C-Suite Conversations | An SME Strategy Podcast

Elevating Your Game: Strategies for Success in Business and Life with Alan Stein Jr.

Alan Stein Jr. is an acclaimed keynote speaker, author, performance coach, and consultant with a formidable track record in working with elite NBA superstars such as Kevin Durant and Victor Oladipo. As a former basketball performance coach, Stein Jr. has pivoted his focus to the corporate realm, where he leverages his sports insights to elevate individual and organizational performance. His deep love for basketball and expertise in performance training make him a noteworthy authority in applying sports principles to business leadership and team development. He is also the author of books like "Raise Your Game" and "Sustain Your Game," which explore the parallels between athletic and business excellence.Key Takeaways:Transformational Leadership: Embrace a leadership that focuses on what you want for people, rather than what you want from them, to enhance personal influence and impact.Core Values in Decision Making: Use your personal values as a guide to make consistent and aligned decisions that reflect your true self and bolster leadership effectiveness.Unseen Hours: Invest in habits and activities during the "unseen hours" — those moments away from the public eye — to become the best version of yourself and set the foundation for success.Youth Sports and Leadership: Alan passionately highlights the need to improve the landscape of youth sports, teaching parents and coaches to prioritize process over outcomes and constructively contribute to a child's growth.Elevate by Caring: One's dedication to genuinely caring for their work and relationships is the differentiator in achieving professional and personal success.Notable Quotes:"Every single decision you make, you need to ask yourself and run through the filter of, is this in alignment with my personal core values or not?""As a manager, if you show up as less than your best self, mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, you give your team and the people that report to you less of a chance to be successful.""Stop badgering and berating the officials. Let the officials officiate. Just sit there and enjoy watching your child do something that they love...encourage them, support them, but don’t coach from the sideline.""I am a huge advocate of improving parental behavior and decorum on the sideline, teaching coaches how to have a better impact and influence.""The more you invest in caring about others, then the more that will be reciprocated and you'll be rewarded with some phenomenal opportunities and some incredibly fulfilling relationships." Subscribe to our channel for weekly youtube videos on strategy, leadership, business and management.: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1 ➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda // Connect with us: ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact ► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a Strategic planning consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster. ► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

Aventus CEO Shawn Mohr discusses the importance of revenue-driven leadership and the future of blockchain technology.

Episode Summary:In this insightful episode of the Strategy and Leadership podcast, host Anthony Taylor is joined by Shawn Mohr, the dynamic CEO of Aventus, to explore the intricate relationship between leadership, technology adoption, and organizational growth. Sean delves into the emerging space of blockchain and tokenization, offering a glimpse into how these technologies are shaping the future of business transactions and customer engagement.The discussion pivots around the significance of cultivating a robust company culture and the importance of hiring the right talent to steer an organization towards its desired milestones. Sean underscores the necessity of looking beyond immediate operations, emphasizing a "spatial thinking" approach that balances high-level strategic planning with ground-level execution.Key takeaways and notable quotes are woven through the conversation, revealing Sean's philosophy on revenue generation, change management, and the potential of blockchain to disrupt traditional business processes. For those curious about integrating cutting-edge technology into their strategy and staying ahead of the curve, this episode offers compelling insights and practical advice on making that leap effectively.Key Takeaways:Embrace "spatial thinking" by balancing a 30,000-foot strategic view with detailed, 3-foot execution in business processes.Change management and talent acquisition are critical components of leading an organization through growth and transformation.Tokenization and blockchain will play significant roles in future business operations—enhancing security, efficiency, and interoperability.Companies need to adapt to evolving technologies to ensure brand loyalty, customer acquisition, and the retention of Gen Z and Gen Alpha demographics.Leaders should consider their long-term technology impacts today and plan strategically for where their industry and customer expectations are heading in the next 10 to 15 years.Notable Quotes:"The questions you typically want to ask these organizations [are]... how do you use technology to create tenx efficiency within your team itself?" - Shawn Mohr"The only constant is change... whenever every company is going through these type of changes and approaches, I'd look spatially and ask yourself the simple question..." - Shawn Mohr"Oftentimes you start with talent. Talent management is a key component to your ability to be successful." - Shawn Mohr"This [blockchain and tokenization] is significantly about brand loyalty and customer acquisition for their standpoint." - Shawn MohrResources:Aventus website: Aventus HomepageAbout the Guest:Shawn Mohr is an experienced leader with over two decades of expertise in guiding businesses through strategic transformation and growth. Currently leading the helm as CEO at Aventus, Shawn has a proven track record of propelling companies from early-stage startups to scalable enterprises. His background includes work with both publicly traded companies and private organizations post-funding, where he leverages change management processes and leadership development to drive We invite you to listen to the full episode to gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between leadership, technological advancements, and business growth. Join us for more episodes of Strategy and Leadership, where we bring thought-provoking content to the forefront, helping today's leaders shape tomorrow's success stories. Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions. ► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a Strategy Consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

Family Business 101: Are You A Business First Family Or A Family First Business? With Rob Ferguson

Do you run a family business? Have you ever pondered on whether you’re running a family-first business or a business-first family? It’s time we explore this question, and today’s guest is just the person to talk about it. Rob Ferguson has been a trusted advisor to family businesses since 2010. He takes his decade-plus experience and wisdom to the show to discuss how family business owners can ensure that they’re running a growing and profitable business without losing sight of the things that truly matter. Want more? Tune in! Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/ channel for weeklyyoutube videos on strategy, leadership, business and management.: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1 ➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda // Connect with us: ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact ► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster. ► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

The Power of Transparency and Neurodiversity with Aimably CEO Claire Milligan

Nothing is immutable. Every line in the P&L is adaptable, and every challenge is surmountable. In this episode, we have CEO of Aimably, Claire Miligan to discuss the strengths of neurodiversity and transparency in business. She shares her perspective on a culture of openness and the power of transparency in decision-making and empowering teams. She touches on the challenges of product management, shedding light on the process of balancing short-term goals with long-term innovation. Later on, Claire starts to reveal her secrets to quantifying the ROI of product improvements and the build versus buy dilemma. Tune in now! Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/ channel for weeklyyoutube videos on strategy, leadership, business and management.: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1 ➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda // Connect with us: ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact ► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster. ► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

President Private Cloud Of Rackspace - Brian Lillie On Customer Inspired Innovation

Customer inspired innovation is the belief that when you listen to your customers, they will guide you where you need to go. This is what our Brian Lillie, the President of Private Cloud at Rackspace, explains to us today along with his profound insights on leadership and the evolving landscape of technology. With a background spanning the US Air Force and various leadership roles, Brian emphasizes the crucial balance between customer-inspired innovation and tech push. He discusses the transformative potential of AI across industries, addressing macro trends and sustainability concerns. Brian advocates for setting high standards, fostering creativity, and creating a safe, caring environment. This episode is a compelling exploration of leadership, innovation, and the future of technology. Don’t miss out!Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WzH8e01VDx0Z5jL0X8nDV?si=YYggkMz5QBa4HoxqJETAKwListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/president-private-cloud-of-rackspace-brian-lillie-on/id1202449526?i=1000650474044 Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co ► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda // Connect with us: ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact ► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster. ► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator ► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW ► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net

Former PepsiCo COO Grace Puma And Former Nike President Of Consumer Direct Christiana Smith Shi

What factors are really holding women back from moving forward in their careers? More importantly, what can you do about it if you find yourself in that position? We talk about all these things and more with our high-caliber guests who promise to deliver nothing but goodness. PepsiCo COO Grace Puma and former Nike President of Consumer Direct Christiana Smith Shi are the authors of the book, Career Forward: Strategies from Women Who’ve Made It. They reveal the secret to enduring success is adopting a “Career Forward” mindset—prioritizing your career over your current job—as the rewards will far outweigh the invested effort. Tune in and learn how to move your career with their time-tested guiding principles!Spotify: Open.Spotify.com/episode/6HHpWjkT7W4uvDjxAyLSq1?si=06766b3c46dd44ebApple Podcasts:Podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/former-pepsico-coo-grace-puma-and-former-nike/id1202449526?i=1000649690158 Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community.Strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: Youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1➡️ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? SMEStrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda// Connect with us:► Contact us: SMEStrategy.net/contact► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? SMEStrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: Open.Spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: Courses.SMEStrategy.net/

Lance Graulich The Man Behind TGI Friday’s Franchising Success Story

Anthony Taylor is joined by Lance Graulich, who shares about the amazing franchising success of TGI Fridays. In this episode, learn about Lance’s creative hiring process and why it is important to listen to your employees to create a highly productive team. He explains why it is helpful to have checklists for everything and how to properly implement brand standards in a non-limiting manner. Lance also discusses why prioritizing customer experience above everything else is a sure path toward success, especially within the franchising scene. Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/ ► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1➡️ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda // Connect with us:► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster. ► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

How Executives Can Work With ERGs To Drive Innovation, Employee Engagement And Business Success With Kristina Fusella

Your greatest asset is your people; investing in them is also investing in your growth. In this episode, Anthony Taylor interviews Kristina Fusella about the value of working with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to drive innovation, employee engagement, and business success. Kristina is the Senior Director of Capabilities and Employee Experience at Novo Nordisk, and she takes us through her non-traditional career path and the work she is doing. She also dives deep into the role of ERGs in employee development and organizational culture, especially in terms of networking, mentorship, and personal development. With her insights on taking on new challenges and building a broad skill set, Kristina provides us a conversation that highlights the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages employees to explore new opportunities and contribute to the organization's success. Tune in now and embrace exponential growth for you, your team, and your business.SummaryIn this episode, Anthony Taylor interviews Kristina Fusella, Senior Director of Capabilities and Employee Experience at Novo Nordisk. They discuss Kristina's non-traditional career path and the work she is doing at Novo Nordisk. They also explore the importance of employee resource groups (ERGs) and their role in employee development and organizational culture. Kristina shares her insights on taking on new challenges and building a broad skillset. Overall, the conversation highlights the value of creating a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages employees to explore new opportunities and contribute to the organization's success.TakeawaysCreating a supportive culture that values breadth of experience can lead to employee growth and development.Employee resource groups (ERGs) provide a platform for networking, mentorship, and personal development.ERGs can also serve as a valuable resource for organizations to gain insights and address specific challenges within different employee populations.Taking on new challenges and stepping outside of one's comfort zone can lead to exponential personal and professional growth.Chapters00:00Introduction and Background03:43Culture and Career Development at Novo Nordisk06:19Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)15:44Benefits of ERGs for Employee Engagement and Organizational Development19:31Taking on New Challenges and Building a Broad Skillset25:15Conclusion and Contact Information Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.

Learning From Failure With The CEO Of Celebrity Cruises, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo

Nobody wants to fail, but failing can just be the thing you need to really grow in your career and in your life. As the cliché goes, experience is the best teacher, and failure is arguably the best experience you can have. Lisa Lutoff-Perlo learned this powerful lesson in her trailblazing journey as a female leader in a male-dominated industry. In this episode, she shares how she went from sales professional to becoming a CEO of celebrity cruises, (wo)manning the men plying the high seas. She shares the things she has learned from her experience, both from her successes and, more importantly, her failures. Tune in for a powerful learning experience!Thank you to our show partner Affinity Staffing https://affinity-group.ca/SME/ Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/ ► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1 ➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda // Connect with us: ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact ► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster. ► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator ► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW ► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

The Great Engagement: Your Secret To Improving Retention, Quality, And Profitability With Brad Zimmerman

The great resignation woke the eyes of many business leaders to shift their culture in their organizations. That culture shift will keep them afloat in their business because everyone aboard is driven to keep the ship sailing. In this episode, Brad Zimmerman, the Co-Founder and Partner of Phoenix Performance Partner, dives into The Great Engagement to guide leaders into creating high-performing cultures. He explains how leaders are like parents in the business, helping everyone become healthy and productive individuals and allowing them to grow in the organization. As a CEO and leader, we want to spread the commitment to providing value to our customers like a virus. So, don’t miss the wealth of insights Brad Zimmerman brings in this episode. Tune in and set sail into The Great Engagement today.Thank you to our show partner Affinity Staffing https://affinity-group.ca/SME/ Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/ ► Subscribe to our channel for weekly videos on strategy & leadership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1 ➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda // Connect with us: ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact ► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ // About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING: SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster. ► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator ► Check out our Strategy & Leadership Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yND4JKofh64gcvyvcLMqW ► Check out our online course on how to successfully lead your next strategic planning process: https://courses.smestrategy.net/