People First: Leadership Lessons with Charlene Dark

<p><strong>In This Episode</strong><br>In this episode, I talk with <strong>Charlene Dark</strong>, Chief Operating Officer at Avania, about her career journey from statistician to executive leader. </p><p>We explore how curiosity, courage, and a people-first mindset shaped her path and how she continues to lead with authenticity and accountability. </p><p>Charlene shares stories from her early days in clinical research, lessons from the mentors who influenced her most, and the leadership principles that have guided her through decades of change in the biometrics industry.</p><p><strong>Listen and Learn</strong></p><ul><li>Why “people first” is more than a management philosophy: it’s a strategy for success</li><li>How to build trust, accountability, and empowerment across teams and functions</li><li>The hardest transition in leadership (and why most new managers struggle with it)</li><li>Why not every high performer should become a manager <em>and </em>what to do instead</li><li>How curiosity and active listening drive innovation and connection</li><li>The importance of aligning personal values with professional purpose</li><li>How to keep your critical-thinking skills sharp in an AI-driven world</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Quote of the Episode</strong></p><p>“If you get the right people in the right seats doing the job they love, that’s your biggest battle. The rest will follow.” — Charlene Dark</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources / Show Notes</strong></p><ul><li><em>Mindset Reimagined</em> by Charlene Dark — <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Reimagined-Invitation-Disruption-Reinvention/dp/B0FJM1K34L/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Bu-3NWjzGlAGNfdrHBmX8KgcVA-h2SUCI0QtQon4kPuQtlgNZLOEg4oTpjOgaDXAZCye4JSqhzMHNYYye6D-WRBKkKaykQ3ICq96M-J9taN38wgvGJ7qHYbAyvJDqDcuo5AUhEIn5z01SAsiarQ4PkTvSGeBo8pRtoVECJAfZLKi1WdgCAS_XelZYpSmi6onZJ1welM-TCRanW6MxvoDcogxJoAFe_frbiEZ9LCAPTU.SvJRdidfNs2WbjMvK7ka-J3nA42e89qMoktZJm2q5mo&qid=1761761855&sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Available on Amazon</a></li><li>Follow Charlene Dark on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlenedark/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">LinkedIn</a></li><li>Follow Amanda Cross on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacrossbiometrics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">LinkedIn</a></li><li>Learn more at <a href="https://www.crossfieldcc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">www.crossfieldcc.com</a></li><li><a href="htt