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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Would you embrace the flames that would ignite within you or let the cold wind snuff it out? How would you be proud of yourself if you wouldn’t let those flames burn bright? In this episode, John R. Miles, the former Dell CIO, delves into what it means to be Passion Struck in leading into your organization. He explains the meaning of the Gardener Leadership Style and the importance of being a Servant Leader. This episode shows how bright John’s torch burns as he leaves embers of insights on...

India’s first unicorn gallops its way into this episode of Strategy and Leadership Podcast. Today, the Founder and CEO of Mu Sigma, Dhiraj Rajaram, takes us into the journey of Mu Sigma in becoming India’s first unicorn and how he leads the company to its success. He also mentions how data and information shape the decisions of leaders and why that is important. Dhiraj explains that organizations should not solely focus on making new things but also learn to create the capacity to build those...

Strategic planning goes beyond storing binders on shelves; it involves transforming intricate visions into concise one-pagers, harmonizing perspectives, and mastering effective communication strategies. Anthony Taylor, the founder of SME Strategy, is not a typical strategist. He is tough but caring, and he pushes your team to do their best. Today, he sits with us to discuss all about strategic planning. Anthony debunks myths that confine the concept to boardrooms and dusty binders. He...

1906 is making microdosing more accessible and legal, opening the door to a new era of wellness. In this episode, we hear how CEO Peter Barsoom leads the charge, reshaping industries, one drop at a time. Explore the evolution of 1906 from its roots in the cannabis industry to becoming a leader in microdosing. Peter discusses 1906, how it is about more than just cannabis. He discusses redefining microdosing, bringing up the end of prohibition and the launch of a new direct-to-consumer...

Certain situations will call us forth into leadership. Whether that's in sports, business, or life, we need to be ready for when that time comes. In this episode, Anthony Taylor engages in an insightful conversation with Maria Samson, a distinguished leader in women's rugby. Maria shares her remarkable journey ad her experiences in advocating for women in sports, breaking down barriers, and fostering equitable contributions. The discussion touches upon her leadership roles, both on and off...

Mark Steffe, the CEO of First Command Financial, leads with love and believes that success comes from putting your mission first. He also talks about his leadership principles and the company's commitment to military families. They guide military families to financial security and measure their success by what they give back. In 2022, they provided 30,000 financial plans and donated 7% of profits to military charities. First Command encourages team members to lead by example and donate time...

In today’s uncertain times, we need to take matters into our own hands. This episode’s guest is all about doing that, winning by being on offense. Former NFL and NBA executive Paul Epstein joins us to share a playbook for winning both on and off the field. He shares his 15-year career in professional sports to becoming a sought-after consultant and author. He also shares how to seize 52 opportunities a year with "Win Monday" for personal growth and success, the “head-heart-hands” equation,...

Success isn't just about products on shelves; it's about aligning purpose with every purchase, empowering communities, and shaping a healthier world. Align your mission with your product as Lisa Curtis, the CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods, joins Anthony Taylor in this illuminating episode. Lisa shares the remarkable story behind her mission-driven approach to revolutionizing the superfood industry. From the inception sparked by her personal encounter with Moringa in a Nigerian village to scaling up...

It is already challenging to sell a tangible item to your target market. How hard would it be if you are selling an invisible product? Keith Farley, SVP at Aflac, joins Anthony Taylor to share his strategies for selling something that does not technically exist: insurance claims. He explains how they focus instead on providing quality customer experience and building a healthy workplace culture by harnessing the power of current technological innovation. Keith also shares how they keep their...

We hear a lot of dystopian narratives around the rapid advancement of technology in this day and age, but we seldom take a pause to reflect on the good things that come with this evolution. Can today’s technology be leveraged as a force for good? In this episode, we dive into the world of purpose-driven leadership and sustainable innovation as Anthony Taylor engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Marga Hoek, a global thought leader on sustainable business and author of Tech for...

Leadership is not only about guiding teams but also about creating a culture that promotes creativity, empathy, and respect for each individual's story. In this episode, we have Rico Nasol, former executive at Zappos and Netflix, talk about leadership and management. From Zappos’ familial culture to Netflix’s “All-Star team” approach, Rico sheds light on the distinct cultures and their impact on personal growth within the organizations. He reveals the secrets behind building and managing...

What makes a leader thrive in the business? In this episode, we will uncover some leadership lessons from the CEO of Foot Solutions to help us traverse into the space of entrepreneurship. John Prothro is a global foot wellness retailer bringing much value to this conversation. He shares his leadership approach, the core values of leaders, and how pride is the downfall of a leader. Mark also talks about organizational learning and so much more! So, what are you waiting for? Set foot into this...

Fast-growing companies tend to develop Big Company Disease, where growth dramatically slows down. Business owners find their ultimate challenge in scaling up their business. But fear not, because in this episode, Fabrice Bernard, CTO and co-founder of Theodo Group, and Catherine Chabiron, the author of Learning to Scale at Theodo Group: Growing a Fast and Resilient Company, talk about how successful business owners are scaling through lean. Catherine, a Lean Sensei, explains how teams can...

Success begins with clarity, authenticity, and continuous improvement. Keep it simple, stay engaged, and make a lasting impact. In this episode, Jay Sidhu, the Chief Executive Officer of Customers Bancorp, Inc. shares his rags-to-riches story. He generously reveals the key principles that have led him to become a Fortune 500 CEO and a prominent figure in the banking industry. Jay emphasizes the importance of clarity, authenticity, and continuous improvement as the cornerstones of leadership,...