Executive Access

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Melanie Stith, former healthcare executive and Founder/ CEO of Culture Wins. From attorney, to HR executive, to government relations executive, Melanie wasn't afraid to “change lanes” in her career while building broad business experience.  She shares that she recently completed a year of personal reflection and growth after transitioning from her high-powered corporate position into founding her own consulting business.  Melanie shares several specific examples about how she grew her leadership over the course of her career.  One lesson learned is how embracing vulnerability leads to authenticity and deeper relationships. Melanie is a highly respected leader whose willingness to share personal insights is not only refreshing, but will be significantly encouraging to many of my listeners contemplating their own transitions.   During this episode, Melanie and Jamie refer to the following work: Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor Does Bad News Travel Fast in Your Organization by Executive Access Podcast   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with President and CEO of Coastal Community Foundation, Darrin Goss, Sr.  He describes his work as connecting people with the impulse to do good with the ability to do good. Darrin's leadership style was shaped early as an officer in the Army.  His transition into civilian life taught him the importance of finding purpose and aligning your career to pursue that purpose.  We also discussed how he successfully holds that tension line as a leader between valuing people and driving accountability, something he describes as taking courage to get right. His insights on influence leadership are excellent.  Finally, Darrin shares the importance of staying true to your values as a leader - two of his cornerstone values are faith and family.  Darrin is a deeply respected leader who is making a big impact in the communities of South Carolina through the coalitions he builds. During this episode, Darrin refers to the following work: Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips Chief Executive Magazine   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

In this episode, Jamie speaks with long-time senior technology executive David Weiss, Operating Partner at Thoma Bravo and Clearhaven Partners.  Jamie finished the interview, turned to her producer and said, “Now that is what excellence in leadership looks like!” David says that while many leaders have a gift of natural charisma, he relies on a very intentional approach to leadership that has turned out to be a strength.  Drawing upon Eduardo Briceno's work, he advises leaders and teams to know when they are in the “performance zone” and when they are in the “learning zone.”  He describes the stages he sees companies grow through and why assessing complexity is just as important as measuring revenue.  David gives us a short primer on how private equity firms work and discusses 3 of 10 levers of scale he has identified.  One of those levers is culture and he introduces his very interesting “Energy Creator Framework” making the case that it's not enough to make sure you have the right people; your organization needs the right energy from those people.  David is an extraordinary leader; you will find yourself playing and replaying this episode in the weeks to come.   During this episode, David refers to the following work: The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action by Eduardo Briceno What Leaders Really Do by John Kotter (especially Chapter 3)   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

Energy on any team is the difference between winning and losing, the difference between second place and first place, and the difference between seeing hard things through and throwing in the towel.  In other words, high energy teams deliver great results and are magnets for talent. At Microsoft, we were told as leaders to "generate energy." That's what great leaders do.  But how do you generate energy with your team? This short video, "Generate Energy" breaks down several ways that any leader can bring more intentionality to the way they generate energy.    Jamie refers to a previous short video: 38. Be Yourself: The Power of Authenticity  

What if your biggest strength is quietly sabotaging you? One of the realizations I had in my executive coaching practice is that our biggest strengths, when overdone, show up as our biggest weaknesses.  What if these overused strengths are showing up as your team's biggest problems? Please review my 7-minute short video for ideas for identifying these potential areas in your leadership and how to take action!   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

The most powerful thing you bring to leadership isn't your title, it's your true self.  I believe this so deeply that when I was asked by an emerging leader a few months ago,  "What advice would you give for leading authentically?" I was excited to answer.  But when I tried to articulate HOW I was able to make that transition from "imitating others" to "embracing my authentic way of leading", or how I have witnessed others make the same transition, I struggled to explain it.  After much thought, I finally have the right answer and I captured it in this 5-minute short video.  Enjoy!   In this episode, Jamie refers to “The Neuroscience of Trust” by Paul J. Zak.   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Tim Solms, CEO Slingshot Aerospace. Tim talks about why culture is the #1 priority for a senior leader and how leaders need to watch out for inadvertently creating drama themselves.  He discusses the importance of “bright lines between clear roles and responsibilities” and how mastering this creates alignment throughout the organization. Tim's final reminder to us around ownership is poignant, that each of us is not just a culture consumer, but a culture creator. Tim is an outstanding operator who isn't afraid to share some of the big mistakes on his way to success.   In this episode, Jamie refers to Patrick Lencioni's “First Team” model.   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.   *Please note that in this episode, the video quality on Jamie's camera is slightly out of focus due to an unexpected technical issue. We apologize for any inconvenience and assure you that we've taken steps to prevent this from happening in future episodes.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Nina Somerville, senior tech executive and current Senior Vice President at Sailpoint. Nina shares excellent advice on how to successfully transition into new leadership roles, including learning how to rely on others, asking questions, and taking time to share your intentions. Nina explains how important it is to lead authentically and how showing up as yourself builds trust with those around you. She challenges us to “lead in any role,” highlighting that those who do this well consistently bring people together to solve problems and are quick to share success. Nina is a high EQ leader who values personal relationships and empowering complementary skill sets over enforcing hierarchical structures.   During the episode, Jamie and Nina refer to the following work: The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins Joy and Success at Work: Building Organizations that Don't Suck (The Life Out of People) by Mark McClain   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Arlin Sorensen, multiple time company founder, entrepreneur, and current Vice President Ecosystem Evangelism at ConnectWise. Arlin was a farmer turned tech entrepreneur having founded 22 companies or business units. Arlin shares how bringing the “Go Giver” philosophy into his businesses helped him create deeper relationships with customers and employees. Arlin is a man of deep faith and touts the importance of living authentically, bringing your whole self to work, which for him included incorporating Biblical principles into his business practices and speaking about his faith in the workplace. His passion for helping others master both business and legacy planning led to his creation of a Peer Groups business, a way to help leaders grow and support one another both on their business journeys and their pursuit of “success to significance.” Arlin describes great leadership as an upside-down triangle where leaders are at the bottom; “leadership is not about you.” Arlin's exceptional leadership and, in particular, his conviction about sharing his faith with others impacted me enormously in this discussion and I invite you to experience it as well.   During the episode, Arlin and Jamie refer to the following:   The Go-Giver: A Little Story about a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg and John David Mann Halftime: Moving From Success to Significance by Bob Buford Subscribe to Arlin Sorensen's Thoughts From The Farm email newsletter   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

Early in my leadership journey, I used to worry about being the leader with all the answers.  If I let on that there were things not quite figured out yet in the business, I worried that the team would get distracted, become frustrated, or (worse yet!) question my ability to lead.  Yet, I learned that people don't need perfection or to feel the illusion of perfection.  What they want is transparency.  People are infinitely more resilient than my overprotective early leadership style gave them credit for.  Join me to learn about a critical tool I developed called “the Radio is Working” for increasing transparency and building trust with your team.   During the episode, Jamie refers to the following: 10. Every View Matters, Executive Access Podcast    Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Christina Lock, Founder & CEO of Catch Talent, a technology services recruiting company. A two-time founder, Christina shares her personal growth journey in building and leading those organizations through different business stages.  She discusses what successful companies do when building talent strategies, including actively stewarding their culture around mission, vision and values. She also shares some of the common pitfalls senior leaders should avoid when hiring.  Christina talks about why community engagement is so important for leaders to invest in; she is an active leader including holding the position as Chair of the Harbor Entrepreneur Center, founder of Disrupt HR Charleston, and serving on several other boards.  We discuss how every leader and business has a unique perspective and how offering up thought leadership can help others grow and is great for business as well.  Christina wraps by sharing several personal leadership rhythms and tactics that she uses to stay close and connected with her team. Christina is an impressive, bold leader who I deeply appreciate sharing some of her challenges on the way to success.   During the episode, Christina refers to the following: ·       EOS Traction, a methodology she implemented at Catch Talent ·       Disrupt HR, a global organization for disseminating ideas that Christina and Catch Talent brought to Charleston, SC   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Flore Saint Fleur, Vice President at Avanade. Born in Haiti, Flore moved to the US and joined the Army, serving in both active duty and the reserves. She discusses the leadership tension line between providing transparency and optimism, and how this relates to her leadership journey both in the service and as a civilian leader in tech. She offers phenomenal insight into leading successfully in times of change, including providing assurance around “the why,” prioritizing clear communication, and helping people believe in the cause. Flore shares the importance of vulnerability, both in providing a team the space to be vulnerable and in showing your vulnerability as a leader. We end the discussion with the topic of inclusion and how giving back to others brings gratitude full circle. Flore is a purpose-driven leader full of wisdom, curiosity, empathy, and bias for action.   During the episode, Flore refers to the following:  Don't Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking is the Beginning & End of Suffering by Joseph Nguyen Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brene Brown Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

What makes a truly powerful leader? My answer is a bit counter-cultural. Two of the biggest qualities I consistently observe in the most powerful leaders are that they are Principled and they are Responsible.  Being principled starts with being extremely clear about your own personal values and modeling those values in all circumstances. Being responsible starts with seeking to understand first, suspending judgment until that happens.  So what are two things that Powerful, Principled and Responsible leaders do? They assume best intent and they stay in their lane (values lane that is!) Please listen to this short episode where I make my case and share practical tips for how you can truly be a powerful leader.   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Mark C. Fava, career aviation attorney and aviation manufacturing executive. Mark recently published his first best-selling book, Lessons from the Admiral, written for emerging leaders in all industries. Mark reflects on discipline and shares why it is so important to always be a team player. Mark discusses an interesting approach he has for balancing his work and life priorities, something he calls the Reserve Triangle. Mark is an excellent leader, one who consistently leads by example and prioritizes taking care of his team.   During the episode, Mark refers to the following work: Lessons from the Admiral: Naval Wisdom and Sea Stories for Leaders by Mark C. Fava Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven Beyond the Sea: Leading with Love from the Nuclear Navy to the White House and Healthcare by  Robert “Navy Bob” Roncska Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience by Terry Szuplat Engage with Mark directly at his website https://markcfava.com   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Hayden Stafford, senior technology executive and current President and Chief Revenue Officer at Seismic. Hayden has led several go-to-market transformations at companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Salesforce.com. He shares one of the keys to driving change successfully is to understand a company's metabolic rate, or the pace by which it can consume change. He describes his 3 leadership principles: clarity, empowerment, and accountability. He talks about the importance of communicating consistently and repetitively. He warns senior leaders to ensure they spend enough time IN the business, not just ON the business. Hayden wraps by talking about the human side to leadership and how important it is to focus on others and let others get to know you. Hayden is an exceptional leader and one that balances both warmth and drive. We had fun in this discussion, and I bet you will as well.   During the episode, Hayden refers to the following work: Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Legacy of Life by James Kerr Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.   *Please note that in this episode, the video quality on Jamie's camera is slightly out of focus due to an unexpected technical issue. We apologize for any inconvenience and assure you that we've taken steps to prevent this from happening in future episodes. 

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Tony DiBenedetto, technology leader and company founder, current CEO of Appspace and CEO/ Founder of Think Big for Kids. Tony discusses his mindset for fixing problems and how continuing to do so over time becomes a reward unto itself, creating a drive towards more accomplishment. Tony co-founded Tribridge and grew the company to almost 1000 people; he shares how he was able to morph and grow his skills across those company stages to continue to be the leader the organization needed and how he approaches his current leadership assignment at Appspace. Tony is also passionate about helping families, especially young people, break the cycle of poverty. He turned his feeling of gratitude for the help he received in his youth as a “community kid” into founding Think Big for Kids to help show kids the path to reaching the promise of the American dream. Tony brings a practical approach to sharing how each one of us has an opportunity to carve out time to help make things just a little bit better for those around us.  Tony's final comments around the role of empathy and caring in leadership are an excellent capstone to this episode.  Tony is an extraordinary leader, humanitarian, and philanthropist; please check out the Think Big for Kids' organization and its phenomenal impact.   During this episode, Tony refers to the podcast Think Bigger Voices.   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Dr. Brett Jacobsen, President of SAIS, long-time education industry leader, and futurist. Dr. Jacobsen highlights the importance of leaders making time to “scan for signals” externally as they plan their businesses. He discusses the increasingly important need to develop an “experience strategy” for customers and also team members inside the organization. Dr. Jacobsen shares the role mission, vision, and values play in creating a common language for organizations and how innovation is accessible to any organization, in small incremental ways or in large transformational ways. Dr. Jacobsen recently published a thought leadership piece about “10 Shifts in Education” and we had a fascinating conversation about one of them: the Workplace Shift.  Dr. Jacobsen asks a thought provoking question, “Is your employee value proposition still relevant?” and offers some ideas for assessing that.  Dr. Jacobsen is an excellent leader and gentle agitator; I always leave our conversations challenged to grow my strategic impact and I know you will as well.   During this episode, Dr. Jacobsen refers to the following work: STEEP Analysis, a framework for assessing how external factors impact a business/ organization Polarity Mapping, a tool for decision making The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality by Scott Belsky University of Edinburgh Reflection Toolkit   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

Successful leaders regularly make time for reflection and recovery. As a parent of three with a busy executive career, I've been asked hundreds of times, “How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?” I believe it's time to flip the script. In this episode, I share why that question is often the wrong one to ask.  Instead, the right question each of us should be reflecting on is, “What have I decided to do?” Juggling multiple priorities is often challenging, but we walk in power when we are clear on what our goals, priorities, and non-negotiables truly are…and then get after those choices with intensity.   In this episode, I refer to the following work: Simon Sinek's Find Your Why The Ideal Life by Mark Congdon   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

I gauge the health of an organization's culture, in part, by how fast or slow bad news travels.  No one likes to hear it, but bad news that is ignored or hidden can be deadly to an organization. When bad news travels slowly, innovation is stifled, time and effort are wasted, and morale is generally very poor. Great leaders understand that driving positive results depends heavily on identifying issues fast so that they can be resolved. In this episode, I share two core reasons that bad news is stifled in an organization and three things that great leaders do to make sure bad news travels fast instead. Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

Scaling a company through multiple growth stages is a challenging endeavor, and most founders I've met are dynamic and brave leaders. Jennifer Holmstrom, Platform Team Partner at Notable Capital, excels in partnering with founders to support them in successfully navigating these company growth stages. Jennifer and her team assist technology company founders with talent strategy, sales, marketing story, engineering velocity, and leadership development.  Jennifer recounts best practices from success stories at Handshake, Stripe, and Poshmark. She shares the keys to leadership success: growth mindset and an insatiable appetite for learning. In addition to supporting others, Jennifer is herself an excellent senior leader, describing how leaders must get 2 things right: 1) providing clarity around an exciting destination and) empowering the team to get there. Jennifer believes that both managing people and partnering are “1-on-1 sports,” requiring deep situational leadership. Jennifer is a compelling, dynamic leader who generates energy in every interaction. Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

Giving constructive feedback is one of the best ways to help people grow and keep teams aligned. Yet, many people I work with struggle with giving constructive feedback effectively - including me earlier in my career! This short 7-minute video will explain a few reasons why leaders struggle and the unintended bad consequences that occur when they don't share feedback well. Also, learn a simple 3-step framework that will positively transform your ability to give effective feedback, enabling you to do so regularly and comfortably. Jamie refers to this book, Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Joseph Grenny and Kerry Patterson. Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

Have you ever met with someone and experienced an explosion of ideas, excitement, and encouragement? I call Sig Behrens “the Spark” because he ignites in people a spirit of possibility and empowers them to do more than they imagined. Sig is CEO of Permuta Technologies, tech industry veteran (former Microsoft, Blackboard), and entrepreneur founder of multiple businesses. My discussion with Sig explores how he is able to be that spark as a leader that creates untold value and drives results. Sig discusses how his experiences early in his life shaped him, the importance of empowering your team from day one, and getting to know people - your team and customers - and their motivations. Sig shares helpful frameworks including C.I.A - challenge, interest, aptitude - to apply to career decisions. Sig is an extraordinary leader motivated by “making the news.” He consistently says that it's his team that gets all the credit for the significant success he has enjoyed. While that may be true, Sig's spark provides a gift to everyone around him, lighting a fire of achievement that builds confidence and a sense of wonder.   During this episode, Sig references Simon Sinek's Find Your Why.   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

Imagine the challenge of leading an enormous, complex system -- 50k students, 6500 employees, 85 schools -- with passionate parent/ caregiver stakeholders that also need to be served. Anita Huggins, Superintendent of Charleston County Schools, leads with a focus on valuing people, serving, leading with enthusiasm, and communicating openly even when it's difficult. She discusses leading through influence and building consensus by separating the "how" and the "what" to bring people along. Anita's desire to understand the problems leads her to fearlessly invite public feedback in ways that few senior leaders are willing to do. Anita closes by stating that leadership is an honor, and how deeply embracing that statement enables leaders to make an enormous impact. Anita's passion for improving outcomes for students and care for community members is evident in this discussion. Anita is bold, brave, and kind - please enjoy getting to know her as I did! Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

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

Dr. Chris Streck is well versed in leading in high stress environments and shares his approach that hinges on preparedness and teamwork.  Dr. Streck believes in the uncomfortable practice of inviting review and feedback so that improvements are made rapidly in the pursuit of positive patient outcomes. He likens his role as a leader to that of a coach, listening and fine-tuning, and how being a great coach starts with really knowing your team members. He shares his approach for hiring residents including the most important qualities he looks for. Dr. Streck is also a leader on the national stage, stepping into influence leadership to work across teams in his passion for research that will help prevent injuries in children and keep them safe. Dr. Streck is an unbelievably accomplished and humble leader, a true role model for others in any industry.   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

Elizabeth Burwell is able to come across as both Warm and Strong at the same time, something many leaders strive to emulate but few are able to master. Listeners will get an insider look at how she is able to strike this balance, walking in confidence while truly understanding that how you make people FEEL is key to followership. Elizabeth discusses the value of direct communication, especially when it is difficult. She shares the importance of being curious, recognizing that there is always more to learn, and how important it is to see others in the same way. Elizabeth is an extraordinary leader who boldly shares what is usually unspoken in business settings, what is at the core of her leadership doctrine…the power of love.   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

Captain Thomas describes the USS Carl Vinson as a "City at Sea," with 5,000 sailors and all the complexity and functions required to power a city. As Commanding Officer, he is responsible for leading the entire operation. He explains how he leads a diverse group of senior leaders and the communication frameworks he asks them to use, particularly in high-stakes situations—What, So What, Now What.   We discuss the importance of strong cross-team leadership, emphasizing his constant reminder that "anything affects everything on an aircraft carrier." Captain Thomas excels at simplifying complex conditions and communicating the mission clearly to his sailors, focusing on two main priorities: 1) combat readiness and 2) quality of life and service aboard the ship.   He also shares insights about his career journey and his commitment to mentoring and growing future leaders within his organization. Listeners will gain a deep appreciation for the leadership skills Captain Thomas has developed during his time in the Navy and will find his insights immediately applicable to their own industries.   During the episode, Captain Thomas refers to the following work: Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything by Stephen Covey Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

Marc joined architecture firm, LS3P Associates LTD as an intern over 25 years ago because it provided him a phenomenal opportunity to learn and grow. Today he is the firm's CEO and still views change as an opportunity to advance personally, advance projects, and advance processes. Marc shares excellent advice for early in career listeners including to just "be a sponge" and the importance of focusing on making a contribution. He shares how critical it is to lead by empowering others, helping people "find their edges." He shares his philosophy on building great teams (Right People, Right Project, Right Reason) and how to make your company vision and values come to life every day. Marc is an exceptional, others' focused leader who finds joy in supporting his team and family in reaching their goals.   During the episode, Marc refers to the following work: The Way of the Shepherd by Dr. Kevin Leman and Bill Pentak Think Like a Horse by Grant Golliher   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

Maureen Beauregard took over as President and CEO of Easterseals NH and VT at the start of COVID and, rather than hunkering down to weather the storm, she pursued a new strategic plan and took control with her team, growing mission impact from ~$100M to $140M in 5 short years. Maureen discusses a commitment to doing what's right even when it's hard, not letting fear get in the way. She discusses bringing a deep focus on business planning to uplevel the historic non-profit model and the power of seeking out input from the team on the front lines, creating conditions for them to feel appreciated, seen, and heard. Maureen is a bold leader whose north star is always to improve the conditions for those the organization serves. She is an excellent example of how bridging deep business expertise with personal passion can create extraordinary mission impact.   To learn more about Easterseals NH and VT, and to support the work, please visit: Easterseals New Hampshire (eastersealsnh.org)   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.   

Google President of North America, Michael Clark, discusses his leadership journey through his career at both Microsoft and Google including key moments of learning and growth. He provides several practical frameworks for listeners to use for communicating with excellence, leading through change, and building strong teams. Michael describes himself as a lifelong learner and coaches his team and himself to be students of customers' businesses. Michael is the type of leader people want to follow - principled, highly respected, and generous; Executive Access is grateful for the time and wisdom he shares.    During the episode, Michael refers to the following work: Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath Good to Great by Jim Collins The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

2-time NCAA Division 1 Champion Men's Soccer Coach, Mike Noonan, has an unbelievable winning record, consistently transforming teams into champions. Jamie asks Mike to share his method for success which centers around creating a strong shared mission, practicing team values, and recruiting players to a set of standards that speak to the inherent qualities of the players on and off the field. Mike is a lifelong learner and calls himself “a grinder”; he is strong, principled, and kind. Mike's leadership success and principles can be immediately applied to athletics, business, education, or any industry.    During the episode, Jamie and Mike refer to the following work: The Captain Class: A New Theory of Leadership by Sam Walker Growth Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck Outward Mindset by Arbinger Institute Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

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

The best leaders are always noticing how their actions and behaviors affect those around them. Strong leaders are master influencers and recognize they can control the way they are perceived by others, and this is very powerful in driving desired outcomes. This episode introduces a model - Warmth and Strength - for leaders to self-assess their impact on others and take action to shift their behaviors to maximize their influence. Amy Cuddy - Your body language may shape who you are - https://youtu.be/Ks-_Mh1QhMc?si=oNoZuw1pWgWjAZTo  Connect, Then Lead - Harvard Business Review, Amy Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, and John Neffinger -  https://hbr.org/2013/07/connect-then-lead    

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

In this short video, Jamie describes the power of building a Growth Mindset for businesses and individuals. Growth Mindset cultures exhibit high innovation, resilience, and empowerment.  Jamie defines a Growth Mindset and compares it to its counterpart, the Fixed Mindset. She shares a case study about how Microsoft transformed its culture using Growth Mindset principles and gives practical examples of how you can immediately start practicing a Growth Mindset today.    During the episode, Jamie refers to the following work: Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset – link to the book here Acquired Podcast with Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal - April 21 and July 21 Microsoft Volumes I and II Neuroleadership Institute - The Essentials of Growth Mindset   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.   

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Rachel Lee, Sales & GTM at Hex. Rachel is a bit earlier in career than other Executive Access guests but she has powerful insights to share.  Early in career listeners will get advice to immediately implement to create success.  Senior leaders will be reminded of how the way they show up for others matters and determines their ability to retain top talent.  Rachel talks about how she was able to differentiate herself early in her career, what she learned by observing senior leaders, and what would have made her stay at a company versus leaving for another position. Rachel is “on her way up” and you will understand why as she gives us much to ponder about our leadership impact.   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Paula Hodgins, Head of Global Sales, Service, and Customer Success, Tanzu Division of VMware by Broadcom.  Paula is well-known as a highly principled leader, committed to always doing the right thing, even when it is hard.  She talks about the power of creating clarity for your team, avoiding a leadership echo chamber, and guiding your team through significant change.  Paula's style is both warm and direct, an incredibly rare and inviting combination.   During the episode, Jamie and Paula refer to the following work: Stephen Covey - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Paula Hodgins -  “Avoiding the Leadership Echo Chamber”   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Mike Carter, CEO and Founder of eGroup Enabling Technologies, a leading provider of IT solutions and an award-winning Microsoft Services Partner. Jamie began working with eGroup Enabling Technologies around the start of the pandemic and noticed a culture of deep resiliency and customer obsession.  Mike shares how his leadership has evolved in the 25 years since founding eGroup and also the fundamentals and values that have never changed. Mike discusses his belief that improvement comes from committed consistency and the power of resourcefulness. Lately, Mike is spending more of his time contemplating the vision for his organization and breaks down how he is doing that, including the way he communicates within his organization.  Mike is a thoughtful and intentional leader who has incredible wisdom to share.   During the episode, Jamie and Mike refer to the following work: E.L. Doctorow - “Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” Arbinger Institute - The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves Daniel Pink - Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Head of Global Sales for Armor and former Microsoft leader, Derek Boxdell. Jamie has long admired Derek's deep self-awareness and pursuit of growth. Derek openly shares his professional development journey including learning to use his voice and stepping into authentic leadership…something he calls “moving from professional Derek to inviting others to meet him.”  Derek demonstrates his strength as a leader by sharing his vulnerabilities and, in so doing, provides a true gift to listeners experiencing similar challenges.   During the episode, Jamie and Derek refer to the following work: Deion Sanders Elevate and Dominate: 21 Ways to Win On and Off the Field Derek Boxdell's Security expert articles (for our security enthusiast listeners!) Back to the Basics of Cybersecurity Containers & Cybersecurity: Automation is Key Containerization: The Need to Know   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Trident Construction President, Tim Kennedy. When Jamie met the team at Trident Construction, she was amazed at the incredible culture of customer obsession and profound care. Tim shares how that culture was created and how he stewards it now as the organization is growing so rapidly.  He discusses the importance of hiring slowly, the power of trust, and the three core attributes that he looks for in highly successful team members. Tim is a strong, humble leader who doesn't shy away from sharing his mistakes and learning on the way up from entry level employee out of college to now leading the entire organization.     During the episode, Jamie and Tim refer to the following work: Andy Stanley - The Importance of Trust in Leadership Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset work – link to the book here   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Salesforce.com Executive Vice President, Connor Marsden. Connor is a confident and bold leader who is always pushing himself and his team to think differently and try new things to achieve outsized results. Connor talks about the power of curiosity and the willingness to be wrong. He shares how he values authentic leadership and some great tips for achieving that through communicating effectively. Working with Connor is always exciting, and listeners will get insider access to how and why he leads the way he does. Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

In this episode, Jamie speaks with Maureen Daily, senior educator and former middle school Principal at Porter-Gaud School. Jamie describes Maureen as one of the best storytellers and communicators she has experienced. Maureen breaks down how she prepares for giving a presentation and the importance of knowing your audience.  She discusses authentic leadership and the power of setting guiding principles when influencing teams to act. Maureen is humorous and full of great wisdom. During the episode, Jamie and Maureen refer to the following work: Warmth and Competence Model – Harvard Business School “Connect, Then Lead” by Amy J.C. Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, and John Neffinger The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves by The Arbinger Institute – link to book here   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community, and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.  

In this inaugural episode, Jamie shares an inspiring conversation with Dave Willis, former Corporate Vice President at Microsoft and current Board Director and Advisor. Dave speaks about the importance of a commitment to excellence, focusing on impact over activities, and keeping score. Dave reflects on his career journey and some key learnings along the way. Dave is an accomplished technology senior leader with incredible wisdom to share with leaders of all levels.   Dave Willis is a Technology Industry Board Director and Advisor.  Follow Dave on LinkedIn   During the episode, Jamie and Dave refer to the following work: Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset work – link to the book here Warmth and Competence Model – Harvard Business School “Connect, Then Lead” by Amy J.C. Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, and John Neffinger The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves by The Arbinger Institute – link to book here   Executive Access is produced by The Ideal Life, a platform that provides coaching, community and content for people to grow both personally and professionally.