EP 37: The Power of Saying Yes to Unexpected Career Opportunities with Michele Fitzsimmons

Join us as Michele Fitzsimmons, Deputy Chief of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), discusses navigating high-stakes leadership and building trust within a team. We explore the importance of standard operating procedures, overcoming the emotional toll of demanding careers, and why saying yes to new opportunities is critical for growth. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 03:49 Family legacy and transitioning to a career in the FDNY. 10:43 Why teams must fall back on established training during a crisis. 13:42 Delegating responsibilities and learning to trust your team. 16:25 The value of asking questions and admitting when you don't know something. 20:03 Fostering a culture that accepts mistakes as valuable learning opportunities. 24:07 Managing the emotional toll of a difficult job by seeking help and leaning on the community. 32:44 How saying "yes" to unexpected opportunities opens new doors. Resources Mentioned: Michele Fitzsimmons   / michele-fitzsimmons-0b49101a0   New York City Fire Department (FDNY) | LinkedIn   / new-york-city-fire-department   New York City Fire Department (FDNY) | Website https://www.nyc.gov/site/fdny/index.page Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501124021/ Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast