Amanda Davies, Chief Research and Development, Sustainability, and Procurement Officer at Mars Snacking, shares her journey from an 11-year-old fascinated by science to a top executive shaping innovation and sustainability at one of the world's most recognizable brands. She discusses the power of curiosity, learning from frontline workers and farmers, and breaking barriers as a leader in STEM. Tune in to discover how she navigates complex global challenges, fosters innovation, and leads with purpose—while ensuring the future of beloved brands like Snickers, M&M’s, and Dove Chocolate.
Legendary fashion designer, Norma Kamali, shares meaningful lessons from her 57-year journey in the industry. From pioneering iconic designs like the Sleeping Bag Coat and Farrah Fawcett’s iconic swimsuit to embracing AI and technology in fashion, Norma shares her insights on creativity, adaptability, and leading with purpose. She opens up about overcoming challenges, embracing failure, and why staying authentic and curious is key to success in any field. This conversation will challenge you to think differently about your career, legacy, and impact.
In this episode, Dr. Steven Neil Kaplan, professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, delves into the qualities that define successful CEOs and the dynamics of mergers and acquisitions. Drawing from his extensive research in private equity, venture capital, and corporate governance, Dr. Kaplan shares the key characteristics that not only help individuals rise to the C-suite but also thrive once they get there—emphasizing talent, execution, and charisma. The conversation also explores how private equity firms and public companies approach acquisitions, the cultural complexities post-merger, and what truly drives success in these deals. Dr. Kaplan offers actionable insights for professionals at any stage of their career, highlighting the importance of delivering results and continuously evolving in today’s corporate landscape.
RSM US CEO Brian Becker shares his journey leading an 18,000-person firm and the lessons he's learned along the way. From his early career decisions to his approach to leadership, Brian emphasizes the importance of resilience, adaptability, and fostering a culture of collaboration. He discusses the evolving role of leaders in navigating complex challenges, inspiring teams, and maintaining authenticity in every interaction. Packed with actionable insights, this conversation will leave you reflecting on your own leadership journey and the values that guide you.
The whole person we bring to work matters. Acorns CEO Noah Kerner discusses this as he shares the fascinating journey of his career, from his early passion for DJing and hip-hop music to his transition into purpose-driven business ventures centered around financial empowerment, health, education, and the arts. Noah touches on the importance of discovering and aligning one's purpose, the value of creative pursuits even in executive roles, and the critical role of caring and understanding people as a leader. Noah provides insightful advice, encouraging listeners to reflect deeply on what truly matters to them and to stay true to their core purpose, even as their career progresses through different stages.
There is power in autonomy, competence, and relationships. O.C. Tanner’s Chief Marketing & People Officer Mindi Cox joins C-suite Conversations to outline these three critical elements that empower and engage people personally and professionally. Mindi discusses the importance of helping people see their “spark” – the unique talents and contributions they can make that go beyond just doing their job. She emphasizes the power of a generative mindset, where people are inspired to synthesize, create, and solve problems in new ways that benefit the organizations, sharing that aligning individual purpose with organizational purposes is critical for building an engaged, high-performing culture. This episode offers valuable insights for leaders at all levels on creating work environments centered on empowering people, fostering purpose, and driving sustainable growth through a people-first approach.
Atif Rafiq’s remarkable career journey - from early tech roles to pioneering the Chief Digital Officer position - offers a masterclass in embracing change, managing calculated risks, and harnessing collective intelligence to drive impactful decisions. Emphasizing the value of vulnerability, Atif underscores how acknowledging setbacks can elevate one's leadership prowess. His insights on integrating AI into organizational workflows and cultivating agile, exploratory decision-making processes provide a roadmap for future-proofing businesses in a rapidly evolving landscape.
This episode of C-suite Conversations features an insightful conversation with Libor Michalek, the President and Director of Affirm. Libor shares his extensive experience building and scaling successful startups, offering advice on what to look for when pursuing a big idea, the importance of building the right team and culture, and the challenges of managing hypergrowth. He emphasizes the value of being deliberate about decision-making, staying true to your company's mission, and leveraging your unique strengths as a leader.
There is value in moving outside your comfort zone and the functional area of your work to gain a deeper understanding of the business as a whole. Sanofi Chief Learning Officer Wanda Shoer joins C-suite Conversations to share how she intentionally works to be a more well-rounded leader. Wanda suggests challenging the status quo and driving innovation, even in highly regulated industries like healthcare and finance. She emphasizes asking thoughtful questions and envisioning the ideal future state and speaks to the importance of honesty about what you know and don't know, bringing enthusiasm and energy, and ensuring everyone enjoys the journey.
Be kind, be fast, and be disruptive. This is a glimpse into the key takeaways offered up by Brandtech Group Founder and CEO David Jones. David provides a compelling overview of how generative AI is poised to revolutionize marketing and business, describing it as potentially "bigger than the industrial revolution." He outlines several key reasons why generative AI will be a game-changer, including the massive investments from tech giants, the surging interest and valuations from investors, and the rapid adoption by consumers. David emphasizes that generative AI is not just a future possibility, but is already being leveraged by leading brands today to create content and ads faster, cheaper, and more effectively.
When harnessed effectively and in symphony, trust and ambition can elevate a company to new heights. The team at FranklinCovey knows that a high-trust culture is the foundation for a successful organization, and the same value is withheld by Mark Douglas in his work as the Founder and CEO of MNTN. Mark provides advice for leaders looking to spur innovation and progress in their organizations, emphasizing the need to identify and empower the "chief innovator" and to be willing to let go of tasks that others can handle better.
Follow the journey through Tim Massa’s impressive career, from his early days at Procter & Gamble to his transformative experience as an expatriate in Poland, and finally to his current role leading Kroger's people strategy as SVP and Chief People Officer. Tim shares valuable insights on the importance of developing talent, building a strong organizational culture, and approaching challenges with humility and adaptability. He emphasizes the significance of aligning purpose, values, and business priorities, and how this has been instrumental in Kroger's success, even during turbulent times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heather Stefanski, Partner and Chief Learning and Talent Officer at McKinsey, joins the C-suite Conversations podcast to share strategies McKinsey & Company employs to develop top talent. In addition to talking about how McKinsey cultivates a “skills-focused development culture,” Heather discusses the importance of being curious, staying humble, and continuously learning throughout one's career, regardless of career stage.
This episode of C-suite Conversations features an insightful discussion with Daniel Domenech, the Chief Talent Officer at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Dan shares his diverse career journey, spanning multiple industries including manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and technology. He emphasizes the importance of embracing change, continual learning, and leveraging mentorship to navigate professional growth. Dan also highlights HPE's focus on fostering an inclusive culture where employees can bring their authentic selves to work.
Through his roles across diverse industries and geographies, Uxio Malvido has gained deep insights into the universal human needs that transcend cultures - the importance of empathy, relationships, feeling part of something meaningful, and purpose in work. The Chief Human Resources Officer for the World Economic Forum discusses the critical link between leadership and culture, and the efforts he is leading to develop self-aware, collaborative leaders who can inspire teams and drive collective success.
Learn how to make the seemingly impossible possible from this engaging and energetic conversation with Dr. Wendy Walsh, Chief Learning Officer for Air Education Training and Command. Throughout her career, Dr. Walsh has intentionally emphasized the importance of bringing people together, creating shared understanding, and enabling collaboration to achieve great things. As a leader, Dr. Walsh highlights the value of self-awareness, situational awareness, and creating psychologically caring environments where people feel supported and able to openly share their struggles and needs. She stresses the importance of balancing people-focused leadership with a clear sense of purpose and meaningful work, rather than seeing it as a simple trade-off.
Shared expectations are the root of all productive relationships. That is one of several impactful truths shared in this C-suite Conversations episode, featuring Utz Brands CEO Howard Friedman. Howard emphasizes the importance of goal-setting, alignment, and accountability across the organization. He stresses the need to keep goals active and alive through regular check-ins and a willingness to ask for help when off-track. Building effective teams and breaking down silos is a constant focus, as he emphasizes the importance of establishing norms, empowerment, and accountability as critical to fostering productive collaboration.
At Natori, East meets West and passion meets fashion. Join Natori President Ken Natori as he and C-suite Conversations host Patrick Leddin discuss his career journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Ken reflects on how he was able to make his own mark on the company, the need to continuously pivot and adapt in a competitive market, and the necessity of having a genuine passion for what you do.
In his final episode as host of C-suite Conversations, Scott Miller reflects on a key lesson he took away from the more than 100 interviews he's done. In addition to a focus on the importance of developing and fostering effective communication skills, Scott emphasizes a lesson he gleaned on the necessity of developing the ability to critically evaluate information and discern fact from fiction in an era of increasing misinformation. He closes by handing the proverbial baton to long-time friend and colleague, Patrick Leddin, who will be taking over as the host of C-suite Conversations moving forward.
Join Teach for America CEO Elisa Villanueva Beard as she shares the inspirational story of her personal journey, from growing up in a low-income community in Texas to becoming a leader in the mission to provide educational equity for all students. Elisa walks through her own path to Teach for America, sharing the importance of continuously assessing your team and being willing to make changes to have the right people in the right roles.