Real World Leadership

In a conversation with Skot Waldron, Ken Banta discusses the importance of community for C-suite leaders and the challenges they face in the current business landscape. He highlights the need for a safe environment where leaders can share ideas and problems with peers. Ken also addresses the challenges of managing the hybrid work environment and the importance of purpose and adaptability in leadership. He emphasizes the value of building trust by doing what you say you will do and aligning actions with values.

In the crowded life sciences market, a great product isn't enough—branding is the real differentiator. In this episode, Michael Watras, CEO of Straightline, unpacks why CEOs must be the chief storytellers of their companies. He makes the case for branding as a strategic imperative, weaving together product value, team culture, and sustainability to win over consumers and investors alike.

Visionary leaders can't succeed if they don't bring their teams along for the ride. Change management expert John DiGiambattista talks about the importance of adapting leadership to a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) environment. For DiGiambattista, success lies in promoting adaptability, shared purpose, and a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for growth.

In this “golden age” of biotech, why is it so hard for so many companies to raise money? According to Nancy Lurker, former CEO of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, it comes down to a shortfall in communications skills. Listen to Nancy's practical advice for entrepreneurs, and hear why she remains optimistic about the future of healthcare innovation.

For Dr. Jack Drescher, the problems caused by stress hark back to a much earlier period of human evolution, when “fight or flight” were the two basic ways to respond to a threat. The modern executive must adopt a different approach to anxiety—one that includes being willing to share these issues with others.

As the head of a branding firm, Skot Waldron often saw companies commission campaigns which they later discarded because of a shift in strategy. This led him to focus instead on corporate culture—helping leaders create alignment by developing their own personal brand.

David King, the former CEO and Chair of LabCorp who now runs the Kingman strategic consulting services, analyzes the purpose and pitfalls of the CEO and Chair dynamic. Comparing the function of a Board Chair to that of a basketball backboard, King says Chairs should allow CEOs to bounce ideas off them. They may reframe or restate ideas, but recalling and dictating solutions is a no-no. The health industry legend advises CEOs to be decisive and be transparent at all times, stressing a lack of transparency is the number one threat to the relationship. Meanwhile, the Chair needs to be transparent, too, providing the CEO with their perspective on key corporate issues. Ideally, there should be no surprises on either side.

The "bad guys" as Jim Pastore, Partner with Debevoise and Plimpton, call them, are getting even badder with the advent of AI. Pastore, shared frightening trends in cyber attacks -- targeting leaders' children among them -- in a recent Vanguard Network GC Forum session.

The average CEO changes jobs every seven years. Each time, she or he must build trust and credibility from scratch. Jay Galeota, President and CEO of Kallyope, shares his experience on leveraging the "secret sauce" in any organization–its people.

The "ivory tower" of academia often seems foreign to business leaders. And yet, there are lessons to be learned from the collective governance model employed by institutions of higher learning. Here, Christopher Grobe shares how that model could transfer to private enterprise.

The reality of leading remotely presents both challenges and opportunities. Fewer ad hoc connections, but also less travel. To Jay Rosenblum, EVP and Chief Legal Officer of Assurant, building community is critical. In this Vanguard Forum for General Counsels session, he discusses with Cynthia Dow of Russell Reynolds why personally connecting deep into a team can yield benefits in productivity and loyalty.

The modern world rewards people who move forward with speed and courage. And yet, evolution has taught us to be slow and cautious. As a leader, how can to reconcile those conflicts in your team members. Neuroscientist and venture capitalist Benjamin Bergatzi, in conversation with Vanguard CEO and Founder Ken Banta, explores that paradox.

Could the secret of a high functioning board of directors be "no surprises"? Cal Roberts, CEO of Lighthouse Guild, builds a powerful case that it's that simple. This conversation at the Vanguard Network Life Sciences Forum is a must-watch for any CEO and GC.

How does a lawyer become passionate about environmental law? It begins at home - at least In the case of Corinne Spencer, a partner at Pearlman, Brown & Wax. Her personal commitment to sustainability translated into "on the job training" in environmental cases. In this dialogue with award-winning journalist Gary Lee, Corinne charts a path toward advocacy.

The pitfall of being a successful, high performer, is getting locked into a certain role. That makes looking ahead to retirement seem like falling off a cliff. Judith Kurnick, who advises senior leaders on their second acts, advises executives to look at it differently. The years between 55 and 85 are actually a stage of new possibilities.

"If you are not constitutionally capable of being transparent, then you need to not be a CEO," says Nancy Lurker who has been both a chief executive and board member. Nancy has strong words for CEOs whose egos may cause them to dissemble with their boards. Her advice is critical for senior leaders to hear–and embody.

Frankly, board relations can make or break a CEO. In addition to governance and decision making, board relations is about human relations. In this Vanguard Network CEO Roundtable session, two Life Sciences CEOs share the people side of managing a board -- and the downside of miscalculating.

Mike Colon says you need to flip the narrative: sustainability is not about staying out of trouble, but creating strategic opportunities for a company. The challenge is to unleash passion for sustainability at all levels, from the board to the frontline.

Homelessness has long been of concern to our society and our economy. A tidal wave of new arrivals is severely pressuring the programs and systems trying to eliminate homelessness. Some of the new arrivals are able to legally work, and business needs their labor. What can we do to facilitate their integration into society? Rosanne Haggerty is President and CEO of Community Solutions, which assists communities in solving complex housing problems affecting their most vulnerable residents. She will present an up-to-date snapshot of homelessness, the most promising solutions, and what business can do.

All disruptive technology creates ethical dilemmas - some grounded in facts, others in fear. Dr. Arthur Caplan, founder of NYU's Division of Medical Ethics, helps leaders find ethical and responsible pathways around issues such as GMO foods, pharmaceuticals, and AI. In this Vanguard Dialogue, Dr. Caplan emphatically shines a scientific light on the most controversial issues of our day.

The universality and speed of social media has been a game changer for crisis management - and GCs are at the forefront. Three experienced legal leaders share how to partner with non-lawyers to manage responses and prevent reputational damage.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion gets no respect - and neither does the population it was intended to support. Gena Cox, organizational psychologist, strategic advisor and author, believes that labels are beside the point when it comes to building an inclusive organization. It's about listening and feedback, and -- most important -- RESPECT.

Leadership can be learned, but it's not a science. Dr. Tal Zaks, now a Partner at OrbiMed, was Chief Medical Officer at Moderna through the Covid vaccine development process. In this fascinating discussion, he shares how–against all odds–an unprecedented work environment created a modern medical miracle, and how he learned how to step back and allow others to come forward.

Understanding employees is a key challenge for any leader - and especially important in maximizing productivity, continuity, and effectiveness. Dr. JD Pincus, developer of AgileBrain, says "state" is more important than "trait" in understanding employees, especially in today's fraught workplace. In this podcast, Dr. Pincus explains how visuals are far more effective in capturing a person's state of being, and leading them to a better place.

The convergence of intellectual property and social justice is no longer an abstract concept. The "Unleashing American Innovators Act" is now federal law. Lateef Mtima, the Director of the Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice explains the implications for both businesses and individual creatives.

A legendary CEO and one a groundbreaking scientist share their insights on what it takes to be a successful leader. From turning around billion dollar companies to creating the Moderna Covid vaccine, these two leaders share what it takes both internally and externally to succeed.

Beth Boland, Partner at Foley and Lardner, board advisor and advocate for women's leadership shares her insights in a wide ranging conversation with The Vanguard Network's Principal Ken Banta. Beth provides practical advice on new challenges being faced by General Counsels, and the pathway for more women to become senior leaders.

Alfreda Bradley-Coar is the Chief Legal and People Officer of the Obama Foundation. In this discussion, she shares how to four generations of team members can work effectively together, in spite of different needs, expectations and languages. Spoiler: "We even make it a little fun."

Craig Tooman has held many C-suite roles in his 25 year plus career. One common pitfall he has seen is "singular thinking," that there's only one way to solve a problem. Instead, Tooman, now President and CEO of Silence Therapeutics, favors empower a diverse team and asking them to "switch chairs." Great ideas come from many places he advises, especially in today's intense, performance-centric environment.

The handwriting is on the wall according to leadership advisor Ram Charan. In this powerful cautionary tale for CEOs, he asks critical questions: "how dependent is your company on China?" and "where are the global business opportunities?"

The relationship between a General Counsel and the Board of Directors is unique in the C-suite. Here, experienced board member Trace Harris lays out the keys to GC success in nurturing that role.

Gerard Senehi, founder of the Open Future Institute, has an unusual background for a leader. He was a renowned mentalist, with a national media profile. His pivot, more than a decade ago, was to become an educator -- helping young people take charge of their lives with effective decision making.

"Just do it" is more than a Nike slogan. It's great advice for senior leaders, according to psychiatrist Dillon Hayes. He says that less thinking and more doing is vital for successful leadership. Rather than overthinking and waiting for an "aha moment," Dr. Hayes says that breakthroughs will come by taking action while remaining open and mindful.

Leadership is not determined by where you sit on the org chart. Instead, it has to be earned by skill in human relations. Dr. Lloyd Sederer, author and healthcare change agent, knows that "organizations can be run very well by informal authority." Dr. Sederer's insights come from more than 30 years at the forefront of healthcare policy and reform. They are valuable to all senior leaders who need to inspire their organizations.

Ignoring AI is like giving up your personal computer or cell phone, said Christian Desrosiers in a conversation with Ken Banta at a recent Vanguard Forum for General Counsels. His advice to General Counsels: start working with it, but with guardrails to prevent misuse or breaches.

From hero to zero - how quickly public opinion can change -- especially on the companies that saved millions of lives with Covid vaccines. Kate Cronin, Chief Brand Officer for Moderna and Paul Hastings, Board Chair of BIO, share insights on reputation management that are universally relevant to organizations in the public eye.

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is today. So says Diego Ontaneda Benavides, co-founder and CEO of the Latin American Leadership Academy. Benavides believes that diversity and access will help alleviate economic and societal issues, which -- left unchecked -- can snowball into political unrest. He shares his philosophy, experience, and hope for the future, with the Vanguard New Leaders, along with Vanguard Network Founder and Principal Ken Banta.

As the tidal wave of Gen Z hits the workforce, what do leaders need to know? Nancy Lurker, CEO of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, has a reliable source -- her own daughter. The answers may surprise you.

Andy Bromberg is CEO and Founding Advisor at Eco, a revolutionary financial institution that transforms what he calls our "dumb money" system into "smart money." In this discussion with public TV journalist Ken Stone, Andy describes how Eco was conceived, built and serves customers in a new era of technology.

Dealing with high pressure situations is a big part of a CEO's job description. Your future may depend on how you perform in crisis. Trusted CEO advisor Justin Menkes shares three powerful principles to mobilize your inner strength and lead others to success.

Philip Friedman is a highly successful photographer, who must take charge of a team, develop trust, and create art, all in a very short time. (As little as 15 minutes in the case of Oprah). In conversation with former journalist Ken Stone, Philip offers practical advice for other leaders on developing rapport and communicating effectively.

Ray Jordan has run corporate affairs for J&J, Amgen, and Moderna, among his portfolio of C-Suite roles. From that experience, Ray comes away convinced that a lot of important leadership tasks can be boxed, delivered, and assembled in the comfort of your office. For example: how to create an annual report. Many leaders start from scratch and learn -anxiously - on the job. But Ray believes that 80% of the work can be delivered through templates, AI and other tools, assembled around a template. During this session, Ray shared his insights about making your leadership less stressful, more fun, and more effective.

AI gets real in 2023, and can yield huge cost savings in advertising and marketing. That's just the beginning, says entrepreneur and data scientist Christian Desrosiers.

Tracy Stone-Manning directs the "other" BLM, the Bureau of Land Management, which controls more than 10% of US territory. Balancing wilderness preservation with mining and drilling leases, requires a deft hand and political acumen. In conversation with Ken Banta, Tracy shares what it takes to succeed with a widely dispersed team of 10,000, and often conflicting interests for 245 million acres of public land.

How do you go about solving problems without obvious solutions? Leaders face this challenge every day. Emily Jiang and Ken Banta discussed this in a Vanguard New Leaders session. Find out how confidence in methodology -- and in your own way of working -- can surmount ambiguity.

Wait, why would organizational psychologist and author of Leading Inclusion proclaim that DEI is BS? Because it must be a subset of leader effectiveness, not a standalone program, according to Gena Cox, PhD. Gena was featured in a recent Vanguard Network Dialogue and delivers a powerful message for senior leaders: you have to be effective with 100% of your talent pool.

Companies routinely survey employees, but do they really listen to them? If not, they are putting their most important asset at risk. This discussion with author Gorick Ng and Vanguard founder Ken Banta is an important reminder that the true intellectual property in any organization resides in the frontline team members.

What can Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau teach use about leadership today? Plenty, according to professor and author Bob Gross, the leading authority on the US Transcendentalist Movement. In this fascinating discussion with journalist Ken Stone, you'll discover parallels between the 19th century and today. Hint: the forces that created the millenials are not so different from what the US was facing nearly 200 years ago.

When you think about the role of the General Counsel -- the chief legal officer in a corporation - what comes to mind as the most important leadership skill? Would building a diverse, dynamic team rise to the top? In this recent Vanguard Session, top GCs offer thought provoking opinions on how to be successful as chief lawyer in a corporation.

Talent development is a critical issue for business success. Increasingly, the LGBTQ+ community is a force to be reckoned with. This Vanguard Network Dialogue explores the importance of inclusion and the consequences of not welcoming this powerful segment of the workforce.

According to Calvin Schmidt, mistakes can lead to powerful innovation. He speaks from experience in many leadership roles around the world. Schmidt and Ken Banta discuss how a culture of authenticity, and staying true to purpose, can unleash innovation.