Chief Change Officer Podcast Summary

Episode: Rahshea Cardiff’s Happiness Journey - Part One
Host: Vince Chan
Release Date: January 27, 2025

Introduction

In the inaugural episode of Chief Change Officer, host Vince Chan delves into the personal and professional journey of Rahshea Cardiff, the Vice President of Partnerships at Happy Companies. This two-part series explores Rahshea's resilience through career transitions, personal challenges, and her commitment to fostering happier and healthier workplaces. The first part focuses on Rahshea's personal story and career transitions, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of her current role and vision in the upcoming episode.

Rahshea’s Personal and Professional Journey

Self-Reflection and Purpose
Rahshea opens up about her profound personal experiences that led her to reevaluate her life’s purpose. She recounts significant life events that pushed her into a reflective space, questioning her priorities and intentions.

"What are the intentions and the things that I want to accomplish and the positive impact that I want to have on other people on the world."
— Rahshea Cardiff [00:56]

These reflections led her to prioritize family, joy, and purpose over career ambitions, influencing her subsequent career moves.

Corporate Career and People Management Philosophy

Diverse Corporate Experience
Rahshea shares her extensive 20-year tenure in corporate America, working with industry giants like Best Buy, Starbucks, and Microsoft. Her roles consistently centered around people management and leadership, emphasizing a "people first" ethos.

"If I put my people first, if I hire the right talent... then the results will follow."
— Rahshea Cardiff [07:11]

Leadership Approach
Rahshea explains that her success in these roles was driven by prioritizing employee well-being, structured onboarding, and continuous talent development. She believes that understanding and nurturing individual goals and strengths lead to collective organizational success.

Navigating Corporate Challenges

Balancing People-Centric Leadership with Corporate Policies
Vince poses a critical question about balancing personal passion for people with the rigid structures and policies of large corporations.

"How did you reconcile your personal passion for putting people first with the reality of representing and implementing firm policies which sometimes don't always feel like they are in the workforce's best interest?"
— Vince Chan [09:42]

Rahshea responds by emphasizing fairness and consistency while also advocating for leadership courage. She shares a poignant example of taking over a team with members on performance improvement plans, demonstrating her approach to personalized support and decisive action.

"We have to be fair and consistent... but there's also times that a leader needs to exercise discernment and courage."
— Rahshea Cardiff [11:37]

She recounts how one team member turned their performance around under her guidance, highlighting the effectiveness of her people-first strategy.

Personal Life Transitions and Resilience

Life-Altering Challenges
Rahshea narrates her journey through significant personal challenges, including a divorce, the passing of her mother, and the birth of her first child. These events catalyzed a shift in her mindset, leading her to seek a more balanced and meaningful life.

"What changes are you going to make? What are you willing to do differently moving forward to work towards the life that you really want to have."
— Rahshea Cardiff [24:10]

Finding Grounding Through Mindfulness
She discusses adopting mindfulness practices, such as daily reflections on peace and contentment, which helped her stay present and prioritize what truly matters.

"Am I at peace? Am I content? Do I have joy for how I spent this day...?"
— Rahshea Cardiff [19:04]

Rahshea highlights the importance of living in the present and making intentional choices to enhance personal happiness and fulfillment.

Transition to Entrepreneurship

Leap of Faith
Driven by her desire to balance family and career, Rahshea made the bold decision to leave corporate America and venture into entrepreneurship. This period of transition allowed her to align her professional endeavors with her personal values.

"I chose to resign from corporate America and take a massive leap of faith into entrepreneurship."
— Rahshea Cardiff [26:49]

Joining Happy Companies
Her entrepreneurial journey led her to Happy Companies, where she found a role that resonated with her mission to prioritize the human aspect of organizations. Rahshea expresses gratitude for the opportunity to contribute meaningfully while maintaining work-life balance.

"Happy is just doing so much of the work that I believe the world and especially teams and organizations need when it comes to prioritizing the people component of what propels them."
— Rahshea Cardiff [26:49]

Conclusion

Vince commends Rahshea's commitment to living intentionally and encourages listeners to embrace the present moment. He previews the next episode, which will delve into Rahshea's role at Happy Companies and her vision for transforming workplaces by balancing technological innovation with genuine care for people.

"When we live in the now, we allow ourselves to fully experience life and that's what makes it all worthwhile."
— Vince Chan [26:49]

Rahshea reiterates the value of shifting one's mindset to focus on the present, enhancing daily experiences and overall happiness.

"It really does help you focus more on living in the present and making the most of today."
— Rahshea Cardiff [28:13]

Next Episode: Rahshea’s Role at Happy Companies and Vision for Workplace Transformation
Release Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2025

Key Takeaways

• People-First Leadership: Prioritizing employee well-being leads to organizational success.
• Resilience Through Adversity: Personal challenges can catalyze significant personal and professional growth.
• Mindfulness and Presence: Living in the moment enhances happiness and life satisfaction.
• Intentional Career Moves: Aligning professional choices with personal values fosters fulfillment and balance.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "What are the intentions and the things that I want to accomplish and the positive impact that I want to have on other people on the world." — Rahshea Cardiff [00:56]
• "If I put my people first... then the results will follow." — Rahshea Cardiff [07:11]
• "We have to be fair and consistent... but there's also times that a leader needs to exercise discernment and courage." — Rahshea Cardiff [11:37]
• "Am I at peace? Am I content? Do I have joy for how I spent this day...?" — Rahshea Cardiff [19:04]
• "I chose to resign from corporate America and take a massive leap of faith into entrepreneurship." — Rahshea Cardiff [26:49]
• "When we live in the now, we allow ourselves to fully experience life and that's what makes it all worthwhile." — Vince Chan [26:49]

For more insights and to join the community of change-makers, subscribe to Chief Change Officer on Listen Notes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow Vince Chan on LinkedIn @chiefchangeofficer and engage with global voices committed to career and life transformation.