Thirty Minute Mentors

Leadership guru Adam Mendler goes one on one with America’s most accomplished and insightful people on how they made it to the top and how you can too. Each episode features a wealth of practical, actionable advice from a leading CEO, founder, athlete, celebrity, influencer or general / admiral. Learn how to lead in today’s landscape, become your best self and excel personally and professionally – in thirty minutes.

Episode 297: Rotary CEO John Hewko

John Hewko is the CEO of Rotary International, one of the largest service organizations in the world, with more than 1.2 million members across 46,000 Rotary Clubs. John joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. John and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: adaptive leadership, consensus building, communication, mentorship, leading and working internationally, leading a service organization, and much more.

09-16
33:23

Episode 296: Former Sonic CEO Clifford Hudson

Clifford Hudson was the CEO of Sonic, the largest drive-in fast-food chain in America. Under Cliff’s leadership, Sonic grew from $800 million to $4.5 billion in annual revenue and to more than 3,600 locations. Cliff joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Cliff and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, career success, communication, sales, growth and scale, driving technological change and innovation, and much more.

09-09
35:11

Episode 295: Montel Williams

An Emmy Award winner and a New York Times bestselling author, Montel Williams was the host of The Montel Williams Show and is the host of The Balancing Act and Military Makeover with Montel. Montel joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Montel and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, career success, navigating challenging times, pivoting, goal setting, self-awareness, communication, and much more.

09-02
38:34

Episode 294: Principal CEO Deanna Strable

A Fortune 500 CEO and the leader of one of America’s largest financial services companies, Deanna Strable is the CEO of Principal, where she leads nearly 20,000 employees who serve more than 62 million customers around the world. Deanna joins Adam to share her journey and her best lessons and advice. Deanna and Adam discuss leadership, career development, mentorship, and much more.  

08-26
40:06

Episode 293: Booking CEO Glenn Fogel

A Fortune 500 CEO and the leader of a company valued at more than $180 billion, Glenn Fogel is the CEO of Booking Holdings, the world’s leading provider of online travel and related services and the parent company of Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, Rentalcars.com, KAYAK, and OpenTable. Glenn joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Glenn and Adam discuss leadership, business strategy, career success, and much more. 

08-19
41:11

Episode 292: Lieutenant General Jack Gardner

Lieutenant General Jack Gardner spent 35 years serving in the United States Army, with tours in Europe, Latin America, Asia, Bosnia, Iraq, and multiple locations inside the U.S. LTG Gardner was the commander of the United States Army South, the deputy commander of the United States European Command, and in charge of detainee operations during part of the Iraq War. LTG Gardner joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice on leadership, leadership development, leading through adversity and change, motivation, and much more.

08-12
31:39

Episode 291: barre3 Co-Founder and CEO Sadie Lincoln

Sadie Lincoln is the co-founder and CEO of barre3, the largest omnichannel boutique fitness brand independently owned and operated by women. Sadie joins Adam to share her journey and her best lessons and advice. Sadie and Adam cover a wide range of topics: entrepreneurship, leadership, growth and scale, franchising, accountability, cultivating self-confidence, excelling as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and much more.

08-05
31:18

Episode 290: Goodwill CEO Steve Preston

Steve Preston is the CEO of Goodwill and is the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Steve has also served as the CFO of two Fortune 500 companies and as the CEO of two large private companies. Steve joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Steve and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, career development, crisis management, relationship building, mission, trust, and much more.

07-29
37:49

Episode 289: Thumbtack Co-Founder and CEO Marco Zappacosta

Marco Zappacosta is the co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack, a leading online marketplace with more than 10 million users who have engaged more than 300,000 local service professionals to complete more than 90 million projects. Marco joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Marco and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: entrepreneurship, leadership, product validation, user acquisition, growth and scale, hiring, building a remote-first culture, AI, and more.

07-22
34:16

Episode 288: Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine

A celebrity chef and an entrepreneur, Robert Irvine has hosted many cooking television and talk shows over the years, including Dinner Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, Restaurant Impossible, and The Robert Irvine Show, and currently runs sixteen different companies. Robert joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Robert and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, entrepreneurship, empathy, ego, accountability, trust, mentorship, and much more.

07-15
39:23

Episode 287: Fabletics Co-Founder and CEO Adam Goldenberg

Adam Goldenberg is the co-founder and CEO of Fabletics and is the co-founder and co-CEO of TechStyle, whose roster of brands - including Fabletics, Savage X Fenty, JustFab, ShoeDazzle, and FabKids - has generated over $15 billion in sales. Adam Goldenberg joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Adam and Adam discuss a wide range of topics, including leadership, entrepreneurship, team-building, hiring, building successful brands, collaborating with celebrities, e-commerce, and more.

07-08
32:55

Episode 286: Rent the Runway Co-Founder and CEO Jennifer Hyman

Jennifer Hyman is the co-founder and CEO of Rent the Runway. Rent the Runway disrupted the fashion industry, changing the way in which countless women shop for clothing. Jennifer joins Adam to share her journey and her best lessons and advice. Jennifer and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: entrepreneurship, leadership, crisis management, adaptability, confidence, cross-functional teams, and much more.

07-01
43:49

Episode 285: Klutch Sports Founder and CEO Rich Paul

Rich Paul is the founder and CEO of Klutch Sports Group, where he represents many of the best players in basketball, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, De'Aaron Fox, and Tyrese Maxey. Rich joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons learned along the way. Rich and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: relationship building, dealmaking, leading and managing people, excelling as a trusted advisor, lessons learned from LeBron James, and much more.

06-24
35:53

Episode 284: Governor Chet Culver

Chet Culver is the former Governor of Iowa. Governor Culver led Iowa through the worst natural disaster in state history. Governor Culver joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Governor Culver and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: competition, leadership, team-building, crisis management, mission and purpose, and much more.

06-17
38:25

Episode 283: Extra Space Storage CEO Joe Margolis

Joe Margolis is the Extra Space Storage, an S&P 500 company and the largest operator of self storage properties in America, with more than 4,000 sites, 8,000 employees, and 2.4 million customers. Joe joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Joe and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, culture, career success, dealmaking, mentorship, and much more.

06-10
30:42

Episode 282: Man Group CEO Robyn Grew

Robyn Grew is the CEO of Man Group, one of the largest hedge funds in the world, with nearly $170 billion in assets under management. Robyn joins Adam to share her journey and her best lessons and advice. Robyn and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, career success, authenticity, breaking into and breaking stereotypes in finance, hiring, decision-making, and much more.

06-03
39:22

Episode 281: Anthem Founder and Former CEO Ben Lytle

Ben Lytle is the founder and former CEO of Anthem, now known as Elevance Health, a Fortune 50 company that generated $175 billion last year. Ben has founded seven companies, including two listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Ben joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Ben and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, personal and professional development, the keys to building and growing a company, how to navigate change, how to understand and attain success, and more.

05-27
34:46

Episode 280: Olympic Gold Medalist Lenny Krayzelburg

Lenny Krayzelburg is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest backstroke swimmers of all time. Lenny joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Lenny and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: the mindset and path to greatness; motivation; pushing your comfort zone; overcoming setbacks; leadership and coaching; and much more.

05-20
34:01

Episode 279: Dimensional Co-Founder David Booth

David Booth is the co-founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, a leading investment management company, with $777 billion in assets under management as of the end of last year. David helped transform the world of modern investing and is the namesake of the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. David joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons learned along the way. David and Adam discuss investing, managing uncertainty, decision-making, trust, data, leadership, success, and much more.

05-13
30:13

Episode 278: Uncle Nearest Founder and CEO Fawn Weaver

Fawn Weaver is the founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the most-awarded American whiskey or Bourbon over the last six years. A two-time New York Times best-selling author, Fawn is one of only five Black women to found and lead a billion-dollar business in U.S. history. Fawn joins Adam to share her journey and her best lessons and advice. Fawn and Adam discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, creativity, and much more.

05-06
36:31

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