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Joanna Riley is the CEO of Censia — a platform built to transform the way companies hire talent— and an active member of the entrepreneurship community as an early-stage investor and Chapter Chair of YPO San Francisco Bay. In this episode, Joanna dips an oar into her experiences as an elite rower to discuss the importance of mastering the hard-won habit of learning from failure.
“You hear no a lot more than you hear yes. And sometimes, those are discouraging, but I learned to probe them. When somebody tells me ‘no,’ my next question is to ask them why?” said the former Junior National Team and University of Virginia rower. “Knowing why offers the only way for me to take a lesson from failure. I ask what I can do to be better and figure out how to adapt.”
Taking lessons from failure has served Joanna very well. She is one of the 100 highest-ranking women in technology, and today she is part of the President’s Program at Harvard Business School, where she is receiving her MBA.
Leaders wishing to understand cutting-edge talent acquisition and development will enjoy Joanna’s insights. “Einstein once said, ‘Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid,'” observed Joanna. “He was talking about the difference between success and failure as learning what your strengths. I didn’t know I was a good athlete until I found rowing. The same applies to recruitment.”
You will learn:
- 3:00 A leader’s greatest asset.
- 7:00 The importance of storytelling in business.
- 9:00 Why the best people often are the least traditionally credentialed candidates.
- 11:30 The limitations of AI in today’s talent acquisition platforms.
- 18:00 The qualities every successful entrepreneur exhibits.
- 24:00 How to view failure as a badge of honor.
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Greg Brenneman
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John C. Maxwell
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Simon Sinek
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Beth Brooke
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
Rick Hendrick
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Bill George
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
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