Cathleen has a fascinating conversation with Mosongo Moukwa, an expert in leadership and organisational change. With over 30 years of experience, Mosongo shares insights from his early days of management to his current prowess as a business coach and president of Hathaway Advanced Materials. This episode unpacks innovation beyond the traditional realms, advocating for a cohesive approach across all organisational sectors. Mosongo and Cathleen discuss the vitality of curiosity and the psychological safety necessary for fostering a culture of innovation. Mosongo's leadership journey marked by self-discovery, continuous learning, and building significant human connections shows what is needed to be an effective leader. He also emphasises the importance of nurturing potential within teams and leaving a lasting impact on individuals' lives.

Episode Timeline:

00:01 Mosongo’s book 'Be a Leader of Significance' emphasises daily impactful leadership moments.

09:41 Weekly challenges promoted people-focused management development.

13:25 Striving for positive impact through coaching and mentoring.

17:19 Discuss memories, values, competencies, and influential books.

25:28 Questioning sense of authenticity and conformity.

28:28 Discussion on safety and risk in material production.

32:49 Growth mindset fuels resilience through new challenges.

38:13 Reflection on work experience leads to writing his book.

45:02 Employees want to be valued with gestures.

51:25 Significant leadership focuses on heart and mind.

54:02 Recommendation for past employees, maintaining human connections.

01:02:51 Children have specific needs, learn through open-ended questions.

01:05:32 Innovation in plastic coating moves from the lab.

01:11:53 Encouraging feedback, share your desired life legacy.

Key Takeaways:

• Innovation Is a Behaviour: Expand the boundaries of innovation beyond R&D and marketing. It is a collaborative effort driven by curiosity and a culture of psychological safety across the organisation.

• Growth Through Support: The alignment of support and challenge is crucial in leadership. An effective leader creates lasting emotional connections, impacting both the hearts and minds of team members.

• Leading with Authenticity: Leadership is not just a position, it's a journey. Embrace your unique experiences and lead with whole-person integrity. Authenticity builds trust and encourages others to follow in their truth.

ABOUT  Mosongo Moukwa

Mosongo Moukwa is a seasoned executive and consultant who has dedicated his career to helping companies thrive by commercializing new technologies, diversifying their product offerings, and entering new markets.

Across thirty-plus years in leadership, Mosongo has applied his unique talent for identifying leadership gaps and developing the talent and culture necessary for success. He helps solve important innovation challenges that hold organizations back by unleashing the collective creativity of their people. This results in increased profitability and growth expansion.

Mosongo has held leadership positions in R & D and operations at some of the world’s most respected brands, including vice president, global technology at SC Johnson; vice president, global technology at Reichhold; vice president, technology at Asian Paints; director of technology at Avient (formerly Poly- One); and chief, global R & D at PCBL (formerly Phillips Carbon Black Ltd.). He is currently President at Hathaway Advanced Materials.

Mosongo holds a PhD from Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada; a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University, Illinois; and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, US. He has been a keynote speaker at numerous international technical conferences and holds several patents. Be a Leader of Significance is his new book.

Connect with Mosongo:

Book: https://a.co/d/c3HZFE3

Social Media Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosongomoukwa/

Connect:

Find | Cathleen O’Sullivan

Business: cathleenmerkel.com

Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel-2b0991151

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cathleenmerkel

Twitter: twitter.com/CathleenMerkel7

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