Corporate Competitor Podcast

Ep. 65: Playing and coaching basketball-shaped this business icon. Long before he became a famous NBA coach with the New York Knicks and an analyst at ESPN, Jeff Van Gundy coached high school basketball in Rochester, New York, and Kevin LeGrett was all the wiser and better equipped to lead because of their relationship. Upon graduating from college embarking on a career of his own, Kevin developed a reputation for generating tremendous bottom-line profit growth for the biggest media companies in the world, including CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, and currently iHeartMedia. In this podcast, Kevin connects listeners to the great chain of learning and leading he's enjoyed through the years, including: Why leaders should "talk to themselves… but not listen to themselves." How to find your team's "extra dimension." Why do great coaches and leaders have great skill sets and mindsets... and also great resets. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-65/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 64: Robert "Bob" Glazer is a serial entrepreneur who has worked at think tanks such as Arthur D. Little and incubators such as Cambridge Innovation Center before founding a host of his own companies and charities. His longest-running priority, Acceleration Partners, began in 2007 and works with clients worldwide to develop and scale their affiliate partner programs. He thinks people glamorize entrepreneurship to their detriment. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-64/ for a free gift and today's show notes! You Will Learn 3:00 Are you in a vicious circle or vicarious circle? 5:00 How to fight through the pain of learning something new. 7:00 Why hard work beats talent. 14:00 The #1 trait entrepreneurs need to have. 15:00 How to avoid being a "WANTrepreneur." 24:00 How Friday Forward was born The key to a great culture. 29:00 Why you should not call your coworkers "family."

Ep. 63: Rafe played linebacker for a Super Bowl Denver Broncos team and considered coaching until his entrepreneurial drive kicked into gear and led him to buy ODS Security Solutions. Over 15 years, he led the company through explosive growth, increasing his workforce from a team of 30 to more than 1,000. In 2016, he became a co-founding partner of CEO Coaching International with twelve-time triathlete Mark Moses. Whether he is coaching a client or a member of his team, Rafe believes in using difficult conversations to forge the best possible solutions, with the proviso that once a decision is made, agreement may be optional—commitment to it is not. "When the huddle breaks, you may not be the one carrying the ball to glory and a touchdown," Rafe noted, "but you have to execute your part to the fullest of your ability. The same is true in business." You will learn: [3:00] What it was like to go to the Super Bowl his rookie year. [13:00] How to overcome the "I don't belong here" feeling. [14:00] How to focus on what you can control. [21:00] Importance of preparations and reflection. [24:00] How to ask better questions while networking. [33:00] How to take a group of individuals and make them a team. [35:00] How to give real-time actionable feedback. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-63/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 62: Football, basketball, and track shaped Mark Steffe, an Illinois native responsible for guiding First Command Financial Services in its efforts to make lifelong financial security possible for all military families. When an employee isn't performing up to snuff, Mark wants his supervisors to avoid telling them to sell more, deliver more, get better results, work harder, and the like. Instead, he wants the leaders to "roll up their sleeves, get their hands a little bit dirty and help people get to a better place—not just tell them to get to a better place." Today, if you walk the halls of First Command— which maintains more than $35 billion in managed accounts and mutual funds and has more than $62 billion in life insurance coverage in force for some 280,000 military families— you will hear your fair share of sporting metaphors. Listeners will enjoy learning how to be an agile leader, motivate with mission, and make love a core value. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-62/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 61: Cornell track and field shaped this entrepreneur. Lokai's brand of beaded bracelets has become a phenomenon sold in 5,000 locations in 170 countries. The bracelets each contain a droplet of mud from the Dead Sea and water from Mount Everest to represent the highs and lows of earth and of life. Steven paid his dues going "door-to-door" around New York City, trying to get stores to display his bracelets, and was rejected 95 percent of the time. Eventually, his hard work (and his discovery by celebrities like Justin Bieber, Cam Newton, and Blake Lively) helped the company turn the corner… and they haven't looked back since. Six years later, he founded his second company Elements, which produces functional wellness drinks formulated to consistently balance the body's stress levels. Listeners are sure to enjoy his descriptions of getting his businesses off the ground as well as the differences and similarities of being a founder versus a CEO, including why the numbers count… but aren't everything, and baking social responsibility into your bottom line. Steven offers a distinctive blend of unwavering confidence and hard-won humility that is sure to inspire and awaken your own creative juices. And one thing's for sure: you'll never look at a baton handoff in a track relay the same way again. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-61/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 60: Baseball shaped this highly competitive and goal-oriented executive. Adi Ignatius is a leader who comes to play—whether the "play" involves slow-pitch softball or transforming the country's oldest and most influential academic business journal. His success includes writing for the Wall Street Journal, receiving a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize, writing for the Far Eastern Economic Review, Time Asia, and Time Magazine, where he became Executive Editor and Deputy Managing Editor before stepping down from Time to take the top job at HBR in 2009. At HBR he was challenged with leading the transformation of a venerable and beloved business journal into a leading-edge digital platform. That he achieved this and kept the Review's fiercely loyal readership engaged testifies to the inventiveness and flexibility of Adi's mind. In this episode, he shares stories and observations about the relationship between baseball and business. These include the batter whose appearance made him see business in a whole new light and the three key ingredients that keep winning teams winning together. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-60/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 59: University of Florida Crew shaped this technology leader. John O'Shea's career at Tech Data started in 1994 when he was hired from a temp agency. Flying up the ranks as swiftly as one of those sculls plying the waters of a crystal clear lake—"I was averaging a new job every six or eight months!"—he rose to the position of President of Global Business Units at TD Synnex. He has developed a distinctive leadership style that CEO Rich Hume called strong and informed. You will learn: Two things effective leaders always do when handing out a compliment Two essential conditions winning teams must-have for effective debate The conversation every great leader has with a high-performing employee The single quality is shared by the most dynamic and resilient teams. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-59/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 58: Bobsled & softball shaped this competitor and mother. When Elana Meyers Taylor finally steps out of the bobsled for the last time, maybe after the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, she will be able to look back at a trail-blazing career in which she became the first woman to earn a spot on the U.S. National Team competing alongside men as a four-man bobsled pilot. In this episode you will learn: How to trade "obligations" for "opportunities" Why she thinks respect is the glue that binds successful teams The myth of the single-sport advantage to elite athletes Why business leaders should be like "multi-sport" athletes The power of role models to open new possibilities for others. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-58/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 57: Georgia Tech football shaped this business icon. In 1971 Bert Thornton went to work at Waffle House flipping eggs and four decades later retired as the President and COO. His best leadership advice? Give out your cell phone number, because "when the trainees have access to the COO, communication improves among managers." Each of the 11 million bowls of Bert's Chili served annually is named for Thornton, who came up with the recipe when Waffle House moved into Texas in the 1980s.

Ep. 56: Baseball shaped this great leader who has served as the president of Baptist Hospital and founded his own businesses serving his two passions: healthcare excellence and strong communities. Many have read his books on leadership and business operations. Studer co-owns the Pensacola Blue Wahoos minor league baseball team with golf great Bubba Watson. The little-known team grabbed headlines in 2020 after the COVID pandemic shut down normal operations when they turned the stadium into a giant Airbnb. The creative venture brought in revenue to the team provided a much-needed source of entertainment during the pandemic and earned international publicity. Do you want your internal team to come up with genius ideas? Listen for six practices you can try to help your team hit it out of the park. YOU WILL LEARN: 3:00 Baseball's impact on Quint's life. 13:00 How to bookend feedback with support. 20:00 The six do's and don'ts for optimizing creativity and problem-solving on your team 29:00 How to turn down somebody's idea without turning down the person. 32:00 How to replace a culture of "no" with a culture of "yes." 33:30 When to credit your team with a great idea (even if you had it first). 35:00 Why perfectionism "kills" innovation. 37:00 Bubba Watson's partnership with Quint and the Blue Wahoo baseball team. For a free gift and to subscribe to the show visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-56/

Ep. 55: NFL special edition with guest host John C. Maxwell to discuss the benefits of having a system your whole team buys into. "I used to say the job of a leader is to set the standard and demand all live up to that," said three-time national championship coach Urban Meyer. "I've come to believe the job of a leader is to earn your team's trust. And then you set a standard while equipping and inspiring them so they can achieve the standard." Meyer's system for building a deep bench will help any business leader build strong teams in their organizations. Here you will learn about: baking leadership development into your core values respecting the accomplishments of your predecessors replacing fear with trust and even love as the key motivator, and keeping your team "above the line" when confronting adversity and other threats. Check out more episodes of Corporate Competitor Podcast and John Maxwell's Leadership Podcast!

Ep. 54: Harvard Hockey shaped this business icon. Angela took her joy of sport and turned it into a high-profile career. She played longer than any other man or woman in a USA Hockey jersey and was only the fourth woman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame! After she hung up her skates, she continued her studies at Harvard Business School and served on the International Olympic Committee. She was fascinated by the business of sports which led her to co-found Sports Innovation Lab, a data-driven market research firm that serves major companies throughout the world. In this episode, she offers several experience-tested ways for "controlling the controllables" to ensure you and your team never leave the "field of play" without having given 100 percent. I have my notepad ready. I hope you do, too. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-54/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 53: Track and Field shaped this incredible leader. Before joining RE/MAX – one of the largest publicly traded real estate companies in the world with 135,000 agents operating in 110 countries— Adam Contos ran a SWAT team, working for a local Sheriff's Office. He describes the job as "kicking in doors, blowing things up, and saving people." In this episode, Adam shares that while his current professional life is completely different, his approach to leading high-performance teams remains the same. His goal is to break down barriers, blow up conventional thinking, and help as many people as possible achieve success. How do you scale your organization in a way that values the people who are building it? You will find out here. I have my notepad ready. I hope you do, too! Listen here or on Apple, Spotify, and IHeartRatdio. You will learn: (5:00) How to distinguish what you can control. (6:00) How to lead from the front. (12:30) How to use success as a stepping stone. (16:30) How to prioritize people over processes. (18:30) How to recruit people to FIT your culture. (24:00) The difference between a Super Bowl team and a Pro Bowl team in business. Resources: Connect with Adam on LinkedIn Check out Adam's podcast 'Start With A Win'

Ep. 51: As an equestrian in her native Australia, Kristy Ingram had to learn how to make the transition from managing horses to managing people when her competitive days ended. Her 15 years of consulting experience includes managing Ernst & Young's sponsorship of the Rio Olympics and developing their Women's Athlete Business Network. Today she is EY's Global Leader of Athlete Programs where she helps talent-hungry managers tap into a leadership pipeline that most overlook… retired athletes. A big part of that process involves language and, specifically, the "descriptors" used to describe who we are—our identity. Many of us, not just athletes, will have to reinvent ourselves professionally from time to time. This conversation will prove to be a valuable tool in your toolkit. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-52/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 51: Pittsburgh Basketball and 10 years in the NBA shaped this entrepreneur. Charles Smith played with the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs. During that window, he was often asked to assume new roles, sometimes mid-season. The one skill he worked on constantly was shot blocking, and still today he ranks in the NBA's top one percent of all-time shot blockers. After retiring, he participated in the Executive Entrepreneurs program at Stanford University and has recently partnered with Fierce Inc., a global leadership development and training company whose client roster includes Apple, Coca Cola, and HBO. One of Fierce's critical areas of focus involves helping teams communicate better. "There's an old saying in sport," Charles said, "The game tape or practice tape doesn't lie. If you fall down, it's there for all to see. Businesses don't have tape like sports teams do, but they do have measurables." And if the tape doesn't get you, observed the 10-year NBA player, a good teammate will. Listeners to this podcast will enjoy Charles' no-nonsense insights forged in the heat of world-class competition. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-51/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 50: Navy Basketball shaped this business icon. Carl Liebert played alongside two of the best players in the program's history in Vernon Butler and David Robinson. He went on to earn advanced degrees from Harvard, Stanford, and Vanderbilt en route to attaining two decades of C-Suite experience at Home Depot, 24- Hour Fitness, USAA, AutoNation, and now Keller Williams' parent holding company KWx. In this episode, Carl discusses how leaders can prevent their teams from turning one mistake into two and explains why he gives his team "permission to fail." Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-50/ for a gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 49: Delaware Lacrosse is just one of the FUN experiences Steve shares with Don Yaeger. Learn how spiking a football in high school impacted his first meeting with Jerry Seinfield. Really. Then he walks us through when 10 years of his Sony emails were stolen and released to the world by hackers. Finally, he details his experience working with Peyton Manning as host of his newest show, "College Bowl." Listen to our conversation and then tune into College Bowl Tuesday nights on NBC! Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-49/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 48: Bubba Watson is an enthusiastic businessman with ownership stakes in the Blue Wahoos baseball team, a car dealership, and a candy shop in Pensacola, Florida. His heartfelt tears in the winner's circle, joyously goofy hip hop performance in the boy band Golf Boys, and passionate advocacy for adoption have endeared him to millions. In near lockstep with his considerable success on the golf course and growing portfolio of businesses, Watson has had to confront his battle with anxiety head-on. Since most of this struggle was private, few know Watson's hard-won techniques for facing up to and then facing down his problems. In this episode, you will learn three methods that helped Watson cope and how he refocused his priorities. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-48/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 47: Basketball shaped one of the country's best restaurant leaders. GJ served as CEO of California Pizza Kitchen and CEO of Texas Roadhouse, where he oversaw growth in revenue from $63 million per year when he arrived to more than $1 billion annually when he moved. Today he is in Austin, Texas, leading the rocket ship that is Torchy's Tacos, one of the fastest-growing brands in America. A proud graduate of James Madison University, GJ wanted to offer opportunities to students like himself and, in 2012, made a substantial donation of his time and resources that led the university to place his name atop the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management. In this episode, GJ shares why he hires for attitude over ability and offers listeners six proven lessons for leadership. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-47/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 46: Harvard Basketball shaped this business icon. As a student, Jessica had the opportunity to work with the Robert Kraft family, owners of the New England Patriots football franchise and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on ways to increase the stadium's revenue on non-game days. She parlayed the opportunity into a long term relationship with the Kraft family. Today, she is the CEO of Kraft Analytics Group (KAGR), which works with all of the major U.S. sports leagues and properties to apply business analytics in their operations. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-46/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 45: Air Force Football shaped this business icon. Before coming to Chick-fil-A, Rodney served as an Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting complex criminal cases. As a White House Fellow, the nation's most prestigious public-service fellowship, Rodney was placed at NASA working directly for the NASA Administrator. He also previously served at the Pentagon as a Congressional Legislative Liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. In this episode, Rodney describes how athletics introduces competition in an appropriate and fair way. He teaches: - How to develop your team members - What he has learned from Chick-Fil-A CEO, Dan Cathy. - How you impact the people three feet around you. - The key to creating confidence and comfort on your team. - How to build trust. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-45/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 44: Tulane football shaped this business icon. Steven went into business with his brothers, Paul and Scott, opening a restaurant and a couple of coffee houses. Under the banner Ballard Brands, the brothers went on to form a company that today owns, operates and manages more than 150 restaurants and food and beverage "concepts" in 28 states and 3 countries, including the acclaimed PJ's Coffee of New Orleans and Smoothie King franchises. As their company has grown and the brothers have expanded their portfolio of businesses and hired additional layers of leadership and staff, Ballard has found himself drawing more and more on the tools he used to succeed as an athlete. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-44/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 43: Learn what made PGA Champion Jack Nicklaus an off-course success in Best Seat in the House that I co-wrote with his son Jack "Jackie" Nicklaus II. The book gives readers 18 valuable lessons that Nicklaus II learned from his father while caddying for him and those learned off the green. This interview with the first family of golf will delight golf fans of all ages, encourage fathers, and inspire readers to focus on what's most important in life: family. Visit Episode https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-43/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 42: Albany basketball alumnus shares how he is paying his coach's example forward in business through principles like: -Keeping things fun and upbeat at meetings. -Using goal-setting rather than quotas in professional development because "nobody sets a quota on the basketball court." -Practicing "self-care" by clearing out time for himself to just sit with pencil and paper and think so that he can come up with a game plan and turn them into actions. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-42/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 41: Michigan Rowing shaped this business icon. The mental discipline that earned Kate a seat on the US Olympic Crew Team also earned her a seat at the C-suite table at Visa and Google. As Visa's Vice President of Global Sponsorship Marketing, she developed and led the relationships between Visa and 40+ partners including International Olympic Committee, FIFA, and the NFL. Today, as Google's Head of Global Sports and Entertainment Marketing, she is responsible for connecting media partnerships across the company's many business verticals. Kate's leadership was recognized in Adweek's list of Most Powerful Women In Sports Business, and she received Sports Business Journal's 40 under 40 Award. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-41/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 40: Chapek traces his remarkable journey, from humble roots running cross country in America's industrial heartland to running one of the world's most iconic companies. Listeners looking to sharpen their presentation and leadership skills will receive a mini-tutorial from the master himself as Bob shows how he has turned "overpreparation" into an art form, including his patented "pencils down" process. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-40/ for today's show notes and a free chapter of Don's best-selling book on how to build great teams.

Ep. 39: LSU basketball-shaped this founder and CEO. Walk-On's was named the "#1 Sports Bar in America." Then, New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees expressed an interest in the business and ultimately joined the Walk-On's team as a co-owner. Today, with more than 100 locations in the works across 15 states, Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux operates with a mission of delivering a memorable game day experience with a taste of Louisiana. In recounting his journey, CEO Brandon Landry offers sharp lessons for business leaders eager for insights on aligning staff, scaling company culture, raising the bar on expectations, and knowing when — and how — to change course when things are not going to plan…including holding a funeral when moving past failure! Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-39/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 38: Jeff Bell served in senior leadership roles at companies such as Ford, Chrysler, Microsoft, and NBC Universal before taking the reins as CEO of legal services provider LegalShield. In this episode, he offers an abundance of practical tips on vulnerability, dealing with pressure, and developing lifelong learning habits essential for leaders seeking to inspire their teams as well as progress in their careers. For a free e-book chapter and today's show notes, visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-38/

Ep. 37: Florida State Football and Bobby Bowden shaped this leader. Two weeks after Warrick's 18th birthday, his mother, a Baton Rouge police officer, was killed in a robbery at a bank. He became the legal guardian of his five younger siblings, won the National Championship with Bobby Bowden at Florida State, and was drafted 12th overall to Tony Dungy's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this episode, you will learn about the legacy Warrick created with his charity, Homes for the Holidays. For a free gift and show notes visit: https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-37

Ep. 36: As the CEO of Continental Airlines — a position he accepted when he was only 33 years old — Continental went from ranking last in all of US Airline's key customer service areas to 18th on Fortune's list of "Best Companies to Work For." He continued this trend as the CEO of Burger King, PwC Consulting, and Quiznos. As a golfer and as a leader, Greg knows how important it is not to let one bad shot, or one bad moment, turn into two. His acclaimed Harvard Business review article "Right Away and All At Once: How We Saved Continental" led to his book teaching his five steps to transform your business and enrich your life. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-36/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 35: Discover how to ensure that internal competition fuels your employees and does not destroy team chemistry. Kikkan was 16 years old in Anchorage, Alaska when she was told that no American woman had ever won an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing. It was that moment that she set her goal: Make history. She went on to compete in FIVE Olympics and in 2018 in the last race of her last games… Kikkan Randall won gold. Three months later she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She used the lessons from sport to combat negative thoughts on her road to recovery. Today Kikkan serves on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and is part of the EY Women Athletes Business Network. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-35/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 34: He is best known for popularizing the concept of knowing your WHY, which he described in his first TED Talk. That talk went on to become the second most watched TED Talk of all time! Years later, his interview on millennials in the workplace broke the internet with over 80 million views in its first week. This led to Simon being YouTube's fifth most searched term that year. In his newest book, The Infinite Game, Simon contrasts sports and business: In finite games, like football or chess, the players are known, the rules are fixed, and the endpoint is clear. The winners and losers are easily identified. In infinite games, like a business, the players come and go, the rules are changeable, and there is no defined endpoint. There are no winners or losers in an infinite game; there is only ahead and behind. Click here for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 33: Syracuse Basketball and Coach Jim Boeheim shaped Sean Kerins. Today as Arrow's CEO, he leads a team of 20,000 employees across more than 300 locations worldwide. He is committed to lifelong learning. "The further you go, the less you know," Sean explained, "The more willing you are to reach out and learn from others, the better off you will be." In this episode, Sean explains how that curious culture inspired Arrow to modify a Corvette, empowering a quadriplegic former IndyCar race driver to drive again using only his head's motion. Through Sean's story you will learn how to activate the company culture document that hangs in your office so that it becomes more powerful than just wall art. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-33/ for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 32: Missouri Western State Football shaped this business icon. Captain Keith Hoskins grew up with a dream to be a Blue Angel pilot— and that dream came true! His 27 years in the Navy included serving as Commanding Officer for Naval Air Station Pensacola, where he provided leadership oversight for more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel. The lessons he learned on the football field are ones he applies today as the Executive Vice President of Branch Operations for the world's largest credit union— Navy Federal! Visit Episode 32 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 31: Kyle was posted on a rooftop in Afghanistan when an enemy grenade landed between him and a fellow Marine. Without hesitation, Kyle jumped on the grenade, saving his best friend but sacrificing himself. After flatlining three times, undergoing 41 surgeries, and spending three years at Walter Reed Medical Center, Kyle ran the Marine Corps Marathon. He is the youngest living recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The book we wrote together is titled You Are Worth It, the response he gives when someone thanks him for his service. King Academy football shaped this American hero. Visit Episode 31 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 30: Ohio State Softball shaped this military leader. In the history of the United States Air Force, 225 people have achieved the rank of four-star general, only five of them women. Recently retired General Maryanne Miller may have the most fascinating story of them all. Growing up in Hilliard, Ohio, Miller spent many nights as a young girl playing baseball in the backyard. "Every family has that one thing that gathers them," she said, "Sports became that for all six of us in the house." Her fun family tradition led to a softball scholarship at Ohio State University, an experience that taught her valuable lessons in grit and perseverance. In this candid conversation with one of America's great leaders, you will learn how to leverage your weaknesses properly, and we will reveal the biggest mistake people make as they seek to climb the ranks. Visit Episode 30 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 29: West Point athletics shaped this business icon. Retired Brigadier General, Bernard Banks, knew as a child that he wanted to go to West Point because of his desire to develop himself as a leader. He was so successful in that journey that years later, West Point asked him to chair their leadership department. He has led multiple military units ranging in size from 10 to 3,000 people. In the early 2000s, He was brought in to improve an Apache Helicopter unit ranking in the bottom third globally. In just two years, under Bernie's leadership, the same group was designated number ONE! Today he is an Associate Dean at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management teaching leadership in the MBA program! Visit Episode 29 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 28: Purdue basketball shaped this business icon. Beth oversaw public policy for EY's operations in 150 countries. She has been named eleven times to Forbes "World's Most Powerful Women" list and, in 2015, was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Recently retired, she now devotes herself to numerous boards, including The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the International Women's Forum. Visit Episode 28 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 27: NASCAR Hall of Famer, Rick Hendrick, grew up on his family's farm and turned his passion for the automobile into several successful business ventures. This episode explores the ultimate formula for keeping your team revved up. Hendrick believes open, honest, and frequent communication is the make or break skill separating those who get to victory lane and those who don't. Visit Episode 27 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 26: Navy Football shaped this business icon. This week's episode features Dana Barnes, Senior Vice President of Palo Alto Networks, and a former member of the Naval Academy Football team. His past leadership experience includes Microsoft's Vice President of State and Local Government and leading operations for Microsoft's National Security Group. Visit Episode #26 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 25: Albion football-shaped this business icon. Scott Mordell is Young Professional Organization's longest-serving Chief Executive. YPO has 29,000 members in 142 countries committed to becoming better leaders and better people together. In this interview, you will learn how to "re-calibrate" your leadership and maintain curiosity. Visit Episode #25 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 24 In the spirit of year-end reflection, Don Yaeger uses the last episode of 2020 as a chance to invite podcast producer, Savannah Gallagher, on the show for a fun behind the scenes look recording Corporate Competitor Podcast. You will learn the "why" behind the podcast and get to laugh at the hilarious "off-mic" moments with the world's best business leaders. Visit corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 23: UCLA Basketball shaped this business icon. I had the unbelievable good fortune to have legendary UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, as a mentor. One day, Coach Wooden said, "Don, I want to tell you the story of one of the greatest players to ever play for me… Swen Nater." In this episode, we will dive into his incredible story and learn a valuable lesson: We will never outperform our inner circle. Visit Episode #23 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 22: Brown University Rugby shaped this business icon. Chief Executive's CEO of the Year, Brian Moynihan, leads a team of more than 200,000 employees. You will learn how his childhood shaped his competitive nature and how to find great mentors, even when you're at the top of your industry. Visit Episode #22 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 21: Dartmouth tennis and squash shaped this business icon. Dawn Hudson is one of Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. She served as the Chief Marketing Officer for the NFL and the President and CEO of Pepsi North America, and today she speaks around the world about smart reinvention and growth. Learn how this incredible leader was shaped by playing tennis and squash at a male-dominated Dartmouth, walking on campus just three years after they began accepting women. Visit Episode #21 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 20: University of Texas Arlington Basketball shaped this business icon Fred Perpall went to college at age 15 and rose to be CEO of The Beck Group— a prestigious construction and architecture group— at 37. He grew up in the Bahamas and turned down five track and field scholarships for one in basketball, and went on to play on the 1994 Bahamian National basketball team, and at the University of Texas Arlington. In this thought-provoking interview, you will learn how to develop a deep understanding of your team members, the three characteristics of great mentorship, and Fred's shares why success and succession go hand in hand. Visit Episode #20 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 19: BYU Football shaped this business icon. Sean Covey, was the quarterback at BYU after Hall of Famer Steve Young. Sean's father, Stephen Covey, most famous for his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, loved watching his son play. Today Sean is a New York Times Best-Selling author and brings his competitive fire to FranklinCovey-- an organization whose mission is to enable greatness in students, teachers, and schools working in all 50 states and more than 150 countries. Visit Episode #19 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 18 : South Dakota State baseball shaped this business icon. CEO of Mayo Clinic Florida and Vice President of Mayo Clinic, Dr. Kent Thielen, has a strong personal interest in developing new technologies! He shares how they are using 3D printers to create anatomic models from a patient's CT scans. He reflects on the lessons he learned as a three-sport athlete in high school, including how to push past self-limiting beliefs. Dr. Thielen graduated as his school's first quarterback to throw for more than 1,000 yards and took his talents to South Dakota State, where he chose to play baseball! In this episode, he asks: Are you willing to go off-script when the situation calls for it? Visit Episode #18 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 17: Duke field hockey shaped this business icon. Forbes named ESPN's Senior Vice President of Marketing and the FOUNDER of espnW, Laura Gentile, one of the "Most Powerful Women in U.S. Sports." She was a two-time field hockey team captain at Duke and led the Blue Devils to their first appearance in the NCAA tournament, graduating as Duke's all-time leading scorer! Laura began her career at ESPN in 2003, working with legendary ESPN President George Bodenheimer. In the years since she has produced the annual women in sports summit featuring world-class athletes and talented hosts like Maria Taylor and Sage Steel. Visit Episode #17 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!

Ep. 16: Miami Baseball shaped this business icon. Through trials, including a season-ending baseball injury, and an emergency heart surgery, he has learned that his attitude governs his altitude. You will learn the power of a recommendation through the story of his Miami recruitment, and Matt's 11 Ground Rules so that you attract trustworthy teammates that listen more than they speak. Visit Episode #16 of corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for a free gift and today's show notes!