Building Communities in Isolation (wsg Amanda Lewan)

During this episode, You, Me, and Your Top Three host and CGS Advisors CEO, Gregg Garrett, speaks about how the world and the working world may be changed forever and how working from home, or anywhere, is the new model. Gregg then speak with Amanda Lewan, CEO and Co-Founder of Bamboo Detroit who is an expert in the working from home space. Amanda discusses the impact COVID and the COVID-driven disruption is having on this shared work model. Of course, she speaks about her ‘Top Three’ from her founder husband, to her co-founder partner, to her customers, to her mentors and formal advisors. And you have to hear about how this disruption is giving her an opportunity to pull ahead the digitization of her business. About Amanda Lewan  Amanda Lewan is a writer, entrepreneur, and community builder. Her life mission is to unite others and move our world forward. Amanda worked at a variety of startups in marketing & operations, before launching Bamboo. One of the first co-working spaces in Detroit, Bamboo specializes in building collaborative work spaces and community. Her leadership has been honored locally and nationally. Amanda’s writing is inspired our changing times. After winning a national essay competition by The Nation in college, she went on to study fiction writing in graduate school. She writes essays and fiction in a lyric style. Her work been published and honored by The Rumpus, Glimmer Train, Rust Belt Magazine, Belt Publishing, The Journal of Americana, Lumina Magazine, and nominated for Pushcart Prizes & Best of Net. She’s currently at work on upmarket literary fiction books. She  lives in Detroit with her husband Marc and their three dogs. When she’s not writing or planning community events, she’s often cooking, hosting friends, reading, and exploring.  Amanda holds a BA in Professional Writing from Michigan State and an MA in English from Wayne State. She sits on the board for Venture Catalysts, and Co-leads the Detroit Writers Collective writers group.  Show Highlights Segment 1: Overview 0:56        The importance of rowing relationships – especially during quarantine (in the trenches). 3:26        Amanda Lewan – CEO and Co-Founder of Bamboo Detroit (building community and co-working spaces). Segment 2: The “Top Three” 4:50        Amanda’s ‘Top Three’: Marc Hudson – founder and leader perspective. 5:40        Amanda’s ‘Top Three’: Mike Ferlito – bring alternate perspectives. 6:48        Keeping balance while also having focus. 9:19        Amanda’s ‘Top Three’: Customers and community – customer feedback to keep the focus. 13:04      Learning from the dissatisfied. 15:05      Amanda’s ‘Top Three’: The Market – if you can’t make a sale yet, the market will push you in the right direction. 16:33      Amanda’s ‘Top Three’: Formal Mentors and Advisors (Gretchen Knoell) – experts in parts of the field (ex. real estate). 19:35      “A good mentor pushes you to ask the right questions or think about something in a different way.” 25:08      Bamboo Detroit – co-working and turn-key offices designed for startups and small businesses growth. Segment 3: Disruption & Transformation 28:11      The COVID disruption – expediting the work from home trends. 33:12      What one or two big culture shifts be post-COVID that affect your company or industry? (Coping with COVID) 36:30      Culture comes from the founder first. Segment 4: Leadership & Wrapping Up 38:39      Hint for leaders: Learn a better habit while working from home. 41:34      Stay in touch with Amanda!   Additional Information Contact Amanda Lewan: Amanda’s Email Amanda’s Twitter Amanda’s LinkedIn Bamboo’s Website Bamboo’s Events Contact Gregg Garrett: Gregg’s LinkedIn Gregg’s Twitter Gregg’s Bio Contact CGS Advisors: Website LinkedIn Twitter  

Om Podcasten

You, Me, and Your Top Three is a podcast focused on exploring leadership in the connecting world. Specifically, the podcast invites leaders to tell stories, reflect, and discuss their views on: - disruptions in industry and society; - how they are leading transformations considering these disruptions - brave leadership to drive transformation. It is this last point where we focus most of the discussion, asking our guests to share their insights into the relationships they have with their “Top 3” closest advisors. It is our observation and experience that as the world connects, the importance of a diverse set of counselors is increasing in value. For some this may be a formal advisor who has been contracted on behalf of the company. For most this will be deep relationships in which they have been invested and nurtured. Through stories and discussion, we strive to celebrate the art of giving and receiving advice. The stories that are told are heartfelt and real. At the root we are exploring the process of knowledge building, relationship building, and perhaps most importantly, confidence building. After all, it takes a brave leader to battle the inertia that exists in industries, our organizations, and in ourselves. It is our hope that as successful leaders open up about around the subjects and the way in which they interact with their closest confidants, that our listeners will, in turn, reflect on their own “virtual board of advisors.” Over time they will then surround themselves with those who help them stretch toward greatness and lead bravely in the connecting world.