CIRCLES' PODCAST & VLOG
Welcome to Circles of Collaboration, the podcast where we redefine success through the power of collaboration. Inspired by the book, Circles of Collaboration by Christine Merser and Leslie Grossman, but expanding far beyond its pages, we explore how true success isn’t about going it alone, it’s about building the right circle.
Each episode brings together thought leaders, innovators, and game-changers to discuss the art of collaboration in business, leadership, philanthropy, and beyond. From the power of strategic networking to breaking traditional hierarchies, we uncover the strategies and stories of people who have built extraordinary careers, companies, and communities, by working together.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, creative, or changemaker, Circles of Collaboration offers fresh insights, real-world advice, and a powerful new way to approach success. Because the future of leadership isn’t about standing at the top, it’s about building strong, connected circles.
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Building Trust in Intuition: Lessons for Life and Work with Dr. Ina Gjikondi
Christine Merser invites Dr. Ina Gjikondi to expand on an article she wrote about intuition. Ina recalls a moment at the airport when she thought she had lost her ID and stress began to take over. And where was it? In her wallet all along. By pausing, trusting her instincts, and listening to a simple cue from a stranger, a kind of unexpected collaborator, she discovered it was with her. For Ina, this was not luck but intuition in action, a practice she describes as a muscle we can all strengthen when we learn to slow down, let go of reactivity, and pay attention to the signals around us.
She shares how she has tested and taught this practice, from quick intuition experiments with friends to encouraging leaders to look beyond logic in their decision-making. For her, intuition is always available, but it takes practice, trust, and openness to cues that may come from others. Last is also where collaboration comes in: just as circles thrive on listening and shared insight, intuition deepens those connections by allowing us to draw on wisdom from within ourselves, from the people we work with, and from the environment around us.
In a world shaped by rapid technological change, including AI, cultivating intuition helps ensure we do not lose the critical thinking and lived experience that make collaboration meaningful.
Dr. Gjikondi is Director of Learning Innovation and Strategic Growth at the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership at George Washington University and founder of the One Humanity Lab.
Visit our website & order your copy of Circles of Collaboration now: https://www.apricitypublishing.com/circles-of-collaboration
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Dr. Ina Gjikondi on Barbara Marx Hubbard and the Power of a Question
In our conversation with Dr. Ina Gjikondi, she reflects on the question Christine Merser asks every woman at the end of a Circles of Collaboration interview: if you could share a meal with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Her answer is Barbara Marx Hubbard, a futurist who once challenged President Eisenhower during the nuclear era with a question that feels just as urgent today. Dr. Gjikondi imagines how Hubbard’s perspective might apply to the age of artificial intelligence and what guidance she could offer on using new power for good.
It is a moment that invites collaboration, echoing the heart of Circles of Collaboration, and challenges us to consider how collective wisdom can guide the way we use emerging technologies to shape a more conscious and connected future.
Dr. Gjikondi is Director of Learning Innovation and Strategic Growth at the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership at George Washington University and founder of the One Humanity Lab.
Visit our website & order your copy of Circles of Collaboration now: https://www.apricitypublishing.com/circles-of-collaboration
Learn more about Dr. Ina Gjikondi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inagjikondi/
Ecocentrism and Collaboration with Dr. Ina Gjikondi
Our guest, Dr. Ina Gjikondi, brings ecocentrism into the workplace, showing how nature itself can enhance performance in business and help us reach our goals and vision. Ecocentrism, as she defines it, is the understanding that nature holds agency and that all beings and elements, human and non-human, exist together in a delicate balance. In other words, we are collaborators with the earth itself.
That shift changes everything. Instead of treating nature as a backdrop, we can recognize it as an active partner with wisdom to offer. Yes, that walk in the forest, or even hugging a tree, just might give you the answer to the issue you have been struggling with. Who knew that your circle of collaborators might reach past people to include the natural world?
Hosted by Christine Merser, co-author of Circles of Collaboration, this conversation with Dr. Gjikondi highlights groundbreaking research in ecocentrism that is creating inroads into how we work, connect, and solve problems. Dr. Gjikondi is Director of Learning Innovation & Strategic Growth at the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (CEPL) at George Washington University and founder of the One Humanity Lab.
Visit our website & order your copy of Circles of Collaboration now: https://www.apricitypublishing.com/circles-of-collaboration
How to "Do the Ask" with Confidence with Patrice Tanaka
The Circles of Collaboration podcast debuts alongside the book launch, bringing author Christine Merser and PR powerhouse Patrice Tanaka of Joyful Planet to the table. Their focus? Two pivotal chapters: Do the Ask and Quid Pro Quo.
Do the Ask
Asking for what you need isn’t easy for everyone—but Patrice? She’s mastered it since childhood. Hear how she approaches the ask with confidence and ensures she’s always comfortable making it. Her secret? Certainty, planning, and clarity—three essentials for any ask.
Quid Pro Quo
Christine wants to reclaim the term, stripping away its negative connotation and turning it into a powerful tool. Patrice? Not so much. One thing they agree on—transactional quid pro quos don’t belong at the party. But a collaborative quid pro quo? Now that’s worth discussing.
Join the conversation—you just might rethink how you approach both the ask and the exchange.
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