In This Episode
In this week’s episode of the Two Piers Podcast, we continue our series on resilient leadership with Dr. Anthony Luévanos, discussing giving and receiving feedback. We explore the real reasons why feedback is often avoided, misunderstood, or mishandled, and why treating feedback as a disciplined practice rather than a one-off performance event is essential to building trust, alignment, and growth inside any organization.

What We Cover

• How cultural, industry, and organizational norms impact the way feedback is exchanged
• Why withholding feedback out of discomfort is not kindness — and can actually be a form of disrespect
• The biggest mindset shifts needed to give feedback with clarity, humility, and purpose
• How to adapt your feedback to the needs and history of the recipient
• What it looks like to receive feedback with curiosity rather than defensiveness
• Practical techniques for navigating the emotional intensity of feedback conversations, including the 54321 grounding method
• Why feedback is not about correction, but direction

About Our Guest
Dr. Anthony Luévanos is a researcher and practitioner who brings deep expertise from both academia and the real world of organizational systems. His work focuses on leadership learning, feedback culture, and building environments where people can grow with clarity, dignity, and purpose.

Key Takeaway
Feedback is not a verdict, it is a map. When delivered with intention and received with curiosity, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for organizational alignment and human development.

Dr. Anthony Luévanos LinkedIn

5-4-3-2-1 Method

Dr. Megan Tschannen-Moran

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D’Eramo sits down with Celeste Warren, a diversity and inclusion consultant with nearly 40 years of experience and former Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Merck. Together, they unpack one of the most misunderstood concepts in the modern workplace — equity.

Celeste explains why equity isn’t about preferential treatment but about removing systemic barriers that prevent fair access to opportunity. Through powerful stories and practical examples, she and Erica explore how equity strengthens leadership, improves business outcomes, and helps organizations reach their full potential.

🔍 Topics Covered

• The real difference between equality and equity — and why it matters
• Common myths and misconceptions about fairness and meritocracy
• How systemic barriers like racism and sexism undermine team performance
• What skills-based hiring looks like in practice
• The role of shame, defensiveness, and dialogue in advancing inclusion
• How effective leaders create equitable, high-performing teams
• Why SHRM’s recent decision to de-emphasize equity is a step backward
• The business and human case for embracing equity as a leadership imperative

🧭 Key Takeaways

• Equity is not a dirty word — it’s the foundation of good leadership and sound business strategy.
• Leaders must understand that identical treatment isn’t fairness; equitable systems recognize and address different starting points.
• Conversations about equity work best when they’re grounded in data, empathy, and curiosity, not shame or fear.
• Organizations that commit to equity see stronger engagement, innovation, and performance.

👤 About Celeste Warren

Celeste Warren is a globally recognized diversity and inclusion strategist and the former Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Merck. With a career spanning nearly four decades, she has been a leading voice in transforming organizational culture through equity, empathy, and leadership accountability. Celeste is also the author of How to Be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador and a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Learn more about Celeste’s work at CRW Diversity
and follow her on LinkedIn and other platforms for her latest insights.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Episode Title: Raised in Silence: Bridging Communities with Maria Gallucci

In this episode of the Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D’Eramo sits down with Maria Gallucci, a multi-award-winning Colorado Real Estate Broker, author, and lifelong advocate for inclusive communication and accessible housing.

Maria shares her story of growing up with deaf parents, her role as an “unofficial interpreter,” and how those early experiences shaped her mission to ensure that everyone feels accepted, valued, and included. Together, Erica and Maria explore the importance of empathy, the misconceptions that persist about the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, and the everyday actions that foster connection.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why empathy and effort matter more than perfection when it comes to communication.
• The social framework of disability, and how context can include—or exclude—people.
• How universal design benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities.
• The role of technology, from apps to voice-to-text tools, in bridging communication gaps.
• Common myths about the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community (including lip reading).
• Practical ways to build bridges: choosing curiosity over judgment, small inclusive gestures, and respecting cultural identity.

Maria also introduces her book, Raised in Silence, which offers practical tips and real stories for anyone looking to communicate more effectively across differences.

Resources and Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Maria’s book: Raised in Silence
  
  
• Maria’s real estate practice: http://www.Galluccihomes.com
  
  

👉 Listen in for an inspiring and practical conversation about compassion, communication, and the simple choices we can all make to create a more inclusive world.

In this episode of the Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D’Eramo sits down with Erika Pherson, Founder and CEO of The Collective Concierge, to explore why administrative support is essential for professional success.

Erika shares her journey from “doing it all” to building a company that helps entrepreneurs and executives streamline their workloads through high-level administrative support, process optimization, and project management. Together, Erica and Erika unpack the challenges of asking for help, the value of delegation, and the systems that make it work.

Listeners will learn practical strategies for identifying which tasks to delegate, building trust with support professionals, and finding the right match to maximize productivity. Erika also explains how effective support goes beyond task execution to provide thought partnership and fresh perspectives.

Key Takeaways:

• Why leaders struggle with delegation—and how to overcome it
• A simple framework for evaluating which tasks to delegate
• How systems and regular communication create trust and efficiency
• The importance of chemistry in professional support relationships
• How thought partnership can elevate decision-making and strategy

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about The Collective Concierge: www.thecollectiveconcierge.com
• Instagram: the_collective_concierge

🎧 Listen now and discover how delegating well can free your time, energy, and focus for the work that matters most.

In this episode of the Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D’Eramo welcomes back Dr. Anthony Luévanos, leadership strategist and organizational development expert, for a powerful conversation on adaptive leadership and resilience.

Dr. Luévanos shares why resilience is more than just “toughing it out, "it’s about adaptability, self-awareness, and the ability to inspire teams through uncertainty. Together, Erica and Dr. Luévanos explore how leaders can embrace vulnerability, foster two-way communication, and build organizations that can bend without breaking.

Key themes include:

• The true definition of resilience in leadership—beyond grit and endurance.
• Common misconceptions that hold leaders back from being adaptive.
• How gender dynamics shape resilience in male-dominated workplaces.
• The role of emotional intelligence and vulnerability in resilient leadership.
• Lessons from extreme conditions, including the Stockdale Paradox and Viktor Frankl’s work.
• Why self-care and community are critical to avoiding burnout.

Whether you’re leading a team, an organization, or yourself through change, this episode offers actionable insights on cultivating resilience that lasts.

Episode Description:
In this episode of the Two Piers Podcast, host Erica D’Eramo is joined by Dr. Anthony Luévanos—an expert in leadership, coaching, and organizational development—to explore the powerful role of systems thinking in today’s complex work environments.

Together, they unpack what systems thinking really means, how it applies across industries, and why it’s essential for leaders who want to navigate change, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful results. From emotional intelligence to adaptive leadership, this conversation connects technical problem-solving with human-centered leadership in a compelling, practical way.

Whether you're leading a team, coaching executives, or rethinking your approach to organizational growth, this episode offers insight into how to see the bigger picture—and act with greater impact.

Topics covered include:

• What systems thinking is and how it applies to leadership
• Root causes vs. surface-level symptoms in problem-solving
• The intersection of coaching, engineering, and organizational development
• Emotional intelligence as a leadership competency
• Visualization tools like causal loop diagrams and mind maps
• Leading with adaptability in unpredictable systems
• Shifting from a mindset of knowing to one of learning

Guest Bio:
Dr. Anthony Luévanos is an educator, coach, and organizational development consultant with a passion for building effective, adaptive systems. With a background spanning school leadership, academic research, and cross-sector collaboration, Dr. Luévanos brings a systems lens to leadership development, helping individuals and organizations thrive in complexity.

Resources & References:

• Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline
• Donella Meadows, Thinking in Systems
• Toyota Lean Manufacturing Principles

Listen + Subscribe:
Catch this episode and more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

Connect with Us:
Learn more about Two Piers Consulting at www.twopiersconsulting.com, and follow us on LinkedIn for updates on new episodes, articles, and events.

Reconstructing Inclusion: Amri B. Johnson on Systems-Level DEI and Interdependence

Episode Summary:
In this episode of the Two Piers Podcast, Erica D’Eramo is joined by Amri B. Johnson—epidemiologist, social capitalist, and CEO of Inclusion Wins—for a dynamic conversation on what it takes to build truly inclusive systems in organizations.

Drawing on his experience across public health, business strategy, and organizational design, Amri shares why many DEI efforts fall short—and how we can reconstruct them to be accessible, actionable, and sustainable. From the limits of representation to the power of interdependence, this episode offers a refreshing, systems-oriented perspective on inclusion.

What We Talk About:

• Amri’s personal and professional journey—from Topeka to Switzerland
• Interdependence as a foundational DEI principle
• Why inclusion must align with organizational purpose
• A case study on gender diversity and relational fitness in tech
• The difference between treatment vs. prevention in DEI
• How upstream approaches drive long-term culture change
• Why engaging with dissenters strengthens—not weakens—DEI efforts
• Practical ways to make DEI part of your organizational DNA

Resources & Mentions:

• Amri's book, Reconstructing Inclusion: Making DEI Accessible, Actionable, and Sustainable (affiliate link)
• Amri's Substack blog and podcast
• Amri's website: inclusionwins.com
• Find Amri on LinkedIn

Like what you heard?
Please subscribe, rate, and review The Two Piers Podcast wherever you listen—and help us bring more courageous conversations to more ears.

In this episode, Erica D’Eramo sits down with award-winning filmmaker and creative professional Ben Keller, founder of Keller Media Works, to explore the intersection of art, adventure, and storytelling. From a career that began in sculpture and music A&R (Artists and Repertoire) to his current work in film and video production, Ben shares how diverse experiences—and a healthy dose of risk—have shaped his creative process.

Together, Ben and Erica discuss the power of lived experience in storytelling, the logistics of sustainable tourism video projects, and what it takes to stay calm (and creative) when plans fall apart. Whether you're a creative professional, entrepreneur, or someone navigating your own winding career path, this episode is full of practical insights and thoughtful reflections.

Topics Covered

• Ben’s unconventional career path from sculpture to music to filmmaking
• How lived experiences fuel creativity and storytelling
• Navigating risk and adversity in professional and creative work
• Behind-the-scenes stories from shoots in Hawaii and Colorado
• The role of sustainable tourism in video production
• Building authentic content through local partnerships
• Creativity and the value of changing environments
• Ben’s approach to client engagement and project development

Ben Keller is a filmmaker and the founder of Keller Media Works, a full-service film and video production company. With a background spanning sculpture, photography, music production, and travel, Ben brings a multi-disciplinary perspective to every project. He specializes in documentary storytelling, brand content, and commercial media—always with an emphasis on authenticity, adaptability, and impact.

Learn more about Ben’s work at kellermediaworks.com or follow him on Instagram at @kellermediaworks.

Resources & Links

• Keller Media Works: kellermediaworks.com
• Follow Ben on Instagram: @kellermediaworks
• Ben's Sustainable Tourism Project: Rooted Journeys

For more conversations on creative careers, leadership, and navigating uncertainty, subscribe to The Two Piers Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about our work at Two Piers Consulting and follow us on LinkedIn.