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

Welcome to Building Leadership Community, the podcast spotlighting leaders who drive positive social impact through bold, values-aligned leadership. In this special preview episode, Coach Dora reflects on growth, wellness, and community as we close out 2025 and look ahead to an inspiring Season 3. You’ll hear candid insights on leadership development, entrepreneurship, and the power of choosing support and joy while building what matters most.

In This Episode:

• The 10 Moments of 2025 A raw reflection on scaling a business, becoming AI-fluent, and leading with intention.

• The Wellness Club Launch Learn how to claim one of 26 founding spots and step into a more supported 2026.

• Season 3 Preview A first look at upcoming guests, from equity warriors to neuroscientists.

Resources & Links:
• Join the Founding Circle of Coach Dora’s Wellness Club https://forms.gle/iXw2i8ZQRsPmTQVM7

• The Entrepreneur’s Podcast Blueprint https://www.coachdoramendez.com/offers/nbFVW58k/checkout

Episode Chapters:
00:00 – A Moment to Breathe (Intro)
02:59 – Top 10 Moments from 2025
14:15 – Season 3 Preview & Guest Reveal
16:20 – Holiday Closing Subscribe now so you don’t miss the Season 3 premiere in mid-January.

Books by Coach Dora (Affiliate Links)
• Latinas Rising Up in HR, Volume III: Executive Edition https://amzn.to/3MEerLn
• Extraordinary Latinas, Volume IV https://amzn.to/4p88Mud Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links.

As an Amazon Associate, Coach Dora earns from qualifying purchases.

Stay Connected with Coach Dora

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 the FREE newsletter to stay inspired and informed. About Coach Dora Mendez Coach Dora Mendez is the founder of Coach Dora LLC. Her mission is to be a beacon of bold authenticity, igniting conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion through writing, public speaking, coaching, and consulting. She envisions a world where everyone is empowered to lead with courage and compassion.

It's the Season Two Finale! In this incredibly special episode, host Dora Mendez is joined by her husband and podcast producer, Dylan K. Rogers, and their two incredible children, Naomi and Mateo, to discuss leadership right where it matters—at home.

In this episode:

• The Future of Leadership: Hear from Naomi and Mateo as they share their perspectives on what makes a good leader, what they like about the podcast, and how they lead in their own lives (like playing fair on the soccer team).
• Season 2 Insights: Producer Dylan Rogers shares the 3 major themes that emerged this season: empathy and vulnerability as a way to build trust, the power of the pivot, and community-first leadership.
• Behind the Mic: Coach Dora gives a shout-out to her family members featured this season, including Dora's mother, Zenaida Mende, aunt Carmen Mejia, and sister, Rocio Méndez.
• Start Your Podcast: Learn about the Entrepreneur's Podcast Blueprint mini-course, created to help leaders and entrepreneurs start their own show with a slim budget.
• Season 3 Preview: Get a sneak peek at next season, which will be bigger and more diverse, featuring incredible men who are allies in the leadership space, leaders in tech, philanthropy, and more!

Connect with Dora Mendez: Listen and watch every episode of Season 1 and 2 on all audio platforms or on YouTube @CoachDoraM.

Get a sneak peek into the Season 2 Finale of the Building Leadership Community Podcast! Host Dora Mendez is joined by her family—producer Dylan Rogers and children Naomi and Mateo—for a candid conversation about leadership at home. Plus, listen for a special preview of the amazing guests and themes lined up for Season 3!

It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn't have to be. In this powerful episode of the Building Leadership Community Podcast, host Dora Mendez sits down with her sister, the multi-talented Rocío Mendez. Rocío is an award-winning actor, fight and intimacy director, and currently the resident Intimacy Director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

In this episode, Rocío shares:

How her background in martial arts and stage combat led her to pursue fight choreography as a career.

The crucial role that mentorship played in her career trajectory.

The vital importance of her role: to choreograph scenes of intimacy while also ensuring performers have autonomy with their bodies, are fully consenting, and have a voice in the room.

Her philosophy on leading: showing people the value and collaboration of the work to build a fun and sustainable creative environment.

Her top leadership advice: to commit to continuous learning and education—on topics like mental health, gender politics, and anti-racism—to stay relevant and build a stronger community of professionals.

Guest Links:

Website: RocíoMendez.com

Instagram: @itsRocíoMendez

Organization: Oregon Shakespeare Festival (osfashland.org)

IMDb

Get ready to be inspired! In this teaser for the latest episode of Building Leadership Community Podcast, host Dora Mendez introduces her sister, the incredibly talented and award-winning theater artist, Rocio Mendez. Rocio has carved a unique path as a leader in the arts, working as an actor, fight and intimacy director on Broadway and with national theaters. Listen for a sneak peek as Rocio shares how her background in movement and martial arts led her to pursue fight choreography and eventually become a pioneer in the intimacy directing field. She discusses the vital role of mentorship and the importance of creating a safe, consensual, and collaborative environment for actors. Tune into the full episode for Rocio's powerful advice on continuous learning and building community no matter where you are in your career!