In this episode, Hemma visits with Rani Hong, an Indian-American social entrepreneur, visionary, and CEO of Freedom Seal. Rani is herself a survivor of child trafficking and is using her unique perspective and firsthand understanding of child slavery to help survivors and save victims. Rani is one of the world’s leading voices in the fight against modern-day slavery, and she has worked tirelessly on behalf of people at risk of exploitation – protecting and empowering vulnerable groups and educating businesses and consumers about modern-day slavery.

We are proud to release this episode on International Human Rights Day this year. The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. Human Rights Day honors the individuals and organizations, like Rani and Freedom Seal, that work to protect and advocate for human rights. The theme for Human Rights Day 2024 is "Our rights, our future, right now." This year’s slogan is "All Human Beings Are Born Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights."

Highlights:

• Rani’s journey from child abduction to social entrepreneur

• The role of data and technology in the fight to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking

• Modeling ethical decision-making: from parenting to corporate leadership

• A call to action for those who want to make a difference in this space

Timestamps:

1:05 - Introducing Rani Hong

2:57 - Rani's work as CEO of Freedom Seal Global

6:44 - How Rani's past drives her work today

10:36 - How do we begin to tackle such an enormous problem?

15:40 - What can corporations do to fight human trafficking?

19:37 - What is the Freedom Seal Global Certification?

24:38 - What Rani is most proud of

Resources:

The Freedom Seal - A Risk Management Company

Biography

Rani Hong is an Indian-American social entrepreneur, visionary, and CEO of Freedom Seal.

Rani is also a survivor of child trafficking and is using her unique perspective and firsthand understanding of child slavery to help survivors and save victims. She is one of the world’s leading voices in the fight against modern-day slavery.

In 2006, Rani started her philanthropic work and founded the Tronie Foundation, a non-profit global organization focused on driving awareness of child slavery, with her husband Trong Hong, also a survivor of child trafficking.

Since 1999, Rani has advised many governments and has been at the forefront of an international effort to protect women and girls. Her most recent focus has been to eradicate the use of slave labor in all aspects of business.

Rani’s tireless efforts include several speeches before the UN General Assembly and meetings with various world leaders, including presidents.

In 2011, Rani was appointed by the UN as a special advisor to the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, helping to establish the Sustainable Development Goal 8, and establishing the first-ever World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Rani has appeared in numerous broadcast and media interviews, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, BBC, Euro News, and other international media.

On November 6th, 2017, Rani joined the Press Office of the Holy See to ask for concrete action against human trafficking. Over 25 journalists helped carry her message worldwide and speak for those without a voice. In 2018, Rani was named Women of the Year in her home country of India.

As a social entrepreneur, Rani created the Freedom Seal, a certification for companies fighting against Human Slavery by committing to mitigate Financial Crime & Modern Slavery. The Freedom Seal symbolizes a future marketplace where forced labor has been reduced. It represents a dream come true for the estimated 40.3 million people, primarily children and women, still trapped in slavery.

Today, Rani dedicates her time and energy to efforts that lead toward a greater global understanding of human trafficking and continues to speak for those without a voice and for those who are imprisoned, enslaved, silenced, and unable to tell their own stories.

Rani’s ability to overcome trauma, loss, and grief has inspired leaders from all over the world to join the global movement against human trafficking.

Rani lives in Olympia, Washington USA, with her husband and children.

In this week’s episode of Unless: The Podcast, Hemma visits with Lieutenant General R. Scott Dingle, an inspiring leader and public servant who served as the 45th Surgeon General of the United States Army and as Commanding General in the United States Army Medical Command. Together, they discuss Lt. General Dingle’s approach to strategic and compassionate leadership during some of the nation’s most trying times.

Tune in to hear how Lt. General Dingle’s legacy of leadership, readiness, and adaptation remains ingrained within the cultures of the teams he has led and how he is a powerful source of inspiration for servant leaders across varying industries and backgrounds.

Highlights:

• Leading the country’s pandemic response and ensuring the health of a nation

• The role of perseverance and ‘keeping your bearing’ as a leader

• Lt General Dingle’s advice for influencing moral leadership (6 Ps)

Timestamps:

1:25 - Introducing R. Scott Dingle

5:24 - Lt. General Dingle's path to the military

13:13 - Finding your leadership

25:51 - The relationship between compassionate leadership and productivity

33:10 - Leaning on your inner inspiriation, encouragement, and drive

43:08 - Lessons learned from facing some of the world's biggest challenges

50:53- What's next for Lt. General Dingle?

55:17 - Ethical and moral leadership in corporations

Biography

Raymond “Scott” Dingle is the U.S. Army’s 45 th Surgeon General. He retired on 1 March 2024 as the Surgeon General and the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command in Washington, D.C. He served for over 35 years to include two combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He commanded at every level from company to Corps and led an Army Medicine Team that consisted of over 120,000 Soldiers, civilians, and contractors. He previously served as the Deputy Surgeon General and Deputy Commanding General (support) in the U.S. Army Medical Command in Falls Church, VA and San Antonio, TX.

General Dingle is a native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland and is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Morgan State University where he played football and ran track. His degrees include a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, a Master of Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College. He and his wife, Sonja, have been married for 36 years and have four adult children and one grandson.

In this week's episode of Unless: The Podcast, Hemma visits with Koby Langley, Division Vice President at the American Red Cross, a two-tour combat Veteran, and a Bronze Star recipient for meritorious service.

Join Koby and Hemma for a timely discussion about Koby’s passionate philosophy of social bridging. This practical concept is particularly important this year when we will have seen elections globally in 64 countries, and polarizing partisan politics can do more harm than good. As representatives from all parties call for healing and peaceful collaboration across party lines, Koby’s message that “Service Unites” couldn’t be more timely.

Highlights:

• Koby’s journey as a two-tour combat veteran and the lessons he learned

• How the American Red Cross moves volunteers and resources to have impact at scale

• The importance of ethical and moral leadership in corporate organizations and institutions

Resources:

Timestamps:

2:11 - Introducing Koby

5:45 - How do you get donors to step up?

16:26 - Taking the lessons learned from disasters into daily life

24:01 - The need for moral leadership

32:50 - The moment that made Koby realize he wanted to serve others

Biography

As a Division Vice President, Koby Langley provides oversight and leadership for all nine regions that constitute the Northeast Division. The Northeast Division delivers Red Cross services with a staff of 472 employees and 22,875 volunteers located in ninety-one facilities with a revenue target of ~$90M USD. The Northeast Division supports responding to more than fifteen disasters per day in a densely populated geography identified as one of FEMA’s most risk-prone regions with a population of 43 million. The Northeast Division also supports the nation’s blood supply while facilitating expanded use of Red Cross lifesaving training courses, including CPR, AED, and First Aid as well as providing critical services to our veteran and military families.

Koby previously served as the Senior Vice President of the International Services and Service to Armed forces departments at the American Red Cross for 7 years where he led global programs with a focus on the elimination of measles and rubella, international disaster preparedness, response, and recovery operations for communities in need while overseeing the worldwide support provided to the service members, veterans and their families.

Before joining the American Red Cross, Koby served as the Director of Wounded Warrior, Veteran, and Military Family Engagement at the White House and the Senior Advisor for Wounded Warrior, Veteran, and Military Family Initiatives for AmeriCorps, leading the largest expansion of grants for veterans and military families in agency history. In 2010, Koby was appointed to the Senior Executive Service at the Department of Defense, where he worked as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary and Senior Advisor for the Office of Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy. Koby assumed other roles such as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs, and appointee to the Presidential Review Team for the Department of Veteran Affairs. Koby served as the managing member of a litigation firm and worked as a veteran organizer for the successful congressional race of the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress from 2006 to 2008.

During his military service, Koby was appointed the first in-theater foreign claims commissioner for Iraq. He developed and published the first Foreign Claims Act standard operating procedure in Iraq and paid the first civil reconstruction claims during combat operations.

Koby conducted over one hundred Foreign Claims Act and Laws of Armed Conflict missions/convoys in Iraq and served as an operational law attorney and prosecutor for the 82nd Airborne Division. He also served as litigation counsel for the Army, where he practiced with dozens of attorneys in the Department of Justice, assisting in the successful litigation of over 150 cases. He is published in numerous national news outlets and has conducted visiting correspondent interviews for Fox News and MSNBC.

Langley is a Harvard Law School-certified federal mediator, a two-tour combat Veteran, and a Bronze Star recipient for meritorious service.