November 29, 2024 • 29 mins
What if the memories we hold dear are far more valuable than any material possessions? Join us as we share our personal stories of love, loss, and learning to cherish what truly matters. Together, we honor those we've lost and reflect on how grief reshapes our outlook on life. Our esteemed guest, Shaun Mayo, Chief HR Officer of the Arizona Cardinals Football Club, enriches our conversation with his journey of advocacy in the Black sports community.
As we navigate through the challenges life throws our way, we delve into pivotal moments that have defined our paths. From growing up in a single-parent household led by strong women to Shaun Mayo's candid sharing of his personal and professional upheavals, including a separation and job relocation, we discuss the necessity of resilience and self-care. Sean shares insights from the transformative book "Resilience" by Ivy Hillard and invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram. Whether you're finding inspiration in overcoming odds or seeking guidance through life's storms, this episode offers heartfelt stories and practical wisdom for anyone on a similar journey.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to let's Talk About it, the podcast where we
shine a light on the changeagents and everyday heroes who
shape our communities.
Here we dive deep into thelived experiences of our guests,
exploring the milestone momentsthat have either propelled them
forward or changed their paths.
We anchor every conversation intwo foundational pillars of the
(00:33):
Black community books and music.
Through this unique lens, wecapture, entertain and inform,
weaving a rich tapestry ofstories and insights that
resonate, inspire and sparkmeaningful dialogue.
Join our host, tj Lowry andShatima Grisham as they engage
with thought leaders andcommunity change agents to
(00:56):
uncover the rich tapestry ofexperiences that shape our lives
.
Get ready for insightfuldiscussions, unfiltered
perspectives and the celebrationof Black excellence.
Let's talk about it.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Hey everyone and welcome to let's Talk About it
the podcast.
I'm your girl, tj, here, andI'm so excited for today's show.
We are going to take a deepdive and catch up with the
communities, one of the mostprominent HR professionals in
our area.
But before we do that, I mustintroduce my girl, shatima.
(01:36):
How are you doing, girl?
Are you ready to talk about it?
Absolutely All right.
So what's going on?
How are you holding up?
I'm holding up, yeah, how about?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
you.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
It's been a little tough.
I know we both have beenthrough some really tough
experiences, taken some deeplosses you with the loss of your
brother, and me with my Siri,my fur baby, who's been with me
for 14 years.
Grief is necessary for thecircle of life, but it really
(02:06):
has been tough.
I know your brother's loss kindof came quick for you and your
family.
How did you all get throughthat and hold up?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I think we're still trying to figure that out.
Yeah, it was unexpected.
I will definitely say tell you.
Know, specifically men,especially our black men, get
your colonoscopy and even if youhave to fight with your
insurance companies.
He was diagnosed early Augustwith stage four colon cancer and
(02:38):
he passed 30 days later.
So we were not prepared and ithappened really really quick,
quick, and he was only 47.
So it sounds like, based off ofwhat the doctors told us, he
probably had it for severalyears and so we just have to do
better about getting out there,going to the doctor, making
(03:01):
those appointments and followingthrough, because it is one of
the few cancers that ispreventable and so, um,
devastating loss.
Yeah, I'm still trying tofigure out, um, that piece.
But, um, you know, grief is it?
It makes you really put thingsinto perspective, you know, and,
(03:25):
um, we were trying to pack histhings up and it's like we work
really hard to accumulate a lotof things, yeah, yeah.
And then we're looking at thesethings and it's like, well, do
you want this, do you want that,or are you going to give this
away?
Are we going to keep this?
And it just really for me, um,put some of those things in
perspective, that you can't takeany of that stuff with you.
(03:47):
Yeah, and it's really aboutmemories and relationships and
not acquiring the best of thebest.
I mean, you probably had about50 pair of sneakers.
You know all sorts of differentj's and then we're like who?
Who wears a size 14?
Who wears a size 13?
You really can't do anythingwith all this stuff.
So you know, one of the biggestinsights in just going through
(04:11):
this transitioning is reallyputting in perspective balance
and, at your own personal health, man memories with loved ones,
because life is but a vapor.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah, that's what you said.
How do we get those men topreventative care and not
treating what they now have?
So you know, same for me.
What I've learned about griefand I was fortunate to learn
this is that we shouldn't askpeople how are you doing, right?
And so many people kept sayinghow are you doing?
(04:42):
And I didn.
I didn't respond, you know,because the reality is, you know
, it's really been tough, and sowe need to learn to not say
that you know, not say how areyou.
And then, secondly, a lot ofpeople want to know what can I
do for you?
And let me know what you need,and right now I don't know what
(05:03):
I.
You know, I'm struggling withlosing somebody who's been with
me 14 years, and while Siri wasa dog, she was in our family.
My kids are impacted, and so Iam grateful for the relationship
we had.
She was my first dog and welaugh about how she got her name
.
Everybody has an iPhone, or youshould, android users.
(05:26):
Yes, I'm biased, but Siri camebecause I had a partner who got
an iPhone and I wanted an iPhoneand I didn't have one, but he
did buy me Siri, and so I namedher Siri.
Her real name is Sirius Dog,and she was very serious and
very loved, and so we just trulywant to dedicate today's show
(05:50):
to Sirius Dog, aka Siri, andShatima Rashad Gresham.
Yeah, they both had someserious impact on our lives and
the lives of our families andfriends, and so we want to thank
them both for what theycontributed to us and hope they
rest in peace.
So now let's get into somestuff.
(06:12):
Shatima, let's talk about whoare you introducing us to?
Because I'm excited to talk totoday's guest.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Yeah, she's quite the transition, not at all dude.
We are.
I'm excited to introduce to youour guest, sean Mayo.
Welcome to.
Let's Talk About it.
He is the chief HR officer withthe Arizona Cardinals Football
Club.
He's also the president of BSP,which is the National Society
(06:40):
of Black Sports Professionals.
He is a member of Alpha Phi,alpha Fraternity.
He also just got awardedCongratulations, last being the
Power 50 Under 40 from the USBlack Chamber, and he is a
resident here of Arizona, beenhere for a couple years by way
(07:01):
of Arkansas, but originally fromHouston, and we're excited to
have you here.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Well, I'm excited to be here and first let me say
sorry, my condolences for bothof you guys' loss and thanks for
sharing that.
I know that's not always easyto talk about, so thanks for
sharing that with not only mebut the audience that's
listening as well, and thanksfor creating the space to have
conversations like these.
I'm looking forward to thediscussions.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Me too.
Me too Welcome.
Welcome Sean.
We can't wait to catch up.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Yeah, let's do it, yeah, catch up with me.
Oh yeah, we're going to get onyeah.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
So, sean, you know we are HR professionals and we
like to kick off the show withan icebreaker.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
And we call this one.
Let's Talk About it, okay, andso we're just going to ask you a
quick question and just answerwith the first thing that comes
to mind.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
All right, so coffee or tea.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
I'm going with coffee .
Speaker 3 (07:59):
All right, paka, sweet or savory.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Sweet.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Okay, not my candy course.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
No, no, no, I'm a sucker for gummy bears, so like
I really love gummy stuff, yeah,yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Morning or night person.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
I'm going to definitely go with night those
mornings I don't know Like yeah,no, TJ is definitely All night
yeah.
I keep saying I'm going to wakeup early in the morning to work
out.
I haven't been able to get upyet to do so, but I'm going to
get there.
I'm going to get there, allright, all right.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
What's my coffee Favorite app?
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Favorite app?
Ooh, I'm going to probably sayLinkedIn.
Actually, I spend a.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Okay, what's your favorite season?
I know in Arizona you kind ofget one and a half.
You were back in, I don't knowIf I go Arkansas.
Yes.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Yeah, I go Arkansas my favorite season because
everywhere I've lived I've nevergot a chance to experience all
four seasons.
I'm going to go fall and reallywatching the leaves turn from
green.
It was really beautiful to beable to see.
So I would say fall inArkansasansas would be, uh, one
of my favorite seasons yeah,arizona spa is definitely
(09:08):
generic.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I'm from wisconsin so we we saw it and it's amazing.
You see them literally turncolors and you know, and fall
away so okay, fall all right.
Cats or dogs, dogs for sure, metoo yeah, I have a new one,
cookie, she's a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
She is a handful five months.
Are you going to give us astory of how Cookie got her name
?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
She is brown, very like the chocolate chip cookie,
with the brown chocolate noseand eyes, and so she's really,
really sweet.
When you look at her, she'sgoing to be a TV or IG dog, okay
.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
I love it, but then Page already going.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Not yet.
Not yet I'm going to zoom rightdown and play, but not yet.
All right.
But she also is a monster, sowe call her Cookie Monster.
Yes, the puppy stage, but shejust looks like a chocolate chip
cookie.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
What kind?
Speaker 3 (09:59):
of dog.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
She's, which is a Wheaton Terrier in Bajudo Five
months, about 20 pounds and alot of energy.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Okay, alright, I'll be on the lookout for this,
you'll see here.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I'll make sure you keep the follow up.
You're going to go on a babysit, okay Alright, texting or
calling.
Texting oh, okay, I'mdefinitely at that halfway.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Call for me, okay so, shatima, I agree, yeah I agree
yeah, yeah, all right, I thinkyou lose too much in text.
I'm just because I don't liketo say I do.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I'm trying to be true yeah, that's true, that's true
carpet tunnel has made me audioa lot, so definitely call me
please you know, you got likevoice to chat now too, I do, but
it's correcting me all.
I got to correct a lot becauseour punctuality ain't there, so
we're on the other side.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
But no judgment here.
You know, it's not so we'regetting there.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Alright, we'll do a few more.
Tj Beach or mountains.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
I'm definitely going beach, I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Yeah, it's got to be a beach.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Ooh, sex with the lights on or off, ooh.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
That's a good one Off .
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Off All right.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Guilty pleasure TV show.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Guilty.
Ooh, that pleasure tv show.
Guilty, that's a good one.
Guilty pleasure tv show.
This is probably not a good one, but uh, I would probably go
with something like how it'smade oh, I can sit there and
watch it like all day and getlost in that.
That would probably be, thatwould probably be my shoulder
okay, well, with your hobby ofdoing building things building
things, yeah yeah makes sense.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Me too, sean.
I love that show.
What was the last book you read, last book?
Love that show.
What was the last book you read?
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Last book.
That's a good one.
Last book I read.
I actually just just finishedit last night and I came.
I'm drawing a blank on it, butit's all about business and how
this guy built a a business andit's got all these tips about
business.
But I'm drawing a blank on.
I can tell you what I'm readingright now business and it's got
all these tips about business.
But I'm drawing a blank on.
(12:05):
I can tell you what I'm readingright now.
I just started it, but it's howto talk to anybody is a book
that I'm reading right now.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Very good.
Do you remember what was on thecover of either of those books?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
On the cover of either of.
I actually don't, no, becauseI'm actually I'm audible that
Queen Creek Drive is a beast, soI'm listening to audiobooks
most of the days in.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I used to live in Levine and commute to Spatsdale
so I was the same way.
I would call people I need tocall, or audio.
So they say the book cover iswhat lures a reader into the
book.
Um, tell us, if we picked upthe autobiography of the book of
sean mayo, what would we findon the book?
(12:52):
and this is a book of your lifestory.
Yeah, okay, it's on the bookand then in real life, tell us
how you show up, because that isit, you know kind of the
equivalent of that.
But what's on the book and howdo you present and show up?
Speaker 4 (13:06):
That's good Book.
So if I had to describe a bookcover right now for me, I'm
going to go black and gold,alpha Right.
So it's going to have someblack and gold.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
And the royalty.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No-transcript what I wouldprobably have on a cover of a
(13:47):
book.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
I love it.
I heard that in the gold rightthat gold speaks royalty and you
can speak that into existence.
It speaks.
You know about appendix, so Ilove that.
I love that.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
It's coming.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Oh, very good, perfect so we talked about the
love that it's coming oh verygood, perfect.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So we talked about the front cover.
Let's talk about the back coverof the book.
So the back cover is usuallywhat convinces us to buy the
book.
Okay, and reading what's theback cover going to say about
you Back cover.
Yeah, I'm probably going to youknow.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
I think I'd probably use the back for like some
testimonials or something, backfor like some testimonials or
something, and have just somepeople that you know I've, uh
I've known over the course of myyear, uh, or my time on on this
earth, uh to to tap in and saya few words, uh is what I would
probably uh throw on the rackrichest story.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, just I meanmore talking about character and
who I am, because I don't think, regardless of you know where I
(14:38):
am today, I don't think who Iam foundationally from a
character perspective has justreally changed, and so I would.
I would want to pull in somepeople that have been around,
you know, to kind of see, youknow, just just my growth as a
human over the last 38 yearskind of play out.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I love that and that, you know, speaks to the healing
, that growth and being able tosee who you are and who you
become.
And people that know us.
They see us different.
You know they see us outside ofwho we see, so we definitely
want to hear their perspective,their POV.
That's a great back cover.
(15:16):
What would you title the book?
I titled it.
You know, the Book of Sean.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Okay, okay, but what would?
Speaker 2 (15:22):
you title the book?
I titled it.
You know, the book of sean.
Okay, okay, but what would youtitle it?
And then, what are some of thechapters that would really
resonate with people?
Yeah, they would just take awayyou know what I?
Speaker 4 (15:29):
this is what I would title it.
Right, you kind of alluded tothis thing I started doing,
which we're not gonna get intohere, but, uh, I started doing
this ketchup with mayo deal forpeople to connect with me, right
, uh, and so I would probablytitle that book Catch Up With
Maya All right, I was going totitle it.
Yes, yeah, so that's what Iwould go and I don't know like
chapters, right, like I don'tknow.
I would literally take peoplethrough.
(15:50):
You know really, you know howI've got to where I am today?
And I'm not just talkingprofessionally, right, I'm just
talking about, like, as as ahuman, if you unpack and uncover
, uh, you know, my my upbringing, my childhood, like all that
stuff, all the, all thestatistics and stereotypes and
(16:11):
everything would say that I'mnot supposed to be really where
I am today, right you would havea really great, just just
history, like you know, thethings that I've been able to
see and the things that haveshaped, like who I am, and so I
don't know, like I think youwould.
You know there's different ways.
You're going to organize a book, but I'll probably organize it
(16:33):
in somewhat in a chapter ofchronological order of just
things that have happened from,you know, my onset to now.
But then I would dive intoprobably some areas that are,
you know I'd call, reallyimportant to my life, right, and
that have been consistentthroughout, no matter what I've
done, right, so you know, churchwould be in there, right?
I've been consistently involvedin church, right, yeah, and so I
(16:56):
don't know.
So that's how I would thinkabout the organization of the
book, but there's definitelysome key moments in there.
None whatsoever.
He hit me.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Yeah, yeah, your book come there.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Yeah, maybe, so, maybe.
So, Catch up with me and theoutline there it is, there it is
.
I love it.
I wish I'd be promoting itright now, as it was.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Well, the people also need to hear those tools right.
What I feel like is, by hearingour experiences, we hope that
they can take something fromthat and shave that bad
experience or elevate a littlequicker from something we've
gone through.
And so there are tools.
You know, the things you'vegone through inspire people and
hopefully they can get wherethey're going Absolutely.
(17:43):
I love it.
I'm waiting for that with me.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Those stories never get old because you never know
how your story impacts somebodyelse.
Now you feel like you've heardthese kind of over and over
again but there's somethingunique that's going to touch
somebody else who maybe hasn'thad that type of story.
You kind of talked about this alittle bit.
But what people or these placesor events you mentioned the
church, like how have those beenimpactful for you?
(18:07):
Do you have like a, an event orplace, person or place that
maybe has been the mostimpactful?
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Yeah, I mean there's probably a lot of different, a
lot of different examples andthings that I could probably go
through there.
You know, the the one that youknow, probably, you know comes
to mind immediately is just eventalking about just the role of
the church and my grandparentsand my mom.
I grew up in a single parenthousehold, so really, you know,
(18:34):
I think about, I think about mymom and I've got an older sister
.
That's she's.
Let's see, I'm trying to do themath here she's 14 years older
than me, uh, and so I jokinglyalways call her my sister, mom,
uh, and so, uh, I would say evenher, right, like the women in
my life, right, because therewere not a lot of men in my life
have been really like,impactful in terms of helping me
(18:57):
to just really become like whoI am right and like, if we must
go down, it's just a reallysmall decision, um, that you
know, I'll use my sister as anexample, uh, and then we can get
into some events, like my mompassed when I was 20, my grandma
passed when I was 18.
Uh, and so really, you know,just out there, really by myself
, but the consistent personthat's been there for sure, uh,
(19:18):
has been my sister, my sister,mom, right, and my mom.
I've always known her as beingdisabled, right, so when I came
into this world and whatnot, shewas disabled and, you know, was
around and available, but, likeshe, she really let me do what
I wanted to do, and so we thinkabout that like the recipe.
To really do whatever you wantto do is like quite dangerous
(19:38):
Right.
To really do whatever you wantto do is like quite dangerous
Right.
No, like there was nothing,there was none.
Right, and the person that wasthere that was attempting to
hold me accountable was mysister.
Right, and even wild decisionsRight In terms of like this is a
small one, but like it couldpotentially have altered even.
You know where I am today.
(19:58):
I remember I had convinced mymom when I was in high school
that it was time for me to goget an open-faced gold tooth,
okay, and so she was game.
She was like yeah, like allright, like that's what you want
to do.
Like go and do it, eric.
And my sister was like hell, no, right, that's not happening
Now, you are not going to getthe open-faced gold tooth.
But it's like it's like thelittle things like that right,
(20:20):
that I can go back on.
And then, even if I just goeven further back, like my
grandmother was heavy in thechurch, grew up in a small
little church I've got a pictureof you See it, it's really
small, probably has 50 memberstoday and so my grandmother she
had me in the church like 24-7.
Like if there was somethinghappening at the church.
(20:40):
everything I'm doing foodpantries on Wednesdays I'm the
altar boy, I'm in every programthe usher, like all of that,
right.
And so like I go back to thatand I think like those things
really kept me out of trouble,yeah, right.
Like I'm talking aboutafterschool programs, like
everything.
Like if the church was doingsomething you best believe my
(21:02):
grandmother had it, yeah, yeah.
And so I go back to like eventslike that that I know have like
really helped like shape me andlike who I am today, even
though in that moment I couldn'tnecessarily like see see what
was happening there.
Yeah, yeah, I couldn't see whatwas happening there, so those
are just a couple that come tomind.
Yeah, see what was happeningthere.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
So those are just a couple that come to mind.
Yeah, I'm a sister mom.
I am the oldest of threebrothers, so I'm definitely a
sister mom.
They're all pretty tall Atleast two of them are six feet
plus, but they're still scaredof me because, you know, I had
to get them in check and getthem together and they're doing
pretty good.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
It's an important role.
It's important.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, and hear the music.
That was one of my brothersyeah I love my sister mom, so
tell us about the plot twist in.
Catch up with me and shit hitthe fan story of your life.
Uh, that may have taken you bysurprise or taking you off the
path yeah, oh, that's a good one.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Shit hit the fan moment.
Um, I I would go with um, Iwould probably go with uh,
probably probably myrelationship uh with uh, what um
, I I still today call, call mywife uh, even though we're not
gonna call it officially married, but we, we went through a
period where we actuallyseparated uh and actually uh got
(22:21):
back together uh, and I thinkthroughout that time period uh
was just one of those likemoments of uh, of, of flipping
the script, if you will, uh, andreally trying to figure out
like what's, what's next, uh,per se, uh and so, and there's a
whole lot going on in thatmoment, right, and so they give
you, you know, some morebackstory there.
Uh, so we separate, um, we justhad a little one my youngest
(22:47):
was was just born, uh, and thenI ended up, uh with a job
elimination, uh, which again Icall it a job elimination.
At the end of the day, I say Iknew from markers and just
looking around like it wascoming, but I also was safe too,
because they did an eliminationbut then also offered us
different jobs, uh, and so Ikind of knew what was happening
(23:08):
there.
But in the midst of theseparation, this job thing
happens and it actually forcesme to move away from Houston.
Right, so I'm in Houston, thisjob elimination happens.
And then I've got to pick upand and make a decision, really
like, am I gonna keep a job here, stay in here, or keep a job
with this company and move, ordo something different and stay
in Houston?
And so I made the decision topick up and move to Arkansas
(23:31):
with the hopes, of you know,saying out the career and so do
that, get there.
I'm there for about a year orso and I'm going back to Houston
to try to be around the kidsand all this other good stuff.
And, uh, me and their mom endedup, um, rekindling and
rebuilding a relationship andthey ended up moving out to
arkansas and all that stuff.
(23:52):
But it's like just a very tryingtime I'd say there were just a
lot going on, um more sopersonally than like
professionally, and so you justnever know what people are like
going through Cause I don'tthink work would have ever known
like all of that was happeningin the background.
But that, that's what I wouldprobably probably allude to.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Yeah yeah.
Sometimes work doesn't care,and that was what one of our
guests you know, ryan.
His role was to go in theworkplace and help people that
are dealing with a lot ofchallenges in their personal
lives.
How can we help them navigatethat but still successfully
perform?
Because we don't have a choice.
(24:31):
We already are struggling tokeep up and meet them, and so we
don't have a choice to notmentally function at work when
home is a struggle.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
You don't have that safe space and that opportunity
to even disclose.
You still have to show up andget done and there's no, like
you know.
I remember going back andtelling him my brother passed
and the first question is well,when do you think you'll return?
Like I don't know, like I don'tknow, Like I don't know, you
know, so we don't always havethat space to go back and have
(25:07):
it even cross over.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
No for sure I mean you got to take care of yourself
, right?
I got a friend that's in HRthat we joke around and share
stories around how you knowthere's a retailer out there to
not be named but, like, theirCEO, ended up passing away and
literally the next day they werenaming and calling who was the
next CEO?
Right?
And again, they probably caredand shared, but at the end of
(25:31):
the day, business goes on andthey're going to move on with or
without you, right?
And so it's for sure importantto take care of yourself.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Yeah, I feel like we show up like superheroes a lot
of time, and so that's why andwe have to, you know again, we
are trying to survive and showthat we're capable and beyond
capable, and so we show up likeSuperman oftentimes, or super
women, and so when we arestruggling, like Shatima said, I
know Great, but when are yougetting back?
(26:00):
Because we need you.
You know we, we need thosepowers here.
So it's not fair, but it is,you know, our experience.
So last question for you, sean,as we wrap down what book would
you recommend to our audience,and why A book?
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Wow, that's good.
Um, um, it's easy when I say,uh, I'll tell you, I started
reading heavily in the pandemic.
I always had a book somewhere,but I started reading heavily in
the pandemic.
Yeah, I say the book that reallychanged my, uh, my mindset, my
life, if you will, was actuallythis book called um, I think
it's called resilience or mentalresilience, by it's actually a
(26:37):
pastor.
So you'll see, this churchthing keeps running through.
Uh, ivy Ivy Hill, you're out ofHouston, and it was all about
the mind, right, how much themind plays a role in really how
we operate.
And so that book really changeda lot, a lot for me in terms of
how I think about things.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Thank you, thank you.
Well, this has been wonderfulgetting an opportunity to
connect with you.
Will you tell everybody wherethey can keep up with you?
What's your social handle?
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
I tell you, I love LinkedIn alot, so you can find me on
LinkedIn Just look for me, seanMayo, there but then also on
both Instagram and X, sean MayoHR is where you can find me, so
SeanMayoHR.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Never open X and then become X.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
I don't use it much at all, but ID and LinkedIn are
my two big ones.
So yeah, yeah, yeah, you won'tfind much on X.
I don't think I've ever posted,actually, but I'm in.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
I love it Alright.
Well, thank you so much forjoining us today.
We appreciate it.
Can it All right?
Well, thank you so much forjoining us today.
We appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Can't wait to get this book going that you brought
.
I guess I need to start workingon this.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Yes, give us our credit.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
There it is.
I'll have you on the back ofthe cover, inside somewhere,
writing something, so I love it.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
So I want to go ahead and shout out my company.
So I am the CEO of ProcureTalent Management Group.
We are a HR consulting firmthat specializes in talent
management, so it is thestrategy of how we attract, hire
, develop and retain employees.
Tj, you want to give a shoutout for your?
Speaker 2 (28:23):
I'm actually going to do a shout out to the Black HR
Society, Thank them also fortheir support our org.
Absolutely, you can follow BHRSon all the social platforms.
And also giving a shout out toLTA L-S-H-T-E-M-A, we're all
that one now.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Yeah, let's talk about it, the podcast.
We're also on all social mediahandles Instagram, Facebook,
YouTube, LinkedIn, all underlet's Talk About it.
You can also reach me atshatimowewannatalkaboutitcom and
TJ as well.
That's correct, Please?
Speaker 2 (28:59):
be sure to like, follow, share and subscribe.
If you would like to be a gueston our show or know someone, or
even would like to sponsor usagain.
You can reach me or to Shatima.
My email is TJ atWeWantToTalkAboutItcom.
Please continue to follow us.
We'll be back on Thursdays at 1pm.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Thank you for tuning into let's Talk About it the
podcast.
We hope you enjoyed today'sconversation and found
inspiration in the stories andexperiences shared.
We trust that you wereentertained, learned something
new and felt inspired by today'sshow.
Be sure to subscribe, like,follow, share and join us for
(29:42):
the next episode.
Until then, keep theconversation going and let's
keep talking about it.
Welcome to let's Talk About it, the podcast where we
shine a light on the changeagents and everyday heroes who
shape our communities.
Here we dive deep into thelived experiences of our guests,
exploring the milestone momentsthat have either propelled them
forward or changed their paths.
We anchor every conversation intwo foundational pillars of the
(00:33):
Black community books and music.
Through this unique lens, wecapture, entertain and inform,
weaving a rich tapestry ofstories and insights that
resonate, inspire and sparkmeaningful dialogue.
Join our host, tj Lowry andShatima Grisham as they engage
with thought leaders andcommunity change agents to
(00:56):
uncover the rich tapestry ofexperiences that shape our lives
.
Get ready for insightfuldiscussions, unfiltered
perspectives and the celebrationof Black excellence.
Let's talk about it.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Hey everyone and welcome to let's Talk About it
the podcast.
I'm your girl, tj, here, andI'm so excited for today's show.
We are going to take a deepdive and catch up with the
communities, one of the mostprominent HR professionals in
our area.
But before we do that, I mustintroduce my girl, shatima.
(01:36):
How are you doing, girl?
Are you ready to talk about it?
Absolutely All right.
So what's going on?
How are you holding up?
I'm holding up, yeah, how about?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
you.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
It's been a little tough.
I know we both have beenthrough some really tough
experiences, taken some deeplosses you with the loss of your
brother, and me with my Siri,my fur baby, who's been with me
for 14 years.
Grief is necessary for thecircle of life, but it really
(02:06):
has been tough.
I know your brother's loss kindof came quick for you and your
family.
How did you all get throughthat and hold up?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I think we're still trying to figure that out.
Yeah, it was unexpected.
I will definitely say tell you.
Know, specifically men,especially our black men, get
your colonoscopy and even if youhave to fight with your
insurance companies.
He was diagnosed early Augustwith stage four colon cancer and
(02:38):
he passed 30 days later.
So we were not prepared and ithappened really really quick,
quick, and he was only 47.
So it sounds like, based off ofwhat the doctors told us, he
probably had it for severalyears and so we just have to do
better about getting out there,going to the doctor, making
(03:01):
those appointments and followingthrough, because it is one of
the few cancers that ispreventable and so, um,
devastating loss.
Yeah, I'm still trying tofigure out, um, that piece.
But, um, you know, grief is it?
It makes you really put thingsinto perspective, you know, and,
(03:25):
um, we were trying to pack histhings up and it's like we work
really hard to accumulate a lotof things, yeah, yeah.
And then we're looking at thesethings and it's like, well, do
you want this, do you want that,or are you going to give this
away?
Are we going to keep this?
And it just really for me, um,put some of those things in
perspective, that you can't takeany of that stuff with you.
(03:47):
Yeah, and it's really aboutmemories and relationships and
not acquiring the best of thebest.
I mean, you probably had about50 pair of sneakers.
You know all sorts of differentj's and then we're like who?
Who wears a size 14?
Who wears a size 13?
You really can't do anythingwith all this stuff.
So you know, one of the biggestinsights in just going through
(04:11):
this transitioning is reallyputting in perspective balance
and, at your own personal health, man memories with loved ones,
because life is but a vapor.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah, that's what you said.
How do we get those men topreventative care and not
treating what they now have?
So you know, same for me.
What I've learned about griefand I was fortunate to learn
this is that we shouldn't askpeople how are you doing, right?
And so many people kept sayinghow are you doing?
(04:42):
And I didn.
I didn't respond, you know,because the reality is, you know
, it's really been tough, and sowe need to learn to not say
that you know, not say how areyou.
And then, secondly, a lot ofpeople want to know what can I
do for you?
And let me know what you need,and right now I don't know what
(05:03):
I.
You know, I'm struggling withlosing somebody who's been with
me 14 years, and while Siri wasa dog, she was in our family.
My kids are impacted, and so Iam grateful for the relationship
we had.
She was my first dog and welaugh about how she got her name
.
Everybody has an iPhone, or youshould, android users.
(05:26):
Yes, I'm biased, but Siri camebecause I had a partner who got
an iPhone and I wanted an iPhoneand I didn't have one, but he
did buy me Siri, and so I namedher Siri.
Her real name is Sirius Dog,and she was very serious and
very loved, and so we just trulywant to dedicate today's show
(05:50):
to Sirius Dog, aka Siri, andShatima Rashad Gresham.
Yeah, they both had someserious impact on our lives and
the lives of our families andfriends, and so we want to thank
them both for what theycontributed to us and hope they
rest in peace.
So now let's get into somestuff.
(06:12):
Shatima, let's talk about whoare you introducing us to?
Because I'm excited to talk totoday's guest.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Yeah, she's quite the transition, not at all dude.
We are.
I'm excited to introduce to youour guest, sean Mayo.
Welcome to.
Let's Talk About it.
He is the chief HR officer withthe Arizona Cardinals Football
Club.
He's also the president of BSP,which is the National Society
(06:40):
of Black Sports Professionals.
He is a member of Alpha Phi,alpha Fraternity.
He also just got awardedCongratulations, last being the
Power 50 Under 40 from the USBlack Chamber, and he is a
resident here of Arizona, beenhere for a couple years by way
(07:01):
of Arkansas, but originally fromHouston, and we're excited to
have you here.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Well, I'm excited to be here and first let me say
sorry, my condolences for bothof you guys' loss and thanks for
sharing that.
I know that's not always easyto talk about, so thanks for
sharing that with not only mebut the audience that's
listening as well, and thanksfor creating the space to have
conversations like these.
I'm looking forward to thediscussions.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Me too.
Me too Welcome.
Welcome Sean.
We can't wait to catch up.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Yeah, let's do it, yeah, catch up with me.
Oh yeah, we're going to get onyeah.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
So, sean, you know we are HR professionals and we
like to kick off the show withan icebreaker.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
And we call this one.
Let's Talk About it, okay, andso we're just going to ask you a
quick question and just answerwith the first thing that comes
to mind.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
All right, so coffee or tea.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
I'm going with coffee .
Speaker 3 (07:59):
All right, paka, sweet or savory.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Sweet.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Okay, not my candy course.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
No, no, no, I'm a sucker for gummy bears, so like
I really love gummy stuff, yeah,yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Morning or night person.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
I'm going to definitely go with night those
mornings I don't know Like yeah,no, TJ is definitely All night
yeah.
I keep saying I'm going to wakeup early in the morning to work
out.
I haven't been able to get upyet to do so, but I'm going to
get there.
I'm going to get there, allright, all right.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
What's my coffee Favorite app?
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Favorite app?
Ooh, I'm going to probably sayLinkedIn.
Actually, I spend a.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Okay, what's your favorite season?
I know in Arizona you kind ofget one and a half.
You were back in, I don't knowIf I go Arkansas.
Yes.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Yeah, I go Arkansas my favorite season because
everywhere I've lived I've nevergot a chance to experience all
four seasons.
I'm going to go fall and reallywatching the leaves turn from
green.
It was really beautiful to beable to see.
So I would say fall inArkansasansas would be, uh, one
of my favorite seasons yeah,arizona spa is definitely
(09:08):
generic.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I'm from wisconsin so we we saw it and it's amazing.
You see them literally turncolors and you know, and fall
away so okay, fall all right.
Cats or dogs, dogs for sure, metoo yeah, I have a new one,
cookie, she's a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
She is a handful five months.
Are you going to give us astory of how Cookie got her name
?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
She is brown, very like the chocolate chip cookie,
with the brown chocolate noseand eyes, and so she's really,
really sweet.
When you look at her, she'sgoing to be a TV or IG dog, okay
.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
I love it, but then Page already going.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Not yet.
Not yet I'm going to zoom rightdown and play, but not yet.
All right.
But she also is a monster, sowe call her Cookie Monster.
Yes, the puppy stage, but shejust looks like a chocolate chip
cookie.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
What kind?
Speaker 3 (09:59):
of dog.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
She's, which is a Wheaton Terrier in Bajudo Five
months, about 20 pounds and alot of energy.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Okay, alright, I'll be on the lookout for this,
you'll see here.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I'll make sure you keep the follow up.
You're going to go on a babysit, okay Alright, texting or
calling.
Texting oh, okay, I'mdefinitely at that halfway.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Call for me, okay so, shatima, I agree, yeah I agree
yeah, yeah, all right, I thinkyou lose too much in text.
I'm just because I don't liketo say I do.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I'm trying to be true yeah, that's true, that's true
carpet tunnel has made me audioa lot, so definitely call me
please you know, you got likevoice to chat now too, I do, but
it's correcting me all.
I got to correct a lot becauseour punctuality ain't there, so
we're on the other side.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
But no judgment here.
You know, it's not so we'regetting there.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Alright, we'll do a few more.
Tj Beach or mountains.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
I'm definitely going beach, I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Yeah, it's got to be a beach.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Ooh, sex with the lights on or off, ooh.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
That's a good one Off .
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Off All right.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Guilty pleasure TV show.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Guilty.
Ooh, that pleasure tv show.
Guilty, that's a good one.
Guilty pleasure tv show.
This is probably not a good one, but uh, I would probably go
with something like how it'smade oh, I can sit there and
watch it like all day and getlost in that.
That would probably be, thatwould probably be my shoulder
okay, well, with your hobby ofdoing building things building
things, yeah yeah makes sense.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Me too, sean.
I love that show.
What was the last book you read, last book?
Love that show.
What was the last book you read?
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Last book.
That's a good one.
Last book I read.
I actually just just finishedit last night and I came.
I'm drawing a blank on it, butit's all about business and how
this guy built a a business andit's got all these tips about
business.
But I'm drawing a blank on.
I can tell you what I'm readingright now business and it's got
all these tips about business.
But I'm drawing a blank on.
(12:05):
I can tell you what I'm readingright now.
I just started it, but it's howto talk to anybody is a book
that I'm reading right now.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Very good.
Do you remember what was on thecover of either of those books?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
On the cover of either of.
I actually don't, no, becauseI'm actually I'm audible that
Queen Creek Drive is a beast, soI'm listening to audiobooks
most of the days in.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I used to live in Levine and commute to Spatsdale
so I was the same way.
I would call people I need tocall, or audio.
So they say the book cover iswhat lures a reader into the
book.
Um, tell us, if we picked upthe autobiography of the book of
sean mayo, what would we findon the book?
(12:52):
and this is a book of your lifestory.
Yeah, okay, it's on the bookand then in real life, tell us
how you show up, because that isit, you know kind of the
equivalent of that.
But what's on the book and howdo you present and show up?
Speaker 4 (13:06):
That's good Book.
So if I had to describe a bookcover right now for me, I'm
going to go black and gold,alpha Right.
So it's going to have someblack and gold.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
And the royalty.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No-transcript what I wouldprobably have on a cover of a
(13:47):
book.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
I love it.
I heard that in the gold rightthat gold speaks royalty and you
can speak that into existence.
It speaks.
You know about appendix, so Ilove that.
I love that.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
It's coming.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Oh, very good, perfect so we talked about the
love that it's coming oh verygood, perfect.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So we talked about the front cover.
Let's talk about the back coverof the book.
So the back cover is usuallywhat convinces us to buy the
book.
Okay, and reading what's theback cover going to say about
you Back cover.
Yeah, I'm probably going to youknow.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
I think I'd probably use the back for like some
testimonials or something, backfor like some testimonials or
something, and have just somepeople that you know I've, uh
I've known over the course of myyear, uh, or my time on on this
earth, uh to to tap in and saya few words, uh is what I would
probably uh throw on the rackrichest story.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, just I meanmore talking about character and
who I am, because I don't think, regardless of you know where I
(14:38):
am today, I don't think who Iam foundationally from a
character perspective has justreally changed, and so I would.
I would want to pull in somepeople that have been around,
you know, to kind of see, youknow, just just my growth as a
human over the last 38 yearskind of play out.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I love that and that, you know, speaks to the healing
, that growth and being able tosee who you are and who you
become.
And people that know us.
They see us different.
You know they see us outside ofwho we see, so we definitely
want to hear their perspective,their POV.
That's a great back cover.
(15:16):
What would you title the book?
I titled it.
You know, the Book of Sean.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Okay, okay, but what would?
Speaker 2 (15:22):
you title the book?
I titled it.
You know, the book of sean.
Okay, okay, but what would youtitle it?
And then, what are some of thechapters that would really
resonate with people?
Yeah, they would just take awayyou know what I?
Speaker 4 (15:29):
this is what I would title it.
Right, you kind of alluded tothis thing I started doing,
which we're not gonna get intohere, but, uh, I started doing
this ketchup with mayo deal forpeople to connect with me, right
, uh, and so I would probablytitle that book Catch Up With
Maya All right, I was going totitle it.
Yes, yeah, so that's what Iwould go and I don't know like
chapters, right, like I don'tknow.
I would literally take peoplethrough.
(15:50):
You know really, you know howI've got to where I am today?
And I'm not just talkingprofessionally, right, I'm just
talking about, like, as as ahuman, if you unpack and uncover
, uh, you know, my my upbringing, my childhood, like all that
stuff, all the, all thestatistics and stereotypes and
(16:11):
everything would say that I'mnot supposed to be really where
I am today, right you would havea really great, just just
history, like you know, thethings that I've been able to
see and the things that haveshaped, like who I am, and so I
don't know, like I think youwould.
You know there's different ways.
You're going to organize a book, but I'll probably organize it
(16:33):
in somewhat in a chapter ofchronological order of just
things that have happened from,you know, my onset to now.
But then I would dive intoprobably some areas that are,
you know I'd call, reallyimportant to my life, right, and
that have been consistentthroughout, no matter what I've
done, right, so you know, churchwould be in there, right?
I've been consistently involvedin church, right, yeah, and so I
(16:56):
don't know.
So that's how I would thinkabout the organization of the
book, but there's definitelysome key moments in there.
None whatsoever.
He hit me.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Yeah, yeah, your book come there.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Yeah, maybe, so, maybe.
So, Catch up with me and theoutline there it is, there it is
.
I love it.
I wish I'd be promoting itright now, as it was.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Well, the people also need to hear those tools right.
What I feel like is, by hearingour experiences, we hope that
they can take something fromthat and shave that bad
experience or elevate a littlequicker from something we've
gone through.
And so there are tools.
You know, the things you'vegone through inspire people and
hopefully they can get wherethey're going Absolutely.
(17:43):
I love it.
I'm waiting for that with me.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Those stories never get old because you never know
how your story impacts somebodyelse.
Now you feel like you've heardthese kind of over and over
again but there's somethingunique that's going to touch
somebody else who maybe hasn'thad that type of story.
You kind of talked about this alittle bit.
But what people or these placesor events you mentioned the
church, like how have those beenimpactful for you?
(18:07):
Do you have like a, an event orplace, person or place that
maybe has been the mostimpactful?
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Yeah, I mean there's probably a lot of different, a
lot of different examples andthings that I could probably go
through there.
You know, the the one that youknow, probably, you know comes
to mind immediately is just eventalking about just the role of
the church and my grandparentsand my mom.
I grew up in a single parenthousehold, so really, you know,
(18:34):
I think about, I think about mymom and I've got an older sister
.
That's she's.
Let's see, I'm trying to do themath here she's 14 years older
than me, uh, and so I jokinglyalways call her my sister, mom,
uh, and so, uh, I would say evenher, right, like the women in
my life, right, because therewere not a lot of men in my life
have been really like,impactful in terms of helping me
(18:57):
to just really become like whoI am right and like, if we must
go down, it's just a reallysmall decision, um, that you
know, I'll use my sister as anexample, uh, and then we can get
into some events, like my mompassed when I was 20, my grandma
passed when I was 18.
Uh, and so really, you know,just out there, really by myself
, but the consistent personthat's been there for sure, uh,
(19:18):
has been my sister, my sister,mom, right, and my mom.
I've always known her as beingdisabled, right, so when I came
into this world and whatnot, shewas disabled and, you know, was
around and available, but, likeshe, she really let me do what
I wanted to do, and so we thinkabout that like the recipe.
To really do whatever you wantto do is like quite dangerous
(19:38):
Right.
To really do whatever you wantto do is like quite dangerous
Right.
No, like there was nothing,there was none.
Right, and the person that wasthere that was attempting to
hold me accountable was mysister.
Right, and even wild decisionsRight In terms of like this is a
small one, but like it couldpotentially have altered even.
You know where I am today.
(19:58):
I remember I had convinced mymom when I was in high school
that it was time for me to goget an open-faced gold tooth,
okay, and so she was game.
She was like yeah, like allright, like that's what you want
to do.
Like go and do it, eric.
And my sister was like hell, no, right, that's not happening
Now, you are not going to getthe open-faced gold tooth.
But it's like it's like thelittle things like that right,
(20:20):
that I can go back on.
And then, even if I just goeven further back, like my
grandmother was heavy in thechurch, grew up in a small
little church I've got a pictureof you See it, it's really
small, probably has 50 memberstoday and so my grandmother she
had me in the church like 24-7.
Like if there was somethinghappening at the church.
(20:40):
everything I'm doing foodpantries on Wednesdays I'm the
altar boy, I'm in every programthe usher, like all of that,
right.
And so like I go back to thatand I think like those things
really kept me out of trouble,yeah, right.
Like I'm talking aboutafterschool programs, like
everything.
Like if the church was doingsomething you best believe my
(21:02):
grandmother had it, yeah, yeah.
And so I go back to like eventslike that that I know have like
really helped like shape me andlike who I am today, even
though in that moment I couldn'tnecessarily like see see what
was happening there.
Yeah, yeah, I couldn't see whatwas happening there, so those
are just a couple that come tomind.
Yeah, see what was happeningthere.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
So those are just a couple that come to mind.
Yeah, I'm a sister mom.
I am the oldest of threebrothers, so I'm definitely a
sister mom.
They're all pretty tall Atleast two of them are six feet
plus, but they're still scaredof me because, you know, I had
to get them in check and getthem together and they're doing
pretty good.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
It's an important role.
It's important.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, and hear the music.
That was one of my brothersyeah I love my sister mom, so
tell us about the plot twist in.
Catch up with me and shit hitthe fan story of your life.
Uh, that may have taken you bysurprise or taking you off the
path yeah, oh, that's a good one.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Shit hit the fan moment.
Um, I I would go with um, Iwould probably go with uh,
probably probably myrelationship uh with uh, what um
, I I still today call, call mywife uh, even though we're not
gonna call it officially married, but we, we went through a
period where we actuallyseparated uh and actually uh got
(22:21):
back together uh, and I thinkthroughout that time period uh
was just one of those likemoments of uh, of, of flipping
the script, if you will, uh, andreally trying to figure out
like what's, what's next, uh,per se, uh and so, and there's a
whole lot going on in thatmoment, right, and so they give
you, you know, some morebackstory there.
Uh, so we separate, um, we justhad a little one my youngest
(22:47):
was was just born, uh, and thenI ended up, uh with a job
elimination, uh, which again Icall it a job elimination.
At the end of the day, I say Iknew from markers and just
looking around like it wascoming, but I also was safe too,
because they did an eliminationbut then also offered us
different jobs, uh, and so Ikind of knew what was happening
(23:08):
there.
But in the midst of theseparation, this job thing
happens and it actually forcesme to move away from Houston.
Right, so I'm in Houston, thisjob elimination happens.
And then I've got to pick upand and make a decision, really
like, am I gonna keep a job here, stay in here, or keep a job
with this company and move, ordo something different and stay
in Houston?
And so I made the decision topick up and move to Arkansas
(23:31):
with the hopes, of you know,saying out the career and so do
that, get there.
I'm there for about a year orso and I'm going back to Houston
to try to be around the kidsand all this other good stuff.
And, uh, me and their mom endedup, um, rekindling and
rebuilding a relationship andthey ended up moving out to
arkansas and all that stuff.
(23:52):
But it's like just a very tryingtime I'd say there were just a
lot going on, um more sopersonally than like
professionally, and so you justnever know what people are like
going through Cause I don'tthink work would have ever known
like all of that was happeningin the background.
But that, that's what I wouldprobably probably allude to.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Yeah yeah.
Sometimes work doesn't care,and that was what one of our
guests you know, ryan.
His role was to go in theworkplace and help people that
are dealing with a lot ofchallenges in their personal
lives.
How can we help them navigatethat but still successfully
perform?
Because we don't have a choice.
(24:31):
We already are struggling tokeep up and meet them, and so we
don't have a choice to notmentally function at work when
home is a struggle.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
You don't have that safe space and that opportunity
to even disclose.
You still have to show up andget done and there's no, like
you know.
I remember going back andtelling him my brother passed
and the first question is well,when do you think you'll return?
Like I don't know, like I don'tknow, Like I don't know, you
know, so we don't always havethat space to go back and have
(25:07):
it even cross over.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
No for sure I mean you got to take care of yourself
, right?
I got a friend that's in HRthat we joke around and share
stories around how you knowthere's a retailer out there to
not be named but, like, theirCEO, ended up passing away and
literally the next day they werenaming and calling who was the
next CEO?
Right?
And again, they probably caredand shared, but at the end of
(25:31):
the day, business goes on andthey're going to move on with or
without you, right?
And so it's for sure importantto take care of yourself.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Yeah, I feel like we show up like superheroes a lot
of time, and so that's why andwe have to, you know again, we
are trying to survive and showthat we're capable and beyond
capable, and so we show up likeSuperman oftentimes, or super
women, and so when we arestruggling, like Shatima said, I
know Great, but when are yougetting back?
(26:00):
Because we need you.
You know we, we need thosepowers here.
So it's not fair, but it is,you know, our experience.
So last question for you, sean,as we wrap down what book would
you recommend to our audience,and why A book?
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Wow, that's good.
Um, um, it's easy when I say,uh, I'll tell you, I started
reading heavily in the pandemic.
I always had a book somewhere,but I started reading heavily in
the pandemic.
Yeah, I say the book that reallychanged my, uh, my mindset, my
life, if you will, was actuallythis book called um, I think
it's called resilience or mentalresilience, by it's actually a
(26:37):
pastor.
So you'll see, this churchthing keeps running through.
Uh, ivy Ivy Hill, you're out ofHouston, and it was all about
the mind, right, how much themind plays a role in really how
we operate.
And so that book really changeda lot, a lot for me in terms of
how I think about things.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Thank you, thank you.
Well, this has been wonderfulgetting an opportunity to
connect with you.
Will you tell everybody wherethey can keep up with you?
What's your social handle?
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
I tell you, I love LinkedIn alot, so you can find me on
LinkedIn Just look for me, seanMayo, there but then also on
both Instagram and X, sean MayoHR is where you can find me, so
SeanMayoHR.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Never open X and then become X.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
I don't use it much at all, but ID and LinkedIn are
my two big ones.
So yeah, yeah, yeah, you won'tfind much on X.
I don't think I've ever posted,actually, but I'm in.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
I love it Alright.
Well, thank you so much forjoining us today.
We appreciate it.
Can it All right?
Well, thank you so much forjoining us today.
We appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Can't wait to get this book going that you brought
.
I guess I need to start workingon this.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Yes, give us our credit.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
There it is.
I'll have you on the back ofthe cover, inside somewhere,
writing something, so I love it.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
So I want to go ahead and shout out my company.
So I am the CEO of ProcureTalent Management Group.
We are a HR consulting firmthat specializes in talent
management, so it is thestrategy of how we attract, hire
, develop and retain employees.
Tj, you want to give a shoutout for your?
Speaker 2 (28:23):
I'm actually going to do a shout out to the Black HR
Society, Thank them also fortheir support our org.
Absolutely, you can follow BHRSon all the social platforms.
And also giving a shout out toLTA L-S-H-T-E-M-A, we're all
that one now.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Yeah, let's talk about it, the podcast.
We're also on all social mediahandles Instagram, Facebook,
YouTube, LinkedIn, all underlet's Talk About it.
You can also reach me atshatimowewannatalkaboutitcom and
TJ as well.
That's correct, Please?
Speaker 2 (28:59):
be sure to like, follow, share and subscribe.
If you would like to be a gueston our show or know someone, or
even would like to sponsor usagain.
You can reach me or to Shatima.
My email is TJ atWeWantToTalkAboutItcom.
Please continue to follow us.
We'll be back on Thursdays at 1pm.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Thank you for tuning into let's Talk About it the
podcast.
We hope you enjoyed today'sconversation and found
inspiration in the stories andexperiences shared.
We trust that you wereentertained, learned something
new and felt inspired by today'sshow.
Be sure to subscribe, like,follow, share and join us for
(29:42):
the next episode.
Until then, keep theconversation going and let's
keep talking about it.
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