Chief Change Officer Podcast Summary

Episode #235: From Disney Magic to Real-World Teamwork: Tricia & Edward’s Guide to Collaboration That Works – Part One

Release Date: March 15, 2025
Host: Vince Chen
Guests: Edward Van Loonen & Tricia Sarone

Introduction

In episode #235 of the Chief Change Officer podcast, host Vince Chen delves deep into the art of effective collaboration with his guests, Edward Van Loonen and Tricia Sarone. Titled "From Disney Magic to Real-World Teamwork: Tricia & Edward’s Guide to Collaboration That Works – Part One," this episode marks the first part of a two-part series exploring the nuances of building sustainable and impactful collaborations both in personal and professional settings.

Guest Introductions

Edward Van Loonen begins by sharing his journey, highlighting his experience as a United States Peace Corps volunteer in the 1980s in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. His passion for talent development led him to work with renowned companies like Avon Products, Heineken, Sony, and Disney. With over 35 years in the field, Edward emphasizes his commitment to enhancing teams, companies, and leaders through effective talent development.

Tricia Sarone complements Edward's narrative by detailing her career in designing and storytelling with emerging technologies. Her tenure at Disney was marked by innovation, leading the Blue Sky Studio for four years where she spearheaded projects across various sectors, including retail and hospitality. Tricia's expertise extends to teaching others the intricacies of idea development, design, and innovation, which eventually paved the way for her collaboration with Edward.

The Genesis of Collaboration at Disney

Vince Chen guides the conversation to the origins of Edward and Tricia's collaborative relationship at Disney. The duo recounts their first encounter, which took place around 2014, when they were assigned to co-lead a significant initiative within the company.

Edward reflects, "From a professional support and business relationship perspective, I had a goal to lead talent development at Imagineering, which I couldn't achieve alone. Tricia was the perfect business partner to help me navigate this journey" (09:42).

Tricia shares her initial apprehensions: "I saw so many potential barriers to our success, from organizational politics to communication challenges. However, Edward's proactive approach during our first coffee meeting eased my concerns and set the foundation for our collaboration" (10:47).

Their collaboration was not without its challenges. Operating within a matrix organization required careful navigation to ensure balanced leadership and effective communication. However, their complementary skills and mutual respect enabled them to overcome these hurdles, establishing a strong professional bond that would later evolve into a lasting friendship and business partnership.

Building a Sustainable Collaborative Relationship

Over the three-year span of their project at Disney, Edward and Tricia developed a robust framework for collaboration centered around five key behaviors and a noble purpose.

Tricia emphasizes the importance of consistent positive interactions: "Our teams were always giving their A-game, solving problems proactively, and maintaining positive energy. This created an environment where collaboration thrived organically" (16:05).

Edward adds, "We demonstrated the five collaboration behaviors consistently, building trust and making positive deposits in the emotional bank of goodwill. This not only fostered a productive team but also established a track record that encouraged others to emulate our approach" (18:02).

These behaviors—generosity, resourcefulness, co-creation, action, and gratitude—were pivotal in creating a collaborative culture that extended beyond their immediate team, influencing new members and setting a standard for effective teamwork.

Evolving from Colleagues to Business Partners

Following their successful collaboration at Disney, Edward and Tricia parted ways professionally but maintained their friendship. This sustained relationship laid the groundwork for future joint ventures.

Edward states, "Building a relationship is vital in a work situation, and it requires respect and awareness of each other's strengths. Our consistent demonstration of collaboration behaviors helped us build trust and a strong foundation for our continued partnership" (24:49).

Tricia highlights their shared noble purpose as the driving force behind their enduring collaboration: "We recognized a larger mission—enhancing workplace happiness and fostering better human interactions. This shared vision kept us united and motivated to pursue joint projects, including our business venture, Authentic Collaboration Inc., and our collaborative book*" (26:59).

Their journey underscores the significance of nurturing professional relationships and expanding them into personal and business realms through shared values and mutual respect.

The Five Collaboration Behaviors and Noble Purpose

Edward and Tricia's collaboration framework is built upon five key behaviors:

1. Generosity: Offering support and resources without expecting immediate returns.
2. Resourcefulness: Utilizing available resources creatively to overcome challenges.
3. Co-Creation: Collaboratively developing solutions that benefit all parties involved.
4. Action: Taking decisive steps to implement ideas and initiatives.
5. Gratitude: Acknowledging and appreciating the contributions of team members.

Coupled with a noble purpose—a mission that transcends individual goals and focuses on collective well-being—they believe these elements form the bedrock of effective and sustainable collaboration.

Tricia explains, "Our noble purpose is to enhance workplace happiness by fostering better human interactions. This overarching mission drives our actions and decisions, ensuring that our collaborations are meaningful and impactful" (26:59).

Challenges in Modern Collaboration

The podcast delves into the prevailing challenges in today's collaborative environments. Tricia points out that despite significant investments in collaboration tools and technologies—reportedly around $40 billion—many of these solutions fall short because they overlook the human element.

"Collaboration isn't just about teams or tools; it's fundamentally about individuals and their behaviors. Without focusing on personal collaboration skills, technological solutions alone can't foster genuine teamwork" (31:03).

Edward echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that true collaboration requires an evolutionary process centered on relationships, trust, and consistent behavior application.

Conclusion

As Chief Change Officer wraps up the episode, Vince Chen summarizes the essence of Edward and Tricia's collaborative success: building trust through consistent behaviors, maintaining a shared noble purpose, and prioritizing human connections over technological fixes.

In preparation for Part Two, Vince teases an in-depth exploration of their collaboration framework and the five key behaviors that underpin their methodology, promising listeners actionable insights to transform their own collaborative efforts.

Notable Quotes

• Edward Van Loonen (09:42): "From a professional support and business relationship perspective, I had a goal to lead talent development at Imagineering, which I couldn't achieve alone. Tricia was the perfect business partner to help me navigate this journey."

• Tricia Sarone (10:47): "I saw so many potential barriers to our success, from organizational politics to communication challenges. However, Edward's proactive approach during our first coffee meeting eased my concerns and set the foundation for our collaboration."

• Tricia Sarone (26:59): "Our noble purpose is to enhance workplace happiness by fostering better human interactions. This overarching mission drives our actions and decisions, ensuring that our collaborations are meaningful and impactful."

Final Thoughts

In this insightful episode, Edward and Tricia share their decade-long journey from collaborative colleagues at Disney to business partners and authors, offering a blueprint for effective teamwork grounded in human-centric behaviors and shared purpose. Their story serves as an inspiring testament to the power of genuine collaboration in driving both personal and organizational success.

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