Corporate Competitor Podcast

Ep. 213: The parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell thrives on a leadership philosophy rooted in recognition—a principle David Novak first learned from his dad while playing Little League. In this episode, you'll get a masterclass in: The importance of heartfelt, consistent recognition and how simple gestures can significantly boost employee morale and performance. How David's "aha moment" at Pepsi highlighted the critical need to acknowledge contributions and ensure every team member feels valued. The strategies David used to create cohesion across global brands while celebrating their unique identities. Our downloadable BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is a PDF with Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Jack Martha and Brian Schnorr for making this episode possible.

Ep. 212: After starting her career in venture capital, Kristen discovered a new passion—cycling—and made the bold decision to leave her role to pursue the sport full time. Remarkably, just seven years after taking up cycling, she became a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the first Team USA Women's Road Race medalist in 40 years. In this episode and free PDF BONUS RESOURCE you will learn: How she balances her need to achieve with the patience to bounce back from setbacks and disappointments. How identifying and respecting unique qualities in each team member helps foster a positive and supportive environment. Why she creates a list of what she can and cannot control before every race. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Lilly Mae Stewart and Ana Anzolin for making this episode possible.

Ep. 211: Baseball and football shaped this executive with 30 years of experience in the aviation industry. "Some of my favorite athletic memories were in our front yard," Scott shares in this episode. "Playing sports forces you to count on others and have others count on you." Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Dillon McDonald and Dave Calder for making this episode possible.

Ep. 210: Cornell Football shaped Jimmy Pitaro who honed his leadership skills as a wide receiver! If you ask him what he misses most about his playing days, it's not the competition or the glory—it's the huddle. Why? Because the huddle is where you come together, make decisions, and leave aligned. In this episode, Jimmy shares how he applies his "Discuss, debate, decide, and align" model to his weekly leadership meetings. Our free BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ana Anzolin and Brian Schnorr for making this episode possible.

Ep. 209: Basketball, cycling, and skiing shaped this entrepreneur who founded two companies valued at more than $1 billion each. His secret? Concentrating on solving everyday problems that customers face. "When I was building Waze, if I had told you I was creating an AI crowd-sourced navigation system, you wouldn't have cared," he said. "But if I said I was going to help you avoid traffic jams, then you would. When you focus on the problem, it will serve as the North Star of your journey." Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Dillon McDonald and Chase Skipper for making this episode possible.

Ep. 208: Football fields and marathon trails shaped this executive's approach to discipline, teamwork, and maintaining a competitive edge. These lessons became the foundation of his leadership at Coca-Cola, United Airlines, and now in his roles on the Board of Directors for Salesforce, CBRE, Archer, Fidelity Investments, and Televisa Univision. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Links mentioned in today's episode: Order Oscar's book here - Turnaround Time: Uniting an Airline and Its Employees in the Friendly Skies https://a.co/d/40EqEA8 Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Allie Karlinsky and Dillon McDonald for making this episode possible

Ep. 207: This 7-time Dutch National Diving Champion earned a full scholarship to the University of Houston and went on to lead growth at global giants like Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Today at Logitech, she is recognized as one of the "Most Influential Women in Business." Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Lilly Mae Stewart and Ethan Salzberg for making this episode possible.

Ep. 206: Basketball shaped this executive who created a done-for-you system to simplify book publishing for busy business leaders. Adam's innovative approach to publishing caught the attention of Forbes, leading to the creation of Forbes Books, where he helps prominent executives around the world become authors and establish greater authority in their fields. In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ana Anzolin and Bradi Stewart for making this episode possible.

Ep. 205: Taking up hockey at 44 and surfing at 60, this exec embodies a lifelong drive for new challenges—a trait shaped during his years under Steve Jobs at Apple. As one of Apple's original team members, he played a pivotal role in marketing the groundbreaking Macintosh. As Chief Evangelist at Apple and now at Canva, Guy has devoted his career to championing products that truly enhance people's lives! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ana Anzolin and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 204: Football and IRONMAN Competitions shaped this executive who started from the bottom of Century 21 and worked his way up to CEO over two decades. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Jack Martha and Allie Karlinsky for making this episode possible.

Ep. 203: Playing in one of the coldest games in NFL History shaped this executive. From undrafted free agent to the Super Bowl, Blake Moore describes his journey and teaches us about the mindset of continuous improvement, the value of versatility, and the best way to empower your team. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Lilly Mae Stewart and Chase Skipper for making this episode possible.

Ep. 202: Princeton Track shaped this executive who became the Managing Director of Exaltare Capital Partners (ECP) and expanded ECP Planet Fitness from 15 to 100 units. Omar serves on the boards of Urban Air, The Good Feet Store, and the International Franchise Association, embodying his belief that "no one creates value by themselves." Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Learn more about the Franchise Ascension Initiative Omar mentioned: https://pages.franchise.org/ifa-franchise-ascension-initiative/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Libby Klemeyer and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

REWIND EPISODE: In celebration of 200 episodes published, we are "rewinding" back to one of my favorite conversations from 2022— my interview with Dr. Condoleezza Rice. You may know her as Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and Director of Stanford's Hoover Institution, but in this episode you will learn her background as a figure skater, tennis player, and a football savant. Her football coach father taught her so much about the game, she could break down defenses at just six years old! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes my favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Episode Breakdown: 3:00 The elements Condoleezza looks for when identifying a great team. 10:00 How football served as a "bridging language." 12:00 Behind the scenes of the College Football Playoff Committee (CFP). 13:00 How serving on the CFP taught her to assess teams "with a coach's eye." 15:00 How to be a better listener and recognize common ground. 19:00 Lessons learned from being "terrible" at figure skating. 25:00 The moment she was invited to join Augusta National Golf Club. 28:00 What she learned playing golf with Bubba Watson. 36:00 How to eliminate gossip on your team." Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 200: Professional soccer shaped this executive who now leads more than 10,000 employees at WWT, a global powerhouse generating $20 billion in annual revenue. The company helps 80 Fortune 500 companies modernize their IT infrastructure and create cutting-edge digital experiences. Recently, Jim was named one of Glassdoor's top 25 CEOs in America! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Lilly Mae Stewart and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 199: Cornell Football shaped this executive, who still holds three of the six longest punts in the program's history, and his 'yards per punt' average still ranks in the top 10 all-time. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. "When I went to Cornell, I walked over to the quarterback huddle with six or eight quarterbacks, but the coach grabbed me by the shoulder pad and said, 'Hey, Charles, we don't have a punter. Congratulations! You're the starting punter.' You could have hit me over the head with a sledgehammer," he recalled. "That was not what I wanted to hear." Learn how Charles applies the lessons from that experience to his leadership today! -- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Frank Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 198: Growing up in small town South Dakota, this CEO learned to play golf on some of the roughest terrain: sand. While he cheerfully concedes he isn't the world's best golfer, Steve, who played on his high school's team, took what he learned about persistence and applied it to his career at Great Clips. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Listeners looking to expand their operations will learn lessons including: How franchisees and franchisors should push each other to make sure they all improve. The importance of the three Ps: patience, performance, and presence. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Lilly Mae Stewart and Ethan Salzberg for making this episode possible.

Ep. 197: New York firefighter Stephen Siller never showed up to his tee time with his brothers on September 11th, 2001. When he received news of the attack, Stephen turned around and drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back, and raced on foot 1.7 miles through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others. Today his family continues to honor his memory by retracing Stephen's steps in a fundraiser that provides mortgage-free homes to fallen first responder families with young children. Having raised more than $500 million and provided 1,200 homes, Frank Siller shares the valuable leadership lessons he's gained through the journey. DONATE to T2T here! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's impactful quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Chase Skipper and Jack Martha for making this episode possible.

Ep. 196: Baseball and tennis influenced the life of the author Oprah calls "The Ultimate Comeback Coach." Tim Storey has impacted millions of people in 75 countries through his keynote speeches and books. Whether he's working one-on-one with celebrities like Robert Downey Jr. and Kanye West or sharing his wisdom on interviews like this one, Tim always inspires those around him. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Lilly Mae Stewart and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 195: Basketball was Josh's primary sport and he was good enough at it that in his senior year of high school he was invited to play in the Tri-Valley League All-Stars game in Massachusetts! He recounts how he initially felt somewhat out of place, but the game had an incredible ending! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. In this episode, Josh shares valuable insights gained from his 26-year tenure at Disney, revealing how he leads a team of 180,000 cast members. Lessons include: How to turn "imposter syndrome" into a genuine adventure that pushes your limits. The power of insatiable curiosity to clear a pathway through unfamiliar territory. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Vince Jones and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 194: Georgetown Soccer shaped this executive who, after playing for the Hoyas, took on the role of the program's play-by-play announcer. Two decades later, he's only missed one game. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply Dan's insights. In this episode you will learn: Why people with strong interests outside your company make your company better. How to tap into the unheard voices in your firm to get game-changing feedback. The one question Helfrich asks job candidates to assess self-awareness and humility. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to T.J. Percell and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 193: Cricket shaped the longest-tenured CEO ever featured on Corporate Competitor! Since 1988, he has managed to avoid burnout by "focusing on the most important things." Today, he diligently reviews weekly reports from his leadership team, posing questions such as, "What did you do this week to enhance your talent and service, expand your marketing within the team or community, improve technology, and advance social responsibility?" Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 192: Tennis and track shaped former Microsoft US President and current CEO of Lumen – the company that owns and operates one the world's biggest, most connected fiber networks. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Hannah Edwards and Tara Openshaw for making this episode possible.

Ep. 191: This financial services company hired eight of the women on the US Olympic rowing team. This partnership is led by Tim who went to Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship while captaining his Boat Club to its most successful season in 40 years. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Listeners will appreciate the specific sports-to-business analogies and lessons he has implemented to keep his widely distributed workforce of 15,000 associates in 23 countries locked onto a common vision and culture. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Chase Skipper and Jack Martha for making this episode possible.

Ep. 190: Northwestern University Soccer shaped this executive who held leadership roles at Salesforce and Slack before taking on the role of CEO at LogicMonitor, which helps companies monitor, manage, and maintain IT infrastructure. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Listeners seeking to engage their teams more fully will enjoy her varied and sometimes humorous approach to communicating this mission-critical knowledge, including: Using values-based recruiting methods to build strong cultures. Engaging product-sales-service teams to transform customer satisfaction levels. The Slack channel Kosmowski created called "Where in the world is Christina?" to present herself in a more personal way. -- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Hannah Edwards and Jessi Wynn for making this episode possible.

Ep. 189: Alex shares 4 lessons that remain the same whether you devoting 500 hours to IRONMAN training or overseeing operations for more than 40,000 affiliated brokers and sales associates across 2,400 offices worldwide. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to T.J. Percell and Jessi Wynn for making this episode possible.

Ep. 188: Cricket shaped this executive's decision to attend Stanford University. Rohan became a founding member of the cricket media site Cricinfo, which was later acquired by ESPN, and a member of the Stanford Supernovas Cricket Team, an alumni team that recently hoisted a league trophy. Today, he works at Guild – an education benefits company that collaborates with large employers like Target, Chipotle, Hilton, and PepsiCo to train their workforces and create career mobility for employees – and will teach you how to harness momentum in business. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Hannah Edwards and Nicklas Urban for making this episode possible.

Ep. 187: Absolute faith in each other is imperative among members of the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels precision flying team, where soaring canopy-to-canopy at 500 mph is all part of a day's work. In this episode, "Boss" Armatas – a former lacrosse and basketball player— teaches you how to build trust, repair trust, resist micromanaging, and debrief effectively! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. -- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Libby Klemeyer and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 186: Basketball shaped Brian, who was the President and CEO of TruChoice Financial Group. He was the architect behind its construction before accepting his role at AmeriLife. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply Brian's insights. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Hannah Edwards and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 185: Baseball shaped this leader originally from Italy, who manages a global workforce of 400,000 team members serving clients in 150 countries and generated an impressive $50 billion in revenue last year. You will learn lessons in: Turning mentorship into an expectation in your organization's promotion structure. Using onboarding to hire employees who demonstrate a high probability of cultural fit. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply Carmine's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Libby Klemeyer and Arianna Aly for making this episode possible.

Ep. 184: Ashland University basketball shaped this HR exec who learned a lesson in preparation while racking up double digit steals game after game. "I would study film of the point guard as she was running down looking over to the coach and calling the play, so I knew exactly where they were going to pass it," she shared. Now she's studying what happens at LKQ, where she never misses an earnings calI and the chance to meet with investors or to walk the floors of departments outside of HR to better understand the business and how she can help it move forward. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply Gen's insights. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 183: Cal Basketball shaped Dave who was drafted by the Boston Celtics, only to be denied an NBA career because of a player's strike and injury. But he pivoted to a career in finance and now serves as Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors. In the 25 years since he joined, the firm has grown from $10 billion in assets under management to nearly $700 billion. You will learn: How to use powerful storytelling to effect changes in corporate culture. How to hire "characters with character" rather than clones in your organization. The case for involving your most junior people early on in evaluating important hires. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply Dave's insights. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Hannah Edwards for making this episode possible.

Ep. 182: As a four-sport athlete, sports was one area that provided a level-playing field for Brian who grew up in Queens raised by his mom and grandparents. Coaching high school football helped pay his way through UCLA and now the chair and CEO of one of America's most iconic companies, nearly 2,000-store Target, just shakes his head in wonder as he thinks about just how much he learned from watching UCLA's John Wooden. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply Brian's insights. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Libby Klemeyer and Daniel Kehn for making this episode possible.

Ep. 181: Colgate Football shaped this leader whose family of companies serves more than 38.5 million people. You will learn how to model calm presence and total responsibility to your team when these qualities are needed most. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply Pat's insights. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Hannah Edwards and Catherine Pattillo for making this episode possible.

Ep. 180: Baseball shaped the founder of the company that grew to more than 250 million subscribers and fundamentally altered how the world experienced media. Lessons include: What playing second base taught Marc about the importance of good daily habits. Why Netflix decided to have no vacation policy or travel policy. How to develop managers to be excellent evaluators of talent. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply Marc's insights. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Nicklas Urban and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 179: Field Hockey at the University of Pennsylvania shaped this non-profit leader. Good Sports – "a food bank for sporting goods" – just hit their $100 million donation milestone. If you are a leader who wants to learn how to make a larger impact through your clearly defined mission, you have much to learn from Melissa's experience building Good Sports! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply Melissa's insights. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time, Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team toward personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Libby Klemeyer and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 178: Baseball and basketball shaped Jeff who leads 60,000 global tax professionals. While he doesn't do his own taxes, Jeff does "file" several practical tips in this episode including: The best way to begin team meetings by "checking in" and "checking out" How to frame questions that are "provocative" but also productive rather than aggressive or alienating. How to rescue an unproductive meeting by figuratively getting everyone on your leadership "out on the balcony" to get some distance on what's going sideways. The important difference between the "failing fast" and "learning more" mindsets. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time, Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to T.J. Percell and Nicklas Urban for making this episode possible.

Ep. 177: Baseball, football, and fencing in college shaped this leader who has received 30 promotions during his decades-long career—showcasing his determination to equip those around him with a team-first mindset that produced an impact across the company. You will learn: The critical business lesson he learned from taking a called third strike during a Little League All-Star. The difference between leading a team and transforming a team. Why risk-taking is essential to swing momentum in your favor. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Francisco Nunez and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 176: Steve found himself on the basketball court with Barack Obama growing up in Hawaii! His competitive spirit was on display when he co-founded AOL and lead the second largest merger of all time with the blending of new media AOL and old media Time Warner. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 175: Soccer shaped this leader who joined StretchLab when there were three franchise locations. Today, there are more than 400 studios across North America and 900 licensed locations globally, making them the global leader in assisted stretching. He offers numerous tips including: How to use the first minute of every meeting to "humanize" the context and put everyone in a more open and collaborative mindset. Creating daily, weekly, and monthly meeting rhythms that provide timely and relevant contexts for decision-making. Why your organization's vision, purpose, and values need to come down off the wall and into your personal and team day-to-day conversations. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time, Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team toward personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Libby Klemeyer and Meredith Grimm for making this episode possible.

Ep. 174: Cornell Lacrosse shaped Jon Gordon who recently released The One Truth: Elevate Your Mind, Unlock Your Power, Heal Your Soul. We discuss ways to keep your team connected, including specific techniques. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and a leadership activity for your team to connect by sharing a hero, hardship, highlight, hope, and something hilarious. Click here to download the bonus resource. +Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. ++Special thanks to Samantha Clark and Vince Jones for making this episode possible

Ep. 173: Field hockey at the University of Delaware and Team USA shaped Rachel's competitive spirit and teamwork skills that help her lead a dynamic team across 17 countries. You will learn: Four questions she asks employees to foster positive learning conversations with her team. The best way to identify a "diamond in the rough" who may be hiding in your business. How to implement and maintain an open door policy in a hybrid work environment. "Make it super clear you want them to reach out to you … then actually get back to them," said Barger. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. --- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 172: Football and baseball shaped Bob whose 33 years working for P&G culminated in his role as Chairman, President, and CEO. Under his leadership, P&G added nearly one billion people to its global customer base, and its stock price increased by 60 percent in his four years as CEO. Following his career at P&G, Bob was selected by President Obama to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. While at the helm of the VA, Bob was able to help transform the agency into one that truly delivered better care for our Military veterans. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Lessons include: The small but impactful ways to be intentional about setting high standards of behavior from the top of the organization. How to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. Deploying what McDonald calls 'The 5 E's" to optimize your organizational capability. Links mentioned in this episode: Elizabeth Dole Foundation Every Cure West Point Association of Graduates Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team toward personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to T.J. Percell and Brian Schnorr for making this episode possible.

Ep. 171: To celebrate our new book that hits shelves March 12th, Coach Prime and I discuss the mindset that keeps him highly motivated – and highly motivating – after an impressive career. This Pro Football Hall of Famer played 14 seasons in the NFL and nine seasons in Major League Baseball. His 1992 World Series appearance makes him the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. Now he is developing young men into leaders as the football coach at University of Colorado. In this episode and BONUS LEADERSHIP RESOURCE, lessons include: 5:00 How to "make confidence your natural odor" 8:30 The doubters Deion faced at an early age 10:30 Emphasizing "team" in a system where individuals are drafted and compensated 12:30 The unexpected place where Deion played his best football 17:00 How he turned time on the Aflac set into a mentoring moment with Nick Saban 19:00 Why time is your most valuable "coin" 23:00 Distinguishing between great skill and great leadership 30:00 Coaching someone to excel in their existing strengths Special thanks to Samantha Clark and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 170: Pickleball fuels the competitive fire of David Rogier who founded the streaming platform that makes it possible for anyone to watch or listen to hundreds of video lessons taught by 200+ of the world's best. In our conversation and DOWNLOADABLE BONUS RESOURCE. You will learn: 5:00 The extraordinary lesson about education passed down to him by his grandmother, a Holocaust survivor and inspirational figure behind MasterClass 10:00 Behind-the-scenes stories of the first three signings: Serena Williams, James Patterson, and Dustin Hoffman 15:00 How to practice and test before you go big 20:00 Why Sara Blakely inspired David to send out a company memo talking about the "best failure" of the week 25:00 The difference between what people say they want and what people actually want based on their actions—and why you need to measure both. 28:00 How to find out what really matters to your customer so you can make their first experience as easy as possible Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time, Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team toward personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 169: She was the first woman to lead the multi-billion-dollar global company and shares her success didn't come easily. Today we discuss the lessons in her new book, Making Waves: A Woman's Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart and Courage. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 168: CU Boulder Track and Cross Country shaped this CEO who runs a coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses. Today, more than 45,000 members in 35 countries rely on Vistage to help make better decisions for their companies, families, and communities. Learn how to set personal goals around the "Six F's" of family, finances, function (your job), fitness, faith, and future. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time, Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Meredith Grimm and Vincent Jones for making this episode possible.

Ep. 167: Giants Wide Receiver David Tyree's "helmet catch" immediately went down as one of the iconic moments in Super Bowl lore, but did you know it likely wouldn't have happened had Eli Manning and Tyree not "connected" earlier as colleagues and teammates? Incredible athletic feats such as this are what Super Bowls are made of; but behind such feats are unseen examples of leadership that create the conditions for them to happen. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time, Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team toward personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Francisco Nunez and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 166: Basketball shaped the CEO at the helm of the global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring for people with diabetes. Kevin's days coaching have taught him the value of teamwork– lessons he applies to his 8,300 Dexcom employees that go to work to accomplish the mission of empowering people to take control of their health. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time. Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Tommaso Martone and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 165: Squash shaped this "ex-Wall Street businessman" who quit his job at age 42 and enrolled in the International Space University to pursue his dream. In this episode you will learn how to: Determine the right pace of change for yourself and your organization. Interview new hires for culture as well as competencies using the "two-value" technique. Instill a growth mindset through the principles of autonomy, mastery and purpose. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Kyle Smedley and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 164: Georgetown Volleyball shaped this leader's career, which includes 20 years at The Coca-Cola Company, where she led Worldwide Agency Operations across 200 countries and was recognized as one of Advertising Age's "Women to Watch." In order to create a positive work-life balance, she learned how to set boundaries — but with one proviso. "Boundaries aren't of any value if you don't share them," she noted. "People can't honor boundaries they don't know about." Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Tommaso Martone and Ryan Tevlin for making this episode possible.