Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity’s Post

How can business be used as a force for good? This is the topic of a competition being held at Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business this Friday. When asked, I jumped at the chance to come back to Fuqua to be an advisor/judge to the grand prize winners / undergraduate students from 10 universities who are coming to Fuqua to pitch their ideas. I’ve read through the bios of these students, and they are nothing short of amazing. These young women and men will represent Spelman, Columbia, Yale, Standford, Cornell, BU, Carnegie Mellon, UNC, BYU and Barnard College. Their ideas are as diverse as they are. From using synthetic data for #femtech to addressing #fooddeserts to combatting #misinformation in social media to narrowing the #digitaldivide, I can’t wait to hear their pitches. This competition is part of the larger Dialogue Project housed at Duke and founded by Bob Feldman. The broader initiative explores the role business can play to reduce polarization and build common purpose. After hearing the origin story of The Dialogue Project, I absolutely see the influences of some past colleagues (Michael Schoenfeld, Elizabeth Hogan, Sanyin Siang and Sim Sitkin). Knowing them and knowing this, it makes me smile. It just sounds like something they'd have their fingerprints on. I'm honored to have a small part in advancing its purpose. The premise being that businesses have shown they can bring people together with diverse experiences and POVs to work toward a common goal. Business must meet the needs of employees, customers, shareholders, partners, and Mother Earth. They navigate complex environments all the time. Yet they find shared purpose. They have brokered crucial conversation on issues in their organizations leading the charge to bring voice and renewed work on centuries old issues. And if business can do it, society ought to be able to, too. That's the hope at least.

The power of making your “big tent” smaller. Through my career I have always sought ways to find people that both lift me up and help push me forward. This is something that most of us do without thinking about it. In college, I first focused on where could I go that gave me the most options and aligned to my interest. I found the “Big House” at the University of Michigan (pun intended). From there I needed to find my small house so I joined a fraternity. Same thing in my professional life. Where do the best real estate leaders congregate? At the Urban Land Institute of course. So at a very early stage in my professional career I dove in… headfirst. First as a member of the Young Leaders Group; then as a ULI Asia Pacific founding boarding member and later as Global Head of Corporate Development and now as a member of ULI - Global Exchange Product Council. At every stage, it was about joining the biggest tent that represented the people I could learn from and learn with. At every stage it was about winnowing down a big tent and finding smaller and smaller tents to join. Today as I head to my ULI product council meeting, I’m energized for the closed-door knowledge sharing that goes on and the opportunity to learn and share in this very small tent. I also have realized that after many years of trying to find other people’s tents, I can now prop up my own tent and invite others in to join me. In each instance, the common theme is the ability to spend time with people that lift me up, help me and push me forward. It’s the power of relationships. If you can’t find your tent, maybe think about creating your own. If your tent is not right for you, seek alternatives. We all have the power to choose the tent that is best for us. ..and if your immediate association with “tent” is Oktoberfest… your not alone :) proving that professional and personal interests can cross over.

How do you define the brand value of a college degree? How can you differentiate your college to strengthen your brand value? We're answering these questions and more with #HigherEdLeaders today at 12:00 p.m. CT. Join our roundtable discussion and learn from industry colleagues. https://hubs.li/Q02nWG1N0

As I head into my final semester of my masters program, I am honored to announce that I have officially been inducted into one of the oldest honors societies. I have worked diligently to achieve various goals I had set at the start of my masters, all the while people have been saying, "your GPA does not matter once you graduate. Why are you pushing so hard to have a 4.0?" Well I will let you in on some internal dialog. As a first generation college student, entering an undergraduate program was daunting... but a masters program!? Terrifying. There have been so many thoughts about failure and imposter syndrome over the last year and a half. Did I really belong in a masters program? Am I smart enough? Deserving enough? Will I finish the degree? But then the first semester ended and I achieved a 4.0 GPA. Then the second semester began and I was offered a position in Phi Alpha Social Work Honors Society. Then by the end of the second semester I was inducted into Phi Alpha and another university based honors society, Gamma Beta Phi. Now, approaching my final semester in the program, I have still maintained a 4.0 and have been inducted into a third honors society, Phi Kappa Phi. To all of those malicious thoughts, ongoing struggle with imposter syndrome, and people saying I won't make it... here I am. I do not say this to gloat or to even say what I have achieved or my journey is grander than that of others. I simply am telling my younger self, other first generation students, or anyone with struggling with self worth... Those mean and callous comments we tell ourselves, or even hear from others, do not matter at the end of the day. All that matters is focusing on what we truly want and how we want to get there. So, to anyone else who is looking for a sign that they will make it or that they are in the right place, let this be that sign. If you are passionate about your line of work, or the path you are on, try your best to drown out all the other stuff and focus on that. I for one believe in you and your journey!

Yesterday, I turned in my last paper, sent over my final approved submission to the graduate school, uploaded my approved dissertation to ProQuest, finished my last class and poured my last drink (my personal tradition) as a student at Baylor University. It has been an honor to work with world class faculty, students and an institution that has allowed me the privilege of now calling it my alma mater. On August 16, 2024 I take my last walk as a student on campus and return officially as Dr. Patrice Palmer. There are no words I know (and I know a lot of words) that I can speak to say thank you to all you wonderful people who have been along for this ride. My pride is beaming I have completed a lifelong goal. I also know that I wouldn’t be here without beer. Cheers to the craft, craft beer has taught me so much about identity, workplace inclusion and leveraging tools like employee resource groups (ERGs) for strategic change. Thank you to New Belgium Brewing for choosing and teaching me, I am forever in your debt! Now I end with a toast, it’s only fitting: “Some ships are wooden ships but those ships may sink. The best ships are friendships, and to those ships, WE DRINK!” Dissertation title: “Crafting Identity: A Descriptive, Holistic Case a Study on Employee Resource Groups in an Independent Brewery in Northen Colorado” #leadershipdevelopment #emotionalintelligence #craftbeer #employeeresourcegroups #institutionalchange

I'm beyond excited to announce that I'll be joining an incredible panel discussion titled “Being Unique & Expanding Your Opportunities in a Crowded World,” hosted by Macon Bibb County in partnership with The Macon Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, my home chapter 🐘🔺❤️. In a world that's more connected and competitive than ever, finding your unique voice and leveraging it to open doors to new opportunities is not just advantageous—it's essential. This panel is an opportunity to dive deep into the strategies and mindsets that can help us stand out and succeed in our personal and professional journeys. I'm honored to share the stage with remarkable individuals who have navigated the complexities of carving out unique paths in various fields. Together, we'll explore the nuances of personal branding, the importance of resilience in the face of adversity, and how to harness our individuality as a powerful tool for growth. As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, I'm particularly excited to bring these conversations to our community. The values of our sorority, which my Mother instilled, have always emphasized the importance of individual excellence and collective progress, and I believe this panel will be a testament to those ideals. I invite you all to join us for what promises to be an inspiring and enlightening discussion. Whether you're looking to make your mark in your current field, pivot to a new one, or simply seeking inspiration to be your most authentic self, there will be insights and takeaways for everyone. #DST #1913 #ProfessionalDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #UniquePaths #OpportunityExpands#PivotingWhenNecessary

the starting points are an organizational need and creating a team of agents of change

Nothing beats watching your Alma mater win a game, especially when they take down a worthy opponent like LMU. While watching the game last night, I had a conversation with a friend that made me think. We were discussing why this year's team was performing better than last year's, despite having a similar roster. The answer? Chemistry. This team has off-the-charts chemistry because they genuinely love each other and love playing for each other. In addition to their chemistry, the team has a quiet confidence that sets them apart. They're not cocky, but they believe in their abilities and are confident in their work. This confidence translates into their on-court performance, especially when it counts. It's clear that this year's team has something special, and it's a testament to the power of chemistry and confidence. As we all navigate the challenges of our own teams and workplaces, let's remember the importance of building strong relationships and trusting in our abilities. #MWA #teambuilding #beKind Blake Foote, FIC, CFFM Modern Woodmen of America

This week's University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management's 1st Tuesday event featured Renee Alexander, CEO of the Minnesota State Fair. What a great conversation about the care it takes to grow a legacy institution. My favorite (paraphrased) quote was, "I'm a child of the 80s, so I think often of the lyrics, 'Hold on loosely, but don't let go.'" Her key to success? Focusing on the dynamics of her team while keeping everyone focused on their one goal; creating an outstanding experience for everyone who walks through those gates, whether they are attendees or vendors. Next week, I'll be formally announcing my new company, Tangled Rabbit. However, the tie to this post was too great to pass up. At Tangled Rabbit, we immerse your teams into what it's like to work with your brand, and, together, we untangle the biggest challenges facing your customers and employees. Interested in learning more? Follow Tangled Rabbit on LinkedIn and use the Book an Appointment link on this post to set up time to connect. #tangledrabbit

As these ADPi Senior's know, change can feel really scary. Especially when you don't know what to expect out of the next chapter of your life--and transitioning from student life to the work force is full of unknowns! I had the honour and privilege--and BEST TIME--hosting Facing Change, a workshop on this exact topic for the graduating women for Alpha Delta Pi Sorority - Beta Kappa Chapter, this past weekend. Proud alumna, here! We spent an incredible hour talking about all things CHANGE and life transitions, and how to develop the skills to tackle the unknown so that it feels like a natural part of life and something they're looking forward to. The most rewarding thing for me was seeing the transformation that took place for the women in the room from feeling a lot of fear to walking away with a sense of hope, confidence, and "I can do hard things" (their words, not mine). A few top takeaways from the women, that I want to share with you now in case they support you too: - From Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart -- Anxiety and excitement are the same physical sensation. The only difference is our mental label of good or bad. - "As you start to walk on the way, the way appears." - Rumi - There's no right or wrong way to "do change". Everything--and I mean EVERYTHING--can be used in service of your highest growth. It was also a personal reminder for me that the effort is worth the reward when it comes to in person gatherings. So so good.