Learn to Lead: Recent Episodes
Abilitie
Leadership is a process, and these are the stories about the journey we all take learning to lead. On our show we talk about how people can lead teams more effectively, how organizations can enhance their approaches to developing the leaders of tomorrow, and we talk to our guests about their own journey of professional and personal development. Produced by www.abilitie.com.
Imagine being told that cars were a passing fad, that no one would want a computer in their home, or that phones without buttons would flop. In hindsight, these predictions seem absurd—but at the time, they were the prevailing wisdom.
In this episode of the Learn to Lead Podcast, we explore the surprising stories behind some of history’s most spectacularly wrong predictions. From the birth of the automobile to the rise of Japanese carmakers and the launch of the iPhone, these moments remind us of a powerful leadership truth: progress often begins when someone dares to question the consensus.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations andleadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
What if the lessons you’re learning from success are leading you in the wrong direction? In this episode, we revisit astunning insight from World War II, where Abraham Wald changed the course of military strategy—not with weapons, but with a shift in perspective. By showing that the real danger lies in what we don’t see, Wald exposed the blind spot of survivorship bias. We dive deep into what this means for today’s leaders: how chasing success stories can leave you vulnerable, how missing data skews decisions, and why learning from failure isn’t optional—it’s essential. If you’ve ever armored the wrong part of your plan, this story will stick with you. Because sometimes, the greatest leadership insight is found in what didn’t survive.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
We often treat failure as the end of the road—but for great leaders, it’s just the beginning. In this episode, we explore the hidden stories of public setbacks that led to extraordinary impact. From Walt Disney’s bankruptcy to Abraham Lincoln’s long trail of election defeats, from Oprah Winfrey’s career derailment to The Beatles’ early rejections, these stories remind us that success is rarely a straight line. If you’ve ever stumbled, doubted yourself, or been told “no,” this episode is for you.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
What if the price you put on something didn’t just reflect value—but created it? In this episode, we explore three real-world stories where pricing reshaped perception, influenced behavior, and even altered experience itself. From shirts to luxury office supplies to the world of wine, each example reveals how price can tell a powerful story. And for leaders, that story matters—because how you position value can shape how others see your product, your brand, and even your leadership.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Some problems are so obvious, we forget they’re problems at all. In this episode, we explore two surprising stories: how the tin can was invented nearly 50 years before the can opener, and why it took centuries after the invention of the wheel to finally put wheels on luggage. These examples aren’t just amusing—they reveal a deep truth about leadership and innovation. Often, the biggest opportunities are hidden in the pain points we’ve learned to tolerate. What frustrations have you accepted without questioning? Join me as we explore how fresh thinking turns the obvious into the extraordinary.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
What do a photography giant and a live comedy show have in common? In this episode, we explore how two iconic institutions—Kodak and Saturday Night Live—faced the same challenge: what to do when the thing that made you successful starts holding you back. One resisted change and paid the price. The other built reinvention into its DNA and stayed relevant for nearly five decades. These stories reveal the high stakes of clinging to comfort and the power of breaking what works—before the world does it for you. If you’re leading anything today, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Setbacks are an inevitable part of any journey, but what if they were actually the first step toward success? In this episode, hear the fascinating stories of how a failed adhesive experiment led to the creation of Post-it Notes and how 5,126 failed prototypes became the foundation for Dyson’s billion-dollar breakthrough. Discover how seeing opportunities in obstacles can transform failure into a launching pad for greatness.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
The Gold Rush was full of dreamers searching for fortune—but the biggest successes didn’t come from those digging for gold. In this episode of Learn to Lead, we uncover the surprising stories of those who found lasting success by thinking differently. Their journey holds a powerful lesson for leaders today.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development -https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast -https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
Twitter -https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making -https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
We’re kicking off a whole new approach to the Learn to Lead podcast this year. Every month, I’ll bring you real-world stories packed with surprising lessons in leadership, creativity, and innovation. For our first iteration of this new approach I want to start with a question: What do tires, trivia, and food ratings have in common? In this episode of Learn to Lead, we uncover the surprising origins of two iconic innovations born from unexpected challenges. These stories reveal how bold, creative thinking can transform obstacles into lasting impact. If you’re ready to see challenges in a whole new light, this episode is for you!
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, aleading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
After 130 episodes exploring leadership, I decided to shake things up and let technology step into the spotlight. For this episode, I used AI to analyze and learn from every conversation we’ve had so far. From those 130 episodes, the AI has pieced together its own take on leadership, shaped by the many insights we’ve shared along the way. I gave the AI tool no guidelines whatsoever, I simply asked it to summarize the key topics from this podcast, and I hit generate.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Andrea Sampson is the CEO and Founder of Talk Boutique. She joined me on the show to discuss the power of storytelling in business and in life. We discuss a structure to tell more clear stories and how some people get off track when attempting to integrate storytelling into their approach to leadership. We finish the show by talking about curiosity and what makes a story that someone will remember.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Lisa Bodell is the CEO ofFuture Think and the bestselling author of "Why Simple Wins" & "Kill the Company.” She joined me on the show to talk about why successful leaders don't fear failure, instead they fear complacency. We also talked about her process around goal setting and what advice she would have for her younger self. We closed the conversation talking about the power of curiosity and how education needs to change to prepare future leaders and professionals for the current challenges they face.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations andleadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on DecisionMaking - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensureyou get our next episode when it is released.
Rocky Garza is a keynote speaker focused on people and culture development. On this episode we talk about the power of challenging the stories we tell ourselves so that we can experience the freedom and confidence that comes with living vulnerably. We also talk about the way a leader can build a life of fulfillment and success without compromising their true self. We close by talking about the power dealing with life’s challenges with a focus on what is possible in the darkest times.
—
Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations andleadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries.
To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on DecisionMaking - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Erin Defosse is a longtime entrepreneur in the Austin area and is the founder of the Magellan School. He joined me on the show to talk about his experience as a founder and leader of early stage companies and what that has taught him about the importance of inspirational leadership.We also discuss why effective leadership begins by realizing that it isn’t about you as the leader. We close by talking about his lessons for his younger self and the importance of knowing oneself in the pursuit of becoming the best leader you can be.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on DecisionMaking - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you getour next episode when it is released.
Petra Velzeboer is a mental health expert and author of the book Begin With You. She is also the CEO of mental health consultancy PVL. On this episode we talk about Petra’s journey and some of the lessons she learned along the way. We then talk about goal setting and how to have effective (and fewer) meetings. We also discuss her advice for her younger self and the power of curiosity.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Vitaly Veksler, is the CEO of Vista Social, a unified social management tool that has almost 3 million social profiles connected through their platform. On this episode we talk about the defining moments in getting Vitaly to the place he is today and what he has learned along the way. We also talk about lessons around hiring effectively and figure out how to find balance in work and in life.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Ryan Estis is a former Fortune 500 CRO who is the Founding Partner of ImpactEleven. He is also the author of the book Prepare for Impact, and he was recognized by Meetings & Conventions Magazine as one of the best keynote speakers in the world. On this episode we talk about what Ryan means by “human centered organization” and why they have an advantage in the competitive business world we operate in. We also discuss risk taking and how two moments in Ryan’s life had a transformative impact on the person he is today. We finish by talking about curiosity and the intersection of technology and people that we are currently living through.—Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.comThe Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/Host Matthew Confer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_makingMake sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Michael Coughlin is Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC Chief Program & Innovation Officer. On this episode we talk about what it takes to run NYC’s largest youth-mentorship program, which annually matches more than 2,500 kids from across the five boroughs with “bigs” who support and advise them. We also talk about the power of partnerships and how Michael has evolved as a leader as his role has grown.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Patrick and Kathy Terry, are the co-founders of P. Terry's Burger Stand an American Fast Food Company that was named by USA Today as one of America’s 15 favorite regional fast food chains. Not only are they business partners, they are also a married couple. They joined the show to talk about the origin story of the restaurant and how they were feeling on their opening day in 2005. They also shared how they have evolved as leaders over the years, and what makes the employees that work at P. Terry’s such a critical part of the brand’s success. We close by talking about what they have learned about partnership as a married couple that works together every day. It was a fascinating conversation with a fascinating duo.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Jason Weeman is the founder of Refine Talent Development. On this episode Jason shares his journey to the world of entrepreneurship and what he has learned on the way. He also explains the power of small changes and why we don’t need drastic changes to make a big impact. We also discuss what he thinks young leaders need to do to prepare for the evolution that we all go on as we learn about ourselves as leaders.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Michael Batnick is a managing partner at Ritholtz Wealth Management. Michael is the author of Big Mistakes: The Best Investors and Their Worst Investments. He is also co-host of the Animal Spirits podcast and The Compound and Friends Podcast. On this episode we talk about Michael’s journey to the world of finance and we talk about the role of luck and hard work. We also discuss what he has learned about leadership as his firm has experienced immense growth. Michael closes by talking about the power of gratitude.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Kevin Eikenberry is the bestselling author of Remarkable Leadership: Unleashing Your Leadership Potential One Skill at a Time. He is also a contributing author to nearly 20 other books. He writes Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential, a weekly email publication that has been read worldwide since 2004. Kevin has twice been named by Inc.com as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World. On this episode we talk about Kevin’s origin story as a leader and what he learned from his time working on the farm. We also discuss his advice for leading in a remote environment and his process for writing with purpose.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Megan Galloway is the founder of EverLeader where she embarks on a mission to make our workplaces a more authentic and human place for current and future generations to thrive. She founded Everleader with the vision to change the future of work. On this episode we talk about Megan’s founding journey and the mistakes and lessons along the way. We also talk about her perspective on the role of all leaders, not just HR, to shape a company’s culture.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Bradley Tusk is a venture capitalist, political strategist, philanthropist and writer. He is the author of The Fixer and his newest book is entitled Obvious In Hindsight. Previously, Bradley served as campaign manager for Mike Bloomberg’s 2009 mayoral race, as Deputy Governor of Illinois, overseeing the state’s budget, operations, legislation, policy and communications, as communications director for US Senator Chuck Schumer, and as Uber’s first political advisor. On this episode we talk about Bradley’s recent blog post detailing 50 reflections at age 50. We also talk about how he came to become Uber’s first political advisor and how that led him to create a venture firm that is now described as the world’s first venture capital fund that invests solely in early stage startups in highly regulated industries. We finish the show discussing his philanthropic efforts and what he has learned opening a bookstore in Manhattan.—Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.comThe Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/Host Matthew Confer:- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on DecisionMaking - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Richard Newman is the Founder and CEO of Body Talk, a global leader in evidence-based communication training. He is the author of You Were Born to Speak, and his newest book is, Lift Your Impact: Transform Your Mindset, Influence, and Future to Elevate Your Work, Team, and Life. On this episode we discuss a transformational journey that Richard took at a Tibetan monastery. We also get into the details around how small communication changes can create a massive difference in the way you are perceived by those around you. We also talk about how to make the most of the opportunity when you give a presentation in a business meeting.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Deb Smolensky is the author of the bestselling book: Brain On:Mental Fitness Strategies for Sharpening Focus, Boosting Energy, and Winning the Workday. Deb joined us on the show to talk about the power of our brain, and how to think about upgrading it for the world we operate in. She also shared how training your brain can lead to more joy, engagement, and resilience — especially in the workplace.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
This week, we have a special episode. Bjorn Billhardt is the CEO and Founder of Abilitie and Nathan Kracklauer is Abilitie’s Chief Research Officer. Together, they are the authors of the upcoming book entitled The 12-Week MBA. The premise of the book is that there is a core set of business skills that entrepreneurs and future leaders of organizations can learn and will need regardless of their industry, function, or level. On this episode we talk about their journey over 20 years in the learning industry and the process of crafting the curriculum that serves as the foundation for our leadership programs at Abilitie.We also dive into the book writing process, the power ofcollaboration, and their advice for leaders at all levels.You can learn more about The 12-Week MBA at: abilitie.com/12weekmba —Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.comThe Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/Host Matthew Confer:- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_makingMake sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Art Markman is a cognitive scientist, an author, and the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. Art joined the show to talk about his role at one of the largest and most influential public universities in America. He also shared why the humanities and behavioral sciences are so important to effective leadership development. Art closed by talking about his advice for his younger self and gave a fascinating perspective on planning the future.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Andrea Pacini is the Presentation Director for Ideas on Stage in the United Kingdom. He is also the best-selling author of the book entitled 'Confident Presenter'. Andrea joined us on the show to talk about his approach to cultivate “techniques to get people to like your ideas.” He also shared his beliefs around how artificial intelligence will impact his field and what individuals can do to prepare for that disruption.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
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Somi Arian the founder of InPeak, an innovative platform enabling creators and businesses to build using AI and blockchain functionalities. She is an award-winning filmmaker whose documentary, "The Millennial Disruption," won several international awards. She is also the author of Career Fear and how to beat it. She was also honored by LinkedIn who recognized her with their Top Voices Award. Somi joined us on the show to talk about her upbringing, her leadership journey, and her advice for other leaders. She also talked about the fact that she sits at the convergence of many different transformational technologies and how leaders need to navigate a changing technology landscape.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the last three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Nicolai Chen Nielsen is a partner at the Super Trends Institute and the author of Return on Ambition and Leadership At Scale. His newest book is entitled From Malthus to Mars. On this episode Nicolai describes the future leaders will need to operate in. We discuss the 8 key mindsets from his newest book and Nicolai also shares his process for book writing and how he organizes his day to excel.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Donald Knight is the Chief People Officer at Greenhouse Software. On this episode he gives an inside look at the role of a CPO and how he thinks about the role that vulnerability plays in effective leadership. We also talk about the power of positive tension and what it takes to build high performing teams.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
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Brenden Kumarasamy is the Founder and President of Master Talk, a firm focused on helping individuals master the art of communication. He is the creator of the Master Talk YouTube channel with over 30,000 subscribers. On today’s episode we discuss the most important skills for effective communication in the workplace and what individuals can do to enhance their skills in this arena. We also talked about why being open and transparent about your own struggles and challenges can impact your team's morale and productivity.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
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Rajeeb Dey is the Founder and CEO of Learnerbly, a workplace learning marketplace. He is also the Co-Founder of StartUp Britain, a national entrepreneurship campaign launched by UK Prime Minister David Cameron in March 2011. He was recognised as one of the 1,000 Most Influential People in London by The Evening Standard and was appointed as the world's youngest Young Global Leader (at 26) by the World Economic Forum in 2012. On this episode we discuss the origin story of Learnerbly and Rajeeb’s advice for his younger self. We also talked about the perils of management, and what new managers can do to build trust with their teams.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Meridith Elliott Powell is the award winning author of many books including Thrive, Who Comes Next, and 30 Days To Sales Success. On this episode Meridith shares why she is obsessed with the word uncertainty and why she is so interested as to why business owners react so negatively to the word. She also discusses a critical question she asks clients which is: “are you standing in the way of your own success”?
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Ian Daley is the founder of Daley & Co, a leadership education and training company that helps new managers build confidence and capabilities so they can deliver better results. He is a writing contributor to Harvard Business Review and the host of The New Leader Podcast. On this episode Ian shares his path to the world of leadership development and why understanding the pressure of management allows him to better empathize with, and help, current managers.Ian also shared some of the skills and approaches that are vital for new leaders to focus on in their pursuit of success.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
David Adams is the CEO of Urban Assembly, an education nonprofit that advances the social and economic mobility of communities by offering innovative learning solutions to school districts across the country. On this episode we discuss the role of leadership and what people on the outside need to understand about the intricacies of the educational system. David also shares what he is most proud of during his time at Urban Assembly and how he thinks about decision making.
Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Michael Thatcher is the CEO of CharityNavigator which is the largest independent evaluator of US Based charities. CharityNavigator was selected by Reader's Digest as one of the "100 Best Thingsabout America." On this episode Michael shares his origin story and whatit means to follow your heart, use your head, and take action. Michael alsodiscusses his perspective on the difference betweenthought leadership and organizational leadership
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie aleadership provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations andleadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about ourhost Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
-
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
-
Matthew’s TEDx Talk on DecisionMaking - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensureyou get our next episode when it is released.
Nancy Duarte is the author of six best-selling books and CEO of Duarte, Inc. For over 30 years, Duarte, Inc. Nancy’s work has been featured in Fortune, Time Magazine, Forbes, and The New York Times. On this episode we discuss how effective leaders can broaden their Influence by focusing on adapting how they listen. Nancy then shares what most people get wrong when it comes to presentations, and what we can do to give more persuasive presentations.
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Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 55,000 professionals in more than 30 countries over the past three years. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:
Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com
The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/
Host Matthew Confer:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer
- Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making
Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.
Matthew Allen is a Vice President at CVS Health focused on Enterprise Strategy where he operates as a partner with the Chief Strategy Officer. On this episode, Matthew shares his perspective on why he disagrees with the assertion that people are “born leaders.” He also details a broad set of leadership skills that everyone should work to cultivate. Finally he discusses the leadership management quotient, which is a simple formula that has guided successful management of teams in a number of environments.
Síle Walsh is a coach specializing in leadership and organizational development with a focus on inclusion, performance, and psychological safety. With a background in coaching psychology and organizational development, and over a decade of working with clients in Ireland and internationally, Síle strives to support effective leadership so organizations can be high-performing, inclusive workplaces where people thrive, and great work gets done. Síle is a PhD researcher with Canterbury Christ Church University in Salomons Institute for Applied Psychology exploring inclusive leadership in organizations through a psychological lens. On this episode, we discuss the way Síle approaches curiosity, what initially got her interested in leadership development, and what trends she'd like to see grow and which she's less excited about. She also shares a story about the time she received feedback that inspired her to change how she presents herself online so she is more authentic and accurate to her unique approach to her work.
On this episode, our host Matt Confer shares some gratitude and reflections about what he has learned since the beginning of the Learn to Lead podcast, 100 episodes ago. Since then, we have been fortunate to share key leadership lessons with more than 39,000 listeners. Those lessons have come from world-class coaches, trailblazers of industry, entrepreneurs, and even a memory champion and an improv artist. Matt identifies a core thread that has been woven through all his conversations and gives insight into what you can expect from the Learn to Lead podcast and the team at Abilitie going into 2023.
From all of us here at Abilitie, thank you for inviting us into your ears for the past 100 episodes!
Steve Hoffman is the Chairman & CEO of Founders Space, a global innovation hub for entrepreneurs, corporations, and investors, with over 50 partners in 22 countries. Hoffman is also a venture investor, founder of three venture-backed and two bootstrapped startups, and author of several award-winning books, including Make Elephants Fly, Surviving a Startup, and The Five Forces. In this episode, we discussed the difference between innovation and truly radical change as well as how Steve's experiences in a variety of roles in the startup system have influenced his understanding of leadership. We also discussed why his absolute requirement for success in business is to hire not good but great leaders and what that means. Steve shared an exercise that you can do today that will immediately test your leadership skills and show you how to grow them, and, finally, he discussed his findings about the five forces that will influence business innovation moving forward.
Laura Gates is a sought-after executive coach, team facilitator and advisor to executives at Silicon Valley’s top tech companies, including Google and LinkedIn, as well as advisor and mentor to VC-backed start-up Founders in tech, bio-tech and blockchain. With over 25 years of coaching and facilitation experience primarily in tech, engineering, AI and machine learning, Laura’s prestigious client roster bridges industries and domains including space and aeronautics, academia, energy, finance, and communications, homeless organizations, and global women’s initiatives. Laura’s proprietary frameworks for building innovative teams and cultures to increase trust and collaboration and breakthroughs in navigating conflict have been featured in First Round’s Review and Culture Amp has featured her as a top executive coach. In this episode, we discussed her approach to building trust and strong relationships with her coaching clients as well as how she helps her clients understand their goals. She explains a bit about the lifecycle of the coaching relationship and how she supports clients when it's time for them to move on to their next goal. Finally, Laura shares how her personal leadership experiences at Wall Street firms and as an entrepreneur have informed her practice and how you can make better decisions about your development.
Dan Schawbel is a New York Times bestselling author, Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, workplace researcher, global keynote speaker, podcast host, and career expert. He has led over 60 research studies in partnership with brands like Oracle, WeWork, and American Express in his career, surveying over 3 million people in 26 different countries. Dan has also interviewed over 2,800 leaders including Condoleezza Rice, Reed Hastings, Richard Branson, Warren Buffet, and Meg Whitman. He is the bestselling author of three books: Back to Human, Promote Yourself, and Me 2.0. On this episode, we discussed how leaders have adjusted to management since 2020, what has continued to develop in workplace culture over the past two years, and his thoughts on the prevailing belief that "no one wants to work anymore." Dan shares his thoughts on how leaders can strike the best balance between bringing their teams together and giving employees the freedom to work remotely before telling a story about the best advice he's ever heard.
Jason Feifer is the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine, host of popular podcasts including Build for Tomorrow, author of the book by the same name, keynote speaker, startup advisor, and nonstop optimism machine. His goal is to help you become more resilient and adaptable in a world of constant change — so you can seize new opportunities before anyone else does! On this episode, we discuss Jason's career and how he prioritized taking risks and trying new things to grow, how his work has led him to deeply understand the Four Phases of Change, and what he's learned from top performers about moving through those phases more efficiently. Finally, he shared his best advice for learning from the people in your network and how you can use the questions that people ask you to better understand your own value.
Nozomi Morgan leads a team of experts in developing global leaders. Her team helps organizations develop Co-created Culture which she believes is the foundation for individuals and organizations to fulfill their purpose in this world. Her diverse international background — having lived in Asia, Europe and North America — gives her a wealth of experience and knowledge as a strategic partner to leaders. She enjoys giving back to the community by serving on boards such as Japan-America Society of Georgia, National Association of Asian American Professionals. She is also passionate in empowering women to find their own voice and help them become leaders in their life, work and society. On this episode, we discussed Nozomi's journey from a corporate background and "living someone else's live" to the launching and running her thriving business dedicated to helping leaders from around the world succeed. She shares how she helps leaders become more curious (spoiler: it's probably not what you think) and why it's important to get out of your head from time to time and find intentional quiet. Finally, Nozomi gives some insight into how leaders can leverage technology as a tool to build connection rather than a hindrance.
Brandi Nicole Johnson is "on a mission to help the world reimagine work so that work is integrated into our lives, instead of becoming our whole identity." Prior to becoming a coach and a tech learning executive, she climbed the ultimate career ladder in the nonprofit sector, growing from intern to Executive Director all before the age of 30. As the first company hire in the Learning and Development Organization at DoorDash, Brandi built and leads a world-class, global, learning and development team in accelerating performance so that talent can do the very best work of their careers. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the path that led Brandi from her origins in the nonprofit world to tech leadership, how she has handled pivot points in her work, and what the rapid growth of DoorDash in recent years has taught her. Finally, she shares how she handles burnout, why she has become a radically transparent leader, and what she's curious about as a leader looking to the future.
Learn more about Abilitie: www.abilitie.com
Learn more about the Invited MBA: www.invitedmba.com
Dr. Ruth Gotian is the Chief Learning Officer, Assistant Professor of Education in Anesthesiology, and former Assistant Dean of Mentoring and Executive Director of the Mentoring Academy at Weill Cornell Medicine. A leadership development and mentorship expert, she researches the most successful people of our generation, including Nobel laureates, astronauts, CEOs, and Olympic champions, to learn about their habits and practices to optimize our own success. On this episode, we discussed the process of curiosity and exploration that led Ruth to study such a broad array of successful individuals, the lessons she learned early on about exploring the mundane as deeply as the impressive, and how her studies have influenced her own style of work. Finally, Ruth explains a few key factors that all the successful people she interviews have in common and shares the advice that has the most potential to improve everyone's ability to achieve their goals.
Dr. Ken Blanchard is the co-founder and Chief Spiritual Officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies and co-author of the iconic 1982 classic, The One Minute Manager. In the past three decades, Ken has authored or coauthored 60 books whose combined sales total more than 23 million copies. His groundbreaking works have been translated into more than 42 languages. In 2005 Ken was inducted into Amazon’s Hall of Fame as one of the top 25 bestselling authors of all time. Randy Conley is the Vice President of Client Services and Trust Practice Leader at The Ken Blanchard Companies and co-author of the new book, Simple Truths of Leadership. On this episode, we discussed how Ken and Randy developed the lessons of their new book, how they see leadership show up in their own lives, and what they hope rising leaders might learn from their work. Ken shares some key lessons from his many years as a leading thinker and teacher on leadership. Additionally, Ken and Randy give insight into how they approach the book writing process and share their advice for organizations that want to better serve their people.
Jennifer Brenneman is a Senior Director of Leadership Development at MongoDB. Prior to her work at MongoDB, Jennifer worked in Leadership Development and Instructional Leadership at Teach For All. Thus far, her career has focused on supporting adults to achieve their potential through facilitated experiences, coaching, and leadership development programs. On this episode, we discussed the difference between a career built on a foundation of values rather than goals, why Jennifer isn't interested in "building a career," and why knowing yourself is arguably one of the most important skills to develop. Finally, Jennifer shares a bit about how becoming a parent changed her work and some of the misconceptions folks often carry about work-life balance.
Morag Barrett is a highly accomplished keynote speaker, leadership development expert, and bestselling author of Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships and The Future-Proof Workplace. Morag is the founder and CEO of SkyeTeam, a boutique leadership development firm, and has supported more than 15,000 leaders from 20 countries and on 4 continents achieve outstanding results by improving the effectiveness of their leadership and teams. On this episode, we discuss how she found her way (accidentally) into leadership development, what advice she'd give her younger self, and why it's so important to cultivate a sense of reflection for leaders. Finally, she shares her simple technique for staying focused on the right goals and getting the right work done.
Niiamah Ashong is the Founder of the Outliers' Edge Multiverse, a leadership expert, and a high-performance coach. His work focuses on what you can do when you realize you have a different perspective or don't "fit in" -- when you're an outlier. Niiamah's experiences working at organizations as varied as the leading global consulting firm Deloitte and cutting-edge tech companies have given him a unique perspective on what it takes for leaders to grow and ultimately achieve their goals. On this episode, we discuss why Niiamah believes it is essential that all leaders understand with deep clarity what makes them unique and the importance of differentiating between your Zone of Excellence and your Zone of Genius. Niiamah also shares a story about "the moment [he] became a Black man" and what that moment meant for his life, his leadership, and his career. Finally, Matt and Niiamah discuss how he works with growing leaders to shift from thinking about their productivity to how they can think about managing their energy.
Susan Kushnir, co-author of Decoding Executives: What They Say, What They Mean, and What You Should Do, has enjoyed a career in learning and development spanning the non-profit, public, and private sectors with a focus on leadership and people management. She has been the Head of Learning & Development at Sterling National Bank, Director of Lean Six Sigma & Director of Global Learning and Development at S&P Global, and Director of Organizational Development, Learning, Talent and Engagement for the Girl Scouts of the USA. On this episode, we discuss her advice for folks who are early in their learning & development careers, what she wishes people understood about how to get a lot done with few resources, and the lessons she's learned about what it really takes to achieve a goal. Finally, she shares some key insights about interacting with executives and how leaders can better teach these lessons to younger generations entering the workforce.
Vaishali Jadhav is a Global Leadership Development Program Designer and Facilitator at the University of Texas at Austin, a Culterati Summit Fellow, an Instructor at the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, and an all-around leadership development practitioner. Her career has followed the "red thread" of building conscious leaders in organizations like Gallup, Whole Foods Market, Indeed, and, most recently, Procore Technologies. Throughout all her roles and the time she's spent advancing leadership programs at organizations, she has maintained a focus on growing purpose-driven leaders connected to their organizations' greater missions. On this episode, we discuss how she developed her own ability to connect to heart-led leadership practices, what she means when she says that the best leaders understand their purpose, and what she's learned making the move from professional services to technology. Finally, Vaishali shares how people leaders at all organizations can adjust their practices to uplift their direct reports and connect them to the bigger purpose -- without spending any extra money or drastically upending their organizations.
Jeff Levin is a National Managing Director at a global consulting firm with over 20 years of experience leveraging passion, technology, and innovative solutions to lead and inspire teams. He was also one of Learn to Lead host Matt Confer's early leaders. On this episode, we discuss the ways that Jeff's leadership has grown and changed since his early years, how he's adjusted to manage a group of over 1,000 individuals, and how he hopes to continue growing into the future. Matt and Jeff also discuss how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has informed each of their relationships with work and how Jeff is working to maintain a strong organizational culture even as more members of his team only know each other through Zoom.
Jaimie Krause is a Senior Manager of Learning & Development at Indeed, the world's "#1 Job Site" where she oversees all learning and development initiatives for Indeed’s sales enablement professionals. With a Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Jaimie's works at the intersection of I/O psychology, talent development, and corporate L&D strategy. She designs programs and coaches people to drive personal and commercial productivity helping people who help people get jobs. On this episode, we discussed the tactical challenges and opportunities when developing leaders in a global organization, the importance of encouraging your learners to think about how skills will be applied at work, and why she thinks the senior leadership at Indeed has been successful in modeling vulnerability during COVID-19.
Bryan Clayton is the Co-Founder and CEO of GreenPal, an online marketplace that connects homeowners with local lawn care professionals. GreenPal has been called the “Uber for lawn care” by Entrepreneur magazine and has over 100,000 active users completing thousands of transactions per day. Before starting GreenPal, Bryan Clayton founded Peachtree Inc., one of the largest landscaping companies in the state of Tennessee, growing it to over $10 million a year in annual revenue before it was acquired by Lusa holdings in 2013. On this episode, we discussed Bryan’s journey into the tech world, what he’s learned about running a rapidly growing company, and being in it for the long haul. Bryan also shared some book recommendations and explained why as the CEO he still spends an hour or two doing direct customer support daily.
A senior leadership/board advisor, educator, executive coach, and bestselling author, David Nour is internationally recognized as the leading expert on applications of strategic relationships in profitable growth, sustained innovation, and lasting change. The author of ten books, including bestsellers Relationship Economics, Co-Create, and Curve Benders (Wiley, 2021). On this episode, we discussed David's perspective on collaboration, why he always asks the question "Who else should we involve in this project?", and how he helps companies build cultures of innovation and iteration. Finally, we discuss his best advice for prioritizing the most important work and why he thinks it's important for organizations to understand "prudent risk" if they want to become more creative.
Erin Diehl is a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater and The Annoyance Theatre. Erin conducts workshops across the country leveraging improvisational techniques to improve employees’ skills in corporate settings. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Deloitte, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award. She is also a proud member of The Chicago Innovation Awards Women’s Cohort and a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. On this episode, we discussed what improv has to do with the corporate world, how her first client set her on the path to make a leap into entrepreneurship, and her advice for anyone trying to manage their time wisely. FInally, we discussed why she is most proud in her career of successfully coercing over 12,000 professionals to chicken dance.
Wes Schroll is a serial entrepreneur who started his first company at 14-years old. After two small start up ventures, he wrote a business plan for what would one day become Fetch Rewards during his sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In March of 2021, Fetch closed its Series D round of financing with $220 Million led by SoftBank. Fetch is a bonafide "Unicorn" with a valuation of over $1 Billion. On this episode, we discuss some of the lessons Wes has learned along the way, how it felt for him to realize the Fetch Rewards app has more daily users than there are residents of New York City, and his trouble with productivity advice. Finally, Wes shares his approach to hiring leaders in his organization and why the two most important things he looks for are how well they understand the product and whether or not they can give and receive feedback.
Happy holidays! As we prepare to enter the new year, we thought it would be a good time to pull together some of the best advice that we received from our podcast guests in the past year. This episode includes the advice that our guests from our most downloaded episodes shared with our audience. The guests include a New York Times best-selling author, a Broadway producer, a Fortune 500 C-suite member, and more!
As we approach the new year, we wanted to share a short reflection on the time we've spent with you as listeners since we first launched the Learn to Lead Podcast only twenty-one months ago. Host Matt Confer encourages you to think a little about time passing using a short anecdote about great movies, time travel, and the moon landing (trust us!). We are incredibly grateful to get to share the airwaves with you and look forward to sharing new and exciting lessons from our guests in 2022.
Rita Gunther McGrath is a best-selling author, a sought-after speaker, and a longtime professor at Columbia Business School. She is widely recognized as a premier expert on leading innovation and growth during times of uncertainty. Rita has received the #1 achievement award for strategy from the prestigious Thinkers50 and has been consistently named one of the world’s Top 10 management thinkers in its bi-annual ranking. Rita is the author of the best-selling The End of Competitive Advantage. On this episode, we discussed her new book, Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen, and its implications for learning leaders. Rita also shared her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities of innovation and what people often get wrong when thinking about it. Finally, Rita shared what makes her optimistic and what she's most curious about heading into the new year.
Eric Pliner is the CEO of YSC Consulting, a global leadership strategy consultancy headquartered in London and focused on the styles, dynamics, and cultures that enable successful achievement of strategy. On this episode, we discussed Eric’s recommendations for effectively managing difficult conversations at work, the lessons Eric’s learned as a leader in the last year (hint: it involves constant learning!), and how he manages to keep two days each week completely empty of meetings.
Kim Kaupe is the founder of Bright Ideas Only where she has worked with Oprah, Paul McCartney, and Jimmy Buffett. Her first company, The Superfan Company, allowed her to work with everyone from Katie Perry to the Boston Red Sox. She was recognized as a Forbes 30 under 30, and by Inc Magazine, 35 under 35. She also received one of the highest offers on Season 5 of Shark Tank. On this episode, we discussed how she went from being an accidental entrepreneur to running a thriving marketing business, her best productivity tips, and how she prepares for a meeting. Finally, she shares how she’s dealt with imposter syndrome and how you can too.
Kara Goldin is the Founder and CEO of Hint, Inc., best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. She has been named one of InStyle’s Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, Fortune's Most Innovative Women in Food & Drink and EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. Kara has successfully navigated the world of large companies and startups in many industries including media, tech and consumer products. On this episode, we discussed her motivations for founding Hint and the lessons she’s learned along the way. She shares how she comes up with ideas for new products and the benefits of not going in with all the answers figured out. Finally, she shares some tips for hiring well and leading a fast-growth company.
For over two decades, Moshe Cohen has been helping people unlock their potential to negotiate more effectively, communicate more skillfully, lead more purposefully, and manage conflict more artfully. His book, Collywobbles: How to Negotiate When Negotiating Makes You Nervous, combines negotiation with emotional intelligence to help you overcome emotional barriers, apply your skills, and become a more effective negotiator. In 1995, Moshe founded The Negotiating Table and has been teaching at Boston University's Questrom School of Business since 2000. On this episode, we discussed why negotiation freaks people out so much, how you can prepare for your negotiations better, and why it’s important that you do. Additionally, Matt talks about his favorite memory from when he was a student in Moshe’s class at Boston University.
Mallory Rowan is an entrepreneur passionate about fitness, digital marketing, and building community. She has built her life around following her passions and sharing lessons along the way. On this episode, we discussed her journey to and through burnout, her personal practices to ensure she can perform at a high level without pushing herself to the brink, and we dug into what her experiences as an entrepreneur have taught her about leadership. Finally, she shares what a tube of toothpaste taught her about growing (and sustaining) multiple six-figure businesses.
As founder of The Change Coaches, LaTonya Wilkins works with leaders and their teams where human connection and cultural change really happen: below the surface. LaTonya has built a career working in HR, talent management, and learning & development at GE, Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, and other corporations. Her book Leading Below the Surface: How to Build Real (and Psychologically Safe) Relationships With People that are Different from You will be out in the Fall of 2021. On this episode, we discuss the link between empathy and curiosity, the difference between Episodic DEI and Cultural DEI, and what changes LaTonya has seen unfold in the DEI field. Finally, she shares what advice she’d give her younger self and what habits she includes in her own life to maximize her impact.
Elliott Masie is a provocative, engaging, and entertaining researcher, educator, analyst, and speaker - focused on the changing world of the workplace, learning, and technology. Elliott is acknowledged as the first analyst to use the term eLearning and has advocated for a sane deployment of learning and collaboration technology as a means of supporting the effectiveness and profitability of enterprises. He heads The MASIE Center in Saratoga Springs, NY focused on how organizations can support learning and knowledge within the workforce. He leads the Learning COLLABORATIVE, a coalition of 75 global organizations cooperating on the evolution of learning strategies. On this episode, we discuss Elliott's thoughts on Zoom fatigue (and what people get wrong about it), his take on the credentialing crazy, and his unique take on storytelling. We also discuss why Elliott thinks we're in a renaissance for learning and development and how we can all better serve our learners.
Sara Canaday's professional career spans 20 years including sales, leadership, and executive roles. She is the author of two books: You -- According To Them and Leadership Unchained. On this episode, we discuss why people relate best to storytelling, how a change of scenery supports her creativity, and what she’s curious about these days. Additionally, she shares the importance of pace-setting and why she strives to be a “pace-setting leader’.
John Eades is the CEO of LearnLoft a leadership development company which exists to turn managers into leaders. He was named a 2017 LinkedIn Top Voice in Management & Workplace. He is the author of Building the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Success and is the host of the Follow My Lead Podcast. On this episode, we discuss the importance of how you give feedback to build skills, how the best sales managers inspire, and how his leadership development work has changed (hint: it’s become more human). We also discuss his favorite ways to help sales managers teach salespeople and grow their skills.
Tina Frey Clements currently leads rpc, a consulting company that focuses on elevating the performance of companies by focusing on people engagement. Over her career she has worked with organizations such as The BMW Group on performance management, talent management, development, and training. On this episode, we discussed why, sometimes, failure is an option and what her experience was like joining rpc coming from HR at BMW. We also discuss the difference between training, coaching, and consulting and why it matters.
Bjorn Billhardt is the CEO and Founder of Abilitie, an award-winning leadership development company -- the very company that produces this podcast! In a special live-recorded episode of the Learn to Lead Podcast, we discuss Bjorn's origin story in business and how that first endeavor got derailed. We also talk about what brought Bjorn to focus his career in the education space, and the core purpose behind why Bjorn does the work he does with Abilitie and the Invited MBA. Additionally, Bjorn gives advice for early-career leaders who wish to grow their impact and discusses what he has learned from the Learning & Development industry during COVID-19.
René Carayol is a keynote speaker specializing in diversity, leadership, and culture who draws on his experiences on the boards of top British and American companies. He is the author of the best-selling business books "Corporate Voodoo" and "My Voodoo". His latest best-selling book, "SPIKE", is leading the ‘Strengths based Revolution’. René continues to facilitate and host conferences all over the world and provide board-level mentoring and masterclasses to some of the largest global corporations. On this episode, we discuss the difference between diverse companies and inclusive companies, the lessons he learned when he was first brought on the board of PepsiCo, and why he believes wholeheartedly in a strengths-based approach to leadership development.
Originally a UCLA professor of psychiatry for over 25 years, and a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer, Dr. Mark Goulston’s unique background has made him a sought-after resource and change facilitator to Fortune 500 leaders, entrepreneurs, and educators across the nation. On this episode, we discuss how his mental health challenges in college led to his work helping leaders be more influential. He also shares the importance of listening as a manager, his technique for being a better listener, and how you can improve your skills every day.
Dr. Sarabeth Berk is a personal branding strategist, career advisor, the leading expert in hybrid professional identity, and the founder of More Than My Title. She’s also a hybrid professional herself. Additionally, Sarabeth has been a TEDx speaker, cited in Forbes, and received a “Colorado Inno on Fire Award” for her innovative work. On this episode, we discuss what a hybrid professional is, the benefits of hybridity for workplaces, and how to manage hybrid professionals to maximize their impact. Additionally, Sarabeth shares the advice she gives hybrid professionals in her work with individuals and organizations.
Mark Schaefer is a globally recognized keynote speaker, educator, and business consultant. He is the bestselling author of nine books including the first book ever written on influence marketing. On this episode, we discuss how a decision to get an AOL account for work in the 90s changed his career path forever, the three things he leverages to remain productive, and his advice to non-marketers as to how they can be great marketers – and why they should. Finally, Mark explains why he thinks the world needs humble leaders and how he leads with humility himself.
Cathy Hackl is a leading tech futurist and globally recognized business leader who was included in the 2021 prestigious Thinkers50 Radar list of the 30 management thinkers most likely to shape the future of how organizations are managed and led. She leads the Futures Intelligence Group, a futures research & consulting firm that works with clients in tech, fashion, media, government, and defense implementing innovation strategies, strategic foresight, and emerging technologies. On this episode, we discuss the ethics of evolving technologies and their implications for the interpersonal aspects of organizational culture, the management future that Cathy sees and how it will be impacted by the metaverse, and what she's optimistic about in the future.
Lou Adler is the CEO and founder of Performance-based Hiring Learning Systems. He is the author of the Amazon top 10 bestseller, Hire With Your Head, The Essential Guide for Hiring & Getting Hired. On this episode, he shares how he landed in the human capital industry, why he thinks there's nothing more important than hiring, and what he means when he says you ought to hire people who are "different". As a bonus, he explains what he means when he says his leadership style is "crappy" and what he's done about it.
Scott Clary runs a global SaaS sales and marketing organization and is the host of the Success Story podcast where he interviews inspirational people, mentors, and leaders. On this episode, we discuss Scott's process for producing content and maintaining his online presence, how your personal brand impacts your ability to sell, and the importance of grit. Scott also shares how he reverse engineers his way to his goals and how you can too.
Judy Robinett is the author of Crack the Funding Code: How Investors Think and What They Need to Hear to Fund Your Startup and How to Be a Power Connector: The 5-50-150 Rule. Robinett is a business thought leader who is known as “the woman with the titanium digital Rolodex.” On this episode, we discuss why "keep your head down" is terrible advice for fulfilling your potential, how Judy recommends you use her Two Golden Questions, and how she learned she actually isn't shy (and why you probably aren't either). Finally, Judy shares what she means when she says COVID-19 hasn't really changed how she networks and why it shouldn't stop you from growing your community either.
Croft Edwards is a Master Certified Coach who has been serving an array of clients with his company Croft + Company. He has created Performance Management Process courses and accompanying one-on-one coaching sessions with over 90 leaders of the largest platinum and palladium mining company in the western hemisphere. On this episode, we discuss why the first person you must learn to manage is yourself, how he arrived at the concept of the "leadership flow", his book writing process, and what he disagrees with about mainstream leadership development.
Karl Kapp is the Director of Bloomsburg's Institute for Interactive Technologies, the founder of “The Learning and Development Mentor Academy,” and the co-founder of The Enterprise Game Stack. On this episode, we discuss what Walt Disney's planning process has to do with Karl's own career and niche, the ways that COVID-19 has forced rapid discovery in e-learning, and his advice for aspiring leaders who are new to an organization. We also chat about what he learned when one of his first bosses told him to keep his training tables spotless and what that means for the rest of us who want to be good leaders.
Amanda Slavin is a former educator with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, the #1 best-selling author of The Seventh Level, the Co-founder of creative agency CatalystCreativ, and was named Forbes 30 Under 30 for Marketing and Advertising. On this episode, we discuss what her background as a classroom teacher brings to her work in marketing, her journey to find balance in her work, and what it has been like to shift from CEO to an advisory role in her company. Additionally, Amanda shares some of the predictions for the education space now that COVID-19 has fundamentally shifted the relationship between parents and teachers.
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky is an internationally renowned thought leader in future-proofing and cognitive bias risk management. He serves as the CEO of the consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts, which specializes in helping forward-looking leaders avoid dangerous threats and missed opportunities. A best-selling author of several books, Dr. Gleb is well-known among business leaders for his national bestseller, Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters. On this episode, we discuss what you need to do with your Saber Tooth Tiger Instinct when making business decisions, how he assesses new clients’ threat profiles (it’s not the SWOT analysis), and his response to people who say they don’t have time to plan big decisions.
David Brier is the CEO/Founder of DBD International and the recipient of the Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship medallion. He is also the author of Brand Intervention, 33 Steps to Transform the Brand You Have into the Brand Need. His work has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, ADWEEK, The Huffington Post and Business Insider. On this episode, we discuss how most organizations get their branding wrong, what he'd say if he could mentor his younger self, and what he means when he says he's the "slayer of the mundane" and a "liberator of awesome". He also shares the rules that people let get in the way of their brand success and how you can avoid them.
For more than 25 years, Roberta Matuson has helped leaders in Fortune 500 companies and small to medium-size businesses achieve dramatic growth and market leadership through the maximization of talent. She's a Forbes contributor, the author of five commercially published books on leadership and talent, including the international bestseller, Suddenly in Charge. On this episode, she shares with us how leaders can handle an increasing rate of employee turnover, how she's leveraged LinkedIn to spread her message, and why her best advice for aspiring leaders remains the same after 25 years.
Jonah Berger is a marketing professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and internationally bestselling author of Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst. He has published over 50 articles in top‐tier academic journals and he teaches Wharton’s highest-rated online course. He joins us on this episode to discuss the common mistakes people make when they seek to create change (hint: they push), what great change agents have in common, and how we can all be more effective. We also discuss his career journey, the process he follows to turn his research into best-selling books, and what advice he has for current students.
Alain Hunkins is a leadership expert who connects the science of high performance with the performing art of leadership. He is the author of Cracking The Leadership Code and his work has been published in Fast Company, Forbes, and Business Insider. He joins us on this episode to discuss what's wrong with the command and control model of management, how his experience with an election loss at a non-profit organization set him on his path to studying and teaching leadership, and the Three C's you can leverage to cultivate a culture of collaboration at your organization.
Molly Fletcher spent two decades as one of the world’s only female sports agents. Hailed as the “female Jerry Maguire” by CNN, Molly has been featured in ESPN, Fast Company, Forbes, and Sports Illustrated and is the author of five books including Fearless At Work, The Business of Being the Best, and The 5 Best Tools to Find Your Dream Career. On this episode, we discussed with Molly the difference between managing your energy and managing your time as well as lessons in peak performance she learned from working with hundreds of sports biggest names.
Ron Carucci is co-founder and managing partner at Navalent, working with CEOs and executives pursuing transformational change for their organizations, leaders, and industries. He has a thirty-year track record helping some of the world’s most influential executives tackle challenges of strategy, organization, and leadership. In this episode, we discuss how people with the best intentions "go to the dark side" and how leaders can combat this by cascading a culture of honesty throughout their whole organization. We also learned from Ron why he'd rather take advice from his younger self than give it as well as what he means when he says: "You can't be true to yourself until you are true about yourself."
Andrew Tarvin is the world’s first Humor Engineer teaching people how to get better results while having more fun. He has worked with thousands of people at 200+ organizations, including P&G, GE, and Microsoft. He is a best-selling author, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TEDx, and has delivered programs in 50 states, 18 countries, and 3 continents. In this episode, we discuss with Andrew the communication superpower that comes with embracing the funny, why humor at work is more about levity than laughs, what his biggest comedy bomb taught him, and how he decided to leave his stable career to embrace entrepreneurship.
Liz Kislik is a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Entrepreneur Magazine. She is a TEDx speaker on conflict in the workplace, and has served as adjunct faculty at Hofstra University and New York University. She joins us on this episode to discuss the value and necessity of humble leadership, how she approaches coaching leaders (it doesn't include telling them what to work on!), and the practices she looks for in developing leaders. We also learn about her career journey and the one necessity she has found that allows anyone to learn any leadership skill.
Noah Rabinowitz is the Chief Learning Officer at Intel. On this episode, we discuss his career journey, the lessons he's learned along the way, and what advice he has for others looking to develop their leadership skills. Noah shared with us the three buckets they use to organize their learning strategy and how they have shifted to see the challenges of the last year as opportunities.
Nelson Dellis is a 4x USA Memory Champion, author of two books on memory, and one of the leading memory experts in the world. Nelson travels the world as a competitive Memory Athlete as well as an advocate and Alzheimer's Disease activist. In this episode, we discuss how Nelson went from someone "born with an average memory" to a national champion as well as some common memory myths. He teaches us a little bit about the Memory Palace, or, as he likes to call it, the Journey Method of memorizing and he shares what mountain climbing has to do with fighting Alzheimer's Disease. Last but not least, Nelson provides a few actionable tips to help you remember people's names the first time.
Jennifer Brown is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, diversity and inclusion consultant, and author. As the founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting, Jennifer designs workplace strategies for Fortune 500s and leading nonprofits globally. She joins us on this episode to discuss the courage it takes to be an inclusive leader as well as the benefits that come with it. Jennifer tells us a little bit about her journey from the opera theatre to the corporate world and we also discuss what everyone can learn from those who have been historically left out by the mainstream culture.
Wesley Gray is the CEO and Founder of Alpha Architects. He joins us on this episode to discuss his journey from Ph.D. student in Finance to the Marine Corps and Iraq and onward to the founder and CEO of an investment management firm. We also discuss how empathy played into his time as a Marine, why he likes to recruit people who handle high-pressure situations well, and the benefits of being a leader who eats last.
2020 was, by all accounts, rough. Our world has faced unconscionable loss and, at points, making it to 2021 seemed like a long shot. Being able to bring this podcast, Learn to Lead, to our listeners has been a bright spot in an otherwise challenging year. This community grew and along the way gave us much needed hope. In 2021, we are excited to bring you conversations with leaders of major corporations, a world-class memory champion, a well-known sports agent, and so many more. However, to kick off the new year, we aren't bringing on a guest. Host Matt Confer speaks directly to you and shares a story about hope, about resilience, about what can happen when you get back up and keep on leading. Enjoy.
Alisa Cohn was named the #1 Startup Coach in the world at the Thinkers50 Marshall Goldsmith Leading Coaches Awards and is the CEO/Founder of Alisa Cohn & Associates. Based in NYC, Alisa coaches startup CEOs, co-founders, other startup executives, and board members all over the world. Alisa's clients include Venmo, Foursquare, InVision, Etsy, Pfizer, Dell, The New York Times, and many others. She joins us on this episode to discuss why it behooves leaders to become more interesting, how to keep a startup mindset even as a company scales, and why she keeps coming back to work with leaders at high-growth companies. We also discuss how a one-time wish to catch the flu changed the course of her professional life, leading Alisa to leave her position at a top-tier corporate firm and go solo as a coach.
Michelle Tillis Lederman is the CEO and Founder of Executive Essentials and is one of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches. She is also the author of four books, including The 11 Laws Of Likability and The Connector’s Advantage. She joins us on this episode to discuss the greatest assets in the Network Age (hint: it's not data processors) and the three major shifts required for Relationship Networking. We also discuss the seven mindsets of a connector and Michelle identifies which one is the most important for maintaining connection in the era of COVID-19.
Daniel Nicholson is the CEO of NadaMoo, a dairy-free ice cream brand based in Austin. He joins us on this episode to discuss his lessons as the CEO of a fast-growing consumer brand. We also discuss how NadaMoo is making a positive impact on the environment with their focus on sustainability, how NadaMoo differentiates themselves in a highly competitive market, and what he sees as key characteristics of successful leaders.
Tara Furiani is the CEO of Not the HR Lady and former Chief People Officer of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. She joins us on this episode to discuss how the world of HR is changing and how HR leaders can command respect in the workplace. She also shares what she believes are the key responsibilities of Chief People Officers, how a diverse network can help leaders excel even further, and why she’s “cautiously optimistic” about DNI roles becoming more common in the modern workplace.
Brian Fanzo is a digital futurist and the founder of iSocialFanz. He joins us on this episode to discuss his journey to success and why perfection should never be the goal for any content creator. Throughout our conversation, we cover Brian's "Think Like a Fan" philosophy and the role of empathy, accessibility, and authentic content in a marketer’s toolbox. He also breaks down some how-to's: How to get comfortable using a variety of marketing mediums, how to create a work environment that facilitates your success, and how we can re-invent experiential marketing in the virtual space.
Aaron Lyons is the founder and CEO of Dish Society, a farm-to-table restaurant in Houston, Texas. Aaron joins us on this episode to share his entrepreneurial journey and the “unsexy” side of it. We get into the specifics of how he approached opening his restaurant from a business perspective and the role self-discovery played in his success. We also discuss how he adapted his business during COVID-19 and the struggles the restaurant industry is currently facing.
Cara North is an award-winning Learning Experience Designer and is currently the Training Operations Manager at Silfex. She joins us on this episode to discuss ways to utilize social media to benefit your professional development. We also take a deep dive into the key considerations when designing an effective learning experience and the role technology plays in modern day training.
Steven Rogelberg is a Professor at UNC Charlotte with over 100 publications addressing issues such as team effectiveness, employee well-being, and leadership. He joins us on this episode to discuss his findings from more than 20 years of research on meetings. Throughout our conversation, Stephen shares the common problems with meetings and how to address them. He also discusses ways to construct a meeting agenda and what to do after a meeting is over to ensure it has a lasting impact.
Tim Krauss is the co-founder of Mammoth Creameries. He joins us on this episode to share his story about why he went from a successful software career to founding a frozen custard company. We discuss how he helped fill a gap in the dessert market by creating a “clean” Keto ice cream brand, what it’s like to work with your spouse, and how he finds balance in his personal and professional life.
Dr. Sally Eaves is a leading thinker and writer regarding the future of technology and is a member of the Forbes Technology Council. Dr. Eaves joins us on this episode to explain STEAM vs STEM research, how education and technology go hand in hand, and what emerging technology she is most excited about being integrated into the modern workplace in the coming years.
Ashley Wainscott is the CEO and Founder of Simply Sold, an award winning renovation firm that has built a simpler and more effective construction process. Ashley joins us on this episode to discuss strategies to push through difficult times, the "trickling down" effect, and her tips for building a company from the ground up.
Shep Hyken is the author of seven books, a frequent keynote speaker, and the Chief Amazement Officer at Shepard Presentations. He joins us on this episode to discuss his tenants of a great customer experience, how he approaches hiring top talent, and the importance of not overlooking the small details.
Mike Michalowicz is the author of Fix This Next, a former columnist for the Wall Street Journal, and a Business Makeover Specialist with MSNBC. He joins us on this episode to share his insights into how a “lack of things” can become our greatest asset, how to identify your biggest problem as an entrepreneur, and how leaders can leverage humor.
Karin Hurt is the CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders and an Inc. Magazine Top 100 Leadership Speaker. She joins us on this episode to share what initially drew her into the field of leadership development and how she ended up focusing on the importance of “leading leaders.” We discuss how to get results in the workplace that last, how to prioritize your time using the "MIT" concept, and ways to create psychological safety in the workplace.
Scott Dust is the Chief Research Officer at Cloverleaf and a Professor of Management at Miami University. He joins us on this episode to discuss how the ongoing pandemic has created the opportunity for us to adopt and embrace a growth mindset. Additionally, we discuss how to practice self-leadership, considerations to take when creating your approach to leadership, and how our cognitive biases can skew our opinions of "good leaders."
Kelly McCutcheon is the VP of Training at Hopdoddy Burger Bar. She joins us on this episode to discuss Hopdoddy's approach to talent development in the hospitality industry. We also discuss how COVID-19 impacted their business and how their leadership team coordinated their response across multiple states and more than 30 restaurant locations.
Jay Rosenzweig is the founding partner & CEO of Rosenzweig and Company. He joins us on this episode to take a deep dive into his four most important hiring criteria and shares his take on the future of social equality in the workplace.
Liz Ryan is the CEO and Founder of Human Workplace. She joins us on this episode to discuss the importance of shifting your perspective regarding what a standard career path looks like. She also covers the biggest mistakes people managers commonly make, how to break the traditional rules of resumes, and the importance of risk-taking in your career.
Abraham Kamarck is the founder and CEO of True Made Food. He joins us on this episode to discuss how his hatred of ketchup led him to starting his own business. Abraham shares with us how eight years as a Navy helicopter pilot shaped his leadership skills, his experience with Impact Entrepreneurship, and the importance of practicality.
Jason Lauritson is the author of two books and an Employee Engagement and Workplace Culture Expert. He joins us on this episode to discuss how the relationship between people and their jobs is evolving. He also gives us his advice on creating relationships within the workplace, how he resets his energy throughout the day, and how to reshape your perspective on performance management.
Claire Siegel is the Founder of Nutritional Freedom and the former Senior Product Manager at Snap Kitchen. She joins us to discuss her journey from senior leader of a fast growing organization to an entrepreneurial business owner. Claire speaks to us about the importance of building trust with your audience before you launch a product and how she personally did it. She also shares her perspective on why health and nutrition are such important components of effective leadership and how goal setting and creating internal structure is vital for success.
Mike McKim is the founder and CEO of Austin-based coffeehouse and roastery, Cuvee Coffee. He joins us on this episode to talk about how his side hustle became his career. In our discussion, we cover how he balances priorities as a business owner, what it’s like to be a pioneer in an industry, and how his ego was humbled early on in his career.
Pamela Slim is an author and Co-Founder of Main Street Learning Lab. She joins us on this episode to discuss why defining your audience is essential to building products or marketing to people. In our discussion she covers her untraditional approach to creating a target market and gives us her top tips for talking about ourselves professionally and staying continually employable.
Glenn Banton is the CEO of OSD, a Veteran support organization that has helped over 1.5M Veterans over the past 10 years. On this episode, he shares how OSD helps Veterans find generational connection, why listening to feedback is the greatest factor in making meaningful organizational change, and his most important indicators of promising leadership talent.
Sally Thornton is the founder and CEO of Forshay, a firm that focuses on how people can do their best work through executive recruiting and improving the system of work. Sally joins us on this episode to discuss what kind of "criteria" you should actually be looking for when hiring, cognitive bias, the "Ideal Worker" norm, and the importance of "being basic."
Bart Egnal is the President and CEO of The Humphrey Group and author of the book Lead Through Language. Bart joins us on this episode to discuss how leaders can be intentional and conscious with their language for more clear, effective communication. He guides us through the difference between transferring information and transforming people, the importance of getting clear on your own beliefs as a leader, the problem with using jargon, and how to choose words that convey your beliefs and ideas.
Lisa Rothstein is a cartoonist for the New Yorker Magazine and the Chief Creative Officer for Drawing Out Your Genius. She joins us on this episode to discuss the power of drawings and visualization in communicating ideas. We take a deep dive into how the human brain is wired to process visual information, her top tips for leaders communicating an organizational vision, and how to keep listeners engaged when communicating in the virtual space.
Brennan McEachran is the CEO of co-founder of Soapbox, a suite of tools to help managers lead their teams. He joins us on this episode to discuss the role of managers in the ongoing employee engagement crisis, his one-of-a-kind management software, and how to make meetings an effective medium for communication and innovation.
Mario Price, Director of Coaching Education at the American Football Coaches Association, joins us on this episode to discuss his leadership journey. He reflects on what it takes to be an effective coach, how he continues to learn and innovate within his industry, and the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships on and off the football field.
Emily Ely is the Director of Special Interest Groups at ATD Austin and a coach for Noodle Partners. As a former kindergarten teacher, who now holds a PhD in Education, she joins us to discuss the similarities between teaching kindergartners and adults, micro-learning, learner engagement, and human-centered design principles. She also talks us through how she prepares for a training or presentation, and her top tool for productivity: a whiteboard.
Randy Clark, the author of two books on Management and Director of Communications at TKO Graphix, joins us on this episode to discuss some common mistakes people managers make. He also highlights the importance of understanding employee motivators as a leader, and what to look for in an employee when you're considering promoting them to a managerial role.
Paul O’Brien, the founder and CEO of MediaTech Ventures, joins us to discuss the non-negotiable leadership qualities he looks for when investing in leaders, different ways to be an accessible leader, how the media industry has shaped business, and how he defines the role of a CEO and an entrepreneur.
Matt Plummer, Founder and CEO of Zarvana, a company that helps people excel in work and life by making holistic professional development easy, joins us on this episode to talk all things productivity and work-life balance. Matt coaches us through how to get more done in less time, where to start when creating daily habits to improve your productivity, and how to approach productivity and work-life balance from a remote work perspective.
Michael Landers is the founder of Culture Crossing, LLC, a global consulting organization dedicated to finding innovative solutions for groups and individuals working in challenging global conditions. He joins us on this episode to discuss what the concept of "culture" means to him and how we can all challenge our personal cultural norms to adapt in new settings and thrive in global work. Michael walks us through Mental Models, the "7 Second Rule," and where the crossover is between culture skills and core soft leadership skills that paves the way for effective global leadership.
Dani Johnson, Co-founder and Principal Analyst at RedThread Research joins the show and takes a deep dive into the intersection of data and people. The conversation focuses on how we can leverage data to make the workplace and workspaces more human. She walks us through the importance and implications of risk-taking, tactical and strategic productivity hacks, where she sees the future of work headed with data in the driver’s seat, and how effective communication and data go hand-in-hand.
Eric McNulty, the Associate Director of The National Preparedness Leadership Institute at Harvard, talks us through the difference between “Leadership” and “Management,” specifically in the context of dealing with a crisis. He also discusses the importance of Meta-Leadership, relationship negotiation, and how leaders can become a bottleneck in a crisis (and how to avoid this). McNulty spent over a decade traveling the U.S. towards the center of crises (Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Hurricane Sandy, Boston Marathon bombings, COVID-19). He explains the evolution of leadership from the days of hunting and gathering, to farming, to the present day, and he shares with us where he believes leadership is headed.
Amrita Subramanian, an Exec-Ed lecturer of Organizational Dynamics at Wharton School of Business who has lived in 17 different countries and boasts 25 years of robust experience in multiple industries. In this episode, Amrita shares her philosophy on what the "Conscience" of an organization is and why it matters. We also explore profound ideas such as the paradox of corporate corruption and morality, the importance of leaders who regulate emotion, and, "Why do we exist?".
Daniel Menden managed Leadership Development and Training Operations at over 1400 Harley Davidson dealerships for over a decade. In this episode, Menden shares with us how he achieved buy-in from each independently owned dealership for training programs, how HarleyU adapted its curriculum for the global needs of its dealerships and new product training, and how he made the shift from a steady career to founding his own business, Mensch Performance.
Singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg joins us on this episode to talk about leadership from a different perspective: from the stage. Stephen does a deep dive into the parallels between leadership in business and being the leader of a band. During the show he discusses job satisfaction, how to receive negative feedback, his TEDx Talk, and his book. He ends by leaving us with lots of great nuggets for leaders, regardless of your industry or craft.
Allison St. John and Christina Rowe saw a need in the world to master remote leadership and leading teams from a distance, and teamed up in 2018 to found The Remote Leader Project. In this episode, Allison and Christina join us to talk about what it means to really thrive in remote work. Remote work is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, and has moved from being considered a job perk, to something of peak economic importance. Allison and Christina give us tips for successful remote work and remote leadership, how we can shift our mindsets to see the real benefits of remote work, the importance of "Macro-thinking mindsets" for remote leaders, and how remote work can actually make us all more connected than ever before.
Sean Stowers, Learning Business Partner at Pearson Learning, joins us to talk about how Pearson utilizes learning as a strategic imperative, the importance of training front-line employees, risk mitigation in developing training programs (and is it really necessary?), and his own personal learning philosophy.