Take Command: A Leadership Podcast

Two journeys. One enduring set of principles. Guy Fieri is known for his unmistakable energy, entrepreneurial drive, and success across television and hospitality. In this conversation, he looks back on the period when he knew how to run operations but struggled to lead a large team. A mentor pointed him toward How to Win Friends and Influence People, and the lessons reshaped the way he listened, communicated, and brought out the best in others. Lisa Sun is the founder and CEO of GRAVITAS and the author of GRAVITAS: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. She first encountered Dale Carnegie’s book at twelve, after her father found a 99-cent copy at a garage sale. She credits that early experience with helping her understand how to connect with people, navigate Western culture, and develop the confidence that would later shape her career and company. Together, Guy and Lisa show why these principles remain relevant ninety years later. Leadership is not about pressure or performance alone. It is about seeing people, listening carefully, expressing genuine interest, and helping others feel valued. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN How Guy Fieri moved from managing through pressure to leading with greater awareness and consideration Why understanding what others hear can matter as much as the words a leader says How Lisa Sun used Carnegie’s principles to connect across cultures and build confidence from a young age Why remembering names, asking questions, and showing genuine interest remain powerful leadership habits How timeless human-relations principles can be applied across generations, industries, and stages of life  Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the guestCheryl McKissack Daniel is President and Chief Executive Officer of McKissack & McKissack, a construction company with a family history spanning five generations. A civil engineer by training, she earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees in engineering before beginning her career in New York and later joining the family business.Under her leadership, the company has contributed to major projects including LaGuardia Airport, the World Trade Center site, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Cheryl is also chair of the New York Building Congress and the author of The Black Family Who Built America, which chronicles her family’s history, resilience, and contribution to the built environment.What You Will Learn·       How long-term thinking and strategy sustained a company across five generations·       Why relationship building is essential to leadership and business development·       How to move through fear by treating courageous action as a beta test·       Why leaders must be decisive, consistent, dependable, and clear·       How to manage stress through boundaries, ownership, meditation, and perspectiveJoin us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast as Cheryl McKissack Daniel shares how strategy, courage, and relationships shaped a five-generation leadership legacy. Whether you are stepping into a difficult room, building confidence, leading through uncertainty, or creating an organization where people can grow, this conversation offers practical lessons on speaking up, staying consistent, and building beyond today. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest Marc Cooper is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Partners, an independent investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and capital advisory services. Since becoming CEO in 2016, he has led the firm’s transformation from approximately 35 bankers to more than 200 while expanding its industry coverage from two sectors to more than twelve. Before becoming CEO, Marc led Solomon Partners’ Consumer Retail Group and advised companies around the world on major strategic transactions. He is a member of The Conference Board’s CEO Center, the CNBC CEO Council, and the Economic Club of New York. A proud Dale Carnegie graduate, Marc credits the experience with helping him build confidence, strengthen his communication skills, and develop tools that continue to guide his leadership today. What You Will Learn Why growth requires getting outside your comfort zone How Marc overcame learning disabilities and built confidence Why leadership must be authentic and personal How transparency and shared ownership create stronger cultures What Marc learned from stepping into the CEO role unexpectedly Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast as Marc Cooper shares how resilience, adaptability, and personal growth shaped his journey from a young professional struggling with confidence to the leader of a growing independent investment bank. Whether you’re navigating change, developing your leadership style, or preparing for an AI-driven future, this conversation offers practical lessons on building trust, investing in yourself, and continuing to grow throughout your career.  Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest Jayney Howson is the Chief Learning Officer at ServiceNow and the architect behind ServiceNow University, a free AI-powered learning platform designed to prepare people for the future of work. Under her leadership, the platform has grown to approximately two million learners and is on a path toward three million. She oversees learning programs that help customers, partners, employees, and aspiring professionals develop the skills needed to succeed in an AI-powered economy. Before moving into learning and talent development, Jayney built a career spanning hospitality, marketing, communications, sales, and leadership. Her diverse experiences have shaped a leadership philosophy centered on curiosity, courage, trust, and human connection. What You Will Learn Why being interested is more important than being interesting How early hospitality jobs can teach lifelong leadership lessons Why asking for help strengthens relationships and teams How great leaders create the conditions for others to thrive The role trust plays in high-performing organizations Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast as Jayney Howson shares lessons on leadership, learning, courage, and human connection in an age of artificial intelligence. From restaurant tables to the forefront of AI-powered learning, her journey offers a powerful reminder that our greatest advantage isn’t technology alone. It’s our ability to think, connect, adapt, and grow together.  Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest Cybele Negris is the CEO and Co-Founder of Webnames.ca, Canada's original dot-CA registrar and a provider of hundreds of domain extensions, web hosting, email, security products, and other online solutions. A serial entrepreneur, seasoned board member, speaker, mentor, and columnist, she has grown Webnames into a multi-million-dollar company serving some of the country's largest corporations, governments, law firms, and global Fortune 500 brands. A Hall of Fame inductee of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women and a nine-time winner of the PROFIT W100, Cybele serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of the Royal Canadian Mint and sits on the boards of BCAA and AGF Management, among many others. She is a columnist for Business in Vancouver, a sought-after speaker at events including TEDx, and a passionate mentor. She is also a second-generation Dale Carnegie graduate, part of a family legacy that now spans three generations of graduates. What You Will Learn Why “feeling the fear and doing it anyway” is the key to growth How to recognize and move past imposter syndrome Why authentic, vulnerable leadership builds deeper connection How empowering smart people, rather than commanding them, creates stronger teams The power of mentorship, for both the mentor and the mentee How to turn adversity into a competitive advantage Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast as Cybele Negris shares how courage, authenticity, and humility can transform the way we lead and live. Whether you are building a business, wrestling with your own self-doubt, or learning to step outside your comfort zone, this conversation offers honest, practical lessons for leading with resilience in an ever-changing world. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.