267: Triumph Over The Unexpected with Dima Ghawi

Our guest today is an expert in many things but "what to do when things don't go according to plan" in her personal and professional lives is what has driven her to amazing heights including climbing to the top of Mount Fuji!! . International Keynote Speaker, Mountain Climber and Best-Selling Author Dima Ghawi has 20+ years experience as a global leader working for Fortune 100 companies like IBM, Merrill Lynch and Intuit and another decade advising organizations and leaders to create courageous and inclusive work cultures. Her book is entitled 'Breaking Vases: Shattering Limitations and Daring to Thrive.' But it's the strength and resiliency she's shown in breaking free from years of cultural norms as a young girl growing up in Jordan that really show who she is, and the inspiration she offers. Dima's story began with an arranged marriage at the age of 19 in Jordan, which led to a challenging period of her life marked by deep depression and isolation. However, she found the courage to break free and pursue an MBA in San Diego, leading her to join IBM's leadership development program. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Leadership Lessons from Mount Fuji: The podcast highlights a story about a team-building exercise on Mount Fuji, emphasizing that true leaders support their team rather than racing to the top alone. Overcoming Cultural Barriers: Dima Ghawi shares her experience as a Middle Eastern woman navigating cultural differences in the U.S. Dealing with Workplace Jerks: The podcast discusses strategies for handling difficult colleagues. Breaking Free from Limitations: Dima Ghawi's journey from an arranged marriage to becoming a successful leader illustrates the power of self-reflection and education in overcoming personal and professional limitations. The Misfit Advantage: Embracing one's differences can be a powerful tool in the workplace. "A leader is a person who helps the team get to the top step by step. Sometimes we're pushing the team forward. Sometimes we're walking to their side, but not the one who leaves the team behind just to get to the top first." - Dima Ghawi #leadership #culturaldifferences #workplaceculture #careers #HR #Jordan #professionaldevelopment CONNECT WITH DIMA GHAWI https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimaghawi/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Dima-Ghawi-%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A/100050491089661/ Connect with Manage Smarter Hosts · Website: ManageSmarter.com · LinkedIn: Audrey Strong · LinkedIn: C. Lee Smith Connect with SalesFuel · Website: http://salesfuel.com/ · Twitter: @SalesFuel · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices