Denise Froemming, President and CEO of CalCPA, shares her passion for connecting with people, her love of matcha, and her approach to bridge-building both in and out of the workplace. She describes her lifelong commitment to bringing people together, from organizing charitable events as a child to helping her son and his friends start a non-profit basketball tournament for cancer research. Denise discusses the importance of servant leadership and how authenticity and caring for others are central to her leadership style. She also reveals her fondness for meaningful traditions, like family Lego nights. Throughout the conversation, Denise encourages curiosity, celebrating the power of connecting over shared interests, and embracing all parts of oneself at work. She emphasizes the value of both organizational and individual responsibility in creating an authentic workplace culture.

Episode Highlights

· Denise shares that she is a "bridge builder" who loves connecting people and creating human moments over things like matcha, community events, and projects.
. She emphasizes that leadership should be about serving others, supporting their growth, and fostering an ecosystem where people can become their full selves.
· Denise encourages showing up with authenticity, not just identifying with a job title, but allowing your unique interests and passion to influence your professional environment.
. She believes organizational leaders have a duty to set the tone, create space for people's "And," and help them grow personally and professionally.
· Her advice for others is to be curious, share your own "And," and you'll find you have more in common with others than you think, which leads to deeper connections.