Change Leaders: Recent Episodes
Moshe
Join me as I sit down with influential Change Leaders who understand how to successfully strategize and implement change in organizations large and small. Whether you work for a Fortune 500, a small business, a government organization, or even a non-profit, the ability to successfully navigate yourself and your organization through change is vital in today’s fast paced technologically driven world.
Levelhead’s CEO, Saundra Schrock, Ph.D., has had a dynamic and wildly successful career in the financial services industry. From her career beginnings as a bank teller to her role as Executive Vice President of J.P. Morgan Chase, Saundra credits much of her success to embracing the main tenets and practices of mindfulness. The dramatic impact these practices had on her life ignited her passion for sharing the practice with as many people as possible.
Buddy is President & CEO at Soles4Souls, a not for profit global social enterprise creating opportunity through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing around the world.
From 2009-2012, he was President/COO of EBS Executive Business Services, a holding company that includes RTM Networks, StarKart and the NALA. • StarKart and NALA provide online and offline advertising to local businesses in the US and Canada. • RTM provides professional and personal development networks for university alumni and membership organizations.
Prior to co-founding RTM, Buddy was the Young Presidents’ Organization Chief Network Officer. In that role from 2002-09, he focused on finding new and innovative ways to connect more than 20,000 business leaders from around the world to address business and personal issues. YPO is an education organization with more than 20,000 member CEOs in 100+ countries.
Before returning to YPO for the third time, Mr. Teaster was President of ClickPatrol, an online advertising management company, which he and his partners sold in 2002. Previously, he was with Knowledge Builder, where he was co-founder and President/CEO.
Before launching his entrepreneurial career in 1998, he spent the last three years of a seven-year stint at YPO as Executive Director and COO.
Buddy graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Religious Studies and French from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia USA. He then earned a MA/MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas USA.
Buddy is a dedicated ultra runner focusing on 50k, 50 mile and 100 mile trail runs.
Always wanted a coaching session from a professional athlete? Here is your chance. Come sit down with James Lakes IV, a former professional basketball player, current corporate athlete, family man, and Greek Island enthusiast. James Lakes Bio: The journey from being a sports athlete to a business athlete has been an incredibly energizing, enlightening, and empowering one!
Combining the skills and learnings from countless hours in the gym, classroom, and various training sessions really lit up my passion for learning. Learning is growing, growing is a big part of life, and bringing value to others makes it all worthwhile. The words Change and Transformation are often used interchangeably but I've adopted the following after reading The Primes, "Change fixes the past. Transformation creates the future." They are not mutually exclusive and depending on what your focus is, you need to adopt different game plans and schemes to be successful with either.
Anyone who knows me knows that TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) is not just a slogan but a way of life. Building strong teams and developing environments where they can perform at consistently high levels is my fuel. Having purposeful goals, being mindful of consistency, providing clarity, and building positive energy are all core attributes of strong teams. It takes practice. I'm constantly looking for opportunities to practice my craft.
After nearly two years as a Chief Transformation Officer, I took on a new role as a Regional Growth Director for Healthcare. The Growth element is focused on (1) Growth of our people and teams to be world-class value creators for healthcare providers and consumers, (2) Growing our impact and brand across the healthcare ecosystem, and (3) growing our revenue and business using #1 and #2 as the fuel.
Every Partnership, like every relationship, is an imperfect union and orchestrating them like any good Point Guard it is daily work for me.
We work feverishly to score points that Change and Transform what we do by focusing on doing the Right Thing, the Right Way, Every Single Day. Want to play or build an imperfect union then find me at jlakes@vmware.com or james.lakes@live.com. Ever considered going to the Greek islands? James Lakes’ Greek Island Rentals can be found here: https://holiday-naxos.com
Come sit down with Dr. Mary Kay Vona—retired EY partner, adjunct Vanderbilt Professor, Zumba instructor extraordinaire, and Chair of the Akhilah Davis College board—as we talk transformation and change in the time of Covid. *If you want to learn more about Akhilah Davis College and their important work, helping to rebuild some of Africa’s most fragile economies by educating women to allow them to enter the workforce, please visit, www.akilahinstitute.org or you can follow them on Facebook or Instagram by searching for Akhilah Institute. You can also reach out to Dr. Vona personally for more information at marykay.vona@yahoo.com————————————————————————————————
Dr. Mary Kay Vona brings over 35 years of industry and consulting expertise. She has a unique combination of practice leadership, strategy, innovation, change management, business transformation and talent strategy experience. During her time as an EY Partner, where she recently retired, Mary Kay led the region for FSO People Advisory Services (PAS) focused on business and workforce transformation, talent, change management and the human capital agenda for financial services clients. She also was the founding member of EY’s Learning Services practice, creating the initial business case, resource model, service offering while supporting the acquisition of a leading digital learning organization. She established extensive relationships throughout the industry and has an immense passion for the consulting profession, client service, change management, diversity and people development.
Prior to joining EY, Mary Kay held similar leadership roles at Price Waterhouse/PWCC/IBM for over 22 years and has served many industries including Media & Entertainment, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Power & Utilities, Communications and Telco. At IBM, she was Partner and Practice Area Leader for the Human Capital Management Practice in the firm’s communication sector. She was IBM’s Global Learning Partner, driving learning solutions, client relationships, staff development and thought leadership around the globe. After departing IBM, she served as Executive Vice President for Aon Consulting’s Southeast Region practice where she was responsible for client service, people development and the region’s operations.
Outside of work, Mary Kay serves on the Advisory Board for The World Institute of Action Learning (WIAL) and after serving for several years as a Board Member of The Akilah Institute, was elected Board Chair in 2020. She also served on the advisory board for the Florida Holocaust Museum. Mary Kay is also an adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University where she teaches Consultation Skills course to graduate students and Strategy/Analytics to doctoral students. She also spends that extra energy on weekends teaching ZUMBA and Hip Hop.