Advertise on podcast: 10 Lessons Learned

About CJ Cornell Host Diana White welcomes returning guest CJ Cornell —entrepreneur, engineer, former Arizona State University professor who helped start its entrepreneurship program, mentor/advisor, and author of The Age of Entrepreneurship and new children’s books—to share 10 life lessons: finish what you start because completion creates results; knowing who you are and what you want outweighs being smart or ambitious; understanding the problem beats delivering a solution; hands-on expertise can become a curse if it prevents delegation; self-awareness and being present are rare superpowers; persistence isn’t always heroic and endurance can mask futility, so learn when to pivot; patience isn’t inaction and timing matters (illustrated by waiting for better AI tools to complete children’s books); listen for what isn’t said, including body language; most people aren’t thinking about you; and most fears aren’t real, illustrated by the “Scars Experiment.” Cornell shares current projects: two children’s series (entrepreneurship books and the Bailey Bear life-lesson books) plus an upcoming mentorship book, The Startup Brain Trust. CJ Cornell is the author of the bestselling book The Age of Metapreneurship – A Journey into the Future of Entrepreneurship, and The Startup Brain Trust – A Guidebook for Startups, Entrepreneurs, and the Experts that Help them Become Great, and coauthor of the textbook Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship. CJ Cornell holds undergraduate degrees in engineering, a master’s in management and a Ph.D. in marketing and strategy. Outside of business, CJ has practiced martial arts for 21 years and has been an instructor for eight years. He holds advanced black belts in Karate, Jujitsu, Aikido and in other disciplines. The Smithsonian recognized CJ as one of the influential teachers and mentors of 1999. ranked in the top 50 most influential websites for entrepreneurship and startups. Episode Notes 00:00 Leadership - Intro 02:54 Lesson 1: Complete Things 04:07 Lesson 2: Knowing Who You Are 08:36 Lesson 3: Understanding the Problem 10:51 Lesson 4: Hands-On Skills 12:55 Lesson 5: Self-Awareness 15:13 Lesson 6: Persistence 19:16 Lesson 7: Patience 22:10 Lesson 8: Learn to Listen 26:07 Lesson 9: People Aren't Thinking About You 28:17 Lesson 10: Your Fears Aren't Real

Rebroadcast in Memory of Eddie Grobler About Eddie Grobler In July 2019, Eddie established Commerce 2040. The main objective is to use Commerce 2040 as a “platform” for engagement with different stakeholders in the payments value chain with the key focus on payment flows in a dynamic and changing environment. He is currently involved is a number of explorative engagements with stakeholders – mainly start-up organisations and entities who are interested in entering the Australasian market. Eddie Grobler was the Executive Vice President: Australasia Division from 2008 and in August 2016, he was appointed as Executive Vice President: Realtime Payments. Based in London, he was responsible for the development and execution of Mastercard’s real time payments strategy. Part of this strategy was to acquire a UK real time payments company. Eddie was part of the due diligence team. After the successful acquisition of Vocalink he took responsibility for the integration of the company into Mastercard. This project was successfully completed in November 2018 after which he returned back to Australia. Eddie retired, after 20 years, from Mastercard on 31 December 2018. Prior to 2008 Eddie was Based in Johannesburg, as the Senior Vice President: Sub-Sahara Division Eddie was responsible for all the Mastercard Africa business operations, in particular, the development of the Mastercard franchise in Africa, sub-Sahara. He was instrumental in the opening of the Mastercard offices in Nigeria, Kenya and Morocco. Eddie holds two Master's Degrees: one in Business Leadership the other in Psychology. Episode Notes 00:00 Intro 05:15 Lesson 1: The Answer Is in Your Hands 08:11 Lesson 2: Culture Matters and Always Will 11:16 Lesson 3: Writing in the Snow 13:33 Lesson 4: What's Your Decency Quotient? 16:51 Lesson 5: Your Mindset Matters a Lot 21:47 Lesson 6: Far or Fast, You Choose 23:53 Lesson 7: Make Recognition Your Job 29:57 Lesson 8: Reverse Mentoring 36:12 Lesson 9: Your Career Is Not a One Day Game 39:30 Lesson 10: Don't Jerk the Knee or Shoot the Mouth

About Chelle Johnson Chelle is a first-generation college graduate who grew up with limiting beliefs, fear, and dysfunction. Through faith, resilience, grit, and determination, she achieved executive leadership roles in Talent Acquisition and Human Resources at Fortune 50 companies including Comcast, Lockheed Martin, Quest Diagnostics and Honeywell. She has lived and worked in Asia and Latin America, acquired her MBA, and speaks Spanish and English. Through her agency Best You Talent Advisors, she now helps high achievers and diversity allies discover and amplify their strengths and purpose and realize abundance in their careers and lives. Chelle is a career ally, change maker, and positive mental fitness authority who helps people be their best. She loves guiding people to get crystal clear on who they are and what they want and building the courage and confidence to achieve those personal and professional goals. She is known for coaching and advising people to listen to their inner wisdom, take risks, build their bravery and have the courage to seek their best lives. Episode Notes 00:00 Intro 11:25 Lesson 1: Learn the Business Deeply 16:17 Lesson 2: Relationships Matter 22:00 Lesson 3: Stay Curious and Keep Learning 30:44 Lesson 4: The Most Important Person to Impress is Yourself 38:04 Lesson 5: Admit and Learn from Failures  

About Samir Domah Samir spent over 15 years climbing the ladder in FMCG and data, helping brands win space on Tesco shelves and leading multi-million-pound insight and media portfolios for retailers like Booker, John Lewis and global CPGs. On paper, he had the classic "good job" story: senior roles, a growing team, and industry recognition including a Top 30 Under 40 Loyalty Royalty award. But after bad job role landed him hospital, he sought to make a change and within 12 months had become an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author, Speaker on Men's Mental Health and taken his musings to stage with Stand Comedy. He now coaches others to make their life count. Episode Notes 00:00 Intro 03:13 Lesson 1: Make It Count 07:05 Lesson 2: Your Value Isn't Define by The Position You Are In Now 12:36 Lesson 3: Even Your Toughest Foe, Is Soft Somewhere Else 17:13 Lesson 4: Clarity Beats Complexity 20:25 Lesson 5: It's Easy To Overcomplicate Your Customer 25:25 Lesson 6: Do Pre-Mortems, Not Post-Mortems 29:56 Lesson 7: You Can Learn As Much From The Little Guys As The Big Guys 32:56 Lesson 8: Data is King, Humans Are Still The Queen 35:34 Lesson 9: Treat Your Sales Cycles like A Love Marriage 39:18 Lesson 10: The Best DEI Programs Have An Exit Plan  

About Ranjith Ravula Ranjith Ravula is an inspiring entrepreneur who transitioned from earning hourly wages as a limo driver and accountant to founding a successful recruiting business. His journey began with humble beginnings, encountering setbacks and deceit, but he persevered and expanded his network. In 2016, he launched Raks Group, a firm that now boasts $4M in revenue as of 2022. Under his leadership, the company focuses on IT staffing and includes innovative services like SociaM8. Ranjith emphasizes the creation of a strong personal brand and helps others establish businesses in the USA. Known for his resilience and adaptability, Ranjith has exemplified how challenges can be transformed into opportunities. Outside of his professional achievements, he remains dedicated to his community and passionate about empowering others to succeed.    Episode Notes 00:00 Career Lessons - Intro 06:49 Lesson 1: Mindset is Everything 10:25 Lesson 2: Embrace Setbacks as Lessons 14:13 Lesson 3: Prioritize Financial Discipline 19:00 Lesson 4: Invest in Relationships

About Matthew Hill With a career that spans corporate boardrooms, global classrooms, and stand-up comedy stages, Matthew Hill brings a rare blend of wit, warmth, and wisdom to the art of communication. As a leadership trainer, intercultural facilitator, and presentation coach, Matthew helps executives, emerging leaders, and teams unlock confidence, clarity, and impact—whether they’re pitching, presenting, or navigating high-stakes conversations. Having trained teams from EY to GE Capital, and delivered workshops in more than 30 countries, Matthew is deeply versed in the real-world dynamics of cross-cultural communication and influence. His sessions are energising, applied, and always action-oriented. He’s especially skilled in flipping limiting beliefs—taking the "I could never" and transforming it into “watch me do it.” Whether he’s guiding a nervous speaker through their first keynote, coaching a CEO on how not to bore their team, or mediating conflict with humour and empathy, Matthew knows how to meet people where they are—and move them forward. He thrives in global settings, whether in-person or virtual, and has built a reputation for helping professionals of all stripes find their voice, sharpen their message, and lead with purpose. From webinars to live workshops, he’s equally at home behind the mic or in front of the room, and brings sharp insight and lively storytelling to every conversation. Matthew’s book “Learn How to LEAD; Believe, Behave & Become” is available now.   Episode Notes 00:00 Intro 07:08 Lesson 1: Forgive Yourself 12:18 Lesson 2: Perfect Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance 17:22 Lesson 3: Do Your Best, No More, No Less 23:16 Lesson 4: Network Like a Crazy Person 31:42 Lesson 5: No Health, No Wealth 38:38 Lesson 6: Always Have a Story Ready to Tell 44:23 Lesson 7: Be Creative and Determined 49:11 Lesson 8: Have Three Answers to Every Problem 53:48 Lesson 9: Einstein's Favorite Human Invention - Save Money Early 55:53 Lesson 10: Do the Other Side's Work as Well

About Fatemah Mirza Fatemah Mirza is a Certified Resume Master and the powerhouse behind CareerTuners, a premier career services firm she founded over 15 years ago. Her work has helped thousands of driven professionals break into top-tier organizations—including the United Nations, Big Four consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies, and even the White House. Her clients don’t just land interviews; they double their salaries, reclaim their time, and walk away with the confidence to ask for (and get) what they truly deserve. A best-selling author and TEDx speaker, Fatemah is a sought-after expert regularly invited to speak at institutions like UCLA, CSUN, and ICOI. Her career tools and templates have been downloaded over 200,000 times, and her company boasts 200+ five-star Google reviews, cementing her reputation for delivering real, measurable results.   Episode Notes:  00:00 Leadership – Intro 09:53 Lesson 1: The Hidden Job Market Still Hires Faster Than Job Boards 16:17 Lesson 2: Negotiate the Role Before You Negotiate the Salary 24:38 Lesson 3: Know Your Red Flags and Neutralize Them Early 32:12 Affiliate Break 33:01 Lesson 4: Decode the Job Description to Expose the Hiring Manager's Real KPIs 41:04 Lesson 5: Use Your Skills to Create Opportunities for Others  

About Sogol Homayoun Dr. Sogol Homayoun is an Author, Facilitator, Global Speaker, and leadership coach. Currently, Sogol is an EdTech leader at Arizona State University (ASU) Online. She is also the founder and CEO of The Jasmine Circle, a global personal development coaching organization dedicated to helping you regulate their nervous system, eliminate limiting belief systems and rebrand your sensitivities into a leadership superpower. Sogol has dedicated her life to pursuing self-cognition, speaking and advising on leadership and becoming certified in storytelling, design thinking, creativity, hypnotherapy, and neuro-linguistics programming (NLP) to coach her clients globally. Dr. Homayoun received her bachelor’s and doctorate degrees from Arizona State University. She has spent her life as a global citizen, having lived in both the Middle East and the United States. She is currently living in the U.S.   Episode Notes:  00:00 Leadership - Intro 02:48 Lesson 1: Environmental Sensitivity 06:46 Lesson 2: Emotional Challenges 12:19 Lesson 3: Mental Inner World and Overthinking 16:39 Lesson 4: Understanding Fear Responses - Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn 20:35 Lesson 5: The Art of Wavelength Communication 23:36 Lesson 6: Learning to Let Go Without Taking It Personally 26:43 Lesson 7: Lifestyle and Practical Issues - Managing Burnout 30:54 Lesson 8: Hidden Strengths That Become Challenges 39:20 Lesson 9: Emotional Intelligence and Creating Safety

  Exciting news for 2026: A 10-part miniseries titled 'Lessons in Leadership' will be launched, featuring interviews with experienced individuals discussing best and worst leadership practices. The series promises to share best practices, funny stories, and valuable wisdom for current leaders. Join these deep conversations on leadership in the new year.

Join host Robert Hossary and guests Diana White, Siebe Vanderzee, and Codie Comeau in a special end-of-season episode of '10 Lessons Learned.' Discover valuable life lessons on gratitude, understanding, choosing battles, authenticity in leadership, and speaking out against injustice. Plus, a surprise appearance by Santa Claus, sharing a lesson in spreading the spirit of giving. Subscribe and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our new special series and regular episodes. Episode Notes 00:00 Christmas Special Episode 2025 01:54 Robert's Lesson 04:52 Siebe's Lesson 08:31 Codie's Lesson 12:03 Diana's Lesson 20:28 Santa's Lesson

About Leela Aheer   Hon. Leela Sharon Aheer was first elected as a Member of Alberta's Legislative Assembly for the Chestermere-Rocky View constituency on May 5, 2015.  She was re-elected on April 16, 2019, as the MLA for the newly formed riding of Chestermere-Strathmore.  Born in Edmonton and raised in Chestermere, where she raised her family, Aheer is a proud wife and mother of two amazing young men.  She is also a professional singer, vocal coach, and music teacher, instructing singing in seven languages.  Her passion for music led her to own and operate a successful music studio for twenty-four years in Chestermere and Calgary, where she was heavily involved in arts, volunteerism, and community service.  As Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women (2019 - 2021), Hon. Aheer made significant strides in promoting multiculturalism and women's status.  Her proclamation of Women's Entrepreneurship Day in February 2019 was a historic moment for Canada.  She was the first Minister of Multiculturalism in the last twenty-five years and the first Deputy Leader of the United Conservative Party.   A key priority of the new government was to provide more protections for women through initiatives like Clare's Law.    Hon. Aheer has worked tirelessly to affirm her position as an ally within the Alberta Legislature for those seeking shelter from gender-based violence, racism, and female genital mutilation.  In May of 2022, her work on this matter came to fruition when The Health Professions (Protecting Women and Girls) Amendment Act, 2022, a Bill she championed in the Legislature, earned Royal Assent.  This significant achievement is a testament to her commitment to social justice.  MLA Aheer is renowned in her community and among her peers for her strategic insights and ability to build meaningful partnerships.  Hon Aheer was appointed Senior Director of Strategy and Partnerships with BioAro Inc., a precision health and longevity medicine leader, in July 2024.  She was also appointed the BioSport Chief Growth Officer. Her visionary approach and commitment to the public are invaluable in navigating the complexities of global health markets.  Episode Notes  00:00 Introduction 12:31 Lesson 1: Love Boldly, Even When It's Tough 15:59 Lesson 2: Silence Speaks Volumes that Connects 19:08 Lesson 3: You Are Not What Happened To You 23:49 Lesson 4: Courage Isn't Always Loud 28:11 Lesson 5: Stay Open to Unexpected Turns 29:39 Affiliate Break 30:04 Lesson 6: Children Teach Us More Than Books 35:28 Lesson 7: Forgive to Free Yourself 39:10 Lesson 8: Purpose is Built, Not Found 41:37 Lesson 9: Speak Up, or Be Defined by Others 47:10 Lesson 10: Gratitude is a Game Changer

About Julia Snedkova   Julia Snedkova is a career strategist and executive coach for high-achieving women navigating leadership in the AI era. With 16+ years in senior roles across Fortune 500 companies in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, and an INSEAD MBA, with a focus on Leadership & Organizational Behaviour, she brings a rare blend of boardroom fluency and deep coaching expertise. Julia is an ICF-certified coach trained by iPEC and a Certified Energy Leadership™ Index master practitioner. Her work focuses on helping ambitious corporate women future-proof their careers, break systemic barriers, and step into executive roles on their own terms. Known for her strategic clarity and sharp insight, Julia operates at the intersection of executive development, gender equity, and AI-driven career design. She has worked across 30+ markets and lived in Russia, France, Switzerland, and Singapore. Outside of coaching, she's a certified Hatha Yoga teacher and passionate about reading, travel, and self-renewal. Follow Julia on LinkedIn or subscribe to her career newsletter, Private Career Memo, already trusted by 10,000+ professionals across LinkedIn and email, for actionable insights on leading, growing, and staying indispensable in the future of work. Episode Notes 11:42 Lesson 1: Know what you want 15:52 Lesson 2: Know why you want it 20:56 Affiliate Break 21:44 Lesson 3: Plan to get there 30:19 Lesson 4: Ask for it  

About Adriana Williamson   Adriana is a passionate immigrant who came to the United States over 28 years ago. Adriana was born and raised in Mexico. When Adriana arrived at this country, she had neither finished her high school education nor spoke English. At the age of 19, Adriana became a proud mother of a special needs child, who at the age of two, was diagnosed with severe autism. With dedication, perseverance, discipline, faith, and resilience, Adriana obtained a bachelor’s degree in international business in 2006. In 2013, Adriana also obtained a master’s degree in information management systems at WP Carey at ASU. Today, Adriana is a Director of Data & Analytics at Feeding America. Adriana has been leading high-performance teams which has become her passion. When leading and shaping people, Adriana applies empathy, compassion, and vulnerability. All these learned while navigating her own journey. At the personal level, Adriana loves spending time with her family and friends. Adriana now has the blessing of having and raising three wonderful boys. She also has a passion for lifting weights. She is also committed to the work of mentoring younger professionals. Adriana currently lives in Phoenix Arizona where she loves the sun that this estate offers. Episode Notes 00:00 Intro 02:47 Lesson 1: Have determination 05:21 Lesson 2: Develop resilience and adaptation skills 13:24 Lesson 3: Never stop believing, dreaming and achieving 16:15 Lesson 4: Persistency and consistency signal 23:15 Lesson 5: Have empathy 26:03 Lesson 6: Develop emotional intelligence 31:34 Lesson 7: Empower others 33:27 Lesson 8: Take the time to give back 35:18 Lesson 9: Be humble, but stay hungry 37:18 Lesson 10: Practice gratitude every day

About Urban Adams Urban Adams is a seasoned financial advisor and published author with over 25 years of industry experience and runs his independent practice in Phoenix, Arizona. Known for his personalized approach and house calls, he combines Stoic philosophy with practical financial guidance to help clients nationwide achieve their goals.    As a father of three daughters and longtime coach of female athletes, Urban brings unique insight to women's financial challenges. His commitment to high-touch, customized financial planning has made him a trusted advisor to his clients.    Episode Notes    Time is your best friend, until it's not  The Three Bucket Strategy  Have a plan, not just an investment strategy  Expect your plan to not go according to plan  Understand your relationship with money 

About Codie Comeau Codie works in Sales at EF Education First as a Tour Consultant. He is a first-generation college graduated where he thrived, earning a Bachelor’s in Communication, Media & Design with a minor in Psychology. The journey did not stop there as he would later earn an Master’s in Business Administration with a focus on Innovation and New Venture Management.  Although young, Codie has plenty of experience over many different industries including Engineering & Manufacturing, Entertainment, Education and start-ups. He takes on many passion projects, his most notable was the Tennis program at Clarkson University. Under his leadership, the organization thrived growing in members and budget as well as gaining USTA membership.  Codie has a goal to be a global citizen and explore what the world has to offer. He believes that every new place he visits or new culture he experiences helps him to grow as a person and share new perspectives. Codie loves developing new skills and keeping a student mentality. He is excited to begin this new chapter in life and experience what lies ahead. If he’s not busy at work you can find him on the tennis court or golf course, where he still has plenty to learn. Codie Comeau has joined the 10 lessons learned team as the episode producer   Episode Notes 00:00 Intro 01:22 Meet Our Guest 03:24 Lesson 1: Know the Game, Play to Win 08:32 Lesson 2: Don't Believe Everything You See 15:32 Lesson 3: Recognize the Motive 19:02 Lesson 4: Know when to be Burr or Hamilton 27:44 Lesson 5: Hard Work Is Not Enough 30:06 Lesson 6: Network, Network, Network 33:41 Lesson 7: Understand Money 39:47 Lesson 8: Facts Do Not Care About Your Feelings 43:17 Lesson 9: Life Is Not Fair 44:53 Lesson 10 Know Your Story