Gaia Van der Esch
Managing Director, 3Zero
Gaia discusses the moment she knew she was a natural-born leader, how her desire to make a difference guides her career decisions, her evolving perspective on leadership, and her three pieces of advice for leading visionaries.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:56] – Dino introduces his guest, Gaia van der Esch of 3ZERO.
[03:07] – Gaia shares her background growing up in Italy, her humanitarian work, and her rapid rise to leadership positions.
[08:18] – How a focus on gender equality led her to write a book on leadership (releasing soon).
[09:44] – Gaia shares her current role 3ZERO, what the organization stands for, and her vision for a better world.
[10:43] – A natural leader.
[13:04] – Gaia shares a story about the logical thing she did that led to a promotion for her and helped form her opinion of what leadership is about.
[15:59] – The gradual realization of her dual motivations: Gaia shares the importance of comprehending global issues and creating a positive impact and how her desire to make a difference guides her career decisions.
[17:30] – Building her self-confidence while recognizing her leadership traits.
[20:13] – It’s not about me and my profile: How people with values and skills can engage in meaningful roles that transcend profit-focused motives or self-centered interests.
[20:38] – Mission-driven and not afraid to speak up from an early age.
[23:02] – Gaia shares her innate drive for impact built from an unchanging core motivation and
[24:27] – Gaia’s evolving vision of leadership.
[25:47] – From task-driven efficiency to a facilitative role, Gaia shares how her leadership role has grown to encompass emotional authenticity, team empowerment, and fostering an ecosystem for collective success.
[28:13] – Dino shares the common challenge high-performing individuals have when they are thrust into a role with different cultures and working methods.
[29:50] – Recognizing her role as a change-maker.
[32:30] – Facing the challenges of being a leader and a visionary while steering your organization toward a unifying vision.
[33:45] – Dino asks Gaia to share her advice for leading visionaries.
[34:02] – The one question Gaia asks herself to stay aligned with her vision.
[35:24] – Recognizing when to shift your efforts elsewhere.
[36:53] – How to adopt a strategic approach to the broader organizational dynamics to be a more effective change-maker.
[37:49] – Gaia shares the behind-the-scenes of her upcoming book, set to release in a few months, and focuses on how women are reshaping the definition and practice of leadership.
[38:43] – Changing the rules of the game: Gaia encourages listeners to consider updating the rules of leadership.
[40:08] – “Leadership isn’t confined to job titles but is an attitude that can be exhibited at any level.”
[42:30] – Gaia introduces the concept of “circularity leadership” rather than hierarchical (Gloria Steinem).
[42:49] -The purpose of leadership and ensuring everyone has the freedom to be themselves and enact the change they desire in today’s complex world.
[43:09] You can preorder “Leading Our Way: How Women Are Re-Defining Leadership” now (releasing January 2024). You can also connect with Gaia on Instagram or LinkedIn.
[43:57] – Gaia shares the instrument she used to play at a high level and how music helps her to listen, discover, and express her emotions.
[46:14] – How being in nature helps bring balance to her travel-filled life.
[47:02] – Gaia shares the Italian phrase (and the English translation) from her childhood that still drives her crazy today and why.
[48:19] – The dish that helps Gaia keep her Italian grandmother’s memory alive.
[51:24] – If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and family, leave a 5-star review, and subscribe on your favorite listening platform so you don’t miss any episodes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram.
Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com
Websites:
al4ep.com or authenticleadershipforeverydaypeople.com
Other links for Gaia:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gaia-vanderesch
Instagram: @gaiavanderesch
Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo
Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo
Podcast Instagram: @al4edp
Podcast Twitter: @al4edp
Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp
Music
Sisters Of A Different Skin | Susan Cattaneo and The Lucy Stone Singers
Books