Welcome to the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast, episode 10 , 'Creating a Culture of Hope, Optimism, and Happiness'.
In this episode my guest is Dennis Budinich, Chief Culture Officer, Investors Bank. Every episode that is shared is full of inspiration, lessons learned, and words of wisdom. I hope you take the time to listen to both episode 10 and 11, which are part of this week's Inspire Series.
We went back in time to learn more about Dennis and his career progression to becoming the Chief Culture Officer. In doing so, I learned that Dennis was left back in school and it took a new principal that took him under her wing to help give him the confidence he needed to excel, so much so, that he became Class President in the 8th grade. School may not have been Dennis' forte, but working hard truly was, as he started his career working for the family business - a junkyard!
The progression of his career goes from the junkyard, to baking zucchini bread, opening a bakery, a restaurant, to working in insurance, presenting at different banks a program he created with his business partner, to finding his home at Investors Bank. Dennis shares what he learned along his journey, and brings comedy into every part of it, as he views getting in front of people as the opportunity to let out his inner rock star. Oh, and we even learn that mopping and vacuuming are both things that Dennis finds therapeutic.
From not reading any books in school to now reading as many as he possibly can. Dennis has studied why assumptions and opinions are usually negative. He shares about developing an optimistic mindset and finding an alternative way of thinking. Dennis shares that, "People are complex and their beliefs run deep".
Dennis led the way with his Chief Culture Officer title as early on this was not a held position in banking. Now Dennis gets calls from other banks and organizations to speak about what he has learned along his journey. Culture is the mindset of the individual and with Investors having over 1700 employees each one brings there own culture with them. His role is to help people elevate their mindset and he does that keeping three key words in mind: hope, optimism, and happiness.
Make sure to listen to the ham story that really showcases how we sometimes get stuck doing things a certain way because it just is easier, becomes a habit, and is the way it just always has been done. However, change is inevitable and important for so many different reasons.
Have you thought about turnover at your organization and why it may be happening? Dennis brings up a question a lot of human resources professionals may not be asking. Many supervisors ask where the employee may be heading or why they may be leaving? Listen in to an even better question that may give you some further information.
Although, he did not graduate college, Dennis has taught leadership at Penn State, amongst so many other places, and feels so blessed with the career he has been able to build. His advice like it or not, pick up the book and read. Although, he still to this day dislikes reading, he likes the reward that he gets from it. He says, "the sacrifice is worth it".
I am grateful to Dennis and Investors Bank for being an ongoing supporter and sponsor of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation.
On the next episode, which is part of the Inspire Series, Dennis joins me as a guest co-host and together, we interview Rob Scheer. Rob is founder of Comfort Cases, author of A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time. Rob was a 2018 CNN Hero, has appeared on The Ellen Show, Today Show, and many more.
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