We were lucky to catch up with Boi Carpenter recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Boi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Inquisitive Leader, LLC was born out of numerous organic conversations inspired by engaging dialog with bright, enthusiastic, talented, diverse professionals. Every month, I try to meet with at least four new professionals to hear their personal stories, discuss their work, learn about their lived experiences in the workplace, and discuss the next steps in their professional journey.
The goal of the community I am building is to create a space that provides permission to learn, grow, and be vulnerable while exploring various strategies for success in the workplace. So many people need a confidant, role model, mentor, or coach. My mission is to provide content that fills that void in a welcoming way and through the lens of my lived experiences and personal journey.
Boi , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My career has been and continues to be dedicated to mission-driven causes, talent development, and organizational management. As a visionary, advisor, and strategist, I bring over twenty-six years of professional experience as an individual contributor, manager, and leader in the higher education and medical fundraising sector.
Through my social platforms, I engage in topics about personal and professional growth, career management, inclusion, belonging, managing, leading, recruitment, hiring, and retention. The content is accessible and concise, with links for those who want to dig deeper into the topics. Additionally, I share my thoughts on the books I am reading and have free book giveaways for those who are signed up and connected with me through my Inquisitive Leader website.
What do I hear from my followers? “Love the sharing that you are doing. Really valuable information and insights!” “Really impressed with the social media work you’re putting out there. I’ve been a quiet fan!”
Everyone is a leader in some aspect of their life, and you will find that my content focuses on developmental growth through many different stages of our lives.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Unplugging from work has always been difficult for me. Almost four years ago, I truly learned what it means to unplug totally. At the time, I was working with an excellent executive leadership coach who believed in nurturing the whole person. She said about two meetings into our engagement, “You need to take a vacation on your own so you can focus on yourself and no one else. Your homework is to decide where you are going and when you will leave.” I took the assignment very seriously because I knew it was essential for my overall well-being and performance.
I went on vacation in Tucson, Arizona, and stayed at a resort known for wellness and well-being. I let my supervisor and team members know I was going off the grid and “going dark” and would not be accessible by cell phone. Upon arriving at my destination, I did not realize it was a no-cell phone resort. You could only use your cell phone in your room or one designated area on the property. This was transformative!
Being unplugged from my cell phone left me in a mentally vulnerable state. I did not realize how glued I was to it. I went through various emotions: stress, anxiety, guilt, and fear of missing something important. As I started to engage in the things I wanted to do, like read, sleep, eat healthy meals cooked by someone other than me, take photographs, exercise, meditate, and much more, I started to relax, reflect, and think clearly; I felt my body and my mind ease. I promised myself I would never forget this valuable lesson and commit to making sure that it became part of how I manage myself and coach and mentor others. I knew I did not have to go away to a resort to achieve this; I just needed to be intentional and create the space for “going dark.” My habit is now, at least two times a year, I go “completely dark” to recalibrate from being so plugged into life.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
The way I keep in touch with my followers and earn their loyalty is by keeping it real by just being me! My posts and emails to those signed up in my community are conversational, and my messages are personal and from the heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://inquisitiveleader.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inquisitiveleader/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boi-carpenter/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/InquisitiveLder
Image Credits
Photography by Shayna Hardy Photography https://shaynahardy.com/branding