It’s difficult to reach your goals by yourself. We all need help along the way. The best quarterbacks in football work with quarterback coaches. The best actors have acting coaches. And in business, the best leaders have leadership coaches. At some point in your career, you may decide to work with a leadership coach. It might be your idea, or your employer may make the suggestion. Either way, finding a leadership coach and creating a one-on-one collaborative relationship with the coach can have ...
Sep 22, 2017•34 min
Sixteen years ago this week, terrorists attacked the United States. Four airliners were hijacked - two of the planes crashed into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Almost three thousand people were killed, six thousand injured. In 2001, Jon Doyle worked at the investment banking firm Sandler O’Neill, whose offices were located on the 104th floor of Tower 2. Sixty-six of Sandler O’Neill’s 171 employees died as a result of the attacks. But the people in the org...
Sep 14, 2017•19 min
Summer is flying by, but there is still time to get to the beach, escape to the mountains, or take a road trip. Whatever you plan to do in the remaining weeks of the summer of 2017, you might want to take a book along to listen to or read during your travels. This week on the podcast, we asked some of the faculty and staff here at Willian & Mary’s Raymond a. Mason School of Business what books they recommend to professionals. Learn how the William and Mary Center for Corporate Education can ...
Jul 25, 2017•14 min
The summer. For many, the summer months are dedicated to a job search - especially those who have recently graduated from college. But for both rookies and experienced professionals, the job interview is a challenging and stressful part of the equation. Seems as though each interview is somewhat different from the one before. So what’s the best way to prepare, and what do employers expect from candidates before and during the interview? Alice Davison has some great insight and experience when it...
Jul 18, 2017•18 min
This week we wrap up our Summer Look Back series where we’ve been replaying our four most popular episodes from the past twelve months. Today’s episode was originally posted in November and features a conversation with Mike Petters, CEO of Huntington Ingalls, America’s largest military shipbuilding company. For more than a century, the organization has built more ships in more classes than any other US Naval shipbuilder. Huntington Ingalls is headquartered in Newport News, Virgina. Petters has b...
Jul 11, 2017•17 min
This week we continue with part three of our four-part Summer Look Back Series, where we replay one of our more popular episodes from the past twelve months. Today’s episode was originally posted in February featuring a conversation with Robert Gates, author of “A Passion for Leadership: Lessons on Change and Reform from 50 Years of Public Service.” In the book, Gates shares his experiences from his many leadership roles, including: Director of the CIA, President of Texas A&M, and U.S. Secre...
Jul 04, 2017•18 min
This week in installment number two in our Summer Look Back Series, we share an episode that was originally posted in March with Robbie Bach. A 22-year Microsoft employee, Bach became Chief Xbox officer in 1999, leading the team that forever changed the gaming industry. He retired from Microsoft in 2010 and later wrote his book “Xbox Revisited.” He joined us to discuss his experience with Xbox, the lessons learned there, and his strategic framework that organizations and individuals can adopt to...
Jun 27, 2017•23 min
This week we start our Summer Look Back Series with an episode that was originally posted last fall with Jennifer DiMotta, who talked with us about the changing landscape of retail, and the way retailers are working to connect with their customers in a variety of ways. DiMotta is Vice President, Digital and Omni Channel for Blue Mercury, a leading luxury beauty retailer. She talked about creating the customer experience. Please enjoy our conversation from last November with Jennifer DiMotta. Lea...
Jun 20, 2017•19 min
Last week we shared the first half of our conversation with leadership coach Margaret Liptay on “managing up.” Liptay explained how your relationship with your boss can be more meaningful than the usual supervisor/subordinate relationship. She said when you position the boss as the organizational “parent” you place unnecessary limits on the partnership. This week in the second half of our discussion, Liptay explains how you can reframe the relationship so it becomes more complementary, which lea...
May 30, 2017•16 min
One of the top priorities for many professionals is cultivating a positive relationship with the boss or direct supervisor. Doing so it often referred to as managing up or communicating up. Managing up often entails learning about the boss’s habits such as which channel he prefers for communication, or when she prefers to hold weekly meetings. Our guest on the podcast today has a different take on managing up. Rather than seeing the relationship as a supervisor-subordinate dynamic, leadership co...
May 23, 2017•21 min
Two weeks ago we spoke with Dave Heenan, a successful leader, executive, educator, and author, about this book “Leaving On Top: Graceful Exits For Leaders.” We asked him back to talk about another book he wrote, “Hidden Heroes: Finding Success in the Shadows.” In the book, Heenan writes about the way society tends to focus on celebrities. But when examining how the real work gets accomplished, Heenan found one group of professionals - the “exceptional subordinates” - who he calls “hidden heroes....
May 16, 2017•18 min
One of the hottest topics in business today is finding effective ways to connect with others by sharing compelling stories. Whether it’s building the brand, closing the sale, or presenting to the board, many professionals and organizations are spending time and effort improving their storytelling abilities. Often, stories in business include data, and that presents a hurdle for many: How to present complex data in a way that helps the audience easily understand. That’s where data visualization c...
May 09, 2017•22 min
We’ve all seen it: The CEO, the leader, the athlete, who continue in the role despite the fact their best days are clearly behind them. Clinging to a role in which you’re no longer effective can tarnish an otherwise outstanding career and reputation. For many professionals, knowing when to leave or move on can be extremely difficult. Dave Heenan is a career executive, educator, and author of the book “Leaving On Top: Graceful Exits For Leaders,” where he examines many ways leaders approach the e...
May 02, 2017•20 min
Retirement. We all look forward to it and spend our entire career saving for it. How do we make it an enjoyable and meaningful transition once it happens? How can we use and re-purpose the talents that made us successful in our prior careers throughout volunteer efforts on boards and service organizations while still enjoying our retirement years? Today’s guest has done just that. After a successful career spanning nearly 45 years, Dane Brooksher has established himself as an innovative leader a...
Apr 26, 2017•15 min
Non-profit organizations play a significant role in the lives of Americans. In fact, 1 in 4 US citizens volunteered with a non-profit in 2014. One of the best-known and most successful non-profits is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, helping all people in the US and developing countries lead healthy, productive lives. Olympia Trumbower is Program Manager in the Global Policy and Advocacy Division at the Gates Foundation, and joins us today to discuss the Foundation, and what it’s like to ha...
Apr 19, 2017•22 min
Communication is a critically important element of leadership. Even in small tightly-knit companies where everyone seems to be on the same page, it can be difficult to create a positive culture where quality communication is expected and practiced. Imagine being a CEO in a country and culture other than your own. Tim Murray knows all about that: Born, raised, and educated in the United States, he is CEO of Aluminum Bahrain - also known as Alba - and is one of the top aluminum producers in the wo...
Apr 11, 2017•23 min
Being the founder and CEO of a new venture is the goal of many professionals. In fact, 1 in 4 of today’s MBA students plan to start a business at some point. Some entrepreneurs manage to start companies that not only fill a need, but also align with their personal goals and interests. After 17 years with JP Morgan advising families on their investment portfolio, Rhian Horgan decided to focus on her passions of technology, health, and wealth and started Kindur, an innovative startup that reimagin...
Apr 05, 2017•24 min
Thanks to technology, globalization, and demographics, just about every business today is undergoing some level of transformation. One industry experiencing considerable change is television. Viewers watch what they want, when they want, and how they want, and as a result television networks and outlets are constantly on the lookout for new ways to connect with their audience. Cindy Davis is the Executive Vice President, Consumer Experience for Disney ABC Television, and joins us today to discus...
Mar 28, 2017•19 min
John Hewitt is one of the most successful leaders in the tax profession. He founded three top tax preparation firms, including Jackson Hewitt, and more recently Liberty Tax. After leaving H&R Block years ago, Hewitt pioneered the development of decision tree tax preparation software which revolutionized the tax business. Hewitt joins us today to discuss advice found in his new book “iCompete,” including: Leadership, building culture, and exceeding customers’ expectations. Learn how the Willi...
Mar 14, 2017•21 min
Few people in the technology space have had careers as interesting and successful as Robbie Bach. In 1988, Bach joined Microsoft, where be began a 22-year tenure there; first in Marketing, then in Management, and then in Leadership. In 1999 he became Chief Xbox Officer, leading the team from its startup phase to the launch of Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, changing the gaming industry. In 2015 Bach wrote his book “Xbox Revisited: A Game Plan for Corporate and Civic Renewal,” and joins us today to discu...
Mar 07, 2017•23 min
Never before have we seen such a time of disruption and innovation throughout all fields of business. Companies, organization, and leaders must be forward thinking just to survive. Over the last decade, some of the world’s leading companies have embraced “design thinking,” leading to groundbreaking new products and services. Today, William and Mary business professor Michael Luchs joins us to discuss design thinking, the framework behind it, and how you and your organization can embrace it to su...
Feb 28, 2017•19 min
Huntington Ingalls is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of manufacturing, engineering, and management services to the nuclear energy, oil, and gas markets. For more than a century, Huntington Ingalls has built more ships in more classes than any other U.S. Naval shipbuilder. Before taking the lead in 2011, President and CEO Mike Petters was President of Northrop Grumman shipbuilding. Petters earned his bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.B.A. from ...
Feb 21, 2017•23 min
One of the toughest leadership challenges is being at the helm of a big institution. Whether civic or private, bureaucracies often move at a snail’s pace, and it takes a special leader with special qualities to drive change and improvement. Former Director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says large companies can be transformed, and explains how in his book “A Passion for Leadership.” Dr. Gates joins us today to share his advice on successful leadership. Learn how the William and...
Feb 14, 2017•19 min
Back in the day, colleges and universities focused most of their efforts on classroom education, leaving the job and career search to the student. Times have changed, and schools like William & Mary invest greatly in career development. Kathleen Powell is Associate Vice President of Career Development and works with students on all facets of career counseling, placement, and coaching. She joins us today to discuss how a partnership between the student and the career development team can lead...
Feb 01, 2017•23 min
Soft skills. Emotional intelligence. The willingness to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Companies everywhere are seeking employees and leaders who possess these qualities. Organizations are using multiple methods and approaches to teach a set of skills that improve communication, creativity and teamwork. For a number of organizations and professionals, improvisation training has become a popular method. Joyful Simpson is a California-based actor who teaches improv to businesses and professio...
Jan 24, 2017•19 min
In addition to being the number one chainsaw manufacturer in the world, STIHL produces other top quality outdoor power tools like blowers, trimmers, and edgers. The company is unique in that it does not sell its products through big box stores, but rather only through dealers who sell and service STIHL products to their very loyal customer base. Nick Jiannas is Vice President for Sales and Marketing at STIHL, and joins us today to discuss the effects company culture has had on STIHL, its product...
Jan 17, 2017•22 min
The start of a new year - a time when many professionals set new goals - and for many, one of those goals includes catching up on their reading. If finding the right book for 2017 is on your list, today’s show is for you. We spoke with Faculty and Staff here at William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business and asked them to share a recommendation regarding a book that professionals will find useful and entertaining in the year ahead. Learn how the William and Mary Center for Corporate...
Jan 03, 2017•12 min
The beginning of a new year is the time many professionals decide to take the plunge and change jobs. According to monster.com, December, January, and February are excellent months to apply for, and secure, a new position. If you’re considering an employment change in the coming new year, our guests today will help you make all the right moves. Dawn Edmiston is a clinical associate professor of marketing, and Phil Heavilin is the Executive Director of the Graduate Career Management Center at the...
Dec 20, 2016•37 min
In today’s constantly evolving business environment, companies and organizations must innovate to stay on top. The business that embraces change and disruption is the business that sets itself up for success. Sheri Bias is the owner of Liquid Talent Agency in Richmond, VA, and joins us today with her business partner Amory Holloway to discuss their new framework for doing business with actors, models and producers, and how they’ve brought innovation to the talent agency business. Learn how the W...
Dec 13, 2016•19 min
Some of the best organizations in the world have some of the best cultures. An effective organizational culture will attract the best professionals who generate world class results. One such organization is the Martin Agency, one of the top full-service agencies in the world, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. CEO Matt Williams joins us today to discuss advertising, leading creative professionals, and the agency’s good and tough culture. Learn how the William and Mary Center for Corporate Educ...
Dec 06, 2016•19 min
