28] Efficiency vs. innovation: balancing time in leadership.
- [28:29 — 31:15] Focusing on resilience and practical change management.
- [31:16 — 35:19] Resiliency is about maintaining stability during change.
- [35:20 — 37:40] The importance of leadership in addressing trauma bonding and creating an environment that promotes emotional well-being.
- [37:41 — 41:44] Consistent, intentional change model across all programs.
- [41:55 — 42:44] Coaching grief support, rediscovering leadership passion.
- [42:45 — 44:30] Personal experiences with grief, the intention to support others through coaching, and reflections on cultural approaches to handling loss.
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