Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Judy Ryan

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Judy Ryan. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Judy, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I have built a comprehensive, consistent, and scalable culture change process on a digital platform. The implementation has proven to be highly effective in supporting responsible, purpose and values-based thinking and behaving.

While I would not say that “nobody” sees it, relatively very few are aware of it. I’m proud of it because many people are hungry for an evolved, conscious culture model in which everyone develops the leader within no matter what their age, experience, title or role. Everyone learns social and emotional intelligence skills, how to critically think, the confidence to flex between leading and following as needed, and build high trust and collaboration. These and more are all necessary for the advancement of our human systems for how people think, feel, speak and act at this time and in the future. Only with the right concepts, terms, tools, processes and support can people succeed despite complexity, speed of change, new technologies, globalization and more. I’m proud of building this because systemic change is the only way to create a conscious society and the most helpful systems for meeting today’s challenges those of tomorrow.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My superpower is creating innovative systems that support healthy individuals and organizations. Since 2002, I’ve developed and implemented culture models that strengthen social and emotional intelligence and full engagement of people no matter their age, experience, role or status.

I understand how to transform struggle into expanded potential. I have a unique mixture of training and experience in social psychology, culture evolution, and people development, so each person feels healthy belonging and significance. Only then can they build trust and operate effectively in cross-functional teams. Such collaboration is needed to overcome today’s challenges and realize opportunities now and later. My purpose is creating a world in which all people love their lives!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I have always been drawn to unorthodox methods for forming authentic community and developing people into good citizens. When I was a young mother, I learned a life-changing parenting model based the psychology of Alfred Adler and it was pivotal in shaping how I see the world and also myself, I turned my interest into an obsession and in 2002, a business specializing in workplace culture change and leadership development.

Here are key questions that have led to liberation in my life and in the lives of many people I have worked with over the years:
• How can we shift our civilization process so rather than diminish people and demean the human spirit, each person is assisted in expanding into their wholeness?

• What can we do to create a world in which it feels safe to be powerfully influential, inventive, vulnerable, and collaborative?

• What does an organization look like in which people thrive rather than simply survive?

• How do we avoid that which makes us feel and act like victims and rebels and adopt that which makes us feel empowered, lovable, connected, and contributing?

When Beethoven looked at the piano keys, he saw a symphony. When Michael Jordan saw a basketball, he saw greatness. when I meet people, I see the unseen beauty and truth beneath the surface and I uncover it. And that truth – the one that’s really happening under the surface – that’s what we all need to see.

The old ways of understanding how we think, feel, speak and act aren’t working anymore – the way of superior versus inferior or management versus employee or parent versus child. They never did (not without lasting, serious, negative side effects). And our world is suffering because of this. We need win-win. We need a powerful, positive, and sustainable transformation. I bring that.I share that understanding with everyone I meet in order to help them move from fear to freedom.

I believe that at their core, (and unless they are acting from a serious mental illness), people are and want to be great and when they are not acting great, they are discouraged. And more than ever, that story – the one really happening under the surface when we are at our best – is what each person needs to see and embrace. Not the story we scare ourselves with from limitation and fear. I want people to reframe their self-perceptions that inspire shame, so they can access their wisdom and intuition and have fun creating a bright future.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would say to my younger self, “You deserve the awe and wonder you knew when exploring the huge park behind our house. You ran and played and were one with nature. Life was free and beautiful. Build upon that. Remember you have inner wisdom and a unique calling. Your personal power is vital and you are needed. I will help you celebrate your power, and help you guide it until you live a responsible, intentional, highly fulfilling life in which you help all to love their lives.”

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Many smart people have a faulty idea about the nature of people and what expands their potential. They have not examined the control systems they adopt that result in fearful ideas and limiting beliefs about themselves and others. Even though many are seeking to develop people into good citizens, they inadvertently do harm by using control using power-over, power-under, win/lose ways. They command others in an effort to gain compliance which ends up as resentfully delivered or rebellion. They dangle carrots to get people to jump through hoops but which ends up creating self-focused people who win at the cost of others, and want to get rewarded for every effort. They use praise and criticism, unwittingly turning people into brown nosers and people pleasers. They enable and pamper some in an effort to gain what little they can from them but end up with those same people acting entitled and who underperform.

Smart people get it right when they realized people are great! They know if people are not acting great, it’s a system problem. They are willing to learn how to effectively transfer personal power and responsibility to those they lead so they pick it up. They help people become their best from the inside out so they get masterful at managing relationships (even with authority figures), how productive they are, their enthusiasm for their life including at work, and know how to design and follow a progress plan that’s aligned with their highest purpose, values, and visions. The good news is that smart people recognize this when they see it.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I understand that if we all had a different view of ourselves and others and started from an accurate picture of the power and majesty within every person, we would never create win/lose dynamics or operate in outdated win/lose systems in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces. When we understand that all people must have conditions and conversations in which each feels belonging and that they matter, we would drop all practices that diminish helping people feel empowered, lovable, connected and contributing. We would seek to align all practices in every setting, that uplift the dignity of people, celebrate and guide their personal power and create trust and collaboration not often seen fully or consistently.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Liz Hartman Sitaraman How we start our day is so important to set the tone-

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Carey Selk A significant wound in my life I moved through was trusting my intuition.

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than