Have you ever met with someone and experienced an explosion of ideas, excitement, and encouragement? I call Sig Behrens “the Spark” because he ignites in people a spirit of possibility and empowers them to do more than they imagined. Sig is CEO of Permuta Technologies, tech industry veteran (former Microsoft, Blackboard), and entrepreneur founder of multiple businesses. My discussion with Sig explores how he is able to be that spark as a leader that creates untold value and drives results....

Imagine the challenge of leading an enormous, complex system -- 50k students, 6500 employees, 85 schools -- with passionate parent/ caregiver stakeholders that also need to be served. Anita Huggins, Superintendent of Charleston County Schools, leads with a focus on valuing people, serving, leading with enthusiasm, and communicating openly even when it's difficult. She discusses leading through influence and building consensus by separating the "how" and the "what" to bring people along....

One of the most important leadership skills is communicating effectively to a variety of audiences. This short 11-minute video will share 3 simple practices that you can use immediately to improve the way you communicate; tell them where you are going, say it simply, and "so what, who cares." Also, learn why fixing your team's problems is less important than demonstrating that you understand them.   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching,...

Dr. Chris Streck is well versed in leading in high stress environments and shares his approach that hinges on preparedness and teamwork.  Dr. Streck believes in the uncomfortable practice of inviting review and feedback so that improvements are made rapidly in the pursuit of positive patient outcomes. He likens his role as a leader to that of a coach, listening and fine-tuning, and how being a great coach starts with really knowing your team members. He shares his approach for hiring...

Elizabeth Burwell is able to come across as both Warm and Strong at the same time, something many leaders strive to emulate but few are able to master. Listeners will get an insider look at how she is able to strike this balance, walking in confidence while truly understanding that how you make people FEEL is key to followership. Elizabeth discusses the value of direct communication, especially when it is difficult. She shares the importance of being curious, recognizing that there is always...

Captain Thomas describes the USS Carl Vinson as a "City at Sea," with 5,000 sailors and all the complexity and functions required to power a city. As Commanding Officer, he is responsible for leading the entire operation. He explains how he leads a diverse group of senior leaders and the communication frameworks he asks them to use, particularly in high-stakes situations—What, So What, Now What.   We discuss the importance of strong cross-team leadership, emphasizing his constant reminder...

Marc joined architecture firm, LS3P Associates LTD as an intern over 25 years ago because it provided him a phenomenal opportunity to learn and grow. Today he is the firm's CEO and still views change as an opportunity to advance personally, advance projects, and advance processes. Marc shares excellent advice for early in career listeners including to just "be a sponge" and the importance of focusing on making a contribution. He shares how critical it is to lead by empowering others, helping...

Maureen Beauregard took over as President and CEO of Easterseals NH and VT at the start of COVID and, rather than hunkering down to weather the storm, she pursued a new strategic plan and took control with her team, growing mission impact from ~$100M to $140M in 5 short years. Maureen discusses a commitment to doing what's right even when it's hard, not letting fear get in the way. She discusses bringing a deep focus on business planning to uplevel the historic non-profit model and the power...

Google President of North America, Michael Clark, discusses his leadership journey through his career at both Microsoft and Google including key moments of learning and growth. He provides several practical frameworks for listeners to use for communicating with excellence, leading through change, and building strong teams. Michael describes himself as a lifelong learner and coaches his team and himself to be students of customers’ businesses. Michael is the type of leader people want to...

2-time NCAA Division 1 Champion Men’s Soccer Coach, Mike Noonan, has an unbelievable winning record, consistently transforming teams into champions. Jamie asks Mike to share his method for success which centers around creating a strong shared mission, practicing team values, and recruiting players to a set of standards that speak to the inherent qualities of the players on and off the field. Mike is a lifelong learner and calls himself “a grinder”; he is strong, principled, and kind. Mike’s...

We think that focusing first on our own goals and needs is the best way to achieve results. However, a much more powerful approach flips that script and is something Jamie calls “First THEM, then (and only then) You.”  The most powerful leaders are those who practice an Outward Mindset to learn, create value, and make connections for others, their organizations, and ultimately themselves.   During the episode, Jamie refers to the following work: Outward Mindset by Arbinger Institute Every...

The best leaders are always noticing how their actions and behaviors affect those around them. Strong leaders are master influencers and recognize they can control the way they are perceived by others, and this is very powerful in driving desired outcomes. This episode introduces a model - Warmth and Strength - for leaders to self-assess their impact on others and take action to shift their behaviors to maximize their influence. Amy Cuddy - Your body language may shape who you are...

Each of us in an organization has a unique view out our window and every view is important. Often, early in our career we don't think that our ground floor view is too special. Later in our careers, we miss those earlier floor views, but we don't often go back and seek them out.  Truly powerful people in any organization are the ones that understand the power of their unique view AND learn how to seek out the views of others. This short, 8-minute video will give you a new perspective on the...

In this short video, Jamie describes the power of building a Growth Mindset for businesses and individuals. Growth Mindset cultures exhibit high innovation, resilience, and empowerment.  Jamie defines a Growth Mindset and compares it to its counterpart, the Fixed Mindset. She shares a case study about how Microsoft transformed its culture using Growth Mindset principles and gives practical examples of how you can immediately start practicing a Growth Mindset today.    During the episode,...

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Rachel Lee, Sales & GTM at Hex. Rachel is a bit earlier in career than other Executive Access guests but she has powerful insights to share.  Early in career listeners will get advice to immediately implement to create success.  Senior leaders will be reminded of how the way they show up for others matters and determines their ability to retain top talent.  Rachel talks about how she was able to differentiate herself early in her career, what she learned...

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Paula Hodgins, Head of Global Sales, Service, and Customer Success, Tanzu Division of VMware by Broadcom.  Paula is well-known as a highly principled leader, committed to always doing the right thing, even when it is hard.  She talks about the power of creating clarity for your team, avoiding a leadership echo chamber, and guiding your team through significant change.  Paula’s style is both warm and direct, an incredibly rare and inviting combination.   ...

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Mike Carter, CEO and Founder of eGroup Enabling Technologies, a leading provider of IT solutions and an award-winning Microsoft Services Partner. Jamie began working with eGroup Enabling Technologies around the start of the pandemic and noticed a culture of deep resiliency and customer obsession.  Mike shares how his leadership has evolved in the 25 years since founding eGroup and also the fundamentals and values that have never changed. Mike discusses his...

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Head of Global Sales for Armor and former Microsoft leader, Derek Boxdell. Jamie has long admired Derek’s deep self-awareness and pursuit of growth. Derek openly shares his professional development journey including learning to use his voice and stepping into authentic leadership…something he calls “moving from professional Derek to inviting others to meet him.”  Derek demonstrates his strength as a leader by sharing his vulnerabilities and, in so doing,...

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Trident Construction President, Tim Kennedy. When Jamie met the team at Trident Construction, she was amazed at the incredible culture of customer obsession and profound care. Tim shares how that culture was created and how he stewards it now as the organization is growing so rapidly.  He discusses the importance of hiring slowly, the power of trust, and the three core attributes that he looks for in highly successful team members. Tim is a strong, humble...

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Salesforce.com Executive Vice President, Connor Marsden. Connor is a confident and bold leader who is always pushing himself and his team to think differently and try new things to achieve outsized results. Connor talks about the power of curiosity and the willingness to be wrong. He shares how he values authentic leadership and some great tips for achieving that through communicating effectively. Working with Connor is always exciting, and listeners will...

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Maureen Daily, senior educator and former middle school Principal at Porter-Gaud School. Jamie describes Maureen as one of the best storytellers and communicators she has experienced. Maureen breaks down how she prepares for giving a presentation and the importance of knowing your audience.  She discusses authentic leadership and the power of setting guiding principles when influencing teams to act. Maureen is humorous and full of great wisdom. During the...

In this inaugural episode, Jamie shares an inspiring conversation with Dave Willis, former Corporate Vice President at Microsoft and current Board Director and Advisor. Dave speaks about the importance of a commitment to excellence, focusing on impact over activities, and keeping score. Dave reflects on his career journey and some key learnings along the way. Dave is an accomplished technology senior leader with incredible wisdom to share with leaders of all levels.   Dave Willis is a...