Purpose & Principles Podcast

Listen in with Dr. Matt Pollard and Scott Saxton, two of the leaders of continuous improvement at Intermountain Healthcare. This journey has brought incredible and meaningful results along the way. Hear the stories and be inspired! Dr. Pollard is the Vice President of Continuous Improvement at Intermountain Healthcare. His passion is engaging leaders, physicians and caregiver teams in improving healthcare and patient outcomes through Continuous Improvement. He has trained many healthcare providers in the use of Continuous Improvement and has presented at multiple national conferences and healthcare organizations across the country. Scott has been involved with Lean and Continuous Improvement efforts for 27 years. He left manufacturing (after 23 years at Autoliv) and 9 years ago he began applying Lean in Healthcare by accepting a position as Northern Region Continuous Improvement Director for Intermountain Healthcare.  This started as a Pilot only in the North region.  With the success of implementing Lean in the North, top leadership at Intermountain Healthcare chose to adopt the Continuous Improvement Model (Lean) at a system level.   Since then Scott has been asked to work at a system level, responsible for supporting Intermountain Senior leaders over hospitals, clinical services and Clinics as the Assistant Vice President of Continuous Improvement.  Intermountain has seen over 250K thousand implemented ideas from their employees, millions of dollars in cost savings and significant improvement in Quality metrics.  The adoption and practice of the Intermountain Operating Model is credited from Intermountain's Senior Leadership as the reason for improved results as they own and drive accountability.

Katie Anderson is an internationally recognized leadership and learning coach, consultant, and professional speaker, best known for inspiring individuals and organizations to lead with intention and increase their personal and professional impact. Katie is passionate about helping people around the world learn to lead and lead to learn by connecting purpose, process, and practice to achieve higher levels of performance.   Her book Learn more at KBJAnderson.com | LearningtoLeadLeadingtoLearn.com Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: Lessons from Toyota Leader Isao Yoshino on a Lifetime of Continuous Learning is an international #1 Amazon bestseller.

Scott Miller serves as a consultant and advisor after spending twenty-four years with FranklinCovey Co., as the Executive Vice President of Thought Leadership. Here, we talk about his new book: "Master Mentors," and what he learned from so many great people along the way.  He is the host of the FranklinCovey sponsored On Leadership With Scott Miller, a weekly leadership webcast, podcast, and newsletter that features interviews with renowned business titans, authors, and thought leaders and is distributed to more than six million business leaders worldwide. He was the host of the weekly radio program Great Life, Great Career With Scott Miller on iHeartMedia's KNRS 105.9. This radio program and podcast provide insight and strategies drawn from FranklinCovey's leadership principles and from Miller's career and personal life experience to assist listeners in becoming more effective as business leaders and to improve their personal performance. Additionally, Miller authors a weekly leadership column for Inc. Magazine.

Bryan Crowell is the COO at Peterson, Inc. Previously, he was a senior leader of the continuous improvement work at Intermountain Healthcare, the VP of Operations for ATK Armament Systems Group, headquartered in Clearfield Utah, and a former plant manager at Autoliv Airbag Module Plant in Ogden Utah. Bryan has had the opportunity to lead multiple organization through cultural transformation.  With the combination of structure, processes and leadership behaviors Bryan has demonstrated the ability to engage all team members to drive results. Employees under Bryan's leadership and processes have  implemented over 500K ideas being recognized as world class throughout industry. Mr. Crowell had the opportunity to set up the first model TPS area at the inflator facility for Autoliv, under the tutelage of Harada-san from Toyota for three years.  He received a Bachelor in Physics from WSU, and an MBA from Utah State.

Stephen M. R. Covey is a New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The SPEED of Trust—The One Thing That Changes Everything. He is the former CEO of Covey Leadership Center, which, under his stewardship, became the largest leadership development company in the world. Stephen personally led the strategy that propelled his father's book, Dr. Stephen R. Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, to become one of the two most influential business books of the 20th Century, according to CEO Magazine. As President and CEO of Covey Leadership Center, Stephen nearly doubled revenues while increasing profits by 12 times. During that period, the company expanded throughout the world into over 40 countries, greatly increasing the value of the brand and enterprise. The company was valued at $2.4 million when Stephen was named CEO, and, within three years, he had grown shareholder value to $160 million in a merger he orchestrated with Franklin Quest to form FranklinCovey. Stephen co-founded CoveyLink, a consulting practice, which focuses on enabling leaders and organizations to increase and leverage trust to achieve superior performance. Stephen recently merged CoveyLink with FranklinCovey, forming the Global Speed of Trust Practice, where Stephen serves as Global Practice Leader.

Kristen Cox is the world's leading authority on how to apply the Theory of Constraints to governments and non profits.  She is perhaps best known for her work as the former Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) for the State of Utah where she orchestrated a 35 percent improvement across Utah's $20B executive branch. It was 2008, and I was in serious trouble... I was leading a state agency in Salt Lake City during the economic crisis. The worse the economy got, the more citizens came to us looking for help.  And the economy was getting worse by the day. Caseloads were up by 60 percent. Common sense would say I needed to hire 60 percent more employees and lease the office space to house them. But that was out of the question. We all knew what was coming: budget cuts. My team was stressed out, overworked, and worried. Truth-be-told, so was I. I started trying different approaches--knowing there had to be a better way.  Most failed.  One showed promise, but it clearly wasn't going to work out of the shrink wrap--it was built for business and industry.  It would need to be modified to work in government. So, that's what my team and I did.  We tweaked, experimented, failed, learned, and then...we figured it out.   We were not only able to meet the unprecedented demand, but improve quality, and we returned $30 million back to the General Fund--we didn't need it. Morale was restored. We were a team again knowing we just pulled off a huge accomplishment against all odds.   Soon after, the Governor made me executive director over an agency that would oversee the state's $20 billion budget and all of the executive branch's operations. Together, we set an ambitious target to improve all of state government by 25 percent.   We improved by 35 percent. I started sharing our story online.   We organized the biggest conference of its kind in the world, and I co-authored two books.  I've now applied this in over 200 systems in a huge variety of settings.   It works.  

Roger L. Martin is Professor Emeritus at the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto, where he served as Dean from 1998 to 2013, and as Institute Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute from 2013 to 2019. In 2013, he was named Global Dean of the Year and in 2017, he was named the world's #1 management thinker. He has published 11 previous books including, most recently, Creating Great Choices with Jennifer Riel; Getting Beyond Better with Sally Osberg; and Playing to Win with A.G. Lafley, which won the award for Best Book of 2012–13 by Thinkers50. He has written 28 Harvard Business Review articles. Martin is a trusted strategy advisor to the CEOs of many global companies and originally hails from Ontario, Canada.

Michael and Katie Stallard are partners of E Pluribus Partners and the Connection Culture Group, leadership training and consulting firms based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Their clients have included Costco, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NASA Johnson Space Center, Qualcomm, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Treasury Department, Turner Construction and Yale-New Haven Health. Texas Christian University founded the TCU Center for Connection Culture based their work. Michael and Katie are coauthors of Connection Culture and Michael is the primary author of Fired Up or Burned Out.

Jared Spataro is a Corporate Vice President at Microsoft. This conversation starts fast and is packed full of insights and research that Microsoft is reviewing as they design for the future. Here, we specifically look at how we humanize the workplace of the future. In his current role, Jared is responsible for Microsoft 365, including business management, product and partner marketing, and go-to-market programs. He joined Microsoft in 2006 and has focused on productivity in various marketing, product management, and business roles at the company over the last 13 years. Prior to Microsoft, Jared worked in a number of small- and mid-sized technology companies in a variety of roles, including engineering, product management, product marketing, business management, and sales.  

Listen in as serial entrepreneur, David Taylor-Klaus and I talk about coaching and mindsets. David brings decades of experience to his current professional playground at DTK Coaching, where he's spent a dozen years coaching successful entrepreneurs and senior executives. Through coaching, David's clients uplevel from leadership competency to leadership mastery. The result: dramatic shifts in their performance and career trajectories and in personal fulfillment. Understanding that a powerful leader exists in each of us, David empowers his clients — both individuals and teams — to unearth and unleash their leadership potential and take an active, intentional, and dynamic role in their professional and personal lives. Over three decades, focused on senior executives and the teams they lead, David has coached or consulted with thousands of companies spanning the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. An addictive life-long learner, David holds a wide array of professional certifications: Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation, Certified Professional Co-active™ Coach (CPCC); Certified Team Performance Coach™ (one of the first); and a Certified Conversational Intelligence® (C-IQ) Coach. He is a 15-year member of Vistage International as well as a Vistage Speaker. Driven by a passion for growth and creativity, David's personal and professional worlds clearly reflect a journey in pursuit of excellence, always with a great deal of humor and heart. Known for his sharp intellect and incisive ability to see and say what others do not, David balances fierce candor with genuine compassion. Recent empty-nesters, David and his wife live in the heart of Atlanta with their dogs.

Dana Rizer is a lifelong food enthusiast, wellness leader, and educator. Join us hear as we talk about the four forms of hunger and how malnourishment is more than food. As a part of the founding team at FEAST—a non-profit dedicated to promoting wellness and enriching lives through the power of healthy foods and human connection—she had the honor of co-creating its wellness curriculum and training methodology, as well as helping the organization grow to reach more families locally, regionally and nationally. As Executive Director, she is proud to lead the small and mighty team working to realizing FEAST's vision, to see that all individuals have equal access to the conditions that create health and wellness. Dana has a Master's degree in Food Studies and Food Systems from New York University, and a nutrition-focused professional culinary certification from the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. She is a 500-hour Advanced Registered Yoga Teacher, a lead teacher at Wanderlust Hollywood and Wanderlust TV, and spent many years on the faculty of the Nosara Yoga Institute as a head facilitator for their annual 200-hour professional yoga teacher trainings.

This is a great conversation with innovator, Jeff DeGraff. Want to think about things differently? Listen in as we discuss disruption, opportunity, creativity and Jeff's new book "The Creative Mindset."  Jeff DeGraff is both an advisor to Fortune 500 companies and a professor at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. His simultaneously creative and pragmatic approach to making innovation happen has led clients and colleagues to dub him the “Dean of Innovation.” He has written several books, including Leading Innovation, Innovation You, and The Innovation Code. Jeff's thoughts on innovation are covered by Inc., Fortune, and Psychology Today. He has a regular segment on public radio called The Next Idea. His most recent book, The Creative Mindset, brings 6 creativity skills to everyone.

Becky Robinson is the founder and CEO of Weaving Influence, an online influence building company. She works with authors and thought leaders to help them show up online in the same powerful and compelling ways they show up in real life. On a personal note, Becky is a wonderful friend and just an all around great human being. I really enjoyed this conversation and you will quickly see why as you listen to her here. Vulnerable, compassionate, brave and leading a cool company, I am happy to bring Becky to the Purpose & Principles podcast.

Eileen McDargh has been called a hope merchant although she says she has been put on earth for comic relief. She's an internationally recognized keynote speaker, master facilitator, and award-winning author with expertise in resiliency and leadership. Her articles have appeared in countless publications, and two of her seven books have been awarded national recognition. In 2020 Global Gurus International, a British-based provider of resources for leadership, communication, and sales training, also ranked her 5th of the World's Top 30 COMMUNICATION Gurus following a global survey of 22,000 business professionals. Her most recent book, Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience to Refuel, Recharge, and Reclaim What Matters is now available.

Lisa Fain is the CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence and a global speaker on the intersection of mentoring and inclusion.  Lisa is also an executive coach and a former management-side employment attorney.  Her passion for diversity and inclusion work fuels her strong conviction that leveraging differences creates a better workplace and drives better business results. She is the author of the book Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring. Thank you to Weaving Influence for sponsoring this episode of Purpose & Principles podcast.

I really enjoyed this conversation on compassion in the workplace with Nate!  Nate Regier, Ph.D., is the CEO and founding owner of Next Element Consulting, a global leadership firm dedicated to bringing compassion into the workplace. Dr. Regier is a former practicing psychologist and expert in social-emotional intelligence, interpersonal communication, and leadership. Recognized as a Top 100 keynote speaker, he is a Process Communication Model® certified master trainer. Nate is the author of three books: Beyond Drama: Transcending Energy Vampires; Conflict Without Casualties: A Field Guide for Leading with Compassionate Accountability; and his newest book, Seeing People Through: Unleash Your Leadership Potential with The Process Communication Model. He hosts a podcast called On Compassion with Dr. Nate, writes a weekly blog, contributes to multiple industry publications and blogs, and is a regular guest on podcasts. Weaving Influence: thank you for sponsoring this conversation!

Wes Herman, CEO of Woods Coffee, began his entrepreneurial journey at the ripe age of 21. After strategically developing his first business venture to become a multi-million dollar enterprise he lost everything after contracting a life-threatening illness.  He and his wife, Diane relocated to the Pacific Northwest and set strong intentions to heal and rebuild the future of their family over the course of several years. He worked with his wife and amazing four children to develop a regional coffee brand in 2002. Woods Coffee is the product of a home school project!  The coffee, guest experience, and daily scratch-made goods have become a favorite across the greater Puget Sound. In collaboration with his children and 350+ employees, Wes continues to grow the successful Woods Coffee brand in an effort to impact as many people and communities as possible. The Woods Coffee Way is simple: Serve Others, Make a Difference, and Have Fun!  

I'm excited to introduce Joey Price to the Purpose & Principles community.  Joey is an award-winning human resources executive, business coach, thought leader, and professor. He is the founder of Jumpstart:HR, LLC, an HR consulting practice specifically for small businesses and startups, and host of Business, Life, and Coffee, a weekly personal and professional development podcast. As the CEO of Jumpstart:HR, LLC, Joey innovates by creating HR solutions for small business owners and start-up founders who want to build better, more competitive businesses. As a podcaster on the Business, Life, and Coffee show, Joey shares carefully curated conversations on personal finance, psychology, professional development, and business for emerging professionals and business owners alike. BLC is a podcast focused on enhancing the quality of your business and life through relevant content that endures over time. Joey is a recent HR Executive Magazine Top 100 HR Tech Influencer, SHRM Top 30 Under 30 award winner, one of Forbes Magazine's Kevin Kruse's Top 100 Employee Engagement Experts in the World, and frequently cited HR and Startup Thought Leader in publications such as Forbes, HR Magazine, Inc., Businessweek, AMEX Open Forum, Money Magazine, and more. As the CEO of Jumpstart:HR, Joey earned many recognitions in which one of them is being named "Top 30 HR Professional Under 30" by SHRM's HR Magazine.

Rick Wang is a marketer, entrepreneur, consultant, successful business owner. Rick and I met in 1998, when we were both building retail businesses in China. He is a good friend and a very open and honest leader as you will hear in this conversation. In addition to his business ventures, he is the author and originator of the “3 Barriers of Entry” into China Franchising as published in the “Doing Business in China for the Dummy” Book.  He is a regular lecturer at several universities in China on case studies related to business success and failure in China. Past Academic/Institutional Services Include: - USC (University of Southern California) Alumni Board of Governors 2000-2006. Currently BOG Emeritus. - Board Member, Shanghai American School 2006-2008 (Chairman ‘07-‘08) - Committee Supervisor, Radio Control Cars, China Sports Federation 2015-2019 Past and Present Business Partnerships: - CEO, RetailCo Solutions Ltd - Director, VROOM Motorsports (S2M Group) - Team Principle, Mercur Racing - Owner, RCI Racing Arena (Radio Control Sports) - Managing Director, Intefoods Shanghai Ltd. (Johnny Moo) - Consultant, Curves Fitness (China), Krispy Kreme - Director, STERKA Concepts Ltd. - Founder, Adogp NGO 

Millions of people already know his name and have studied his books in college! I'm delighted to have my friend, Jim Kouzes, on the Purpose & Principles podcast. Listen to his latest insights and how decades of research reinforce what we've known for a long time now: great leadership fosters a great culture that creates sustainable results. As always, I'm exciting to have you hear this show. More about my guest: Jim Kouzes is the coauthor with Barry Posner of the award-winning and best-selling book, The Leadership Challenge, with over 2.5 million copies in print. He's also the Dean's Executive Fellow of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University. The sixth edition of The Leadership Challenge was released in 2017 and is available in 22 languages. It was selected by FastCompany as one of the 2012 Best Business Books of the Year, was on the 2013 Wall Street Journal bestseller list, an Amazon Editor's Pick in 2007, and the winner of the 1995-96 Critics' Choice Award. It has been named one of the 100 best business books of all time by 800-CEO-READ. Jim and Barry have coauthored over thirty other publications including Learning Leadership, The Truth About Leadership, A Leader's Legacy, Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It, Encouraging the Heart, The Leadership Challenge Workbook, and the Encouraging the Heart Workbook. Jim was again named in 2017 as one of the top 30 Global Gurus in Leadership, is the 2010 recipient of the Thought Leadership Award from the Instructional Systems Association, and for 4 years in a row named to HR Magazines Most Influential International Thinkers. In 2006 he was presented with the Golden Gavel by Toastmasters International. Jim and Barry are the recipients of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) 2009 Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance Award. Not only is Jim a highly regarded leadership scholar, The Wall Street Journal cited Jim as one of the twelve best executive educators in the U.S.

In this episode, I chat with another young entrepreneur, Levi Lindsay -- Co-Founder of VidArmy. Levi has learned a lot about leadership and business in a few short years. He found good mentors and people who were willing to share and help along the way as well. The business is growing and the team is working hard and producing results. In Levi's words: "I have been a part of creating businesses from the ground up. I have learned how to make a business fun to work for, grow like crazy, and be sustainable. I have the ability to speak with people, and verbally articulate a message, and teach new concepts." Levi has a wife of 5 years from Pleasant Grove, UT. They have a 1 1/2 year old daughter that has Levi wrapped around her little finger. He loves to take his dirt bike up in the mountains any chance he gets. Levi served a two year mission for his church in Los Angeles. He has started a few small businesses, but considers VidArmy his greatest accomplishment. They have goals to revolutionize the video production industry, making it affordable and easy. 

McKenzie Bauer is the co-founder and CMO of the successful start-up called Thread Wallets. This conversation is all full of insights about the startup and leadership journey. Listen in! McKenzie describes her journey this way, "In 2015 my husband, Colby, and I founded Thread Wallets. Through our venture, we have found an irreplaceable sense of freedom and happiness as we see our vision unfold. I love coming up with creative ways to market a product or idea and I enjoy brainstorming ways to build long-lasting brands. I believe in the power of surrounding yourself with smart and talented people who are dedicated to creating and building. I love helping others achieve success for themselves and I feel passionate about helping them find the same freedom I have found in my entrepreneurial and creative pursuits."

Steve Gutzler is the founder and president of Leadership Quest, a Seattle based leadership development company, dedicated to growing leaders at every level of the organization. Join us here as we talk about his new book, "Lead with No Fear."  He is an executive coach with over 25 leadership clients including 6 CEO's, leading entrepreneurs and executive leaders from around the country. Top Leadership/Performance coach focusing on leadership development, life and sales mastery, time maximization, health and life balance, success, significance, and creating a living legacy.

Today, I'm talking with Alessandro about the increase in freelancing, remote workers and culture! Alessandro Di Fiore is the Founder and CEO at ECSI (European Centre for Strategic Innovation) and ECSI Consulting. He is also the Chairman of the Board at Harvard Business Review Italia and member of the HBR global editorial team. He has 25 years of experience in management consulting. In his consulting career he has advised more than 25 Fortune 500 companies in several regions (USA, Europe) on strategy and organizational change matters. I look forward to your thoughts on this show, I'm very happy Alessandro and I were able to connect.

I'm grateful to introduce Hitendra Wadhwa to the Purpose & Principles community. His writing and ideas are thought provoking and needed in the world today. Indeed, his essay on "How Would Lincoln Guide Our Nation Today?" really caught my attention and the conversation took off from there. Take a listen as Hitendra and I talk about his take on excellence in life and leadership. Hitendra Wadhwa is Professor of Practice at Columbia Business School and founder of the Mentora Institute. He teaches Columbia's most popular MBA leadership class on Personal Leadership & Success. He also teaches MBA and Executive Education programs on Driving Strategic Impact and Leading from the Inside Out, and has received the Executive-MBA Commitment to Excellence Award, the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence, the Lear Award for Service to Students, and the Columbia Marketing Association Award for the Most Dynamic and Engaging Professor. Hitendra's mission is to codify and teach scientific principles of success in life and leadership. With a Ph.D. in Management Science from MIT and a lifelong study of the world's mystic traditions, Hitendra brings a mathematician's rigor and a truth-seeker's spirit to some of today's most vexing questions about authenticity, success, leadership, human potential, and more. His widely acclaimed research and teaching on leadership have been covered by Inc., Forbes, Fortune, CNN, Psychology Today, BBC World Service, Financial Times, and Wall Street Journal. His weekly webcast, Intersections, features acclaimed thought leaders and practitioners in the craft of leadership. Hitendra's Mentora Institute is at the forefront of creating a new model of leadership for the 21st century where executives achieve ever-growing Outer Impact through ever-deepening Inner Mastery. Through its digital learning platform, Mentora has created a pocket “flight simulator” for leadership that helps learners gain mastery in a wide range of leadership skills through MicroPracticeTM. His clients include Accenture, SAP, Pfizer, Tata Group, Ericsson, GE, Kraft Heinz, Siemens, a Big-4 Accounting Firm and Morgan Stanley. In the past, Hitendra was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company and the CEO/founder of a Silicon Valley start-up, Paramark, which was twice recognized as a Top-100 Internet technology company by Technologic Partners/Venture Wire.

As I've shared for over a decade now: the way we treat each other matters. I'm grateful to share the story of Kenny Sacht and his family's work to change the world -- one person at a time. Human trafficking is nearly impossible to comprehend, but it is pervasive and global. While it is hard to discuss, these are topics we must address. We need people to courageously work to stop the slave trade and to help those who have been enslaved. Thank you, Kenny. While I'm sad such a conversation is relevant today, it is good to know that people like you are working to do something about it.   Wipe Every Tear started in a high school teacher's classroom. As a basketball coach and father, Kenny Sacht's heart broke during a 2007 summer mission trip with his students during a basketball outreach held in the Philippines. Afterward, he and his wife decided to help one impoverished girl he'd met during that time. Helping one girl quickly became four. In 2012, Kenny quit his teaching job to dedicate all of his time to the formation of Wipe Every Tear. Their first safe house, called Hope House, was purchased and they hired a local director. They are on the front lines of human trafficking and the sex slave trade -- working to help women escape the imprisonment and exploitation.   Since then, many more women have been welcomed into Hope House (and other safe homes) where they experience freedom, security, warm meals, education, and discipleship. Through this simple act of providing a loving home, women's lives are continuing to be restored to this day. In the eight years of operation, their organization has transformed dozens of young girl's and women's lives to bring hope, freedom, and a real future. Prior to Wipe Every Tear, Kenny taught high school US History, and coached basketball for 17 years. Kenny has six daughters, one son, and twelve granddaughters and three grandsons. For more information, go to www.WipeEveryTear.org

Reconnecting with a my former graduate school professor and friend, Dr. Tojo Thatchenkerry, to discuss Appreciative Intelligence was fantastic! To find out that some of the work a few of us did 15 years ago has become a foundation for training firemen and front line responders around the greater Washington DC was not only a surprise to me, but it was heartwarming to hear as well. Listen in and enjoy this conversation on actionable things that make a meaningful difference.   Tojo Thatchenkery (Ph.D. Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University) is professor & director of the Organization Development and Knowledge Management program at George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia. He has extensive consulting experience in change management, leadership development, organization design and strategy, and knowledge management.            Tojo is on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences and the Journal of Organizational Change Management and is the past Program Chair of the Research Methods Division of the Academy of Management.  He has published in journals such as Harvard Business Review. For more information about Tojo Thatchenkery, please visit www.appreciativeintelligence.com 

Mike Myatt is a leadership advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs and their Boards of Directors. Widely regarded as America's Top CEO Coach, he is recognized by Thinkers50 as a global authority on leadership. He is the bestselling author of Hacking Leadership (Wiley) and Leadership Matters… (OP), a Forbes leadership columnist, and is the Founder and Chairman at N2Growth. Take a listen as Mike and I talk leadership and coaching to compete today!

While his biography is included here, let me just say how much I enjoyed getting to know the man behind this conversation! Hal Gregersen, I'm so grateful we're connected. Hal Gregersen, PhD, is a senior lecturer in leadership and innovation at MIT's Sloan School of Management, former executive director of the MIT Leadership Center, and a renowned expert on leadership, innovation and creative culture–– dedicating his career to helping companies stay ahead in an accelerating world by teaching them how to implement a culture of inquiry and transform themselves into innovative powerhouses. Gregersen created a repeatable three-step methodology, the Question Burst, by which companies can build better problem solvers and enhance creative impact at all levels. The crux of Gregersen's argument is spelled out in his Nautilus award-winning book (based on 200+ interviews with catalytic questioners like Elon Musk and Orit Gadiesh),“Questions Are the Answer: A Breakthrough Approach to Your Most Vexing Problems at Work and in Life” (Harper Collins, 2018). While people are programmed to look for answers, the real catalyst for disruptive change is questioning. Gregersen argues that leaders can deliberately overhaul and transform cultures to habitually produce pioneering breakthroughs. His Question Burst method, along with other habits of productive inquiry, have helped redesign company cultures at Chanel, Daimler, Danone, Disney·Pixar, Fidelity, Genentech, Patagonia, Salesforce, and the World Economic Forum, among others. Gregersen also co-authored, with Clay Christensen and Jeff Dyer, “The Innovator's DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators” (Harvard Business Review Press, 2019), a guide to cultivating the discovery skills that CEOs and entrepreneurs rely on to build the most innovative companies in the world. Having interviewed 100+ ground-breaking leaders at the world's most innovative companies, including Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Salesforce's Marc Benioff, Gregersen draws on rigorous research (based on a database of +15,000 leaders) to successfully advise the world's largest corporations on transformation challenges. Ranked as one of the world's 20 most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50 and winner of the 2017 Distinguished Achievement Award for leadership, Gregersen regularly delivers thought-provoking, interactive keynotes and workshops and transformational coaching experiences. Along with ten books, Gregersen is the author of over fifty articles, book chapters, and cases on leading innovation and change (with over 10,000 citations by other scholars). His research has been highlighted in media such as BBC, CNN, The Economist, Fast Company, Financial Times, Forbes, Fortune, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. In 2020, Gregersen was named a Top 30 Global Guru.

Dave Balter's new book, "The Humility Imperative," was a great read for me for many reasons. First, Dave is a successful leader who has started and exited several business start-ups. Second, I first met him during one of his previous acquisitions and found him to be entirely grounded and fun to be around -- despite his success. Third, his candor and vulnerability are helpful in a leadership book that dispenses advice to others.  Dave is the CEO of Flipside Crypto, which provides business intelligence to crypto organizations. Dave is Venture Partner Emeritus at Boston Seed Capital; personally, he is an investor or advisor to more than fifty technology organizations. Wise leaders (yes, even the successful ones), can learn from the lessons shared here. I hope you will enjoy both this conversation and the book!  

My friends, due to high demand, we decided to have another conversation. Please join Blair Dickens, Tommy Lee Hayes-Brown and myself here to talk about race, racism, life experiences and perspectives. We definitely have different life experiences -- and we all firmly believe that we are better together. May the conversations promote increased understanding and better relationships wherever we live in this amazing world.

Joel Peterson is the 12-year Chairman of JetBlue Airways, former Chairman of The Hoover Institution, and the Founding Partner of Peterson Partners, a Salt Lake City-based investment management firm with $1B under management. Since 1992, Peterson has been on the faculty at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, teaching courses in real estate investment, entrepreneurship, and leadership. He's been called the “Mr. Rogers of Silicon Valley” and has appeared on CNN's Quest Means Business, CBS Radio and BNN Bloomberg among other outlets. Here we talk about his new book, "ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP: The Art of Launching New Ventures, Inspiring Others, and Running Stuff." I hope you enjoy this great conversation with Joel!

Scott Miller, EVP at FranklinCovey, joins me this week to discuss his new book: "Management Mess to Leadership Success: 30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow." Listen in as we discuss the issues and talk about leadership challenges that every leader will face likely multiple times every week throughout their career. Scott gets open about things he has learned along the way, and I really enjoyed the conversation and I hope you will find it valuable as well.

Friends, it is easier to say nothing then to be criticized, but we decided that being quiet isn't the right thing to do. Blair Dickens, Tommy Lee Hayes-Brown and myself, jumped on a zoom meeting to record a conversation about race, racism and our own experiences. To be clear, we have different perspectives. We grew up differently. We support the frontline responders and police who are good people serving in their communities. However, we also know that abuse of power happens. We also know people who are hurting and people have been mistreated. We agree that racism is real. Talking about racism is hard to do. Is it safe to express an opinion when tensions are so high? We talk about it here. This is a powerful dialogue. Please share it with your friends and colleagues. Let us know how we can bring more to this conversation in future episodes. May God bless all efforts to promote understanding, civility and peace. The way we treat each other matters.

For FOUR decades, Cheryl Hughey has been a part of one of the most profitable airlines in the industry -- Southwest Airlines. As many in industry circles and global business management programs already know, the culture at Southwest is one of the keys to their success. Cheryl is one of the instrumental leaders of that revered culture. Listen in on this fantastic conversation about leading and scaling excellence in a very competitive space. Come listen to the LUV airline perspective and how the purpose, actions and processes link to their success. I really enjoyed this conversation and I'm so grateful we're connected.

When I speak with purpose driven leaders, I can feel it. Please listen in as Rob Morris, president and co-founder of Love146, talks about what it is like to serve the kids who are victims of slave trade. This is a hard topic for many who don't want to accept that there could be such horrific suffering in the world still today, but the conversation with Rob brings me hope. Indeed, speaking with him inspires me to be part of making the world a better place. I believe in sharing the stories that matter and shining light on those who are doing amazing work. Rob and his team are awesome human beings and I hope their light inspires you here today. Check out: Love146.org

Tim Pehrson is the President and CEO at INTEGRIS Health, the largest hospital system in Oklahoma. Previously, he spent nearly two decades as an administrator and leader of continuous improvement at Intermountain Healthcare. This conversation is about how we create sustainable results. The operating model Tim and his team created at INTEGRIS enabled them to respond during these chaotic times with Covid-19. For leaders looking for direction in improving quality of care or better alignment on your team, this conversation is a good one.  For those concerned with how to proceed with the threats of the virus, Tim offers some data based on what we now right now as well. This is a fluid conversation. I hope many will find tremendous value in your efforts to create better value for customers and patients here. Take a listen!

Steven Keating (aka @LeadToday on Twitter) has over 1 million followers and subscribers to his blog and social media platforms. With over 30 years of sales and sales management experience, Steve is recognized as a thought leader and authority on leadership, he is a highly acclaimed and in demand presenter. He is also a great human being. If you want to be more successful in your social media efforts and creating value for your customers, take a listen.

Bob Burg is the author of a number of books on sales, marketing and influence, with total book sales of well over a million copies. His book, The Go-Giver, coauthored with John David Mann, itself has sold over 925,000 copies and it has been translated into 28 languages. His and John's newest parable in the Go-Giver Series is The Go-Giver Influencer. Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve.  I really enjoyed this great conversation with Bob! Take a listen.

Elisa Garn is currently the Executive Brand Strategist for GBS Benefits, a full service broker based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Elisa's experience includes more than 15 years in HR, recruiting and employer brand strategy primarily with small to mid-sized businesses. Her passion for the HR profession is obvious: She is a member of the Forbes Human Resource Council, has served as the President for Salt Lake SHRM, co-founded DisruptHR SLC, currently serves as the Executive Director for Utah SHRM and acts as an advisor and member of several business-focused groups. Elisa holds the SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PRC and SHRM Talent Management Specialty Credential certifications. A true believer of the global impact HR can have on creating a better human experience, her career path now focuses on the advocacy and influence for the progression of the HR function within the business environment.  I really enjoyed this conversation with Elisa. Let me know what you think!  

Authentic Resilience: Bringing Your Strengths to Life. In this conversation, we talk about Fatima Doman's new book and her work in the field of resilience, character, strengths and how people can respond during stressful times. Fatima is a speaker, successful business owner, leadership coach and friend. I hope you enjoy this show!

As soon as I read his book Know What You're FOR: A Growth Strategy for Work, An Even Better Strategy for Life., I knew I wanted to get Jeff Henderson on the show. Jeff is an entrepreneur, speaker, pastor and business leader. He was also recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of twenty speakers you shouldn't miss. In this episode we talk about the questions every business needs to know in order to grow. We also discuss leadership and practical social media strategies to let people know you care. I really enjoyed this conversation. Take a listen!

Gary Peterson is the EVP of Manufacturing at OC Tanner company. He is also a Shingo Examiner and board member at the Shingo Institute. Over the years, I've interviewed Gary several different times for instructional videos, culture conversations and points on manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement. In fact, I met Gary during my first week working at OC Tanner many years ago long before we were each in our respective positions. It was there where I was introduced to the Shingo Prize, continuous improvement and many other lean leadership concepts. Later, I led the intellectual property development at the Shingo Institute. So, Gary and I have many great experiences together, and here is the thing: Gary is a tremendous leader and I'm grateful to call him a friend. Why do I share this history? Because this episode, while short and to the point, is full of so many great learning points and insights. I'm excited for you -- the listener -- to hear this conversation. Let me know what you think.

I'm delighted to introduce you to Murshidad Said today! Murshidad is an international speaker and adviser on personal and corporate transformation. A graduate of the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Sociology in 1993, Murshidah runs successful businesses for more than 20 years expanding throughout Asia. Her social enterprise LOVE & RESPECT Transformation Centre was awarded Best Brands for Good – for Community and Business Model in 2019, by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore. She was awarded Malaysia National Sustainability Award 2019 by Global GPM (Green Project Management Organisation ) for her work on helping refugees come out of poverty. Her key message and  topics addressed to organisations, businesses and professionals include Positive Workplace, Emotional Intelligence, THE POWER OF GIVING, Organisational Excellence through  LOVE & RESPECT, and Corporate Grooming and Branding, and Customer Service Transformation.  She also coaches entrepreneurs to increase profits and business impact through creating a sustainable Social Enterprise unit within their businesses. While we haven't met in person yet, Murshidah -- and her family -- is and are friends of mine. I'm grateful we've connected many times over the years and I hope you enjoy this show.  

Billy Taylor is an entrepreneur and executive who recently left his work at Goodyear Tire to branch out and help others discover their path to sustainable results. His leadership inspired thousands of employees to achieve better outcomes. He leads through the complexity of operations, manufacturing, processes and designs to help people own the continuous improvement. "Leaders," he asks, "Are you living up to the standards you set for the team?" Billy is a great human being with a wonderful way of communicating what is important. I'm grateful to call him a friend. Take a listen!

Listen in to this conversation with my friend, Whitney Johnson. Whitney is a sought after executive coach, writer, author, speaker and thought leader. She has nearly TWO MILLION followers on LinkedIn and here is why: she delivers. Here, we talk about leadership, purpose and personal lessons learned along the way. Take a listen!

Dr. Robert Emmons is an authority on gratitude. While he didn't initially consider the study of gratitude as his career path, this topic has become near and dear to his life purpose. I've been a fan of his work for years, and his books are full of wisdom -- as our his thoughts in this discussion. I'm grateful to share this conversation with you. When times are stressful, find ways to express gratitude. Listen in to discover why this is so important for better living and leadership. I hope you enjoy this show with someone I consider a great friend, Dr. Robert Emmons.

This is a special episode to address the concerns and fears we're facing this week. My guest today is Kristen Cox, the executive director of the Utah Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB). Appointed to the position by Governor Herbert in 2012, she has worked diligently to integrate operational excellence with the state's management and budgeting practices. With a $20 billion dollar budget and 22,000 employees, Kristen serves in a critical role during this time of fear and uncertainty. She challenges us to focus on the things we can control, but this doesn't mean she doesn't have fears. As a blind person, Kristen has learned how to navigate and lead despite her fears -- and she chooses to work through them -- one step at a time. This is a great conversation to help us refocus on the things we can do today to move forward.  

Listen in with my friend Doug Conant as he shares his experiences as a Fortune 500 CEO and executive coach and facilitator for customized leadership retreats. In this episode, Doug introduces his new book, "The Blue Print," and how each leader can create a better path as they discover their purpose and what guides them on a daily basis. I really enjoyed this conversation and I hope you find it valuable as well.

Chad Hymas is a great friend and international speaker! The Wall Street Journal calls him one of the most inspirational speakers today -- and I agree. In this episode, Chad and I talk about how he leads despite incredible challenges. He talks about the accident that put him in a wheelchair, but more importantly, he talks about how that life changing incident impacts the way he lives today. I hope you enjoy this show! If you are like me, Chad's stories and experiences will leave you thinking about your own life and how to make it better.

In this episode, Gerald Johnson, EVP of Global Manufacturing at General Motors, talks about his purpose, what he looks for in leaders and how he promotes a workplace of continuous improvement. Gerald shares his thoughts on several topics including these questions: How do you appreciate your employees? How do you encourage a psychologically safe environment? What are some things you've learned along the way? What do you wish you would have known sooner in your career? What advice would you share with those looking to lead in the future? Listen now to hear an executive's perspective on leading at GM.