Show Notes

What do winning teams consistently get right? In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez and HR expert Kyle Patrick Smith explore leadership as responsibility and service.

They unpack authenticity, accountability, and why people-first leadership creates teams that thrive, especially during times of change.

Check out Kyle Patrick Smith’s books:
Recruiting Is Easy!: If You Approach It Like Sales And Marketing
https://amzn.to/45c8qMj
Get the Job You Love
https://amzn.to/3LjZA8x

Key Takeaways

• Winning teams are built through service, not control
• Authentic leadership requires accountability
• Leaders succeed when they lift others up
• People-first culture drives long-term results

Guest Credentials

Kyle Patrick Smith is an HR expert, bestselling author, and founder of HR Kyle with over 25 years of corporate HR experience.

Connect with Kyle Patrick Smith
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehrkyle/
https://hrkyle.com

What does it take to build organizations where people truly thrive?
In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with Stephan Spilkowitz, Director of Engagement and Culture at Westchester Jewish Community Services, nonprofit trailblazer, and organizational culture consultant. Together, they explore inclusive leadership, wellness in the workplace, community building, and how leaders can support people at scale without losing humanity or purpose.

In this Episode:
00:00 Introduction & episode overview
02:42 Leadership, wellness, and responsibility
04:52 Stephan’s leadership journey
09:20 Service, fun, and organizational culture
13:27 Wellness, burnout, and leadership sustainability
19:40 What community really means
21:45 Advice for the next generation of leaders
26:50 How to connect with Stephan
29:49 Final reflections & closing

Pre-register for Coach Dora's Wellness Club: https://forms.gle/CFyihe1StCJF16ix5

Connect with Stephan Spilkowitz https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-spilkowitz

Shop the Coach Dora Books: (Affiliate Links) 👇
https://amzn.to/3Z0B4fB
https://amzn.to/4qONHqh

Let's Stay Connected!

Website: https://CoachDoraMendez.com
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/coachdoram
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachdoram
Substack https://coachdoram.substack.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachdoramendez

Sign Up for my FREE Newsletter! https://coachdoramendez.com

This video was recorded with StreamYard. Click this link to give it a try! 👇🏾 https://streamyard.com/pal/c/4806734327447552

About Coach Dora Mendez - https://coachdoramendez.com
The mission of Coach Dora LLC is to be a beacon of bold authenticity, igniting conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion through my writing and public speaking. I envision a world where everyone feels empowered to lead with courage and compassion, and my coaching and consulting services are the tools to make this vision a reality.

Season 3 of Building Leadership Community Podcast opens with a powerful conversation between host Coach Dora Mendez and activist, advocate, and author Zenaida Mendez. In this episode, Zenaida shares her immigration journey, decades of leadership in New York City, and the inspiration behind her memoir Amor y desamor de la diáspora. Together, they explore leadership rooted in culture, bilingualism, community organizing, and resilience.

Get Zenaida’s book here👇
https://amzn.to/4shL3uF

In this Episode:
00:00 – Season 3 Welcome
02:56 – Guest Introduction: Zenaida Mendez
06:30 – Why She Wrote Her Memoir
08:26 – Immigration Story & Early Leadership
12:43 – Dominican Leadership in NYC
17:47 – Why This Book Matters Now
20:26 – Love & Heartbreak of the Diaspora
22:07 – Leadership, Language & Community
25:42 – Where to Get the Book