Ronderings

Being able to step back and observe what is going on around us is often an undervalued skill!
Surabhi Lai is rooted in the belief that we can create a better future of work that is rooted in our humanity and collective belonging. Multi-passionate with a strong sense of curiosity, Surabhi uses empathy and strategy when she coaches job-seekers, entrepreneurs, and organizations to help them create a better work future. Surabhi is pursuing a PhD in Leadership and Change, where her research is focused on understanding the ecosystem of belonging in the workplace.
Fascinated by large group settings, Surabhi seeks out people who are not in a conversation with anyone and looks to introduce them to someone she knows. Surabhi will look to strike up a conversation at the bar or by the food table, becoming the connector at events, pursuing her goal of making people’s lives better, predominantly in the workplace.
We spend so much time in workplaces - how can we make them better, for us to be able to give our best?

Notes: 
🍎 You can't navigate a big place like New York City without building your micro-communities. 3:04
πŸ˜‡ Surabhi's connection with New York City: different people and languages. 5:29
πŸ—½ New Yorkers will move you out of their way, but also they will stop and help. 8:56
πŸ‘§πŸ½ Surabhi grew up in D.C. in a pretty diverse school. 13:13
πŸ€ Surabhi was bridging spaces, doing some translation: being curious, and observing. 18:09
πŸ€“ Surabhi loves to be the connector at events: she is fascinated by large group settings. 23:35
⚠️ Different social roles: the importance of name pronunciation. 27:55
πŸ€— Her work is all about making people's work lives better. 31:54
πŸ‘‰πŸ½ That laws and policies are written to incentivize businesses and organizations. 35:09
🀯 If you don't feel good at work, then, you are not giving your best at work. 37:55
πŸ“£ Efforts to diversify neighborhoods: we should all have a megaphone. 40:20
πŸ’Ž Surabhi's RONdering: how do we take all those megaphones to make it a movement? 44:12

Links:
Website: www.surabhilal.com
IG: @slcollabventures
LI: www.linkedin.com/in/surabhilal
SIPS & Leadership: www.surabhilal.com/sips-leadership
Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com
Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com
Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeron
Instagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

What is Ronderings?

In season one of Ronderings, Ron talks to his guests about their superpowers, including career advice, diversity, mindset, wellness, and leadership. Ron grew up in New York City, and has been coaching and leading executive searches for the last five years, taking what he has learned from 15 years in corporate, higher education, government, and non-profit contexts. He and his wife are obsessed with reality television, and Ron also moonlights as a men's personal stylist and group fitness instructor. Ron says, "I believe in the power of intuition and deepening one’s self-awareness and impact on others. I believe in the power of connection and transparency. I believe that we must dismantle systems of oppression and racism to recover our fullest humanity. Most of all, I believe our power to change the world starts from changing ourselves first."