Guillermo Diaz Jr

🚀Do you have experience reporting to a board and love to build and network with world class senior board level talent? We have amongst the brightest board and executive wattage network that happens to be diverse and Black at Santa Clara University's Black Corporate Board Readiness program. Consider this rewarding and valuable experience this Friday and then quarterly to be a diverse board director development program advisor. 🎯87% of venture funds and most analyst firms are rapidly adopting GenAI. This specific program delivers fantastic skill and profile enhancements to advisors (if applicants are accepted) that are dramatically visible to investors and analysts. 🏆What's in it for you? 1) 🎯Connecting with other advisors and brilliant leaders like Rod Cotton, thomas bondi, Sue Siegel and more but there's huge benefits to you if you're selected. If you want to use my name on your app, please lmk. 🥇What you'll gain:  Adding the role of advisor for Black Corporate Board Readiness at SCU to the executive, rising luminary, not yet a CEOs profile significantly enhances it. 🎯Here’s a breakdown of the potential increase of your #GenAI leadership score: 💡ChatGPT Leadership Score Impact Analysis  Previous Score: 9 🏅New Score with hypothetical BCBR role 9.8 💡The BCBR program significantly impacts advisors' skills and profile by enhancing boardroom competence, strategic leadership, networking, and thought leadership capabilities. Together with other industry leadership, it positions consistently high performing advisors as highly credible and influential leaders in their sector. We also have a large contingent of healthcare and tech power players involved. Sample Summary of Enhanced Skills and Profile: 🎯Boardroom Competence: Advanced knowledge in key board topics 🎯Strategic Leadership: Improved decision-making and governance skills. 🎯Networking and Influence: Expanded professional network and influence. 🎯Thought Leadership: Reinforced role as an educator and industry leader. 🎯Diverse Perspectives: Strengthened commitment to inclusivity and equitable decision-making. ✅ Make some extraordinary additional black friends, it's good for you and for society, making any network less fragile due to executives who could be prone to the kind of echo chambers that destroy value. Apply here to join us this Friday and every quarter: https://lnkd.in/e77Aimvv cc Thane Kreiner, PhD & Dennis Lanham

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Here's a quick primer to get you to six figures at your next event.

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Research shows that single women are statistically happier than married women. And married men are happier than single men. This research gives a powerful insight into why. I agree with Anne Welsh, PhD, PMH-C, RPLC, ACC that we need to be having these conversations at work and at places of learning. We have to challenge each person to reflect on what equity looks like when it's practiced daily. The facilitated conversations that we run as part of the Torque Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program have uncovered so many of these issues and proved a powerful way to start shifting perspectives. Contact us if you'd like to know more. ___________________________________________________________________________ Hi, I'm Claire. I'm passionate about reinventing the way we lead ourselves, our teams and our businesses to maximize talent, leverage strengths & embrace opportunities. Connect, follow or reach out directly to learn more.

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It was such an honor to speak to some of the brightest tech minds in Santa Clara County about the transformative potential of AI and Generative AI in public service. Our region stands at the heart of innovation, and there’s no better place to explore how AI can reimagine government operations, from automating routine processes to personalizing citizen services and improving public safety. As we delved into real-world use cases and strategies for effective implementation, it was clear that leveraging AI responsibly could redefine the relationship between technology and governance. Together, we discussed practical ways to unlock the power of AI to enhance efficiency, optimize resources, and deliver smarter, citizen-centered services. Santa Clara County is poised to lead the way in modernizing public services with AI-driven solutions. I’m excited to see how the county’s tech leaders will take these insights and continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in digital governance. The future of public service is here, and it’s powered by AI. #AI #GenAI #PublicService #DigitalTransformation #SantaClaraCounty #ThoughtLeadership

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Leadership skills for the digital age An excellent post from Pete DeLisi explaining his experiences in providing executive skills development at Santa Clara University. Underpinning my recent calls for a rethink on how we help executive teams define, assess and develop the CIOs role, perhaps by creating new spaces that enable the CIOs to ‘learn to learn’, is the idea that an individual’s role should be considered in terms expectations for attributes and competences*. Having shown that executive development programme providers continue to prioritise knowledge acquisition over the skills needed for knowledge application, it’s been delightful to discover that at least one institute in the US had already recognised this. In the post below, Pete De Lisi explains how, some years ago, he and his team made significant progress helping executives practice their leadership skills (through role-playing) as part of the IT leadership Programme (ITLP) at Santa Clara University. Additionally, I’ve found that practitioners also need to consider the effects of local business environments on expectations for an executive’s competencies (including their skills). For example, execs operating in highly dynamic, digitally maturing environments have limited opportunities to influence and so might be expected to take a more direct approach when influencing their stakeholders. Alternatively, those operating in a relatively sedate environment maybe expected to take a more circuitous approach to influencing; in both cases an adjustment to a core skill (in this case communicating) is needed. Institutions seeking to make progress in the exec development space therefore need to find a way to replicate the environments that attendees are expected to operate in so that recently taught skills (in applying newly acquired knowledge) can be practiced in a relatively safe training environment. Having provided an opportunity for attendees to develop sufficient confidence in their capabilities, programme developers should also consider providing additional (post course) support as execs experiment enacting socially acceptable leadership behaviours when practising the application of knowledge.    In providing a programme that catered for knowledge acquisition and the practise of knowledge application, the experiences of the team at Santa Barabra are a lesson to us all. Petes work not only demonstrates that such programmes are possible, but in this digital age, they are critical. So, as to Pete’s questions, who ‘out there’ is already providing exec development programmes that specifically enable executives to develop leadership skills? If this is something you’re already doing, both Pete and I would love to hear from you… *Being Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours, or KSBs https://lnkd.in/gQ3wGqxk #leadershipdevelopment #executivetraining

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A special thank-you to Gabriel Ruiz for your leadership and support in making both sessions a success. Great working with you David Luong! Yesterday the Cloudforce Advocacy team headed to LA to facilitate our GenAi training to UCLA Anderson School of Management faculty and staff. We were honored to facilitate a Promptathon at UCLA Anderson, where we brought Generative AI to life with engaging, hands-on training. From arriving at their beautiful campus to Garrett Broady guiding participants through our practical framework for simplifying prompt engineering—making it approachable even for those without a technical background—it was a success! 🤖 Highlights from the Day 📍 Engaging participants in interactive training sessions involved a hands-on approach that introduced faculty and staff to the limitless possibilities of Generative AI. Together, they learned how to prompt effectively and create custom AI assistants tailored to their unique needs, focusing on improving administrative efficiency and enhancing the student experience 📍 Establishing sound guardrails and compliance was a key focus of the discussion, emphasizing the importance of responsible AI adoption. Participants explored best practices for implementing robust measures to protect sensitive data, ensure compliance with institutional policies, and prioritize ethical AI usage, particularly in supporting students within an educational setting. 📍 Catching a glimpse of UCLA Anderson’s snack-delivering robot—a perfect nod to the tech-forward environment we love!

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🚀 From our very first meeting nearly a year ago with Howard & Gabriel at UCLA Anderson School of Management, we knew that we had an incredible partner in innovation, with leadership thinking well ahead of many peers on how to meaningfully integrate AI into the business school environment. With a little bit of help from Microsoft & Cloudforce, they went from ideas to production in less than a semester... and that's just the start of what students, faculty, and staff are aligned to gain from GenAI in the coming months at Anderson!💡

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UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON EXPOSED FOR ANTI-WHITE, ANTI-ASIAN HIRING PRACTICES Earlier this year, a whistleblower revealed the University of Washington's psychology department discriminated against White and Asian candidates in hiring. An internal report found a Black candidate, ranked third, was hired over higher-ranked candidates. Faculty also excluded White staff from meetings with job applicants and discussed bypassing anti-discrimination laws. The department is now barred from hiring for 2 years, with all staff undergoing legal compliance training. Source: Newsweek #FairHiring #EqualOpportunity #EndDiscrimination

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FOR KAISER PATIENTS: DATA BREACH KAISER PERMANENTE® NOTICE OF DATA BREACH On behalf of Kaiser Permanente, I am writing to inform you about a privacy matter that may have affected you.   What Happened? On October 25, 2023, Kaiser Permanente determined that certain online technologies (commonly known as cookies or pixels) installed on our websites and mobile applications may have transmitted personal information to our third-party vendors Google, Microsoft Bing, and X (Twitter) when members and patients accessed our websites or mobile applications. These technologies are sometimes used by organizations to understand how consumers interact with websites and mobile applications. We apologize that this incident occurred.   What Information was Involved? The information that may have been involved was limited to: IP address, name, information that could indicate you were signed into a Kaiser Permanente account or service, information showing how you interacted with and navigated through our website or mobile applications, and search terms used in the health encyclopedia. Detailed information concerning Kaiser Permanente account credentials (username and password), Social Security numbers, financial account information and credit card numbers were notincluded in the information involved.   What We Are Doing: We conducted a voluntary internal investigation into the use of these online technologies, and subsequently removed these online technologies from our websites and mobile applications. In addition, Kaiser Permanente has implemented additional measures with the guidance of experts to safeguard against recurrence of this type of incident.   What You Can Do: Kaiser Permanente is not aware of any misuse of your information. Your Kaiser Permanente account credentials (username and password), Social Security number, financial account information, and credit card number were not involved in this incident. Regardless, it is always advisable to remain vigilant against attempts at identity theft or fraud, which includes reviewing online and financial accounts, credit reports, and Explanations of Benefits for suspicious activity. This is a best practice for all individuals.   There is no evidence that your information has been misused. If you are concerned about identity theft and would like more information on ways to protect yourself, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website at https://lnkd.in/e_Nstmi5.   For More Information: We assure you that safeguarding your information is one of our highest priorities. If you have any questions or concerns about this notice, please call 866-528-9259, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, excluding holidays.     Sincerely,    Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. Ethics and Compliance One Kaiser Plaza, 19th Floor Oakland, CA 94612

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Transform from manager to leadership legend with 6 powerful tips for leading in California's fast-paced environment. Unleash your visionary and strategic skills. Read our blog for expert insights. https://bit.ly/4a4LFth

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Educational institutions understand the importance of research and innovation, and Oregon State University is no exception. However, any organization can become vulnerable to cyber threats.       An urgent need to shore up their defenses led OSU to Microsoft. As its Chief Information Security Officer David McMorries puts it, “So much of the institution's business now is dependent on information technology that you must provide an environment that is functional, is available, and is useful.”       After rounding out its security detail with Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender, and Copilot for Security, OSU can now ensure its faculty and students are protected. It’s a great example of AI in action!     More on how these tools work together to reduce threat response time from weeks to minutes here: https://lnkd.in/gw5fJxW9   #AI #Copilot #Security #Education 

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🚀 Empowering Southern California Businesses with Cutting-Edge Solutions 🚀 As a new member of the vibrant Southern California business community, I’m thrilled to bring my passion for innovation, technology, and growth to help local businesses thrive in today’s competitive landscape. 🌟 Through Cardinal Consulting, my mission is to support businesses in Irvine, Orange County, and beyond by offering tailored solutions that address their unique challenges and unlock their true potential. Whether you’re an established organization or a startup on the rise, here’s how we can make a real difference together: 💡 Top Services Designed for SoCal’s Thriving Economy: 1️⃣ Digital Transformation Strategy – Modernize your operations with AI tools, cloud systems, and automation. Industries like healthcare, real estate, and e-commerce are ripe for transformation. 2️⃣ Advanced AI and Data Solutions – Leverage predictive analytics and AI-powered tools to improve customer experiences and gain actionable insights. 3️⃣ Hyper-Local SEO & Digital Marketing – Dominate search results in SoCal cities like Irvine, Anaheim, and Newport Beach with tailored SEO and targeted ad campaigns. 4️⃣ Web Development & E-Commerce Optimization – Build sleek, high-performing websites and optimize your e-commerce platforms for conversions in a competitive market. 5️⃣ Community-Focused Branding & PR – Craft branding strategies and PR campaigns that resonate with SoCal’s unique values of innovation, sustainability, and diversity. 6️⃣ Sustainable Business Solutions – Adopt eco-friendly practices with sustainability consulting, from carbon offsets to biodegradable product strategies. 7️⃣ Video Production & AI Content Creation – Create dynamic, AI-enhanced videos using tools like RunwayML to tell your brand’s story in a way that resonates with local audiences. 8️⃣ Real Estate Tech Solutions – Offer AI tools, virtual staging, and 3D tours to elevate real estate businesses in SoCal’s booming housing market. 9️⃣ Cybersecurity & Compliance – Protect your business with cybersecurity audits and ensure compliance with California’s stringent privacy regulations like CCPA. 🔟 Entrepreneurial and Startup Consulting – From fundraising to business scaling, let’s nurture SoCal’s incredible startup ecosystem. If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or professional looking for ways to: ✅ Drive innovation, ✅ Increase efficiency, ✅ And make a lasting impact… Let’s connect! Together, we can explore how Cardinal Consulting can help you reach your goals and redefine success in today’s fast-paced world. Feel free to drop a comment, message me directly, or share this post with someone who might benefit from these services. Let’s create something amazing here in Southern California! 🌴💼✨ #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #SoCalCommunity #DigitalTransformation #AIForBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CardinalConsulting

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Executive Skill Development Dr. David Harding and I have had several exchanges about executive skill, i.e., being able to do something, as opposed to knowing something. My interest goes back to my former role as Academic Dean of the Information Technology Leadership Program (ITLP) at Santa Clara University. ITLP was advertised as a leadership program, but after 12 years, and an analysis of what we had learned, we concluded that we had really been conducting an executive skill program. The skills we taught to the participants were as follows: ·      Thinking like a senior executive. Research shows that senior executives tend to be systems thinkers and to see the bigger picture. As part of this module, we administered, and later used, a questionnaire that analyzed thinking styles. ·      Research also shows that senior executives tend to be strategic. We taught them tools and processes they could use to create and execute a successful strategic plan. ·      Effective communication skills. This included listening skills, questioning techniques, and how to make effective presentations. ·      Influence skills. Perhaps the most important skill that a senior executive must have, in order to lead followers. We used a variety of techniques in this module, such as thinking styles, sales and marketing, influence styles, and material from the leading persuasion master, Robert Cialdini. ·      Lastly, how do senior executives successfully lead an organization that they envision as a whole system? We discussed the enabling roles that General Systems Theory, organizational culture and the strategy processes play in this. Our approach to skill development in ITLP, centered around a three-part, case study/role play, in which the participants used, and were coached, on the skills we had taught them in the program. The case study presented them a classic business problem to solve as a team. Our model in ITLP was borrowed heavily from the highly-respected, IBM Sales School model that I had participated in as a young IBM salesman. Later, at DEC, and with help from Ed Schein, from the MIT Sloan School, we refined this model and formed the Sales Excellence Learning Laboratory (S.E.L.L.). The concept of a “learning laboratory” is very significant. It came originally from my training as an Air Force Officer, and my participation in a number of “leadership laboratories.” The military realized early on that leadership is a skill, and not just knowledge. Dr. Harding and I questioned whether there is anywhere that provides leaders the senior-level skills that they need to be successful. There are plenty of leadership programs, and many senior-level knowledge programs, but none of them appears to be skill-based. Lately, we have been discussing whether there would be a market for such a program. Would anyone attend such a program and how should it be structured? Should it be a university program, or other? We would appreciate your feedback and suggestions.

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This Friday, I’m delivering a short speech to 80+ soon-to-be graduates of the Leadership Council San Mateo County Emerging and CORPs Leadership Programs. These are two programs that my colleagues Rahul Khatod, Sharvari Shetty, Adrienne Donley and I have designed and delivered leadership content for over the past two years. I'll touch on my leadership journey, courageous conversations, and creating authentic connections as I demonstrate the components of a good story: 1-Context 2-Conflict 3-Climax 4-Call to Action Years of facilitation have made me very comfortable in front of large groups, but telling my own story is much more vulnerable. LinkedIn Colleagues: What do you do to prepare for a presentation? #Leadership #PublicSpeaking #Storytelling #CourageousConversations #AuthenticConnections #ProfessionalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #EmergingLeaders #SanMateoCounty #CareerJourney

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I drew inspiration from the stories of Orange County’s innovators who've turned challenges into opportunities at last night's Irvine Tech Week 2024: Innovation as a Daily Habit. Do you know what was the #1 theme that impacted innovation? CULTURE. “Innovation is a MINDSET and an APPROACH to work. An attitude that is willing to risk thinking out of the box…” Ash Rangan Shlomi Nachman combined a culture of innovation and a growing market to see 40% year over year gains.  Get “Diversity of thoughts”. Thank you ​°Arie Shen (Founder, Madas; Fractional CxO, Executive as a Service) and ​Cara Stewart  (Founder & CEO, Altalunas International) for hosting a great event. Ashwin Rangan, Managing Director of The Insightful Group, Shlomi Nachman, Former Company Group Chairman, Cardiovascular & Specialty Solutions (CSS) Group and Johnson & Johnson Vision, Isabelle Bart 💡(CEO, Impact Innovator) — Rise of the Impact Innovator, John Cheng (CEO, Custom Silicon Solutions) — Customer-led innovation to guide the development of products and drive business improvements, Zeev Collin (CEO, Semitech) — From startup to scaleup: how to manage growth, Raj Nihalani, M.D., RAC, (CEO, Seven Innovation Hub) — Leveraging clinical innovations in AI and ML for value-based med tech/health tech, digital therapeutics, surgery and robotics, Dionne Mejer (CEO, Revenue by Design) — Innovating inside sales for consistent performance.

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Yesterday was a record for me! Wink! Not only was I having tons of fun prepping for my upcoming Sacramento talk this Friday, but I was also a guest on FOUR podcasts -- two of which will be released around Mother's Day. And guess what? My daughter Schuyler Arakawa even joined me for the last one! I have found that personal growth -- whether it be personal or professional -- is not a solo sport. Best results never come from a DYI approach. There is a reason why there are more than one of us on this planet. We go so much further faster when we learn from each other's wisdom and stories. And the most profound results always occur when we start our quest in our own inner game. Potential isn't about finding the right hack or technique. It's about uncovering and then focusing the potential within toward that next #epic finish line! #Booyah #grit #resilience #keynotespeaker #podcast #podcastguest #leadership #teambuilding #personalgrowth #confidence #charisma

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