Being willing to make a fool of yourself, embracing your shortcomings and taking a step, is how we learn to become better teammates. In this episode, 2nd Year MBA students Tamara Norris and Pitu Sim do a podcast take over of the creator, Rob Maloney. He shares his experience overcoming traumas, how they have shaped who he is today, and learning to lead himself and others through compassion and joy. Rob shares his guiding principles and what drives the things he does from getting a Masters in Mathematics & Education to living in China and learning to speak Mandarin, leading MBA associations, starting a podcast, running an Ironman triathlon, and more.Key Takeaways: These are ours, what are yours? Knowing the theme of your life and your story, and who you do it for. Learning to let our own light shine and the liberation that comes from being able to see the potential in not only other people but also in ourselves. Taking wisdom from those around us and applying it in our lives with enthusiasm.Speaker Bio:Rob grew up on Long Island, New York, and attended Stony Brook University for his undergraduate and master's where he played rugby for the university team and was the recipient of the 2017 William J. Sullivan Service award. After completing his first master's degree in mathematics, he pursued the opportunity to travel, live and work in China. An array of international positions and experiences ultimately led to a position as an International Program Manager for a large-scale startup blockchain company have evoked his passion for driving impact as a multiplier leader and empowering teammates. After being displaced by COVID-19, he was homeless, jobless and locked out of the country and the normality of life. Battling the social anxiety of reverse homesickness, depression and imposter syndrome, he scrambled to find the next opportunity to bounce back until earning a full scholarship to pursue his MBA at the W.P Carey School of Business. Upon finishing his MBA in May 2022, he earned a full-time position with Microsoft as a Business Development Program Manager in Azure.In his own words, “The most meaningful experiences to me are getting to fuel the passion of another and share experiences they value and care about most to build greater experiences together. It’s incredible how much being invested in others and being the teammate that I wished I had has changed my life's perspective and taken me further than I imagined was possible as a kid.” That's a large reason why last year he started the podcast "Heart and Hard Work" which is focused on recognizing the incredible people all around us who make a difference with their actions and together create a space where we can connect the years of wisdom and research with leaders who are putting them into motion today.Connect further:https://www.linkedin.com/company/heart-hard-workRob Maloney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robmalo/Tamara Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-kelson-norris-05134264/Pitu Sim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pitusim/Dawud Yakubu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawudy/