Lead the Team (Top 2% of Podcasts)

Stop sacrificing your personal life in the name of achieving more career success. When you're a leader, the weight of responsibility often feels like it's on your shoulders. Many don't understand that leadership can be one of the most stressful jobs in world, and it can be really tough balancing your personal life with your professional one. You'll discover a helpful work-life balance strategy that every leader can use in my interview with Lori Stacy, CEO of Trader Interactive, a Goldman Sachs and Eurazeo portfolio company.She joined Trader Interactive early in her career and quickly rose through the ranks from Sales Manager to National Sales Trainer, General Manager, Director, President, and finally CEO. They are the leading provider of digital marketing & online advertising for the lifestyle vehicles & commercial equipment industry. Collectively, they reach over 7 million monthly unique visitors through their online marketplaces, power thousands of dealer websites, and offer unique tools to assist dealers in more effectively running their businesses and serving their customers. Some of their brands include CycleTrader.com, RVTrader.com, RV Web Services, Commercial Web Services, CommercialTruckTrader.com, and EquipmentTrader.com. Lori has also served as a senior leader for Dominion Enterprises where she successfully transitioned from a print-based business to a fully digital company and is passionate about driving digital growth through new innovative offerings. During Lori's tenure as Trader Interactive's CEO, she has prioritized diversity and inclusion in hiring, as evidenced by the diverse leadership team at Trader Interactive.Lori's LinkedIn Profile Trader Interactive Website What You’ll Discover in this Episode:Advice for leaders who are striving to balance a demanding work schedule with their personal goals.An essential success strategy for under-represented leaders. A vital insight for achieving work-life balance and conquering Mom/Dad guilt.A hack for being more present with your kids after work.The three traits that she’d instill in every employee: Internal drive, curiosity, and work ethic.Using 140% to measure employee turnover cost.The unexpected moment that accelerated Lori’s career.Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter   

Can becoming a more mindful leader help you achieve better results? Most leaders who boost their mindfulness find they are more focused and organized.Yet, its something that many leaders don't understand, so they miss out on this opportunity to become more strategic and reduce stress - for themselves and their teamEnter my interview with CEO, Tim Hanold, of Care Advantage – one of the largest privately-owned home healthcare companies in the Mid Atlantic.  He has a proven track record in leadership and sales management stemming from 10 years in high-ranking roles at Humana at Home and SeniorBridge. Under his tenure as COO, the Humana Wellness division rose to $225MM in revenue, serving over 23 million members.  Prior to the world of home health, Tim built a strong career with Pepsi, Ford Motor Company, and Tyco Healthcare. While leading national sales teams, Tim found his passion for understanding the human experience that led him to healthcare.  Focusing on the consumer experience is Tim’s guiding principle to strategically lead Care Advantage to the forefront of the home healthcare industry. He holds an MS in Management from Columbia University and a BS in Marketing and Business Logistics from Pennsylvania State University.Tim's LinkedIn profileCare Advantage Inc WebsiteWhat You’ll Discover in this Episode:What Tim learned about leadership in his first job on a peach farm.How playing chess can prepare you to become CEO.The one trait he’d like to instill in every employee… GRIT.The biggest cost of employee turnover.How to find your passion through affinity, ability, and opportunity.A strategy for becoming a more mindful leader.How to do a “Mindfulness Calendar Review”.Resources:Grit by Angela DuckworthSearching for Bobby FischerQueens’s GambitChess.comThink Fast, Talk Smart PodcastThe Road to Character by David BrooksTeam of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin-----Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter

How can leaders encourage curiosity in their teams? It's an important questions to consider because when your team is naturally more curious they dig deeper into problems and persist through challenges.Teams that are more curious deliver better results.It's the foundation of all learning and innovation, and if you want your team to be more creative and productive, then you need to start fostering a culture of curiosity. In my interview with Cathy Wolfe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Growth Markets (GGM) at Wolters Kluwer, you'll discover three strategies to do that just that.She leads the team by creating a culture of curiosity and specifically growing their company in China, India, and Brazil… the three most populous countries in the world. Wolters Kluwer is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. They serve customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 18,600 people worldwide. Cathy has held senor leadership positions in the U.S. and the U.K., with a track record of delivering strong results and innovation, working across multiple segments of the company’s global portfolio including Health (learning, research & practice, clinical  software); Tax (practice management, audit solutions); Legal and Finance (practice management,  commercial credit information). She earned her MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a BA degree in English from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.LinkedIn ProfileWolters Kluwer Website What You’ll Discover in this EpisodeA three-step checklist for getting promoted.What you should do if you feel stuck or “pigeonholed” at work.The conversation every employee should have with their boss… and their boss’ boss.What Cathy discovered in her international travels, and how it expanded her leadership skills.Why she’d like to instill more curiosity in every employee.A strategy to foster a culture of curiosity.A helpful key for building your network.A powerful strategy for communicating your idea to the C-Suite.How to accelerate your professional growth.How being open to an unexpected opportunity led to an incredible life experience.Resources:Harvard Business ReviewCHIEF Masterclass -----Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter

Ever wonder if your feedback is truly helping the team? Too may leaders invest their time and energy in giving feedback but don't notice a real change in their team. After awhile it can feel like you're wasting your time.Enter my interview with Ed Vlacich, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Lasko Products. He shares a helpful strategy you can use to effectively give feedback to your team and also receive it.Lasko is a leading home comfort products company, providing fans, heaters, air purifiers, humidifiers, home ventilation products, and water damage remediation products. Before Lasko, Ed consulted for private equity firms and was an executive for Henkel– home to well-known brands such as Dial, Right Guard. He’s also held leadership roles at Novartis, Johnson and Johnson, and Proctor and Gamble. Ed earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Rutgers University. He is also a student mentor at the Rutgers Business School. LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlacich/Company Link: https://www.lasko.com/What You’ll Discover in this EpisodeA question that helps you get through any stressful situation.How to use self-reflection process to grow every day.Three things you should ask yourself before taking any job.Ed’s first performance review at Proctor and Gamble, and how it’s shaped him as CEO.How to establish a habit of giving feedback in the moment.How to give and receive feedback from your kids.The positive role that mentorship has played in Ed’s career and how to find the right one foryour growth.The surprising twist in his career led to his role as CEO of Lasko.Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Robert Henderson is the Co-founder and CEO for JumpCrew, which partners with B2B companies to accelerate their customer acquisition. In this episosde, we dive into GRIT, and how to instill it in yourself and your team.Robert launched JumpCrew in 2016 after realizing how quickly the world was transitioning from in-person interactions to internet and phone-based communications, and that traditional marketers and outside/outbound sales teams were struggling to understand the nuances around inside/inbound customer acquisition. JumpCrew was founded as a tool that would easily and predictably scale inbound/inside selling. Fast forward five years, and JumpCrew has expanded its full funnel product to integrate digital marketing with sales to accelerate their client's business growth. JumpCrew's solutions combine technology with a human touch with a growing roster of clients in publishing, healthcare, media, and technology to help them build awareness, increase leads, and convert sales. The company is headquartered in Nashville, TN. Robert's LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-henderson-0a7a0b39Company Link: https://jumpcrew.com/What You’ll Discover in this Episode: The joyous moment of getting back to the office.What makes working at JumpCrew so special… camaraderie.The impact that JumpCrew is making across the workplace.The big way that Remote Working, Great Resignation and The Great Reshuffle are changing companies.The advice he’d give his younger self…. be patient.How having patience can open opportunities for you.Finding the balance of pursuing your goals and enjoying the journey.The one trait he’d instill in every employee… GRIT!Bruce Lee leadership strategies.A big moment when grit was vital for Robert’s success.Employee turnover and the leadership lesson behind it.How to put people in the position to be themselves at work.How to save money in employee hiring.A colorful story of when someone quit.Resources:Be Like Water, 30 for 30 ESPN, Bruce Lee Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSTy5EMrQA8 Grit, Angela Duckworth https://www.amazon.com/Grit-Passion-Perseverance-Angela-Duckworth/dp/1501111116 Quote:“Water Finds a Way.”

Simon Sikorski is CEO at Craft Worldwide, which is part of McCann Worldwide. They are a global advertising company and a content production agency with a network of over 1,300 producers, designers, photographers, linguists, and technologists.  Simon has over 25 years of experience in marketing communications and has worked with some of the world's biggest brands including Intel, ExxonMobil, Coca-Cola, and Microsoft. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University. LinkedIn Profile: Simon Sikorski https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonsikorskiWhat You’ll Discover in this Episode:The surprise that Leslie Nielsen (Star of the Naked Gun series) brought to his first meeting with Simon.Advice for leaders who are leading an organization through a BIG change.How he’s making his company and industry more sustainable.How to manage a hybrid workforce.What Simon learned from his first job, and how it still influences his leadership approach today.Why it’s essential that leaders learn to see challenges from multiple perspectives.A success tip if you’re presenting to a room where some of the audience are remote.The one trait he’d instill in every employee… CURIOSITY.What you can learn from your employee turnover.A failure in his career that led to his success down the road.A hi-tech and low-tech gadget that’s contributed to his success. Quotes:When it comes to bringing employees back to the office in the Pandemic… “It’s not a black or white issue. We have to manage through the gray together.” For tackling a big project… “Let’s start by making it better today.” “It’s vital that you learn from your employee turnover.”Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Ever considered writing a book but thought "I'm too busy?  If you're a leader who would like to grow your thought leadership but haven't found the time or focus, then this episode is for you!Here's my interview with Morey J. Haber is Chief Security Officer at BeyondTrust. He has more than 25 years of IT industry experience including previously holding a senior leadership role a eEye Digital Security.He's not only a a major thought leader in the field of digital security, he's also the author of three books.Morey made time to write these while still working as an executive. He was able to make these books a win-win for the company and for his career. Thus, they've supported his book launches along the way.We dive into his writing process, and the top reason your company could support your book project too!If you'd like grow as a thought leader in you field, then make sure to listen.LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjhaber/ Morey's books:Privilege Attack Vectors Asset Attack VectorsIdentity Attack VectorsWHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Morey’s first job and how it impacted his leadership.A surprising strategy to move diamonds around the Diamond District.What’s so special about working for BeyondTrust.The security dangers that arose during the Pandemic.How to know when it's time to let a responsibility go.How Morey wrote three books while still being a global executive.Making your book writing book project a win-win for you and your company.Proven strategy to get your boss and company to support your bookThe advice he’d give his younger self… ”Shut up and listen!”The one trait to instill in every employee… accountability.How to hold someone accountable.Employee turnover and accountability.A twist in his career that led to his professional growth.How to handle it when someone on your team makes a mistake.Three success strategies for every employee.Negotiation strategies!The gadget that’s made the biggest difference in his work day! 5k, 42 inches monitors!-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Elizabeth Paul is Chief Strategy Officer at The Martin Agency.  She was named AdAge's CSO of the year in 2021 and Campaign's US's Strategist of the Year in 2020.She authored the Visibility Brief, an open-source tool to check bias blind spots and illuminate insights in a way that also broadens perspectives as marketers. The tool has been downloaded 24,000 times (from Brazil to Great Britain) — and is being used by competitive agencies, brands, and universities all over the world.Under her leadership, Martin’s work has become more representative of culture for GEICO, Old Navy, OREO, DoorDash, and UPS (to name a few).Elizabeth's LinkedIn Profile What You’ll Discover in this Episode:Her hometown connection with The Notebook.Why she recommended that brands go even harder during the early days of the Pandemic (when others in the industry were “going dark”).Why giving away your thought leadership expands your thought leadership.How you make a BIG comeback after you've taken time off.Why to “compare it to despair”, and how to avoid it!The one trait she’d instill in employees… self-awareness.The hardest meeting of Elizabeth’s career.Tales of being an Enneagram 3 in a corporate environment.Powerful strategies for employee retention.How you become a company that’s a career accelerator for employees...and how this helps retain them.Why it's essential to nurture your company’s alumni network.A work-life balance support system (that every leader can use).Quotes:Fear is the death of creativity.You are not your job.-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

What are you doing to make your business more sustainable and profitable? Many times, these things can seem at conflict. One is taking the long-term approach to business while another is driving immediate cost savings.If you’re facing this challenge, or you’d just like to make your business or team more profitable, then you’re going to enjoy my interview with Chris Kemper, CEO and Founder of Palmetto. He is a mission-oriented leader focused on technology solutions to climate change. Chris’ approach blends capitalism with environmentalism, focusing on re-imagining decentralized energy systems and a decarbonized future.Palmetto is a South Carolina company committed to the creation of a distributed, decentralized energy source called The New Utility, which will replace the fossil-fueled, centralized energy model of The Old Utility. They are working towards this democratization of energy by putting power and control back in the hands of consumers and inspiring them to make environmentally responsible choices. To this end, Palmetto has developed a clean energy marketplace, with proprietary technology designed to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to source their energy from renewables like solar power. They’ve developed products that reduce costs and drive widespread distribution of simple energy management solutions.He’s previously held positions at the United Nations and Tradition Financial Services.LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cchristopherkemper/ Palmetto Website: https://palmetto.com/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:How Chris made a fortune starting his first business at 8 years old…. that allowed him to afford real estate later in high school.How he learned the hustle of entrepreneurship.Nature or nurture when it comes to risk taking?How a frustrating moment led to a big AHA moment for his business.Owning the entrepreneurship corner.How the Palmetto Platform helps entrepreneurs.His secret to achieving a Net Promoter Score of 87!How to help your business become more profitable AND sustainable.Where a dose of “humble pie” helped him grow in his career.The number one trait of a CEO.The question Chris uses to select four employees for his company’s leadership program “What would you do differently if you were CEO?”The two levels of leadership that Chris uses to develop his team.How he is using his own leadership curriculum.Why he journals once per day.Three success strategies for every employee.QUOTES:“What we do in a fiscal quarter is more than what the United Nations does in a year to reduce climate change.”“Be long-term oriented in your career. It takes a long time to build something.”“Give yourself a break and keep it light.”RESOURCES:How to Lead and Serve Your Team, Chris’ upcoming book-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Do you want to get ahead in your company and be a respected leader inside your organization? Then this episode is for you.  You’ll discover a fast way to develop your team into an amazing group of leaders who will take charge and help the company evolve in a positive direction even when you’re not there.You'll learn how to hire and develop your team, sell your vision, and leverage the art of “intraprenuership” to get positive results.Take a page from the playbook of this week’s guest, the Chief Marketing Officer of Quad, Josh Golden. Quad is a worldwide marketing solutions partner dedicated to creating a better way for its clients through a data-driven, integrated marketing platform. They provide subject expertise in marketing strategy, creative solutions, media solutions and marketing management services. Quad has approximately 22,500 employees worldwide working from more than 60 facilities throughout North America, South America and Europe.Josh applies his more than two decades of experience in marketing, branding, media, and content to evolve Quad’s go-to-market strategy and deliver on the key benefits of a true through-the-line solution for Quad’s current and future clients.Prior to Quad, Josh was the President and Publisher of Ad Age where he spurred transformative growth for the 90-year trade publication and media brand. He also served in senior leadership roles at organizations such as Xerox, Global Digital Marketing, and NBC Universal.   Josh is also the host of Eureka! A show that explores the best ideas, and how they came to be. https://www.theeurekashow.com/Josh's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajgolden/Quad - https://www.quad.com/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:The sound leaders make when they have a BIG idea!  (Rachel Schekman)The story behind his podcast Eureka!... big ideas of the world and how they came to be.His own BIG Eureka when he interviewed Director and Producer of the movie, Airplane!, David Zucker.Where and when leaders are most creative.How to sell your vision.How to pursue a sponsor for your podcast.What makes being a leader and working at Quad so special.A leadership lesson on "intraprenuership".How to grow and develop your team as a leader.Leader playbook to get your company to evolve.How Josh helped AdAge evolve.The important difference between creating change at your company versus helping it evolve.QUOTES:“Status quo is the most powerful force in the universe.”When it comes to being creative, “Use your quiet time; use a moment of calmness.”When it comes to exploring your interests, “Whatever you would do for free, it is worth doing it.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Karyn Schoenbart is Chief Executive Officer of The NPD Group, a global provider of information and advisory services.  NPD combines unique data assets and solutions with industry expertise, working with the world’s leading brands to support better business decisions. Under Karyn’s leadership, NPD is proud to have been named one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York State.Passionate about coaching others to greater levels of achievement, Karyn is also the best-selling author of Mom.B.A.: Essential Business Advice from One Generation to the Next.  The book is based on the real-life business lessons Karyn amassed during her career.Karyn has over 30 years of experience in market research, and has led NPD’s strategic expansion with the introduction of analytic solutions and new types of data. Karyn currently serves on the board of directors of the Retail Industry Leaders Association. She is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences, women’s events and universities, teaches classes in leadership and developing client relationships and was recently inducted into the Long Island Business Hall of Fame. You can follow Karyn on Twitter @karynschoenbart, Facebook @karynschoenbartauthor and www.karynschoenbart.comKaryn's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karynschoenbart/Company Link: https://www.npd.com/WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:A key insight that helped Karyn go from Account Executive to CEO.One thing that MUST be a fit if you plan to stay at a company for the long haul.Advice for any employee who is dealing with a bad boss.What if you don’t like your boss.What you can do about a bad boss.What you can learn from a bad boss.Can a bad boss be good for you?How she wrote her book, Mom.B.A., even with the demands of being CEO.A FUN way to teach your kids about business.Strategy to overcome Impostor Syndrome.The catastrophic cost of turnover.The secret to high employee engagement.GREAT strategy to retain remote employees.A failure in her career that led to her growth down the road.QUOTES:“While you can change many things about your job, If you don’t feel a fit with a culture of the company that could be a sign to leave.” “Don’t sell after the close.”RESOURCES:The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

What are you doing to increase your team’s resilience so they are in it for the long haul? It’s essential for every leader to answer this question because if your team isn’t prepared to bounce back in tough situations, they may disengage and even quit.It is tempting to focus on building a “positive attitude” but most teams need more than that to be successful.Enter my episode today with the CEO of Foot Solutions, John Prothro who shares an essential strategy to build resilience in your team for the future. Foot Solutions is a global foot wellness retailer that specializes in custom orthotics and advanced footwear.  John is an experienced executive with a background in mergers and acquisitions and multinational business leadership, working in both executive and Board positions in various companies. He has lived and worked in both China and the United States.  John holds degrees from Texas A&M and Vanderbilt University where he was a baseball player.  John's LinkedIn profile: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnprothro/Foot Solutions: https://footsolutions.com/  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:His first job at Dirt Incorporated and how it impacted his career.What “rocked his world” as a collegiate athlete, and what he learned as a leader.How to instill resilience in yourself and others.The moment his resilience was tested and how he bounced back.How to find the right situation to become CEO.Three questions to ask yourself before stepping in to lead.One question that helps you decide what to do in your career.An important strategy to sustain yourself outside of work.The one trait he’d instill in every employee… Sincerity.A guiding principle for hiring anyone. A hilarious thing he was shipped when he needed to let someone go.Three success strategies for every employee.Russian literature - insights for how the world really works!QUOTES:“Stop equating money with value. Make decisions based upon what you’re going to learn.”“It’s a fail if my calendar is full.”I want to hire someone who, in 5 years, I know I’ll have to fight to keep them.”“You have the ability to make your own path.”RESOURCES:The Bell Curve, Charles Murray https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Curve-Intelligence-Structure-Paperbacks-ebook/dp/B003L77VY2The Elements of Style, https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Style-Fourth-William-Strunk/dp/020530902X Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/ CEO Session Episode with Carin-Isabel Knoop, Harvard Business School Director of Business Case Studies https://www.benfanning.com/carin-isabel-knoop/ Economics, Thomas Sowell https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Sowell/e/B00J5BK55K%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Economics in One Lesson, Henry Hazlitt https://www.amazon.com/Economics-One-Lesson-Shortest-Understand/dp/0517548232 The Way the World Works, Jude Wanniski   https://www.amazon.com/Way-World-Works-Gateway-Contemporary/dp/0895263440 Crime and Punishment https://www.amazon.com/Crime-Punishment-Fyodor-Dostoyevsky/dp/0486415872 War and Peace https://www.amazon.com/War-Peace-Vintage-Classics-Tolstoy/dp/1400079985 -------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Ever wondered how the music industry business really works? For many artists and those sitting in the audience this remains a mystery. Turns out that leaders can learn a lot about leadership, creativity, and innovation by taking a deeper dive here.That’s where Michael Dorf, City Winery’s Founder and CEO, comes in. He got his start in the entertainment industry by creating New York City’s legendary venue for independent music, the Knitting Factory, in 1986. In 2002, he left his operating responsibilities and sold his equity position to pursue other endeavors, including a Carnegie Hall concert fundraiser series, founding a Hebrew school, winemaking and brainstorming the concept of City Winery.In 2008, Dorf unleashed the flagship location of City Winery in New York City to deliver a unique combined culinary and cultural experience to urban wine enthusiasts. Each City Winery offers intimate concerts, food and wine seminars, private event spaces, upscale dining, and a fully functioning winery. Today, City Winery has physical locations in New York, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Hudson Valley.The first half of this episode, you’ll discover some amazing stories that Michael shares about REM, Lou Reed, David Sanborn, and Vanessa Carlton. Then in the second half we go “behind the curtain” and reveal the secrets of the music business that you can apply to your business and career.Michael's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldorf/Michael's Book: Indulge Your Sense: Scaling Intimacy in a Digital WorldCity Winery - https://citywinery.com/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Michael’s moment on stage with REM at Carnagie Hall - their last live performance!Michael's amazing non-profit that raised $1.7M. The big super power that Michael brings to the business.The REAL music business.Michael’s moment of realizing his niche in the music business.One of Michael’s most memorable moments having found the legendary music venue, The Knitting Factory.What happened when Lou Reed opened his new music venue.The powerful message behind this new book.How Michael led the live music comeback after the Pandemic.Michael’s reputation at “EDITDorf”.The “Supply Chain” of the music business.How to run a profitable live music business.His secret to addressing employee turnover in the music industry.Vanessa Carlton & shared values.How you create a place that employee will never want to leave.Selfish philanthropy.QUOTES:“The profits are in the popcorn.””We want to make quality wine in an urban setting.”“Have that moment of a great dinner with great friends while keeping your phone in your pocket. Then have the intimacy of hearing a great band up close playing your favorite songs… that’s really magical.”“Live music, going to the gym, yoga, or a meditation session. These are things that cannot be recreated with technology and kept in your phone in your pocket.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

How much time and energy do you invest in finding great mentors and sponsors? Most people just consider these as an afterthought, but finding the right mentors and sponsors can be incredibly helpful in getting to the next level in your career and business. Yet, many choose to go it alone.This is a missed opportunity to accelerate your success, so enter my interview today with CHRO of Kyndrl, Maryjo Charbonnier.Kyndryl is a recent spin-off of IBM, and is a company of 90,000 employees around the world, serving 75 of the Fortune 100. They design, build, manage and modernize the mission-critical technology systems the world depends on every day which includes hosting and network services, infrastructure modernization, and services management.Maryjo came to Kyndryl from Wolters Kluwer, where she served as Chief Human Resources Officer. She also served as Chief Human Resource Officer at Broadridge Financial Solutions, a global Fintech company, for seven years. Earlier, she was an HR executive at PepsiCo in a business unit with $30 billion in revenue and more than 120,000 employees.A native of the Detroit area, Maryjo is a graduate of Catholic University in Washington, DC, and earned her MBA at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She was named "CHRO of the Year" in the Netherlands for 2019.Maryjo's LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryjocharbonnier/ Kyndryl https://www.kyndryl.com/What You'll Discover in this Episode:What it’s like leading a newly launched 90,000 employee company.The biggest challenge leading in a business spin.The key action required to lead in a big company.How to make sure you communicate clearly as a leader.Why you need to instill “restlessness” in your employees.Handling the pressure to perform.How she became Chief Human Resource of the Year in the Netherlands.What she learned about leadership in her first job, roofing houses in Detroit.The difference between mentorship and sponsorship, and why you need them both.BIG strategy for job promotion.How to establish a personal relationship with your team.How to discuss work-life balance with your boss.Two traits to instill in every employee - confidence and clarity.Quotes:“A sponsor is someone who fights for you to get the job.”“Work-life balance is one size fits one solution.”“Seek the heat.”Resources:Seek the Heat, John CotterThe Must Win Battles, Peter Killing-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Do you want to find ways to make money and help society? Try social venture entrepreneurship to make more impact. It’s when people use business as a force for good in the world. The big news is because we live in such an interconnected society these days, social entrepreneurs have access to more resources than ever before. This has made them one of the most economically powerful groups on earth - with billions of dollars invested into their ideas every year! But why should you care? Well, if you're like me, you're interested in making your money work for something bigger.In this episode you’ll discover a powerful strategy to build your business network, along with some incredible examples of how our guest has done this with Tony Robbins, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, and former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi.Enter my interview with social venture entrepreneur and CEO and Co-Founder of Nunbelievable, Bryan Janeczko. Nunbelievable is a better-for-you baked goods company. This is a social impact venture with a give-back model to combat food insecurity that’s backed by Tony Robbins and others. Their mission is to create incredible snacking opportunities while ending hunger in the most delicious way.He makes a big announcement in this episode where they’ve just crossed a HUGE social venture threshold.Bryan is a pioneer in the now $1 billion on-demand meal delivery industry beginning with NuKitchen, the novel prepared meal delivery service that he co-founded and ultimately sold to Nutrisystem, paving the way for the online meal delivery industry.He’s also a  member of the Advisory Board at Sparks & Honey, the cultural intelligence agency; and he works alongside industry luminaries such as Indra Nooyi to help identify what's new and next in culture, particularly as it relates to startup food innovation. Business Insider and Pitchbook named him one of the most influential LGBTQ entrepreneurs for co-founding StartOut, which now is the world’s leading non-profit fostering entrepreneurship in the LGBTQ community.Bryan's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanjaneczko/ Website: https://nunbelievable.com/WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:The big role that Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick played in his career.Why he left Morgan Stanley to start his own business.The company he founded, NuKitchen, and how it pioneered meal delivery.The importance of discovering your own “super powers” and how he’s learned to leverage his. An essential lesson to learn BEFORE starting your business.How Wayne Dyer inspired him in one of his darkest moments.The role that Tony Robbins played in launching his current company.Becoming the “Bombas of Baked Goods”.A 'great product + a great mission' opens up stores for your business.Donating 1 million meals through their sales!The three people who inspire him most.Social venture entrepreneurship and why you should consider itThe employee retention secret from Bryan and former show guests  Bryan, Seth Goldman (Honest Tea, Eat the Change, Tom Szaky (TerraCycle), and TK Pillan (Veggie Grill).How meditation and manifestation have played in his career.What Tony Robbins taught Bryan about meditation.QUOTES:“I’m driven by relationships.”When it comes to starting your own business… “Get your experience before quitting your day job or hitch your wagon to someone who does.”“I welcome ideas, but what I welcome even more is a practical solution for implementation.”RESOURCES:Kundalini Yoga https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini_yoga Traction https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837 Tony Robbins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Robbins Sarah Jessica Parker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Jessica_Parker Simon Sinek https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Sinek The Stuff You Missed in History Class Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stuff-you-missed-in-history-class/id283605519 NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour Podcast https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510282/pop-culture-happy-hourThe Creative Mind System -  Dr Jefferey Thompson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsLZHBQZjc -------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Jed Berger is the Global Chief Marketing Officer for the Foot Locker family of brands in North America, which includes brands that span 3,000 retail stores in 27 countries and include Champs, EastBay, SideStep and Kids Foot Locker.He's been at Foot Locker for ten years and the stock price has tripled during that time.He has entrepreneurial roots having co-founded Dime Magazine and built the agency 94x50. Then he moved on to serve as the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Modell’s Sporting Goods.His marketing acumen has been acknowledged regularly throughout his career, including being named to SBG 40 Under 40 in 2011, and Footwear News 40 Under 40 in 2018.  Jed's LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/jed-berger-273b734/Company Link: https://www.footlocker.com/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:A GREAT strategy to play the Devil’s Advocate.The biggest mistake leaders make when playing the Devil's Advocate.A big lesson from his first job.What he learned co-founding Dime Magazine, and how this has impacted his leadership.The Hip Hop Nutcracker with Kurtis Blow!Why he believes in prioritizing developing  sponsors in your career over mentors.The key to getting promoted in any organization.An effective approach to managing turnover on your team.When to be happy about turnover.Success strategy to handle employe turnover.Managing turnover is everyone’s responsibility.Work-life balance strategies for leaders.QUOTES:“You must earn the right to play the Devil's Advocate.”“Most of the time, companies don’t move for you. Just because you're ready, it doesn’t mean the company is; but the company certainly expects you to be ready when the opportunity is there.”“There has to be more than your job. You have got to occupy your head and your heart with more than just your work.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

How do you build a great culture in the workplace so that your employees will enjoy coming into work and do their best work?If it were easy, every company would have a great culture. In today's era where employee retention rates and engagement levels are often low, creating a great work culture has become a vital ingredient for success. It’s an enabler to attract top talent, boost productivity, and increase morale.Enter Jim Daily Global President and CEO North America of Teads, the Global Media Platform. In 2013 as employee number one in the Americas, he started the business from a coffee shop in Brooklyn and has grown it into a powerhouse in the North American Ad Tech sector. Jim has 15 years of digital advertising experience and is an expert in video, display, branded entertainment, and data. He is very active in the North American advertising community and sits on a number of boards, including the Mobile Marketing Association.  Jim's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-daily-63ab336/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:How to kick start a thriving business from a coffee shop.The importance of betting on people.How to hire the team that drives your organization forward.How the first few hires in a growing company can determine the tone and trajectory.When the CEO is doing 7 interviews per week.How to know if you believe someone in an interview.Jim’s super interview question that cuts right to the chase.Start with transparency.How to create a great work culture... it’s not organic.The 3 P’s of a GREAT culture.The one trait he’d like to instill in every employee... DRIVE.What every listener needs to understand about Teads.Why every leader needs to track turnover costs.The moment that accelerated Jim’s success overnight.Three success strategies for every employee.QUOTES:“Hire for competence first but NOT competence only... consider culture fit, personality, and drive."“Drive is what helps you accomplish your ambitions.”“Sometimes it takes failure to get you on the path to where you want to go.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

How different would things at work be if your team members were more tenacious and motivated? It’s no secret that in today's competitive market, every company needs employees with a strong work ethic. Ideally, employees are also taking an idea from conception all the way to completion with the same level of enthusiasm. But how do you create a culture where people are hungry for success? The answer is simple--by making them tenacious.Enter the CEO of Premier Parking, Ryan Hunt, who has a key strategy to increase the tenacity in your team and throughout the company. It’s been a key to his promotion path and he’s leveraged it to drive the success of his company during a Pandemic that threatened this entire industry,Ryan began his career with Premier in 2006 and rose  through the ranks to become CEO in 2019.Ryan’s leadership, innovative management style, and reputation in the industry led him to be selected as one of the National Parking Association’s 40 Under 40 class, recognized as one of the 2020 Most Admired CEOs by the Nashville Business Journal. Ryan's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-hunt-67811266/WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:The defining moment he had as a fry cook at Cheeseburger Charley’s.When he learned the importance of “doing what you say you’re going to do”.How a degree in Theology uniquely prepared him for the Corner Office.Why it’s never too late to start over.A silver lining of a devastating Pandemic. What gets you through a tough time as a leader.The best way to promote high-performers.How Premier Parking is challenging the industry status quo.The one trait he’d like to instill in every employee... tenacity.How to be the “John Stockton” of your company.The real turnover costs!Best productivity tool?  A Bath!QUOTES:“Leaders must be relatable.”“Sometimes we don’t know what the world has in store for us.”“It’s never too late to start your life over.”“Why ‘how we used to do it’  is dead on arrival.”“I’m all about being risk averse but not to the point where you’re paralyzed by fear.”RESOURCES:Calm AppHeadspace-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Every employee is in Customer Service whether they realize it or not. Your customer could be your boss, your colleagues, project stakeholders, or of course... your company’s customers. Yet, most employees don’t operate this way.When you instill the customer service mindset in your team, you notice a boost in productivity, morale, and results. Customer service is so important because it's one of the things that sets your company apart from competitors and will determine if customers come back or not.Enter my interview with CEO Abby Leibowitz of Call Experts with a strategy for increasing customer service, getting your employees to care about customers, and even a terrific method for calming an irate customer.This episode is for you if you’ve ever wanted an edge on your competition when it comes to providing great customer service.Since joining Call Experts, Abby Leibowitz has transformed the company into an international corporation, serving brands all over the world to guide and implement their customer service offerings in the contact center space. Her other work includes developing solutions for customer experience mapping and focusing on AI and automation.Her most recent tech project, Abridged Tech, specializes in automated and AI driven communication solutions that can easily be implemented for workforce efficiency and business intelligence insights.Under her leadership, Call Experts was recognized seven times in the Inc. Magazine 5000 List of America’s fastest growing companies and has won several other growth and workplace excellence recognitions. At age 26, Leibowitz was named to the list of “40 Under 40” as recognition of outstanding leadership in the Charleston business community by the Charleston Regional Business Journal and as one of the youngest candidates to ever earn this honor. In 2019, Leibowitz was named by Charleston Business Magazine, Greenville Business Magazine, and Columbia Business Magazine as one of the Top Women in Business for South Carolina for 2019. She was also honored as one the Best & Brightest 35 & Under by Charleston Business Magazine.  Abby's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-leibowitz/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:The evolution of the impact of accents and customer service.The REAL difference between clarity of tone and comprehension.Shout out to Matthew McConaughey.How to calm an irate customer.How to get your employees to care about customers.The “Adam Grant” hack to boost customer service.Why actors often make GREAT call center employees.The journey of growing a business.The advice she’d give her younger self.How to prioritize for success.The one trait she would instill in every employee... be light hearted and have a sense of humor.Three leadership success strategies.Tracking the REAL cost of turnover.Employee retention strategies.Colorful stories from the front lines.QUOTES:“Busy isn’t a determination of success.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

How can you tell a compelling story that will inspire and engage the hearts and minds of your team, customers, and investors?It’s a vital question as Bill Gates said, "The best leaders are the ones who know how to speak with their heart.  They connect with people on an emotional level, not just intellectually."In my interview with CEO and Co-founder of BigID, Dimitri Sirota, you’ll discover how you can leverage storytelling as a powerful tool that can help you communicate better with others.But it's not something that just happens by chance. It takes time and practice before you will become a masterful storyteller -- which makes sense because it is an art form!  In this interview we take the guesswork out of telling your stories so they have maximum impact on your listeners.BigID is the augmented data management platform for privacy, security, and governance. They  were selected as one of the Forbes 2021 World’s Best Cloud Companies.Dimitri is an established serial entrepreneur, investor, mentor and strategist. He is the Ernst and Young 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist and Forbes Tech Council contributor. Dimitri's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitrisirota/WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:How Dimitri’s appreciation of science fiction has influenced his entrepreneurial journey and leadership approach. How being an immigrant has given him drive to succeed.The “Immigrant Mentality” that provides drive.Should business schools require science fiction reading?The “King of All Data”.What makes working with BigID so special.His top strategy for raising capital!Why so much talent is going into startups versus other industries.How to know if an executive team is a great start-up investment.How CEO’s tell a good story.How to up your story telling game as a leader.The “Elon Musk” strategy for telling a compelling story.What happened when Jeff Bezos shared his origin story.Why stories are such a powerful communication tool for leaders.How you can earn credibility.How he established his company's culture based on the performance of ONE employee.QUOTES:For entrepreneurship: “You have to have an imagination.”Key point for raising capital, “Recognize that many investors want to be first,” and “You must learn to tell the story.”“Are they able to communicate a compelling story? What’s their plan to win? Why this team?”RESOURCES:Frank Herbert's DuneIsaac Asimov's FoundationJoseph Campell’s The Hero’s JourneyNancy Duarte's ResonateHomer-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Leaders are often torn between prioritizing their careers and neglecting family life or going all-in on family and not pursuing their career dream. Yes, this does apply to both women men; but only 8% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, so this is an even bigger obstacle for them. This challenge creates a no-win situation for female executives who want work-life balance and the best of both worlds -- a fulfilling family life and a meaningful career. Today you’ll hear from CEO of Zelis, Amanda Eisel who is a successful executive with some helpful strategies to address the problem of balance between work and home.This one's for all of you who are looking for a little bit of inspiration and guidance when it comes time to take your family and career dreams seriously. Zelis is the leading payments provider in Healthcare. They partner with more than 700 payers, including the top-5 national health plans, Blues plans, regional health plans, TPAs and self-insured employers, 1.5 million providers and millions of members, enabling the healthcare industry to pay for care with care.Amanda has 20 years of experience in strategic consulting and investment management at the intersection of healthcare and technology. In her most recent role as an Operating Partner at Bain Capital, Amanda has played a leadership role in Zelis’ growth, operational, and talent strategies. Prior to joining Bain Capital, she was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where she spent nearly a decade advising consumer companies. Amanda's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-eisel-80b6437/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:The BIG Decision to take on the CEO role as a mother of three children.Making the trade-offs as Mom versus CEO.Balancing your personal calendar versus professional calendar.Find the work-life balance."Mindful Mommying“.Getting feedback.How to go from consultant to CEO of a company.The leadership moment her mettle was tested.How to respond when you’re given a project “that will break you”.Why you must get a mentor and how to do it.What to do when you’re the only woman in the room.What makes working at Zelis so special.The two traits she’d instill in every employee--assuming positive intent and asking ”why”?Addressing the painful churn of employee turnover.A twist in her career that led to her success down the road.QUOTES:“You must get comfortable with ambiguity. Learn to embrace and love it.”“If you keep getting after it, you’ll eventually find your path.”“Assume positive intent.”“Ask Why!”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Do you think having a non-linear career path will make it harder for you to advance in your career?Not everyone has a traditional career path to get to the Corner Office. Believe it or not, there are plenty of executives out there who have found success with non-linear careers. And if you're looking for advice on how to get promoted without following a well-trod path then look no further than my interview on The CEO Sessions with SAP COO of Global Strategic Segments, Meaghan Riley.A non-linear career path is not a death sentence. In fact recruiting employees with a broad background is an opportunity for many organizations, teams, and leaders to increase creativity, innovation, and problem solving.Enter Meaghan Riley, who has 20 years’ experience leading sales teams to help C-Level executives define and achieve their digital transformation objectives across a broad range of industries.She previously held several sales leadership roles at SAP in the North American region. Prior to joining SAP, Meaghan held roles in the strategic customer segments at Oracle, PeopleSoft, LivePerson, and Digex; receiving awards of excellence at each company. In addition to her roles in the technology sector, Meaghan served as Vice President at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC and co-founded a boutique investment bank in Latin America, providing M&A advisory services to privately held businesses, living in the region for several years.She holds a B.S. in Communications and Business Management from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and Yorkshire terrier. Meaghan's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaghanriley/WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Why you should keep a statue of Wonder Woman on your desk.A time when a power pose paid off!Leadership lesson from working in a wallpaper store.Meaghan’s HDTV 15-minute of fame.A great strategy to help your team understand the bigger picture.The importance of becoming an entrepreneurial executive.What to do when you run into a “Protector of the Status Quo”.The two traits she’d instill in every employee…. passion and drive!A colorful story of when someone quit.A dose of inspiration from her 102 year-old grandmother.Why you don’t need a linear career path to get the C-Suite.Valuing the non-linear career path.Three success strategies for every employee.Where her love of travel came from and how it’s helped her grow personally and professionally.One of Meaghan’s most memorable travel experiences.An executive strategy to unwind.QUOTES:“Give your team the safe space to ask questions.”“Breadth of experience allows you to bring new ideas to the table.”RESOURCES:Amy Cuddy’s TED TalkHBR Idea CastAdam GrantSimon Sinek, Start with WhyTed LassoMiles DavisArt PepperAfrican American Music Museum in NashvilleCountry Music Hall of Fame-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

What can a leader do to change a toxic work culture? When you’re in this position it can feel frustrating and even hopeless. If you can’t make progress, it can lead to higher employee turnover and even threaten your goals. Some leaders either give up entirely on changing the culture or ram through initiatives without garnering support first... neither is a recipe for success.Enter my interview with Jay Smith, CIO of TracFone Wireless. You’ll discover the key to changing a toxic work culture and a positive first step to get others on board with the changes.Jay's led positive change across TracFone Wireless, a company with revenues of $8B and 21M subscribers, plus World Fuel Services, NASCAR, Tyco, and CNA.Jay's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessmith/WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Jay’s first job that helped him realize his career path.What inspired him most about his first professional job at Lockheed.The turning point of his career.What he learned running a consulting company and how it helped him become a better corporate executive.How to measure success when running your own company.Why you need to foster the “Entrepreneurial Spirit” in your team, and how to nurture it.Where decisions should be made in the company.How to change a toxic work culture.Why you must start small to build trust.Two traits to instill in every employee... humility and vulnerability.What happens when the senior leader asks for feedback.A blueprint for giving feedback to your boss and team.QUOTES:“Have the courage to take a risk and go for your dream.”“Create small cross-functional empowered teams that are responsible for business outcomes.““Start with small ways to earn credibility and trust.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

How often are you using your stories to help lead your team? A great leadership story narrative can inspire others to follow and commit.Rodney Williams, President and CEO of Belvedere Vodka, knows what it takes to tell a great leadership story, and he shares them in his interview on The CEO Sessions. You don't need fancy words -- all you need is a good understanding of the core concepts of storytelling theory and some practical tips on how to develop your own stories. And, with those two things in place, anyone can be an effective leader who inspires people around them.Rodney was named global head of the world’s first super-premium vodka in 2017. He encourages consumers to understand Belvedere's origins, ingredients and craft in order to understand the unique taste and character of Belvedere Vodka. This is the story of Polish rye and purified water, distilled by fire.He was most recently the CMO for Moet Hennessy USA's storied portfolio of iconic luxury champagne, wines and spirits brands. Rodney's tenure at Moet Hennessy began as Senior Vice President for Hennessy, where he led the brand out of decline and into record growth with a groundbreaking new strategic campaign. Prior to that he was in the wine business where, as SVP of Classics Brands, Jackson Family Wines, he launched the most successful new product in the company’s history; and as SVP of Robert Mondavi, Constellation Brands, oversaw the turnaround of Woodbridge.Rodney's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkw1115/Belvedere Vodka WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Going to Dot Com to Dot Bomb to Robert Mondavi.His surprising story of mistaken identity with Robert Mondavi.The cocktail you can make to impress any business guest.How you can describe vodka like a fine wine.How the spirits industry was challenged most during the pandemic.The BIG pandemic pivot he led Belvedere through, that boosted sales.Increasing cocktails with no bartender?How to use storytelling as a leader.Advice for storytellers who want amp up their game.Belvedere Vodka's Amazing Story.Starting your story with humor.The pros and cons of being a Determined Optimist!Where optimism comes from.Discovering an empathetic perspective.Staying connected as a remote team.Belvedere’s innovative approach to clean energy!The true passion that drives his career... problem-solving.How he led the charge on Batman and OnStar!How they are approaching the cost of employee turnover.How they leverage executive coaching to reduce turnover.A humorous story of his first week at Moet-Hennessy!QUOTES:“The fodder for great stories is already there.”“Storytelling is less about invention and more about excavation.”“The best story telling is authentic and real.”“If you are really passion-led, you will find a path.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Ever wondered how to stand out while working remotely? Working remotely can be a frustrating experience because you’re not getting “face time” with the leaders in your company. This can stunt your promotion potential.Enter Christina Lock, Founder and CEO of Catch Talent, a recruiting and staffing company. Christina Lock has a unique perspective on approaching this problem in a positive way. She’s seen hiring and firing in the remote world from every angle, and she has a terrific strategy for you.   Christina is an entrepreneur and human resources executive with a proven track record of building companies and talent attraction expertise. As CEO of Catch Talent, Christina leads the delivery of technical recruiting services to growing technology, creative, and government contracting companies. Prior to launching Catch Talent, she was a founding member and Vice President of HR and Recruiting at SPARC, where her team hired over 300 team members in less than five years. Christina has also held senior leadership positions at ARAMARK and Aerotek. Christina serves on the boards of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, Charleston Women in Tech, Charleston Southern University JRS Coding School, and has spoken at SHRM, DIG South, Pecha Kucha, and the College of Charleston. She mentors fellow entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and professionals through the Harbor Entrepreneur Center, Women in Tech, and Women’s Entrepreneur Group of Charleston.  Christina’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinalock/Catch Talent: https://catchtalent.com/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:What, recruiting is a “life skill”?Recruitment as a “higher calling".Employee engagement with Chuck Norris and bacon.How COVID has changed the recruiting landscape.The real cost of working remotely.How company and employee loyalty changed during the Pandemic.How to stand out while working remotely.The one trait she’d instill in every employee… ”Ownership”.Three success traits for every employee.Work-life balance strategies.A recruiter’s take on the cost of employee turnover.Insights for Mompreneurs and women in the workforce. HIGHLIGHTS:What being a recruiter teaches you:How to be instinctual.Picking up cues.Relating to other people.Being an active listener.QUOTES:“We think about recruitment as quality over quantity.”“Be a student of your profession.”“Think outside your job description.”When making a change as a leader “Put the person first.”“Turnover can be healthy for teams.”RESOURCES:Never Eat Alone by Keith FerrazziBlinkist-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Are you tired of being the person who always needs direction, or are you exhausted from giving your team direction?In this episode with Melanie Huet, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), you’ll discover how to become a self-starter at work.Self-starters take action in their work day and their career to improve and grow. Most people are used to getting told what they need to do but that's not the way it has to be. You can learn how to take charge of your own career.Serta Simmons Bedding is the largest manufacturer and distributor of mattresses in North America, and Melanie Huet directs several functions including Sales, Marketing, Innovation, Insights and Trade Marketing.She is leading a full business transformation at SSB catapulting a 150 year old industry leader into a digital powerhouse that continues to lead the market in delivering breakthrough innovation.Prior to joining SSB, Melanie spent over 15 years in consumer-packaged goods leading global businesses like Huggies, Pull-Ups, Capri Sun, Kool-Aid, Hellmann’s, and Lipton Tea at blue chip companies such as Unilever, Kraft Heinz and Kimberly-Clark.Melanie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melhuet/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:Melanie’s experience having an executive coach and why she makes that investment in herself.Her first job working in a video rental…. taking take of the small things.How to become the your boss’ favorite employee…. listening.Advice for leaders who feel they aren’t getting promoted quickly enough.Why to get promoted you must “know the game you’re playing”.The key leadership lesson Melanie learned managing Kool Aid at Kraft Heinz.The big thing that makes Serta Simmons so special.The one trait you wish you could instill in every employee... self-starter!Why you can have new ideas even if you’re of the “old school”.Sleep strategies from a sleep company.The unexpected twist that led to her growth.Work-life balance tips.Why Melanie is a believer in self reflection, and how you can do it.Two big strategies for getting promoted.HIGHLIGHTS:Things that might help you when working with difficult bosses:Listening.Trying to understand what they want.Going an extra mile.QUOTES:On having an executive coach “It’s humbling.”“Take pride in your work no matter how small the job is.”“Do work you love and work with people you like.”“Be open to feedback.”“Know the game that you’re playing.”RESOURCES:The Pyramid PrincipleSay it with ChartsToastmastersBusiness Wars-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Ever struggle to delegate? If you're in the corporate world then you probably know that delegation is key. It often seems much easier to do it yourself in the moment, but that’s the path to burnout and not developing your employees.When you execute delegate well, it can save your time and let you begin to spend your effort and focus on higher value tasks. Enter Willis Cantey the CEO of Cantey Tech Consulting, a regional IT solutions and consulting firm located in Charleston, South Carolina, nine-time winner of INC Magazine's 5000 America's Fastest Growing Companies Award, and named as the 2019 5th fastest growing small company in South Carolina by SC Biz News. His company also been recognized as Best Places To Work in SC.He is also the founder of Cantey EDU, a student assessment technology company supporting school districts in 17 states.  A graduate of the University of the South at Sewanee and the Masters of International Business Program at USC, Wills has worked in technology for more than 20 years and founded Cantey Tech Consulting in 2007.  He recently partnered with LNC Partners, a private equity growth team in Virginia. Additionally, Willis is former Chairman of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Historic Charleston Foundation Board of Trustees, and Chair-Elect of SC Independent Colleges and Universities.Willis' LinkedIn profileWHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:The greatest life hack of all time.Why “Tech” is actually a people first industry.Canty Tech’s approach to serving their clients.What Willis learned serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce during the Pandemic.How to delegate to elevate.Why you must start with questions, NOT PowerPoint.How to handle CEO stress.How you build personal connections with a remote workforce.The one trait he’d like to instill in every employee…. focus and organization.Wild tales from offshore banking in the 90’s!Three success strategies for every employee.Koozie - best business tool.HIGHLIGHTS:Advice Willis would give to his younger self:Be patient.Go outside of your comfort zone.QUOTES:“It’s not about our customers understanding us; it’s about us better understanding them.”“Everybody’s busy, but everybody needs to give back.”On building connection with a remote workforce “If you want to talk to one of your teammates, it needs to be on video.”“More horse power doesn’t solve all problems.”“Be patient and get out of your comfort zone.”“Great ideas and good intentions are easy. Execution is hard.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

What’s the first step to make your team more diverse, and why is diversity so important to business in the first place?When you prioritize diversity, research shows that it generates better business results, including increasing employee retention! The best thing about diversity in the workplace? You have more perspectives, which means better ideas and more creativity.In this interview with Pamela Slim, author of The Widest Net: Unlock Untapped Markets and Discover New Customers Right in Front of You, co-founder of a small business learning lab, and small business expert. you’ll discover what diversity means to the business world and how it can impact your profits.She founded her company in 1996 and focused her first decade in business on creating and delivering training programs for large companies such as HP, Charles Schwab, 3Com, Chevron and Cisco Systems.Since 2005, Pam has advised thousands of entrepreneurs as well as companies serving the small business market such as Infusionsoft, Progressive Insurance, Constant Contact and Prezi. Pam partnered with author, Susan Cain to build and launch the Quiet Revolution and the Quiet Leadership Institute.In 2016 Pam co-founded, with her husband Darryl, the K'é Main Street Learning Lab in Mesa, Arizona, a grassroots, community-based think tank for small business economic acceleration. She is frequently quoted as a business expert in press such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Information Week, Money Magazine and Psychology Today.------------------The Widest Net: Unlock Untapped Markets and Discover New Customers Right in Front of You on AmazonPam's LinkedIn profileWHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:The crazy story behind how I met Pam at the World Domination Summit.Pam’s knack for creating environments where people get along.How Pam created The “Pamily”.Why having a diverse group of friends in your life is a gift.Why you should consider bringing your family on business trips.Advice for those in cross culture or cross racial relationships.How Pam is raising her children to be comfortable presenting on stage.Pam’s “Unbook” Tour that led to her book.The moment when Pam decided to open a learning lab on Main Street in Mesa, AZ.Pam’s insightful perspective on in-person versus remote work.The BIG IDEA behind The Widest Net.How to reach your customers. What really retains your employees.How to build a diverse community.Attracting and retaining diverse team members.The first step to increasing diversity.HIGHLIGHTS:What reflective questions should employers ask and have conversations with their employees about during the pandemic:What is really the mission behind what you’re doing as a company?Why are you doing the work?What’s important to you?QUOTES:“There’s a human need for people to be together.”“Having spaces with multiple uses is a very powerful way to create community.”“If every Main Street had a place where people can wander in... it’d be amazing what communities could do.”“Having a business coach right in the middle of Main Street is an amazing way to enable a community.”“The problem is not that leaders in diverse communities don’t exist; it’s that they’re not visible.”“Any company that has a really solid set of products or service offerings knows that they alone can never serve all of the needs that their enterprise customers have.”“If you’re recruiting and you’re wanting to build connections with folks, you need the trust, and that trust is built by you spending time in communities.”RESOURCES:K'éWorld Domination SummitPam’s Fargo TedX TalkThe Widest NetResonate, Nancy DuarteQuiet Revolution, Susan CaineTodd Cooper CEO Session-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Is your office safe? Have you ever had or witnessed an incident at work where safety was compromised? How would this situation have been different if it were safer?I’m not just talking about tripping over a cord or having something thrown at you from someone’s office window. What about getting dysentery while traveling or being caught up in a criminal ambush?There are all things that leaders can prepare themselves. In this episode, you’ll learn how to make your office safer without spending a fortune.Robert Dodge is the CEO of Global Risk Services at Prosegur, one of the top security companies in the world. He’s giving you some of the best tips to keep your workplace safer while still looking professional.He’s served as a senior executive at the world’s largest 3 security firms with tenure at G4S, Pinkerton and oversees the physical and digital security for organizations in 90+ countries. He also served honorably in the U.S. Navy and is a graduate of Northeastern University.Robert's LinkedIn profileProsegur WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:What Robert learned from the “School of Hard Knocks”.Navy work hours on 4 hours of sleep per night.Advice for his younger self.A colorful story from working for the 3 top security companies in the world.The moment you need to take your security to the next level.Where the bad guys are.Common security mistakes.Get an ROI on your security investment.The one trait he’d instill in every employee... passion and energy.His take on how employee turnover impacts security. It’s BIG!Stress management in a stressful business.A twist in Robert’s career that led to his growth and opportunity.Three success strategies for every employee.Business insights from the tennis court.HIGHLIGHTS:Traits Robert would instill into every employee:Passion for what they doEnergyPositive AttitudeQUOTES:“Grow yourself and embrace technology.”“Business is about the people more than the brand or logo.”“The network came to my rescue.”RESOURCES:The Art of War - Sun TzuGood to Great - Jim Collins-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

How can you get your employees to take ownership of their workand do more? It’s a question that consistently frustrates leaders. When employees don’t take ownership, leaders spend their time following up and even cleaning up after their team's mistakes. This wastes time and money. However, when employees are truly “bought in”, their productivity and engagement increases. Leaders can then invest their time in higher value, strategic opportunities. With this at stake, employee ownership should really be a priority of every leader.Enter Inna Kuznetsova as CEO of 1010data. In her interview on The CEO Sessions she explains three simple strategies to get your employees to take more ownership and boost their productivity.1010data is a leading provider of cross-enterprise data analytics tools for retail, CPG and financial markets. 1010data helps customers rapidly transform data into knowledge and adjust their businesses to the fast changes in the market.  She also serves on the board of Global Ports Investments Plc (LSE: GLPR). Her previous roles include senior leadership positions at IINTTRA, the largest digital network and analytics provider the ocean shipping industry, CEVA Logistics, and IBM where she spent 19 years in a variety of global roles with a primary focus on technology-driven innovation, fast sale-up and returning business back to growth. Inna completed her MS and Ph.D. study in mathematics at the Moscow State University and MBA in Columbia Business School. She is a frequent speaker on technology-driven innovation and an author of two best-selling career books in Russia. Inna's LinkedIn profile1010dataWHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:How Inna overcame a big challenge growing up in Russia during Perestroika.What it was like growing up in Russia and how it influenced her leadership.How she became the first Russian born Global Vice President of IBM.How she became a turnaround and scale-up specialist.Persistence and toughness has helped her to persevere.Why every CEO should be a thought leader.Why people need to hear your voice.Advice for those who’d like to get to the C-Suite.What is special about working with 1010data.Why you must own your results and health.The “good” turnover.The “wrong kind” of turnover.HIGHLIGHTS:How things will change if we would start taking ownership:We would have things run and executed better. There would be less delays in completing projects.QUOTES:“Academia shapes your thinking.”When it comes to having a setback... “You must learn to shake it off, move on, and learn something from it.”“People leaving an organization is not a tragedy if they leave for the right reasons.”“Our lives are longer than a single job.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

How do you get your employees to buy in? For most leaders it’s a mystery, but it’s an important question to consider.In fact, employees who buy into the company culture and important changes are more likely to be motivated, engaged, and productive.Enter CEO of the Americas Region for DB Schenker - Hessel Verhage, who seems to have cracked the code on building trust and loyalty along with getting big results.He rose from forklift driver to senior executive and established his reputation as a leader who drives positive change. He also served as CEO of STG Holdings, Global Co-President of UTi, and CEO of Global Link Logistics.Hessel's LinkedIn Profile DB SchenkerWHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:How a life-long stutter became a powerful way to connect with customers and employees.The important role that mentorship has played in his career.The funny moment he learned that “life is sales”.How he addresses stuttering from the stage... that always engages the audience.How Hessel got to the C-Suite without the "normal CEO pedigree".The dose of tough love his mother delivered when he left college.How his starting out as a forklift operator influences his leadership today.The importance of taking risks early in your career.The “NBA Coach Theory” on getting promoted.Have the guts.How to turnaround a company that’s in deep trouble.Mentors!The most powerful words in the English Language... "I need your help".How to get your frontline workers to buy in.A family of 12,000 working together.The one trait he’s like to instill in every employee... Straight talk and transparency both ways.How to instill empowerment and accountability.The true cost of employee turnover.HIGHLIGHTS:How companies should treat their front line workers:Treat them with respect.They should buy into the vision of where the company is going.They should feel that they have a career path.QUOTES:When it comes to public speaking and having a stutter, “Own it upfront.”When it comes to taking on a difficult position, “Have the guts to take the job.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Mark Whitten is the President & CEO of Spartanburg Steel Products (SSP) in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  They are a Tier 1 and 2 supplier to companies including BMW, Honda, Volvo, John Deere and Kubota. Mark is a results-driven senior business leader with more than 25 years of manufacturing experience, including international assignments in Canada, Mexico and the United States.   Mark's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-whitten-61790119/  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:What gives Mark his leadership edge.Why working your way up from the bottom prepares you for future leadership.The surprising moment when Mark felt challenged to grow.What you can learn from watching poor leaders.How to earn the respect of every employee.The secret sauce for employee engagement.Spartanburg Steep 2.0.The twist in Mark’s career that led to his professional growth.The traits Mark would instill in every employee...ownership and ambition!HIGHLIGHTS:Traits Mark would instill in every employee:AmbitionLoyaltyIntegrityKindnessQUOTES:“Great leaders are influential, poor leaders use the power button.““Attitude is a HUGE differentiator.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Tom Szaky is founder and CEO of TerraCycle, a global leader in the collection and repurposing of complex waste streams. Tom started the company when he was 19 years old and has grown it to a $6M company today.TerraCycle operates in 21 countries, working with some of the world’s largest brands, retailers and manufacturers to create national platforms to recycle products and packaging that currently go to landfill or incineration.In May 2019, TerraCycle launched Loop, a circular reuse platform that enables consumers to purchase products in durable, reusable packaging. Loop is available in Paris, France, the UK, Canada, Japan and the 48 contiguous U.S. states, and is a key step in helping to end the epidemic of waste that is caused by 'single-use' consumption. In 2022, Loop will become available in Australia.Tom and TerraCycle have received hundreds of social, environmental and business awards and recognition from a range of organizations including the United Nations, World Economic Forum, Schwab Foundation, Fortune Magazine, Time Magazine and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.Tom is the author of four books, “Revolution in a Bottle” (2009), “Outsmart Waste” (2014), “Make Garbage Great” (2015) and “The Future of Packaging” (2019). Tom created, produced and starred in TerraCycle’s reality show, “Human Resources” which aired on Pivot from 2014-2016 and is syndicated in more than 20 foreign markets on Amazon and iTunes. Tom’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomszaky/ TerraCycle Website:  https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:Why Waste Management is such a huge opportunity.Tom’s business plan that changed it all.Tom’s inspiring definition.Why Waste is Tom’s entrepreneurial playground.How to build a great team.What’s it like to present to the World Economic Forum (3 times!).The real power of purpose at TerraCycle.What to do if You Know Your Own Purpose.Leading through the angst of the Pandemic.3 success strategies for every employee.Negative cost marketing (Don’t miss this!).HIGHLIGHTS:Three phases of building a team:Phase 1 concentrates on an individual and how hard they work.Phase 2 is for delegating and letting go.Phase 3 is for setting up the right systems to let everyone flourish.QUOTES:“Profit is an indication of business health, but not the reason to be in business.  There needs to be a more inspiring purpose.”“Waste is the only commodity people are willing to get rid of but has a negative raw material cost... It’s also void of innovation.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Making great decisions at work is an essential leadership skill.  Yet, most leaders just "wing it" when it comes to decision making.  It doesn't have to be this way.  There are proven strategies to help improve your decision making which have positive downstream effects like improving your efficiency, increasing revenue, and reducing costs.  Enter Jennifer Davis, Chief Marketing Officer at Learfield, and former senior executive at Amazon Web Services, Honeywell, Leyard International and Planar Systems. She’s authored the new book, Well Made Decisions, which is being published this month by New Degree PressJennifer's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbdavis/WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Jennifer’s first job and what she took away from those days.What makes working at Learfield so special.Amazon’s most effective training strategy. How to become a thought leader.The real benefit of sharing the spotlight.What you must do in order to get promoted.How employee turnover can be a measure of success.How to get the CEO to back your idea (Amazon).Well made decisions. How to beat decision fatigue.HIGHLIGHTS:Tips on how to present big ideas:Write it down as a fake press release.Use the fake PR to communicate with people who could help to build your idea.QUOTES:“I’ve always admired those leaders who are willing to do the full range of work.”When training others “Make the first step easy!”“If you’re a thought leader, you should act like one.”“You build your credibility through helping others.”“There’s a difference between role clarity/ownership.”“If you do a good job of solving the problem, you’ll naturally get more resources.”“Decisions are not right or wrong; they are made right by what comes afterwards.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

It can be tough to balance getting bottom-line results and taking care of your people. Sometimes it can feel like it's an either/or choice. If you've ever faced this delimma, you're going to love what my guest today shares.Todd Cooper is Chief Operations Officer at Celestica with responsibility for global operations spanning 30 manufacturing locations across 14 countries. Todd has over 25 years of experience including senior leadership positions at KKR, Honeywell Aerospace, Storage Technology Corporations, McKinsey & Company. He also served as a Captain in the U.S. Army.He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from West Point, a Master of Science from MIT, and a MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Todd is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School.Todd Cooper’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-cooper-1594654/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:What Todd learned when helping to produce the EMANUEL - a documentary about the Charleston Church Shooting that killed nine Emanuel AME church members in an act of terror. How his involvement in the film led to a powerful moment of discussion on diversity and inclusion in his company. What makes his company, Celestica, so special.How to be successful working for a “scrappy” company.The leadership seed that was planted growing up on an Indian Reservation.How to get results and take care of your people.A dose of motivation from “TopGun” .The surprising reason he chose to go to West Point.Why sometimes it’s best to make your career decision based on where you can make the biggest impact.The advice he’d give his younger self… get broad experience!Why a linear career path may not always be the best choice.How to use Sunday night to prioritize the most chaotic work week.Finding the personal work-life balance that works for you.Why life is bigger than just the P&L.How to present your big idea to the C-Suite.A twist that led to his success down the road.Why all leaders should be tracking turnover, and the reason you need to know your top performers.HIGHLIGHTS:What makes working at Celestica special:Challenging situations.A compelling strategy in terms of growing engineering capabilities.Really good people.An open culture.QUOTES: “I enjoy the challenge of ‘How do we win in complex and challenging situations?’.”“I figured if I could survive four years at West Point, I could do anything.”“Part of what motivates me is having a big challenge.”“Sanity check your priorities to make sure they tie to the bigger picture.”“Life is bigger than just the P&L.”“Figure how to present your idea in 3-5 ideas.”“Increasing your bench strength is critical.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Joey Habert is the president of High Point Design, a division of The Moret Group in New York. High Point Design manufactures accessories, and hosiery, under many brands along with their world renowned Fuzzy Babbas! Joey has more than three decades of experience in the fashion and accessories retail/wholesale industry. Under Joey’s leadership, the company enjoyed great success and growth for 14 years. A strong believer in community and charity, Joey always gives back by spearheading various projects every year that help others – both locally in his community, as well as abroad.Joey is a graduate of NYU Stern School of Business.Though Joey prefers to fly under the radar, he graciously agreed to this interview in the spirit of sharing some of the small lessons learned along the way; and because he simply couldn't say no to Ben, who over the years has become a good friend. WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:The reliable way to move up in your career.Why “old school” may be the best way to move up in your company.What you need to know about Moret and High Point Design.An honest perspective on going through the patent process.How faith influences how he leads and conducts business.The “Look Back” Theory… everything is for your good.The one trait he’d instill in every employee… the ability to earn trust!An email success strategy EVERYONE needs to use while they’re on vacation.The easy way to transition an employee.“The Roach Motel” strategy for reducing turnover.The best decisions he’s ever made and how to make them yourself.Why second place can give you a big advantage.HIGHLIGHTS:Advice for someone starting out in their career:There are no shortcuts.Work hard.Learn.QUOTES:“Sometimes it’s best to start at the bottom and work your way up.”“I’m old school. There are no shortcuts.”“Stay consistent and keep building upon the foundation you’ve laid.”“In your 20’s, work where there’s a mentor who you can learn from.”“Your work experiences, early on, compound the value over time.”RESOURCES:The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519How to Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive  https://www.amazon.com/Sharks-Without-Being-Eaten-Alive/dp/0751597228Good Notes App https://www.goodnotes.com/-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Maggie Driscoll is Chief People and Culture Officer at Blackbaud. She leverages her extensive experience in human resources to foster a culture that enables Blackbaud to deliver on a vision of powering an Ecosystem of Good® that builds a better world.Prior to joining Blackbaud, she held senior leadership positions at the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) and CCBN, and C‑bridge/eXcelon, a technology and business consultant company. She’s a passionate supporter of cancer research and has been extensively involved with fundraising events for Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center.  Maggie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-maggie-driscoll-54b6673/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Why Maggie came back for a take two on the show.How growing up in an Irish household, the oldest of six children, was a sign she’d end up in the C-Suite.Her first job delivering newspapers and how it influences her leadership today.The success playbook Maggie uses to stay connected with her network.The importance of building your network outside the company as well as inside.How Maggie’s experience with cancer transformed her career and influenced her leadership approach.The inspired moment when Maggie was going through cancer treatment that she removed her wig during an executive meeting.How much should a leader talk during a meeting.Why Maggie leads like time is a gift.The important advice she’d give her younger self.The one trait she’d instill in every employee… authenticity!What a workplace and the bottom-line would look like if everyone showed up authentically.How Maggie’s company, Blackbaud, made a positive impact during COVID-19.How a twist in Maggie’s career led to her success down the road.The catastrophic cost of turnover.How to maintain a strong company culture while working remotely.HIGHLIGHTS:How to keep up with your expansive network:Follow post updates of people from your network.Reach out to them via email.Acknowledge their achievements and congratulate them.Maggie’s advice for her younger self:You don’t always have to worry about the next step.Really be present.QUOTES:“You can learn from everyone.”Ask, "What can we do together to make it the best?”“It’s okay not to be okay.”“When you ask someone how they’re doing; stop and listen to their response.”On the impact of being a cancer survivor… “Time has become a new lens that I look at things through.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Mahesh M. Thakur is Vice President of Product at GoDaddy.  He is also co-founder and former CEO of PhotoWeaver with over 20 years of experience working at Microsoft, Amazon, and Intuit. He is a member of the MG 100 coaches family and has hired, coached, and transformed product and engineering leaders at some of the world’s fastest-growing companies.He is a visionary leader who loves building products and companies that are mission driven and take a customer-first approachMahesh’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maheshmthakur/ Mahesh’s Website: Visit www.impeccableinterview.com to learn more about Mahesh and how he can help you accelerate your career as a leader in technology.  Download his 6-step approach to achieving growth and success here: www.ImpeccableInterview.com/download  WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:What Mahesh learned from becoming an entrepreneur at the age of 11.The inspiring and harrowing story of his grandparents' experience as a refugees in 1947.  The three guiding life principles his grandparents passed down and still influence his leadership today.The impact of the India Partition. How your career decisions today can impact future generations.Mahesh’s passion for working with small businesses even though he’s worked for several large companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Intuit, and GoDaddy.  A powerful yet simple strategy to teach your employees customer empathy.An empathy connection to former CEO Sessions guest, Pammay Bassey, who is an author and Chief Learning and Diversity Officer at Kraft Heinz.Why he encourages all employees at GoDaddy to use their products.Advice for employees who are from underrepresented groups in the C-Suite and are a mission to get there.  How GoDaddy supports diversity, and how it contributes to their success.The one trait he wishes he could instill in every employee… “Customer Obsession”.What is it about Intuit CEO, Brad Smith, that's his biggest inspiration? The unexpected twist in his career during the Tech Meltdown in the 90’s, and how it led to his success down the road.How CEO’s can maximize their impact.What Mahesh learned on Bill Gates’ last day at Microsoft.HIGHLIGHTS:How can CEOs maximize their impact:Do an excellent job putting your message together.Inspire and impact people with that message.QUOTES:“When you're a small business owner… “I don’t have the time to say 'I don’t know?', I just have the time to say 'how much does it cost to go from A to B?'.”“There’s no correlation between busyness and success.  The only correlation is with learning.”“Believe in continuous learning.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Tom Troy is President and CEO of CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer. He is a 30-year veteran of the insurance industry and served as an executive with Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Safeco.With more than 100 years of experience serving AAA members, CSAA Insurance Group offers automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA members through AAA clubs. Tom Troy is a board member of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and the Bay Area Council. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and his MBA from Seattle University.Tom’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-troy-b1153073/ CSAA Website: https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/content/aaa-ie/b2c/en/homepage.html/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:What Tom learned picking cherries as a kid.What others need to know about the CSAA Insurance Group.Why it’s so important for leaders to share the positive story of the Insurance industry.The career opportunities in the insurance industry go far beyond just sales and claims.The “tower” vs “pyramid” philosophy on building career success.Strategies for work-life balance.The advice he’d give his younger self.The one trait he’d like to instill in every employee… thinking big and moving fast.How to avoid becoming a victim of your own success.Why you must consider exporting talent instead of coveting talent.How a twist in his career led to his personal growth.Three success strategies for every employee.HIGHLIGHTS:Advice Tom would give to his younger self:Be less hard on yourself.Balance things differently.Traits Tom would instill in his employees:Thinking big.Moving fast.QUOTES:“The Insurance Story doesn’t get told very well.”“I embraced the opportunity to do more as long as it helped me grow.”“If you do good work, you’re going to have more opportunities.”“Building a strong and broad base of skills is important to your longevity in any career.”“Don’t covet talent; be prepared to export it.”“Think big, move fast.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Carin-Isabel Knoop is the Executive Director of the Harvard Business School Case Research & Writing Group.She’s written cases on managers and leaders all over the world across functions and industries for decades. Carin co-authored the book on Compassionate Management of Mental Health in the Modern Workplace​ (with Dean John Quelch, Herbert Business School, University of Miami), and her articles have been published in Africa, Europe, the U.S., and Latin America. She champions diversity of thought, adaptability, and human sustainability at work, working closely with public and private organizations, student groups, and employee benefits organizations to promote Mental Health by All and For All.She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.Carin's Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carinknoop/ Carin’s list of Harvard Business School Case Studies https://hbsp.harvard.edu/search?N=&Nrpp=25&Ntt=knoop&searchLocation=header Carin’s book, Compassionate Management of Mental Health in the Modern Workplace​ https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319715407 WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:How Carin created her role inside Harvard Business School.Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first case study used at HBS.TRIVIA: The first case study used at HBS was… General Shoe Company.Why case studies are such a POWERFUL tool to teaching leaders.Why learning to disagree is essential for all leaders.Why a case study is such an effective training tool.The step-by-step process of how Harvard Business School students approach a case study.The one case study Carin would recommend if you could only read one.The business case that made her cry.How a singing Walmart greeter led to an amazing interaction with Walmart CEO, Doug McMillon.Strategies to infuse the case study mindset when developing your own team.What former CEO of Honeywell, David Cote, said about different points of view in a meeting (around the 31-minute mark). https://www.benfanning.com/david-cote/ What former CEO Nigel Travis said about “Challenge Culture” and getting direct feedback (around the 34-minute mark). https://www.benfanning.com/nigel-travis/ The Kim Scott perspective on bias in her book, Just Work. https://www.benfanning.com/kim-scott/ Three success strategies for every employee.HIGHLIGHTS:The process Harvard students follow for case studies:Receive the case ahead of time.Prepare individually.Discuss in a in a study group.Present in class.Evaluate the case study and get feedback from others.QUOTES:“There is something beautiful in the method of discovery in a case study.”“A good case occurs when people disagree.”“Some people think that Inclusion is expensive, but exclusion is even more expensive.”“To support diversity, we need the tools and courage to learn to disagree.” (from her Medium post)“With disagreement comes innovation.”RESOURCES:Lincoln -Douglas Debate FormatCarin’s Medium Post: Build Mental Health Back Better, Mr. Biden. No vaccine is coming for the COVID depression. https://carinisabelknoop.medium.com/build-mental-health-back-better-mr-biden-because-no-vaccine-is-coming-for-the-covid-depression-a8ae5c6b23f Carin’s Medium Post: So you want to improve mental health at work? Focus on the work part. There is no app for antiquated management. https://carinisabelknoop.medium.com/to-improve-mental-health-at-work-focus-on-the-work-part-b6849a677a39 -------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Phil Kalin is President and CEO Pinnacol Assurance in Denver, CO where they protect nearly a million workers and 60,000 businesses.Phil has also served as a senior executive at Mt Sinai Medical Center in Cleveland, Rose Medical Center in Denver, Custom Med Solutions, and Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.Phil Kalin has a bachelor’s degree from University of Iowa and his master's degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan.  Phil’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philkalin/Pinnacol Assurance: https://www.pinnacol.com/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Phil’s first job in his family’s “Five and Dime”, and how it influenced his career.The moment he hiked in the snow to his customer’s house to take care of them.A powerful lesson he learned, at 17 years old, when he needed to run the family business.Why it’s important that you stay on the “steep side of the learning curve”.Advice to leaders who want to grow in their career.Pinnacol’s success strategies from facing the Pandemic.Why Pinnacol celebrated the one year "shutdown anniversary".Why their NPS score increased during the Pandemic.The pros and cons of having your team working remotely.Thoughts on the long-term impact of remote working on corporate culture.The two ways that leaders should be creating content on social media.The two traits he'd instill in every employee… curiosity and constant learning.The big questions he asks his employees.When Phil had an unexpected twist in his career, and how it led to his success.  3 success strategies that all employees need to understand.HIGHLIGHTS:Traits Phil would instil into each employee:CuriosityBeing a constant learnerQUOTES:Advice from his father, “The customer is always right”.  “I love change. I love being on the steep side of the learning curve.”“‘Are you all in?’ ‘cause if you’re not, then this is probably not the place for you because we are now going forward and as fast and hard as we can.”RESOURCES:Pandemic Lessons for the Workplace, Phil Kalin http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/posts/2021/04/pandemic-lessons-for-the-workplace/ Atul Gawande https://www.amazon.com/Atul-Gawande/e/B00458K698%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Jennifer McCollum is the CEO at Linkage, which is a Boston based leadership development firm that focuses on improving leadership effectiveness and gender equity in organizations globally.Jennifer's relentless commitment to changing the face of leadership has led to a complete revolution of how this 30+ year old firm is serving leaders.Most recently she co-created an innovative approach to developing inclusive leaders in organizations that is sure to revolutionize the conversation we’re having around this important topic today.She’s also served in senior executive roles at Korn Ferry Hay and CEB, which is now part of Gartner.Jennifer’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferscherermccollum/WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Growing up in Europe and where Jennifer developed her scrappiness for business.The amazing story of her first job at Coca-Cola during the 1996 Olympics in Barcelona that positively impacted the next 20 years of her career.  How to turn a big opportunity into an even BIGGER one.Career advice for those in their 20’s.   Why just working hard doesn’t mean people will notice.The productivity hack that Jennifer uses to cultivate her network.What you need to understand about Linkage, and it's inspired mission.Career advice for those from underrepresented groups in the C-Suite.The importance of modeling the behavior you want to see in others.How Alan Mulally (former CEO, Boeing Commercial Aircraft and Ford) impacted her CEO career during the global Pandemic. Why, as the leader, you must talk the least.The one trait she wishes she could instill in every employee… self-awareness.The importance of getting honest feedback and how it helps you grow as a leader.Interesting findings from Linkage’s recent research. Jennifer’s personal story of how bias and engagement impact all levels of the organization.A time when a career twist led to her growth down the road.HIGHLIGHTS:Advice for a young aspiring leader:Experience everything you can.Try a lot of things.Figure out what you like and what your passion is.Start to formulate your purpose.Cultivate a network.In the Purposeful Leadership model, Leaders need to:InspireEngageInnovateAchieveBecomeQUOTES:“It’s not enough to work hard; others must notice.” “Instead of focusing on creating a network; focus on cultivating it.”“Serve first.”“We want leaders who are modeling inclusion, creating an inclusive culture. and are investing in their people.”“As a leader, you must talk the least.”“Self-awareness leads to self-discovery which leads to impact.”-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Bill Keith is CEO and Co-Founder of Perfect Snacks.  You can say Bill Keith was a “born leader” as he is the eldest of 13 children, and they became known as the family that founded Perfect Bar. Perfect Bar is the #1-Selling Refrigerated Protein Bar in the U.S. and is available in 27,000 retailers nationwide.Bill's quest to create Perfect Bar began in college, when he submitted a business plan for a class project, outlining his concept for a first-of-its-kind refrigerated protein bar made with whole food ingredients — a concept hatched from a childhood recipe, created by his father. Over the next 13 years, Bill and his younger siblings worked tirelessly to turn the crowded, $6-billion protein bar industry upside down, leading consumers away from the highly-processed, non-perishable snack aisles, to the fresh and functional snack and beverage coolers where Perfect Snacks products continue to carve out desirable, high-velocity fridge real estate.Named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ by Ernst & Young (San Diego Region), ‘Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the U.S.”, “Most-Admired CEO” by San Diego Business Journal,  “Best Workplaces 2019” from Inc. Magazine Bill’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-keith-48a77a14/ Bill’s Company Perfect Snacks: https://perfectsnacks.com/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:What it was like being the eldest child of such a large family, being home schooled, and growing up in national parks across the country.The “perfect” origin of the Perfect Bar, and how it saved his family.How growing up in a big family impacted his leadership.Bill’s top 3 national parks.The advice that Bill gives to his mentees who are starting a business.A strategy to keep going despite the ‘No’.How to work through a “No” with a customer.Why you must listen and react in real time.Why they’ve gone the extra mile to hand roll the bar.The key inflection points of start-up to boot strapping to working with investors.How to deal with stress when “daring greatly”.  How a $100,000 investment led to $20MM per year.The trait he’d like to instill in every employee…vulnerability.Three success strategies for every employee.QUOTES:“Make sure you long from the sign post along the way that tells you that you’re on the right path.”“If you have a product you’d like to test, go to your local farmer’s market."“When I was starting out, Google was my ‘cheat sheet’.”“I want on my tombstone ‘He was a good listener’.”“Constantly perfect your own brand and craft.”“I would rather be a person who says what they know and don’t know. Then share what you’re doing to learn what you need to.”“Look at your actions and determine where you need to do better.”RESOURCES:The Acadia Coop in Northern California Brene Brown – Daring Greatly https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419 College of Redwoods https://www.redwoods.edu/ Yosemite, Niagara, Lake Chelan Jordan Rubin, Ancient Nutrition https://ancientnutrition.com/Peter Burns, One Bar and Justin’s Nut Butter https://www.cobizmag.com/how-peter-burns-helps-promising-food-companies-flourish/ Wayne Woo-------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Jason Schulweis is Head of Partnerships at Morning Brew where he oversees Sales, Account Management, and the Creative Studio (Integrated Marketing, Branded Content and Creative).Morning Brew is a Media Company based in New York City with an audience of 3.5 Million Subscribers. Their mission is to empower the Modern Business Professional with engaging and accessible content. His team drives company revenue through native content campaigns from Morning Brew's network of media properties and platforms.Prior to Morning Brew, Jason held leadership roles at MediaLink, Live Nation, Thrillist and Yahoo!Jason’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschulweis/WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:The inspiring mission of Morning Brew.Defining the “Modern Business Leader”.The secret to engaging people with our content.Why every employee can and should be a content creator.The best way for leaders to get their employees to positively represent their organization on social media.Addressing the risk of “bad things” appearing in social media.How employee generated social media content can drive higher sales.How to use social media to attract great talent to your team.The first step leaders should take to get their employees to become positive advocates on social media.The benefit of becoming a thought leader and how to do it.The “Crawl-Walk-Run” method to becoming a thought leader.How Jason has leveraged social media to help others be better prepared to interview with him.The wake-up call to leaders around creating content.Why empathy is the single trait Jason would like to instill in every employee.A twist in Jason's career that led to his success.Two tools that Jason recommends for every leader.HIGHLIGHTS:Benefits of being a thought leader:You become an active participant in your company’s culture.You become a better communicator.You help others.QUOTES:"When it comes to encouraging social media within your team, “lead by example.”"The company should create their “point of view” with the employees in mind." “If your leaders aren’t participating in social media, there is no example for other employees to follow.”“The newsletter world is poised for growth.”RESOURCES:Morning Brew https://www.morningbrew.com/ Collecting Dots (Jason’s Introduction to his career advice) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-collecting-dots-part-1-intro-jason-schulweis/ Interview Intel (if you’re going to interview with Jason make sure you read this!)  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/collecting-dots-part-9-interview-intel-i-wish-knew-want-schulweis/ The Importance of Responding (vs Reacting) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/collecting-dots-part-5-importance-responding-vs-jason-schulweis/ -------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Kim Scott is the New York Times Bestselling Author of Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity. and author of the Just Work, Get *t Done Fast and Fair.Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. She was a member of the faculty at Apple University and before that led AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google. Earlier in her career Kim managed a pediatric clinic in Kosovo and started a diamond-cutting factory in Moscow. Kim’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimm4/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:What it’s like being a CEO for Dropbox and Twitter.Advice for those who are coaching top tech executives.What Jeff Bezos is rumored to have had on the top of his white board.Kim’s first experience with “Unjust Work” in her first job and why it took for her to tell her story.The moment that broke through three levels of denial.Why it’s essential to distinguish bias, prejudice, and bullying…and what to do when you experience it.  A practical playbook for facing bias and prejudice on a team.Advice for leaders who believe employees are being just “too sensitive”.What to do about bullying if you’re the leader or the person being bullied.A trick to make your quarterly numbers while reducing bias on the team.Why bias can often lead to bad decisions.How leaders can positively respond when a bias is called out.The BIG problems that power creates.Moneyball, Billy Bean, and measuring bias.The first step you should take if you suspect you’re being underpaid or not promoted because of bias or prejudice."Brutal ineffectiveness", and how to address it.HIGHLIGHTS:Actions that are destructive in collaboration:BiasPrejudiceBullyingConsequences of layering power on top of bias, prejudice and bullying:DiscriminationHarassmentPhysical violationQUOTES:“Remember that when you’re winning you’re never good as they say you are, and when you’re losing you’re never as bad as they say you are.”“You are not your stock price.”  Unverified quote from the top of Jeff Bezo’s white board.“I got a lot of advice on how to navigate around nonsense, but I didn’t get a lot of advice on how to change the nonsense.”“You must distinguish bias, prejudice, and bullying so you can respond in an effective way.”“Privilege compounds over time.”RESOURCES:Just Work: Get *t Done Fast and Fair, Kim Scotthttps://www.amazon.com/Just-Work-Done-Fast-Fair/dp/1250203481 Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity, Kim Scotthttps://www.amazon.com/Radical-Candor-Kim-Scott/dp/B01KTIEFEE Thinking Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahnemanhttps://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555 The Stanford Prison Experiment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment Money Ball. Billy Bean https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moneyball_(film) Francoise Brougher, The Pinterest Paradoxhttps://medium.com/digital-diplomacy/the-pinterest-paradox-cupcakes-and-toxicity-57ed6bd76960  -------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1

Josh Ensign is currently Chief Operating Officer at Proterra, a company that designs and builds 100% battery electric buses, chargers, and powertrains for the heavy duty market.  He’s also held senior leadership positions at Tesla, Honeywell, and the US Army.Throughout his years, Josh has managed 42 different factories across 16 countries.  Josh’s career path has included multiple international assignments in Germany, Mexico, China, and Switzerland. He holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and an engineering degree from Gonzaga.Josh’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-ensign-3604431/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:The challenge Josh faced on his first day as COO of Proterra, involving 160,000 square feet of Ugg Boots.Why Proterra is described as the "Tesla of the Bus World". What Elon Musk taught Josh about thinking big and goal setting.A powerful strategy that gets every employee to “buy in”.The most exciting thing going on at Proterra today.Josh’s big career accelerating moment.How to create your own path to the C-Suite.The seed Josh planted that culminated in a big opportunity four years down the road.The power of being a leader worth following and bringing your team with you.How to run your business with a single sheet of paper.3 success routines that increase performance.The two big components of leaving a leadership legacy.How to use meditation to boost focus and decrease stress.The one trait that he’d instill in every employee… positive energy!A simple strategy to present your idea of the C-Suite.The true catastrophic impact of turnover.The book Josh hands out to his team and takes on his flights.Three keys to professional and personal success.HIGHLIGHTS:Things Josh learnt from Elon Musk:Think big.Set ambitious goals.Develop your capacity for speed in getting things doneJosh's legacy:Getting results.Being the kind of leader people want to follow.QUOTES:“The most important asset in a company is the employees.”“Losing employees is expensive and losing top talent can break a company.”“Focusing on your employee turnover and A players can make the difference between being a good company versus a GREAT company.”“Life is short. Make sure when you wake up you’re doing something you enjoy with people you enjoy doing it with.”“Find a way to give back.”About influencing opportunities: “Part of it is luck, but the other part is being prepared when you get lucky.”“It’s the leaders who can get results. And then when they leave the company or they leave their jobs, or they change jobs, everyone wants to follow them. That to me is the definition of a career success.”RESOURCES:Defy Ventures https://www.defyventures.org/ Tools of the Titan by Tim Ferris https://www.amazon.com/Tools-Titans-Billionaires-World-Class-Performers/dp/1328683788 Honeywell Tri-Fold

Michelle Thompson is CEO and Managing Partner of Cherry Bekaert, one of the top 25 US largest accounting firms.Michelle’s responsible for oversight of the firm’s Executive Team, executing and promoting the overall strategic plan and driving firm growth. Her leadership role includes chairing Cherry Bekaert’s Executive Board and overseeing the day-to-day administration and financial management of the firm. She also held a senior leadership role at Deloitte.Michelle has an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Accountancy, University of South Carolina with additional studies at the Harvard Business School.Michelle’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellethompson-513a419/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:Leadership lessons from working the “drive through”.Why Cherry Bekaert is a small accounting firm with big capabilities.Why Michelle thinks it’s so important to get different perspectives.When a leader should “pull rank”.  Advice for employees who are from underrepresented groups in the C-Suite and are a mission to get there.The three-part framework to pitch your idea to the C-Suite. How big does your idea need to be before you present it?The one trait she’d like to instill in every employee… ”Managing Yourself”.  Productivity strategies from the C-Suite.How being unorganized in your personal life shows up in your professional life.The importance of understanding how and when you and your team work best.A simple hack to bring your best self to every moment.The surprising tool that she recommends for every leader.What General Robert Caslin (now President of USC and former CEO Sessions guest) and Michelle believe about building trust.The moment that accelerated her career.HIGHLIGHTS:Tips on presenting your idea to C-Suite:Be able to pitch it.Your pitch needs to answer what problem you are solving, how you will solve it and who will benefit after solving the problem.3 success strategies all employees need to understand:Be organized.Be a good communicator.Think about your work style.QUOTES:On the first step for developing your personal network: “Focus on building relationships and establishing trust.”“You need to volunteer for things and put yourself out there, be willing to fail, and don’t hide.”“Ideas don’t have to be earth shattering. They can be things that you can change within your own world of influence.”“Depending on the thing I’m going to do, I’m always considering how to bring my best self to that moment.”RESOURCES:Atomic Habits by James Clear

Matt Carter, CEO of Aryaka, is a cloud and technology industry veteran, leading Aryaka's long-term market strategy and day-to-day operations, while guiding the company's vision for an increasingly connected world. Matt has also served in senior leadership roles at Inteliquent, Sprint Corporation, Sprint Enterprise Solutions, Boost Mobile, Coca-Cola, BellSouth, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.  Matt earned his master's degree in general management from the Harvard Business School and his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University.Matt’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cartermatt/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:How Matt’s first job as a grocery bagger informs his leadership style today.How transitioning industries several times throughout Matt's career helped accelerate his growth.The key to becoming more resilient in your career.How Aryaka is supporting leaders who are going through a big digital transformation.How to go from being the “best kept secret” to becoming well-known in your industry.Looking to history to motivate your team - David and Goliath and Japanese Samurai.Why creative thinking is the one trait that Matt would instill in every employee.A sure-fire strategy to get your team thinking creatively.An unexpected twist or failure in your career? How did it lead to growth or success down the road?What Red Auerbach, renowned NBA coach of the Boston Celtics, told him about leadership.The real job of a leader.HIGHLIGHTS:Pros and cons of working for different organizations and not sticking with one for a long period of time:Different companies offer different pieces of leadership experience.You must constantly rebuild your reputation and your credibility.What Matt does to foster creative and disruptive thinking in his employees:Has a lot of small meetings with people.Encourages them by saying how valuable they are to the team.Tries not to be the guy that has all the answers.Encourages people to be their best selves.QUOTES:“Be bold.  The time here is short, so be bold and get the most out of it.”“Don’t be so hard on yourself.  You’re going to be okay.  Have the resiliency to keep moving on."“Believe in yourself and develop the fortitude to keep moving.”“We’re paid for what we know, but it’s what you don’t know and how you pursue it that makes the difference.”“Failing is part of growing.”RESOURCES:David and Goliath https://www.amazon.com/David-Goliath-Underdogs-Misfits-Battling/dp/0316204374 Age of the Samurai – Battle for Japan https://www.netflix.com/title/80237990 

Dean Acosta is the Lockheed Martin Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President.Lockheed Martin is a $65B global security and aerospace company with 114,000 employees worldwide. Dean Acosta leads a team of 500, oversees global communications strategies and activities, and provides strategic communications counsel to the corporation’s senior executives. He’s held senior leadership positions at NASA, Boeing, Honeywell, Phillips 66, and Resideo. While at NASA he was press secretary in the aftermath of the space shuttle Columbia tragedy and returned to flight. Dean has received an Emmy Award for investigative reporting and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree from Seton Hall University.Dean’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanacosta/ WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:The big life lesson Dean learned as a sportscaster.The advice Dean would give his younger self.  How you strike the balance of “tooting your own horn” and being humble.How his mettle was tested during the Columbia Space Shuttle crisis and the Pandemic.Key strategies every leader can use to respond to a crisis.How to have a “steady hand” in a crisis.The single trait Dean would instill in every employee.Success strategies every employee should keep in mind.A twist in Dean’s career that led to his success down the road.The three board games that Dean likes to play with his family.HIGHLIGHTS:Advice for someone facing a crisis in their career or business:Involve more people into a conversation, not less.Transparency and authenticity need to be key principles in how you approach your communications.Tips on avoiding burnout:Make sure you have work/life balance.Family first, then the mission.Stay focused.Be okay with asking for help or asking for a break.Be able to reflect on what’s working for you and what’s not.QUOTES:“Advocate for yourself and your team.”“There’s a fine line between arrogance and confidence.”“Understand your audience.”“Think about the things that advance the mission of the company.”“Involve more people in the conversation.”“When you’re thinking over communicating, you’re usually not.”“Pause and reflect upon what you’ve learned during the past year".RESOURCES:Good to Great, Jim Collins https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others-ebook/dp/B0058DRUV6 The Right Stuff https://www.amazon.com/Right-Stuff-Tom-Wolfe/dp/0312427565 Ghost Fleet https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Fleet-Novel-Next-World/dp/054470505X 

Barbara Melvin is Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the South Carolina Ports Authority.  She leads a team of over 650 employees including those in terminal operations, carrier sales, information technology and support services, crane and equipment maintenance, engineering, environmental, Port Police, procurement, the logistics solution center, and cruise operations. She is leading the most transformative port project on the Southeast Coast in the last 100 years with the opening of the Leatherman Terminal that’s been 20 years in the making.  It opens in Spring 2021.Ms. Melvin also serves as the SCPA’s lead staff person on the Charleston Harbor Post 45 Project.She sits on numerous Boards and has been recognized with many awards. She is a highly influential leader in Charleston, South Carolina and across the Southeast. She holds a degree in political science from Georgia Southern University and an MBA in Global Supply Chain from the University of Tennessee.Barbara’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-melvin-69393b13/ WHAT YOU WILL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:How her background in politics has helped her the C-Suite.The importance of knowing your talking pointsWhat you can learn about someone from their Twitter Profile.How to successfully lead a 20-year project.  Her interesting path to COO over a 22-year span.Work-life balance strategies. How the word “discipline” emerged as a defining word throughout her career.Her perspective on gender and the C-Suite.Why she’d like to instill the trait of decisiveness in all employees.A failure in her career that led to her success down the road.How to present your idea to the C-Suite.Insights on the catastrophic cost of turnover.On approaching an employee who is burned out and might quit.A moment of inspiration from her father.Helpful advice on what to read for those on a mission to get to the C-Suite.Barbara’s interesting twist on Parkinson’s Law.HIGHLIGHTS:How Barbara's political background relates to business:Know your issuesBe straightforwardKnow how to compromiseKnow your audienceIncrease your emotional intelligenceHow would Barbara approach someone who's burned out and might quit:Try to notice any changes before it becomes an issue.Have an honest conversation as you notice some signs that a person is unhappy.QUOTES:On managing a long-term project “You need to have staying power” and “Talk to your customers”.You must be able to formulate a story, believe it and sell it.“Keep your eyes on the end of the race know matter how many ‘cramps’ you may get along the way.“Make your teammates define victory for themselves, rather than defining it for them.” Ask your team, “What victory looks like?”“Just when you think failure might define you, you realize it actually just makes you tougher.”“You learn as much, if not more, from your failures.”“People are our investments.”“There is no doubt organizations should track the cost of turnover.”“It’s a devastating impact when an employee leaves after you’ve invested in them.”“We invest in our leadership so they understand the #1 reason employees leave a company is because of their boss.”“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of good.”RESOURCES:The Economist https://www.economist.com/ -------------------Apply to be on the show-------------------Connect with Ben:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/https://twitter.com/BenFanning1