7,500 Miles Apart: A Dialogue Miles Conversation with Samantha McGolrick
Samantha McGolrick and I met via a LinkedIn post during COVID-19. We share an interest in safety and its importance in the board room and C-suite. She is located in Australia and I am in Nashville, so connecting can be a challenge simply due to time zones. However, we recently caught up on a Dialogue Miles™ call that spanned continents – From San Jose, CA to Sydney, AUS, 7,500 miles apart. As always, the conversation was fluid, as infrequent reconnects can be. Yet, there are people you pick right up where you left off, and I would characterize our discussion as one of those due to the safe environment created.
Samantha McGolrick assists company directors in recognizing where they have the most influence in the boardroom through their language, asking better questions, and governance levers to promote safe and healthy outcomes in the workplace.
A Few Things That Stayed with Me
Trust Starts Somewhere
Mutual vulnerability and a common experience seemed to be our conclusion.Passion and Practicality
Our passion does not always create adequate monetary return. Sometimes, we may need to make career decisions that provide for our families while supporting our dreams.Stay Curious
To leverage another person’s experience and knowledge, you must start by being curious.Flexibility Matters
Time zones, listening, challenging, and accepting quirks are all elements of meaningful relationships.Have a Sounding Board
Sometimes it's for answers, but often it’s just for that non-judgmental
Dialogue Miles has been such a rewarding experience, showing how powerful open dialogue and genuine connections can be. My conversation with Sam is a great example of what’s possible when we lean into communication and vulnerability. If we hadn’t shared our thoughts on LinkedIn, this connection may never have happened.
One day, we hope to meet in person. Until then, let’s keep the conversation alive about safety and health!
