Leadership and Business

Networking. Love it or hate it, networking is required if you're looking to land a new job in this unusual employment market, or if you want to grow and progress in your career. Many people feel somewhat uncomfortable networking, and if that sounds like you, it might be time to examine the approach you take to networking. Inga Carboni is a professor of management at the William & Mary School of Business. An author and award-winning instructor, she's an expert in strategic networking. She joins us today to define strategic networking, and how you can network effectively inside and outside your organization.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

The Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary has been in the spotlight lately generating media coverage by the Wall Street Journal and others thanks to its current exhibition, Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine. The exhibition, running through June 1st,  displays Michelangelo's early drawings of the famous frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. Organizations like the Muscarelle are part museum, part art gallery, and part business. David Brashear is the director of the Muscarelle Museum. After earning his MBA from Harvard Business School, he worked in the private sector as an entrepreneur, division manager, and consultant. And he uses his business experience to lead the museum. He joins us today to talk about the Michelangelo exhibition, leadership, and the business of museums.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

If there's one constant in business, it's change. Thanks to globalization, competition, AI, and other factors, change comes at us continuously. And while adapting to change is a challenge for many, change management is a critically important component of leadership. If not done correctly, employees, teammates, and customers will refuse to buy in. David Long is a professor of management at the William & Mary School of Business. He teaches change management to students, working professionals, and leaders. He says in order to effectively introduce and manage change, and make it stick, leaders should become familiar with the change management models that have proven to be effective. He joins us today to share an overview of the models, and to discuss the strategy and tactics behind successful change management. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Every spring, the MBA program at the William & Mary School of Business presents the Principled Achievement Award to a leader who best embraces and demonstrates the tenets of principled achievement. Previous winners include the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Sean McDermott; and AnnaMaria DeSalva, global chairman of Burson, the global communication company. The Principled Achievement Award winner is the leader who values people, diversity of thought, empathy, humility, integrity and success. This year's winner is Michael Medline, CEO of Empire Company and Sobeys Inc – Canada's second largest retailer, whose key businesses include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, and others. Medline joins us to discuss principled achievement, leadership, and how doing things the right way is the only way.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Have you ever avoided interacting with a colleague because the two of you see the world very differently? You know the conversation will be frustrating, so you just go another way. That, in its most basic form, is an example of polarization. We tend to think of polarization in politics: two parties divided and at two distant extremes. But polarization takes place at work. Our guest says it not only affects behavior, but it harms innovation, collaboration, and success. Phil Wagner is a professor of Organizational Behavior at the William & Mary School of Business. He says while we live in divisive times - and research indicates it's getting worse - leaders and professionals need to understand polarization, and takes steps to get people talking.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

November of 2022: That's when the Large Language Model ChatGPT was introduced. Professionals everywhere started to take notice of, and adopt, the technology. Now, just two years later, we have a number of LLMs at our disposal, including Copilot, Perplexity, Claude, Genesis and DeepSeek. In January, DeepSeek R1 was introduced. Developed by a Chinese Artificial Intelligence startup, DeepSeek has quickly become popular across the world. Monica Tremblay is a professor of Operations and Information Systems Management at William & Mary's School of Business. She's a top scholar and researcher who was a systems analyst at Exxon Mobile before starting her career in academia. She joins us on the podcast to discuss DeepSeek, what makes it different from other LLMs, and where the technology may take us. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Few businesses have experienced the amount and type of change college athletics has experienced recently. It started when NIL was introduced, which gives college athletes the rights to control and profit from their name, image, and likeness. Now, some of the very best college athletes in the country are earning seven figures. Meanwhile, the transfer portal - which allows student athletes to easily move from one college team to another - has dramatically changed college athletics. And the changes keep coming. Brian Mann is director of athletics at William & Mary. A former college quarterback, he was senior associate athletics director at University of California, Berkeley before coming to William & Mary. He joins us to talk about NIL, revenue sharing, and the significant changes taking place in college athletics.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

It seems wherever you go, working professionals and companies are talking and strategizing about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and ChatGPT. And many of those conversations have taken place fairly recently. But before all the buzz, way back in 2016, Ai Spark began researching ways machine learning could intersect with finance. Now the organization uses a technology and people approach for credit risk analysis. Matt Fiordaliso is a partner at Ai Spark. He's a William & Mary graduate who serves on the board of the Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance at the William & Mary School of Business. On a recent visit to campus, he joined us to discuss Ai Spark, how the importance of data has grown greatly, and the ways technology is a job creator. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

The holidays and the New Year, a time to relax a bit and recharge your battery. It's also an opportunity to break away for awhile and read or listen to a good book. But go online or into a bookstore and it's easy to be a little overwhelmed by all of the choices.To help you cut through the clutter, we invited Anna Milholland to join us. She's the business librarian at the McLeod Library at the William & Mary School of Business. She oversees the library, works closely with faculty and students, manages the databases, books, publications, and the library team. To help you choose a good book that you'll enjoy, we asked her to recommend six books of various genres that are relevant and interesting.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

When you hear the word “dominoes,” chances are you think pizza. And for good reason: There are over 20,000 Domino's locations across the world. Domino's is #1 in the world in quick-service restaurant pizza. It has 20% of the global market share, and 22% market share in the US. And while pizza is the heart and soul of Domino's, company leaders see themselves in three businesses: pizza, storytelling, and technology. Joe Jordan is President, US and Global Services at Domino's. After working at Pepsico, Unilever, and Accenure, he's been with Domino's for 12 years. A William & Mary graduate, he recently spoke with the school's MBA students about the unique way Domino's sees itself. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Twenty-five years ago she made history when she became the first woman to be named CEO of a top company. Carly Fiorina became CEO of Hewlett Packard in 1999. During her tenure as Chair and CEO, HP became the largest technology company in the world, as cash flow, revenue, and profit all grew. Since that time, she's been working as a consultant and leadership coach in the government and private sectors. She's written three books on leadership, and she serves on the boards of James Madison University and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. She recently visited the William & Mary School of Business to talk with students and guests, then she joined us to discuss leadership, and the qualities and characteristics of high-quality leaders. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

If you're a sports fan, you often hear about the substantial salaries some professional athletes earn. Most players rely on their agent to handle the details and negotiations on their contracts. But it's only been recently that many coaches and assistant coaches have turned to agents for guidance. Dennis Cordell is one of those agents. He's the CEO of Coaches Incorporated, a sports marketing agency dedicated to protecting and promoting coaches in a variety of professional and college sports. A William & Mary graduate, he spoke to students and guests and William & Mary's entrepreneurship hub recently. Then he sat down with us to discuss the role of the agent, the changing landscape of college sports, and how he became an agent and entrepreneur.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Chances are you've dined at one or more of Bloomin' Brands restaurants. Their brands include Outback Steakhouse, Carrabas, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse. Casual dining was hit especially hard during the global pandemic, but thanks to innovative thinking, leadership, and loyal customers, Bloomin' Brands continues to grow in the US and abroad. Michael Healy is CFO and Head of Global Business Development for Bloomin' Brands. He's held a number of leadership positions there including CFO of Outback, president of Bonefish Grill, along with roles in supply chain, brand, and strategy. A William & Mary graduate, he visited campus recently and joined us to talk about casual dining, the importance of brand, and the elements customers seek in their favorite restaurants. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

You're familiar with the stories of lottery winners and athletes suddenly coming into large, life-changing sums of money. It happens to entrepreneurs and professionals who sell their businesses as well. Sudden wealth not only changes the individual's financial situation, but it has the potential to greatly impact other aspects of their lives. Biff Baker is Managing Director and Senior Wealth Manager at MAI Capital Management. He's spent his career helping clients reach their financial goals. On a recent visit to William & Mary's School of Business, he joined us on the podcast to talk about sudden wealth, goal setting, and the importance of working with the right team of advisors.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

The role of the CEO: In this particular case, it means leading a complex global organization. One with employees all over the world, interacting with a robust board, and countless other stakeholders. For Dan Draper, the CEO of S&P Dow Jones Indices, the job means that, and more. Earlier this month, Draper was the keynote speaker for “From Dog Street to Wall Street,” an annual event hosted by the Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance at William & Mary School of Business. Afterward, he joined us to discuss the many aspects of the CEO's role, including stakeholder management, understanding the importance of data, and doing things the right way. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

The students are back on campus at William & Mary, but before classes began, the new students at William & Mary's School of Business participated in orientation activities where they heard from employers, alumni, and others. Michelle Avery, Senior Managing Director at J.S. Held, a global consulting firm known for its expertise in forensic accounting and litigation consulting, spoke with the new students in the Masters of Accounting Program. She shared advice about successfully launching a career, she discussed forensic accounting and leadership, and she talked about the relationship between passion and success.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

You look at your calendar and you see a Team Meeting is up next. How does that make you feel? Love them or hate them, we spend about a third of our work week working in teams. A Stanford University study found effective teamwork is linked to increased productivity. Harvard Business Review says teams make better decisions than individuals 87% of the time. Tatia Granger is a clinical associate professor at William & Mary's School of Business. Among other things, her teaching and research focus on management and organizational behavior. She joins us today to talk about teamwork, purpose, and effective teams.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Cate Faddis is in the midst of an interesting career and journey. She has spent over 25 years in investment management and financial services, working as a managing partner at Mason Capital Partners, and President and Chief Investment Officer at Grace Capital. Early in her career she spent time with Deloitte and Putnam Investments. Today she's a portfolio manager for Zevin Asset Management. A William & Mary graduate who went on to earn her MBA at Harvard Business School, Faddis spoke at the annual Women's Stock Pitch, hosted by the William & Mary School of Business and its Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance in April. Before speaking with students, she spoke with us about, among other things, her interesting journey, leadership, and how to build confidence. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

The intersection of finance, technology, and the future are the focus of a new book, titled “From Hoodies to Suits: Innovating Digital Assets for Traditional Finance.” The book just released this month bridges the gap between the hoodies - who invented the technology behind the digital assets - and the suits who run traditional financial markets. Annelise Osborne is the book's author. A William & Mary graduate who went on to earn her MBA at Columbia, Osborne spoke at the annual Women's Stock Pitch, hosted by the William & Mary School of Business and its Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance in April. After speaking with students, she sat down with us to discuss hoodies, suits, and the future of finance. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Last month, the William & Mary School of Business and its Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance hosted the annual Women's Stock Pitch competition where 24 teams consisting of undergraduate women from the world's top universities competed, networked, and learned. One of the keynote speakers for the event was Lisa Petrelli, managing director, acting country head, and head of global markets for Canada at UBS. A board member for 100 Women in Finance, Petrelli has 25 years of experience on Wall Street. After delivering her keynote, she sat down with us to talk about a variety of subjects pertaining to Wall Street and leadership. More specifically: the diverse backgrounds of her peers, the markets, and the one constant - change.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

We interact with it on a regular basis; some of us daily, some weekly. Whatever the frequency, it's a major part of life and spending. Retail. Whether it's discount stores, department stores, online or brick-and-mortar, retail is a massive sector. And for the most part, since the beginning of the pandemic, things have been good for retailers. For much of his career, Greg Melich has studied and analyzed retail. He's partner and Senior Managing Director at Evercore, a global independent investment banking advisory firm. On a recent visit to William & Mary, he sat down with us to discuss the state of retail, the hot topics, and where things are headed.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

The adoption of artificial intelligence and generative AI is moving so quickly. Leaders, companies, and organizations are working to determine how AI can best help them, their employees, their customers, and others. And while the work continues, some organizations have found the sweet spot: developing ways AI and employees work together to provide outstanding customer service by using the best of technology and people. One of those organizations is the financial services firm Edward Jones. Zar Toolan is Principle, Wealth Platforms, Data, and AI for Edward Jones. He recently visited the William & Mary School of Business to talk with students. Then he talked with us about artificial intelligence and leveraging AI to build better connections. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Succeeding. And doing so in the right manner. That's principled achievement. The William & Mary School of Business defines the principled achievement leader as one who values people, diversity of thought, empathy, humility, and success. This leader listens and inspires, practices ethical compassionate behavior, and embraces the tenants of the William & Mary honor code. This year's Principled Achievement Award Ceremony was held on March 21st in New York City at Rockefeller Center's Rainbow Room. The award was presented to Sean McDermott, a William & Mary graduate and head coach of the National Football League's Buffalo Bills. Before the ceremony, McDermott sat down with us to discuss his thoughts on football, leadership, and principled achievement.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

If you've lived for any length of time, you have experienced grief. It's a universal emotion caused by losing someone or some thing you've loved or cared about. Whether it's the loss of a job, the death of a family member, or loss of a pet, grief and grieving can be intense - strong enough to adversely affect your work and life. Martha Rouleau is an adjunct lecturer and mindfulness/wellness professional at William & Mary. She works at the university's McLeod Tyler Wellness Center. She recently delivered a presentation on grief and the brain to William & Mary faculty and staff. Afterwards, she joined us to talk about grief and grieving; what they are, and how to approach them as a person, colleague, and leader. If you've lived for any length of time, you have experienced grief. It's a universal emotion caused by losing someone or some thing you've loved or cared about. Whether it's the loss of a job, the death of a family member, or loss of a pet, grief and grieving can be intense - strong enough to adversely affect your work and life. Martha Rouleau is an adjunct lecturer and mindfulness/wellness professional at William & Mary. She works at the university's McLeod Tyler Wellness Center. She recently delivered a presentation on grief and the brain to William & Mary faculty and staff. Afterwards, she joined us to talk about grief and grieving; what they are, and how to approach them as a person, colleague, and leader.

Success today requires resilience. Whether it's a company dealing with a major shift in the market, or an individual faced with a significant personal or professional obstacle, resilience is a requirement. Casey White knows all about resilience. A young, fit, working professional at the start of her career, she became unexpectedly and critically ill, and began a lengthy fight for her life that would ultimately take away her ability to walk. Now, five years later, her life and career are back on track. She credits much of her amazing recovery to resilience. She joins us to talk about the lessons she learned about resilience.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

It's been a little over a year now since most of us were introduced to ChatGPT. Since that time, many professionals, businesses and organizations have worked hard to understand not only ChatGPT, but    machine learning and Artificial Intelligence, and what it all can do to assist employees, serve customers, and positively affect the bottom line. There's no shortage of information in media coverage regarding Artificial Intelligence, but in the race to embrace AI, it can be challenging to determine what's fact and what's fiction. Our guest today is here to help. Rachel Chung is an award-winning professor at William & Mary's School of Business. Among other things, she teaches business analytics, machine learning, and AI. She joins us today to discuss the myths and truths about Artificial Intelligence. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

If you're an athlete, or someone close to you is an athlete, you've most likely spent time in a Dick's Sporting Goods store. Depending on where you live, the next time you visit your neighborhood Dick's Sporting Goods, you might be surprised. Dick's has launched its House of Sport: A new type of sporting goods store. Dick's House of Sport isn't just about sporting goods; it's experiential, and there's a tie to the community. Navdeep Gupta is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Dick's. He says the new stores have been embraced by customers, employees, and suppliers. He joins us today to talk about Dick's House of Sport, how the concept was created, and where it's headed. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

It's difficult to succeed in business today without having a solid grasp of public affairs, public policy, and politics. Regardless of the size of your business or sector, decisions that are made in your state capitol, Washington, D.C., and beyond can greatly affect your bottom line. Learning to strategically manage corporate public affairs was the focus of a recent three day workshop for William & Mary's Executive MBA students. The workshop took place at the Washington Campus; a non-profit, non-partisan education consortium in Washington, D.C. that partners with top business schools and universities around the world. Mike Lord is the President of the Washington Campus. He joins us today to talk about public policy, public affairs, and why business leaders must be well-versed in this arena.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

When you think of a typical hospital chief administrator, who comes to mind? The majority of hospital CEOs are men and many possess a graduate business degree. But Amber Price is different; she's one of a small number of women who lead hospitals. She holds a doctorate in nursing practice with a focus in change leadership, and she spent years working as a certified nurse midwife. She says those differences and experiences help her succeed. Price is president of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center - a 145-bed acute care hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia, recognized as one of the nations top-100 hospitals. She joins us to discuss the unique challenges and rewards of leading a hospital. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

When it comes to the job market, things certainly have evolved in the past few years. During the pandemic, the unemployment rate reached almost 15%. Today, the labor market is strong and the unemployment rate is under 4%. When comparing today's employment landscape with that of the pandemic, one word comes to mind: Change. We're seeing changes in hiring practices, employee expectations, and the ages of available workers among other things. Stephanie Rentschler works at the Graduate Career Management Center at the William & Mary School of Business. She's the Director of Career Advising and Education. She coaches MBA students and those pursuing Masters Degrees in Accounting and Business Analytics. She joins us to talk about the current job market, what companies are doing to attract talent, and what job seekers can do to find the right opportunity. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Host Phil Wagner fills in for Ken White on this special crossover episode of Leadership & Business and Diversity Goes to Work. Our guest today is Dr. Elias Zerhouni, who has had an incredibly inspiring story of pursuing the American dream while never forgetting his roots. Born in a small village in Algeria, he came to America in his 20s with only a few dollars to his name. Yet through hard work and mentors who saw his potential, he rose to become the director of the world's largest biomedical research agency, the National Institute of Health. He pioneered breakthroughs in medical imaging including MRI techniques still used today. His scientific innovation combined with leadership skills earned him roles like Department Chair at Johns Hopkins, but few expected a boy from a small Algerian village could someday lead the NIH and its multi-billion dollar budget. We are honored to have Dr. Zerhouni - radiologist, researcher, and the former director of the NIH - on the podcast today. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Imagine leading and revamping your organizations cyber security system. For Lyn McDermid, that organization is the Commonwealth of Virginia, the 11th most populated state in the US. McDermid is Virginia's Secretary of Administration. She was appointed to the position by Governor Glenn Youngkin in January of 2022. She oversees five state agencies and leads Virginia's efforts in cyber security, IT, elections, Human Resources, and other important areas. Before making the move to state government, she was a successful IT professional and leader. She was CIO at the Federal Reserve System and held similar roles in private and public companies. She joins us today to discuss leading in state government, how states manage cyber security, and where technology may take us in the future. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

One of the best ways to succeed in the future is to understand the past. A new partnership between Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary will count on the past, along with a special place, to teach leadership, civil discourse, and engagement in a unique way. The newly created Williamsburg Institute will offer learning opportunities like no other for leaders, executives, adults, and young adults. It'll use Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary as living classrooms while it relies on some of history's most influential leaders to teach lessons for today and tomorrow. Chris Caracci is Executive Director of the Williamsburg Institute. He's spent years as a senior leader with Disney University and the Disney Institute. He teaches at the William & Mary School of Business and he joins us today to discuss the Williamsburg Institute and its unique approach to learning.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

About 1 in every 10 American households is food insecure. That's according to the US Department of Agriculture. That means 10% of American households are uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all members of the family. In addition, households with children have a higher rate of food insecurity than those without kids. A big problem like food insecurity requires a big solution. Michael Flood is part of that solution. He's the President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. A former All-American soccer player at William & Mary, he visited campus for a soccer reunion. And he visited us to talk about food insecurity, food banks, and leading in the non-profit space.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Professionals, companies, and organizations everywhere are working to determine and refine the role automation and Artificial Intelligence play in their strategies and day-to-day activities. At BDO, one of the world's top accounting and advisory firms, embracing technology, AI, and automation is a way of life. Brian Miller is BDO's national audit, data analytics, and emerging methods partner. He works with the firm's leaders to set assurance innovation strategies, assurance data analytics, automation, and AI strategies. He visited William & Mary recently where he was the keynote speaker at the business school's Accounting Edge Program.  The next day he sat down with us to discuss thriving in an era of automation and AI. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Whether large or small, most companies and organizations engage with their target audiences on social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and others. But what about podcasts? Many companies and organizations have stayed away from hosting their own podcast despite the numbers. For example, the number of podcast listeners in the US has doubled in the last 10 years. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, 62% of American consumers listen to podcasts. Cody Watson is the Director of Marketing at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William & Mary. Before joining the Mason school, he worked in the ad agency space. He says companies should consider hosting their own podcasts, because doing so can create solid relationships with customers and prospective customers.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Some of college football's biggest and most influential teams and universities have decided to leave their longtime athletic conferences. For example, UCLA and USC - members of the PAC-12 Conference for decades are now a part of the BIG 10 Conference. To the non-sports fan, that doesn't sound like much. However, the ripple effects of such moves are gigantic. While some universities have already joined new conferences, others continue to seek new affiliations. Why? Television and money. Brian Mann is the Director of Athletics at William & Mary; he previously served as Senior Associate Athletics Director at the University of California Berkeley, a university at the time we recorded the podcast in search of a new conference. He joins us to talk about the business of college athletics, conference realignment, and where it all may end up.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

You have control regarding the way you show up. And as a leader - or aspiring leader - you also have control over the way others perceive you, so developing your leadership style is important. It can work for you or against you. Erin Berube is a Managing Director and Executive Coach at Admired Leadership; a development program focused on the leadership behaviors that create loyal followership and exceptional results. She says the right leadership style will help you inspire others. She joins us today to discuss leadership style and some of its elements; including presence, influence, and advocacy.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Remember when working meant going to the office everyday? Now, countless offices all over the US and the world are empty, or partially empty, thanks to remote work. It's been over three years since the start of the pandemic, and there's no doubt its lasting impact on commercial real estate has been significant. And no one's quite certain what the future holds for the office market. Mike Seiler is a professor at William & Mary's School of Business. In addition to teaching, he's one of the country's leading real estate researchers. He joins us today to talk about the future of commercial real estate, as well as other real estate markets, and what we might expect to see moving forward.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

When companies and organizations discuss digital transformation, they often focus on effective ways to drive technology adoption and transformation. Our guest today says there's much more to consider. After earning his MBA at William & Mary, J. Singh has spent 20 years working at some of the world's most recognizable companies; including Target, McDonald's, and now SportClips Haircuts, where he's the Chief Digital Officer. His experience is in analytics, merchandizing, digital innovation, and digital transformation. He says there are a number of elements to consider in terms of digital transformation, such as agility and speed, the competition, the customer, the employee and more. He joins us today to talk about digital transformation and how companies and leaders should think about people, process, and tools as they move forward.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Since we first heard about it back in December, the buzz has continued to grow surrounding ChatGPT and other LLMs, or Large Language Models. Companies and organizations are working to determine what role these LLMs will play. Our guest today calls ChatGPT “fast moving” and “fast growing.” And more importantly, he says LLMs are a breakthrough technology with great potential - much like the internet when it was first introduced. Rajiv Kohli is a professor at the William & Mary School of Business. He's among the top 20 Management Information Systems researchers in the world, and an expert in digital transformation. He joins us today to talk about LLMs; what they are, and where they might take us in the future. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Succeeding and doing so in the right manor. That's leading a life of principled achievement. The William & Mary School of Business defines the principled achievement leader as one who values people, diversity of thought, empathy, humility, and success. This leader listens and inspires. To recognize this type of outstanding leader, the Business School created the Principled Achievement Award. It's based on four pillars: Serving as a role model for principled leadership, promoting diversity of thought, demonstrating ethical compassionate behavior, and embracing the tenets of the William & Mary honor code. Last month, the 2023 Principled Achievement Award was presented to AnnaMaria DeSalva, chair and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, one of the world's leading global communications companies. Before the award ceremony in Washington, D.C., DeSalva sat down with us to discuss her thoughts on leading a life of principled achievement.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Energy; it's always a hot topic. And the American Petroleum Institute is happy to be a part of the discussion. API is a 100-year old trade association that represents all segments of America's natural gas and oil industry. Its 600 members produce, process, and distribute the majority of the nation's energy. Amanda Eversole is API's Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer. Among other things, she's the face of oil and gas in Washington, DC, interacting with influencers and government officials to inform them about the issues pertaining to American oil and gas. She visited William & Mary recently and after spending time with business school students, she sat down with us to discuss the American Petroleum Institute, energy in the US and abroad, and influencing with integrity. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

People in the business world have become acclimated to changing jobs and employers. It's a different picture, though, for those serving in the military. For those in uniform, a change in career or employer is rare. And when the time comes to leave the military, the transition can be an overwhelming experience. That's where William & Mary comes in. Next month, for the second time, William & Mary is hosting “Flourishing Through Life's Transitions,” a two-week long certificate program that teaches transitioning military personnel how to flourish in their new careers and in their personal lives. JD Due is Executive Director of William & Mary's Center for Military Transition, and joins us to talk about this unique and successful program that helps veterans and members of the intelligence community flourish in their transition and beyond.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

As all leaders know, leadership comes with opportunities and challenges. But leading an organization whose parent company is located in another country poses a different set of challenges; especially when the cultures of the two countries are quite different. Jeff Barna is President and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corporation. He oversees the organization's business in North America. The parent company - Yokohama Rubber Company - is in Tokyo, Japan, where it was founded in 1917. Under Barna's direction, the organization has experienced solid growth, and the relationship between the leaders in the US and Japan has contributed to the success. While visiting William & Mary last week, Barna took time to join us to talk about the importance of company culture, the tire industry, and how a liberal arts education prepared him for leadership.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Outdoor Magazine calls it “the toughest sporting event in the world.” It's the Race Across America: A 3,000-mile bike race from Oceanside, California, to Annapolis, Maryland completed by cyclists in under 12 days. Last June, 34 cyclists began the race, 14 finished. After cycling 300 miles each day, Kurt Matzler was among the top finishers. Matzler is a strategy professor at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. While competing in the race, he saw a number of parallels between his experience racing across America, and leadership. His new book, “The High Performance Mindset: What We Can Learn From The World's Toughest Bicycle Race” has just been released in German. The English version is expected in the US later this year. He spoke to our MBA students recently, and today he joins us to talk about the race, his experience, and how it generated leadership lessons.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Serving on a board; whether corporate or non-profit, it is a goal for many professionals. But how do you get there, and what's required of board members? A Harvard Business Review article titled “Are You Ready To Serve On A Board?” lists five types of intelligence aspiring board members should possess. They include a financial IQ, a strategic IQ, the ability to build relationships, understanding where you add value, and having a ‘get it done' attitude. Kim Lopdrup is the former CEO of Red Lobster. He currently serves on multiple boards, including those at Wawa, and Bob Evans, and he has experience on non-profit boards as well. He joins us today to discuss the role of the board member, the time and talent required, and how members of the board benefit from their experience.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Now that we're settled in to 2023, it's a good time of the year to take stock of your personal brand. The way you're perceived by others is important. Yet many professionals rarely take the time to ensure their brand is up to date, relevant, and visible. For example, when was the last time you carefully reviewed your LinkedIn profile? Your brand and the tools you use to promote it require your attention. Dawn Edmiston is a professor of marketing at the William & Mary School of Business. She's an author, researcher, and personal branding expert. She joins us today to discuss your personal brand: How you can be sure it's relevant, and why this time of the year is a good time for a personal brand update.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

As the world evolves, leadership also evolves. There's no doubt the leader of today and tomorrow will be different from the leader of the past. Qualities and approaches that defined yesterday's high quality leaders won't work moving forward. Our guest today says a fundamental shift is occurring, and leaders must adapt. Matt Williams is a clinical professor at William & Mary's School of Business and an experienced and successful leader. He's the Managing Director of Brand Federation and the former CEO of The Martin Agency - one of the top advertising agencies in America. He says in order to succeed, leaders have to change their way of thinking; about themselves, their organizations, and their employees.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

It seems like everyone is talking about ChatGPT. Today on the podcast, we'll learn about it by going right to the source. First, some background: People in business, education, journalism, law, and virtually all fields are asking what ChatGPT might do to change the way we work, learn, and communicate. In some sectors, there's major concern. In others, there's considerable excitement regarding the possibilities. Introduced in November, ChatGPT is an Artificial Intelligence system that can do some amazing things, like respond to customer service inquiries and write term papers. And it does so quickly, and for the most part accurately. As a result, marketers and customer service professionals are working to test and implement ChatGPT. Meanwhile, school districts from New York City to Seattle banned the chatbot last month. On today's episode, we learn the basics of ChatGPT, but rather than invite a subject matter expert to discuss it, we went right to the source. We submitted specific questions about ChatGPT to ChatGPT and it quickly delivered written answers. To show you the quality of those answers, we combined them with Text-To-Speech technology which generated a voice that will read the answers Chat GPT wrote for us.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Artificial Intelligence, synthetic biology, blockchain, social media, and other technologies continue to change the way we live, work, and lead. At the same time, the reach of technology is expanding daily as more people are connected today than ever before. Now decisions, thanks in part to technology, are often significant and far-reaching. And with that in mind, our guest says tech entrepreneurs must embrace ethical leadership. Anand Anandalingam is a tech scholar, teacher, and consultant. A professor of Management Science at the University of Maryland, he previously served as the Dean of the Business Schools at Maryland and Imperial College in London. He says while tech entrepreneurs have much on their plates, ethics and ethical leadership should be the priorities.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.