Partnerships and Communication

Partnerships and Communication

Author: Dr. Laura Sicola February 13, 2023 Duration: 33:07

This week Christine Ostrowski shares how an almost two hundred year old school is continually adapting to improve the lives of their students and team.  By treating employees like clients to understand what they need to give every resource possible to their students, everyone wins.

Here are a few things that you will learn in this episode:

  • How being on a dragon boat team can prepare for successful teamwork.
  • Making sure that you take the time to pause and work on your relationships.  Trust brings value.
  • Understanding the importance of a discovery meeting to prevent jumping to conclusions.
  • Creating a mission driven environment where leaders are committed to creating a better tomorrow.

During the 24-Hour Influence Challenge, Christine challenges the listeners to volunteer.  How do you start?  Christine recommends visiting volunteermatch.org.

Book recommendation: Christine mentions in the podcast “Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust & Get Extraordinary Results” by Judith Glaser. 

About Christine Ostrowski:

Christine Ostrowski is the Chief Financial Officer for Overbrook School for the Blind. Christine is passionate about quality education experience for all students, including students with specialized educational needs.

Christine has focused on non-profit finance in the education sector for over a decade. She has worked in higher education, public education and private education. Christine collaborates with other leaders in historical institutions in innovations to streamline the administration of schools. Optimizing the finance and operations of schools frees up resources to focus on instructional programming. Innovations include the delivery of on-line education, enrollment strategies, enterprise resource management solutions and budget management.

Christine holds an undergraduate degree in accounting from Jefferson University. She received her MBA in entrepreneurship and innovation from Drexel University’s Lebow College of Business. Christine also has completed certificate programs at the MIT Sloane School of Management in Mastering Design Thinking and Pricing. Christine and her husband Steve have two children in their young adult years and live in the Philadelphia area.

 

You can connect with Christine in the following ways:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-ostrowski/
  • LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/overbrook-school-for-the-blind/
  • Facebook Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/OverbrookSchoolfortheBlind/
  • Twitter Business Page: https://twitter.com/OverbrookSFTB
  • Instagram Business Page: https://www.instagram.com/overbrookschoolfortheblind/
  • Website: https://www.obs.org/

 

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
  • LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
  • Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions
  • Twitter: @LauraSicola
  • Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions
  • Website: https://speakingtoinfluence.com/podcast/
  • Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Speaking to Influence features conversations about the tangible mechanics of leadership communication, moving beyond theory into practical application. Host Dr. Laura Sicola, an expert in linguistic influence, guides discussions that dissect how language, tone, and presence directly impact credibility and outcomes. Each episode brings a perspective from seasoned executives and industry figures who share their real-world experiences-not just their successes, but the nuanced moments where a single conversation changed a trajectory. The focus here is on the actionable: how to structure a message for a skeptical board, modulate your voice to convey authority without arrogance, and read a room to pivot your approach in real time. This isn't about generic public speaking tips; it's a deep exploration of the strategic choices behind influential speech. Listeners gain access to a toolkit for building confidence, commanding attention, and achieving specific professional results through more intentional communication. The podcast operates at the intersection of business strategy, personal development, and the often-overlooked technical art of persuasion, making it relevant for anyone whose role requires them to lead, sell, or inspire through spoken word. Dr. Sicola's background provides a unique lens, ensuring every conversation yields insights you can use immediately to refine your own impact.
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