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Dr. Melisa Buie is a problem solver, author, and operational excellence leader known for making complex systems work better. Her work spans advanced technologies such as lasers and semiconductor equipment, as well as large-scale global manufacturing and business systems.

Melisa’s career sits at the intersection of engineering innovation and operational performance. She has held key roles with leading organizations in the semiconductor and photonics industries, including Lam Research, Coherent, Applied Materials, and Advanced Energy. As Global Director for Lean Operational Excellence at Coherent, Inc., a $2B global photonics solutions company, she led initiatives that advanced both engineering performance and enterprise-wide transformation. Earlier in her career, she served as a Member of the Technical Staff and Engineering Manager at Applied Materials and Advanced Energy, and as a Research Scientist with Science Applications International Corporation at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., where she focused on theoretical laser systems.

In addition to her industry leadership, Melisa is an author and educator. She wrote Problem Solving for New Engineers: What Every Engineering Manager Wants You to Know in 2017, drawing on her experience bridging industry and academia. She also taught graduate-level courses for nearly a decade at San Jose State University in the Department of Biomedical, Chemical, and Materials Engineering, where she helped develop the next generation of engineering leaders and problem solvers.

A Few Quotes From This Episode

• “If it’s safe to fail, then it’s safe to learn and grow.”
• “Experimentation is something that leads to a lot of failure.”
• “Part of the reason we don’t like failing is because of all the emotions that come with it.”
• “You’ve got to separate the story you make up about the failure.”

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Book: Faceplant: Free Yourself From Failure's Funk by Buie and colleagues
• Book: Problem Solving for New Engineers: What Every Engineering Manager Wants You to Know by Buie

About The International Leadership Association (ILA)

• The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership.

About Scott J. Allen

• Website
• Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders

My Approach to Hosting

• The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can

♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast!
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Elisa Mallis is currently the Global Vice President of Global Research, Innovation and New Content Creation at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL®), a top-ranked global provider of executive education. The organization uses research to develop people into better leaders, transforming individuals, teams, organizations, and societies.

She has over 20 years of experience as a business leader focused on transformational change, human capital strategy, and sales and marketing. She is known for her ability to successfully blend a focus on purpose and values with practical actions and results. Growing up between countries, Greece and the United States, her journey has taken her to work and live in 16 different countries, with the last 17+ years based in Asia, including Beijing, Sydney, and Singapore.

Dr. Cynthia Cherrey is President and CEO of the International Leadership Association (ILA), a global community committed to increasing quality research, teaching, and leadership practices contributing to the world's common good. As president of a multi-sector and global professional association, she promotes rigor and relevance of leadership at the intersection of theory and practice. Previously, Cynthia was Lecturer in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and Vice President for Campus Life at Princeton University.

A Few Quotes From This Episode

• “Leadership has become more of a team sport.”
• “The only thing of real importance that leaders do is to create and manage culture.”
• “Leadership is becoming less about having all the answers and more about being able to say, ‘I don’t know.’”
• “We need to double down on human connection.”

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Article: Moving Beyond the Why: 4 Knowledge Shifts for Global Leaders by Mallis and Hardy

About The International Leadership Association (ILA)

• The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership.

About Scott J. Allen

• Website
• Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders

My Approach to Hosting

• The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic.

♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast!
⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice.
➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech.
📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles.
🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

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Dr. Joel Rothaizer is a psychologist, executive coach, organizational consultant and leadership development specialist. He’s Board Certified in Organizational & Business Consulting Psychology, and a Master Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation. His book on leadership, called Clear Impact, has been strongly endorsed by Ken Wilber. The head of Integral Zen calls it the most integral book on leadership he’s ever read.

A Few Quotes From This Episode

• “Without a practice of reflection, you cannot build leadership capacity. Period. End of story.”
• "What happens in our sessions has zero meaning unless you’re applying it.”
• “Do you start your day with an intention of who you want to be?”

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Episode #1 - Rethinking The Polarity Map with Dr. Joel Rothaizer
• Episode #2 - The Wake I Leave with Dr. Joel Rothaizer
• Trey Anastasio - His Story About Drug Court

About The International Leadership Association (ILA)

• The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership.

About Scott J. Allen

• Website
• Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders

My Approach to Hosting

• The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration

♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast!
⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice.
➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech.
📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles.
🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.