Podcasts about Prudential Financial

States are emerging as important laboratories for expanding employee ownership. From experimenting with new financing and investment tools to technical assistance and outreach programs, states are increasingly on the frontlines of helping more businesses transition to employee ownership. This session highlights some of the newest and most promising state-level innovations, the leaders driving them, and what other states and federal policymakers can learn from what's emerging.Our speakers include Shannon Lundgren (State Representative, Iowa); Andrew Zwicker (State Senator, New Jersey); Hilary Abell (Chief of the Employee Ownership Division, US Department of Labor); and moderator Julien Rosenbloom (Senior Associate, Lafayette Square Institute).This video comes from the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

In this video, Maureen Conway — a vice president of the Aspen Institute and executive director of the Institute's Economic Opportunities Program — speaks with Steven Hill — a fellow with the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing and author of the book, “Expand Social Security Now.”This video comes from the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

In this video, Danny Massey — head of strategy and communications for Expanding ESOPs — speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

In this video, Loren Rodgers — executive director of the National Center for Employee Ownership — speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

Public companies employ the majority of America's workforce, yet broad-based employee ownership remains and profit sharing the exception rather than the rule. This session explores the current landscape of employee ownership in this sector, examines the opportunities and challenges for broader adoption, and discusses how we can realize the enormous untapped potential for expanding ownership culture across America's largest employers.Our conversation includes opening remarks from William Castellano (Director, Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, Rutgers University; Executive Director, NJ/NY Center for Employee Ownership), followed by a panel discussion with Jason Kelly (Co-founder and CEO, Ginkgo Bioworks); Ethan Rouen (Associate Professor of Business Administration, Accounting and Management Unit, Harvard Business School; Faculty Co-chair, The Ownership Project); and moderator Mary Josephs (Founder and CEO, Verit Advisors; Contributor, Forbes Magazine).This video comes from the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

In this video, Phil Reeves — founder and managing partner of Apis & Heritage — speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

American manufacturing continues to face an uncertain future, with decades of offshoring and consolidation hollowing out communities and leaving workers behind. This session explores how employee ownership models can help sustain existing manufacturers, support the rebuilding of domestic production capacity, advance our national competitiveness, and ensure that the workers who make things in America have a real stake in the businesses they power.Our conversation includes opening remarks from Douglas Kruse (Research Director, Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, Rutgers University), followed by a panel discussion with Rich Cammarano (President and CEO, Tech Etch Inc); Veda Clark (Chair of the Board of Directors, Lampin Corporation); Elisabeth Reynolds (Professor of the Practice, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, MIT); and moderator Jack Moriarty (Executive Director, Lafayette Square Institute).This video comes from the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

In this video, US Senator from Virginia Tim Kaine speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

In this video, Jim Bonham, president and CEO of The ESOP Association, speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University. The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

In this video, US Senator from Wisconsin Ron Johnson speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

Employee ownership looks compelling on paper, but what does it actually mean to have a stake in the place where you work? This session puts employee owners at the center, sharing firsthand accounts of how ownership has changed their relationship to their work, their workplace, and their futures, offering an unfiltered look at the promises and realities of building an economy where more workers have a real share in what they create.Our speakers include Charlie Arrindell (Division Manager, Lewis Tree Services); Krystal Thompson (Senior Software Solutions Advisor, Advisors for Change); Nicole Vitello (Vice President, Equal Exchange); and moderator Matt Helmer (Director of Job Quality and Worker Well-Being, Economic Opportunities Program, The Aspen Institute).This video comes from the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

Gina Schaefer — founder and co-owner of A Few Cool Hardware Stores — speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

The Aspen Institute's Maureen Conway and Rutgers University's William Castellano give opening remarks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

In "Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur" Joe Lynch and Nicholas Antoine, Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Managing Partner of Red Arts Capital, discuss how mid-market logistics companies can leverage emerging automation and strategic "moats" to successfully survive and compete against tech-heavy enterprise giants. About Nick Antoine Nicholas Antoine is the Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Managing Partner of Red Arts Capital, a private equity firm he co-founded in 2015 - at age 26 - to invest exclusively in supply chain and logistics businesses. A Princeton graduate, Nick began his career as an equity research analyst at Princeton Global Asset Management before joining Ariel Investments in Chicago, where he served as Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO of the $17 billion asset manager. At Red Arts, he leads fundraising, research, and investment thesis development, building one of the few Black-founded and -led PE firms in the country and one of the top-performing, ranked #7 on Bloomberg's 2025 Best-Performing U.S. Buyout Funds. Nick is a member of YPO and a board trustee of The Studio Museum in Harlem and WTTW (PBS Chicago). About Red Arts Capital Red Arts Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused exclusively on partnering with North American supply chain and logistics businesses. Founded in 2015 by Nick Antoine and Chad Strader, Red Arts is a 100% Black-owned firm investing across the "supply chain economy" - freight, transportation, warehousing, contract packaging, and related middle-market companies with strong growth potential. In 2023, the firm closed its latest fund oversubscribed at $270M, above its $225M target, backed by institutional LPs including Prudential Financial, the University of Chicago's Office of Investments, and funds managed by Neuberger Berman. Red Arts pairs a sector-focused thesis with a belief that diversity drives performance - women represent roughly half the firm. Key Takeaways: Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur In "Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur" Joe Lynch and Nicholas Antoine, Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Managing Partner of Red Arts Capital, discuss how mid-market logistics companies can leverage emerging automation and strategic "moats" to successfully survive and compete against tech-heavy enterprise giants. Firm Profile & Focus: Founded in 2015, Red Arts Capital is a 100% Black-owned, Chicago-based private equity firm that focuses exclusively on North American supply chain, logistics, and middle-market infrastructure businesses. Target Investment Profile: Unlike venture capital firms that hunt for speculative "hockey stick" growth, Red Arts invests $50M to $100M+ into established, profitable middle-market companies (typically family-owned with $100M to $500M in revenue) to provide liquidity and operational scaling. Strong Institutional Backing: Validating their sector-focused thesis, the firm closed its 2023 fund oversubscribed at $270M (surpassing its $225M target) backed by premier LPs like Prudential Financial and the University of Chicago. The Concept of "Organized Tech": Nick defines "organized technology" as a modern third form of power alongside organized people and organized capital. Large enterprise players use their scale and massive resources to deploy tech—and partner with startups for free trials—giving them a distinct, systemic advantage. An Opportunity, Not a Death Sentence: Organized tech is not inherently destroying small logistics entrepreneurs; rather, the risk lies in a lack of adaptability. Because AI and automated tools are becoming rapidly commoditized and affordable, small business survival depends on an entrepreneurial willingness to experiment. Building Defensive "Moats": To avoid competing strictly on commoditized pricing, successful logistics companies must build defensible moats. This includes high-touch customer service, strong cultural values that lower driver turnover, or geographic asset density (like uniquely zoned cross-dock terminals) that competitors cannot easily replicate. Outsized Returns from Small Tech Investments: Technology adoption doesn't require a massive overhaul to significantly impact the bottom line. In one LTL case study, Red Arts introduced a simple automated software tool to capture missed, manual accessorial charges, plugging a major revenue leak and yielding massive profit returns. Learn More About Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur Nicholas Antoine | Linkedin Red Arts Capital | Linkedin Red Arts Capital Bloomberg executive profile Investing in Supply Chain Solutions with Nick Antoine of Red Arts Capital | Impact Podcast Black Professionals in PE & Finance spotlight | McGuireWoods Fund close coverage | $270M, Business Wire Organized Technology: A New Power Defining The American Dream | Forbes The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube

Artificial intelligence and automation promise to unleash a wave of productivity and economic growth — but without deliberate action, the gains will flow overwhelmingly to those who already own capital, deepening inequality and further disconnecting society from the value it helps create. This session explores how reimagining ownership — from broad-based worker equity to public-interest frameworks — can ensure that the AI-powered economy generates a true "social dividend" rather than a private windfall. Panelists will examine the risks of AI growth without consideration of ownership and social impact, how some organizations are already prioritizing shared value and governance, and what policy shifts could institutionalize this approach.Our speakers include Deric Cheng (Director of Research, Windfall Trust); Anthony Cimino (Head of Federal Affairs, Anthropic); Zoë B Cullen (Michael B. Kim Associate Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School); Richard Freeman (Herbert Ascherman Chair in Economics, Harvard University); and moderator Liba Wenig Rubenstein (Director, Future of Work Initiative, Economic Opportunities Program, The Aspen Institute).This video comes from the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online.For more information about this session, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.For additional content from the Forum, visit our main event page.To view more sessions and event highlights, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go.About this event:The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum is an annual event hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.The Forum convenes participants — including members of Congress, congressional staff, administration officials, employee owners, investors, lenders, researchers, practitioners, and policy experts — around the shared, bipartisan goal of increasing broad-based employee ownership and providing workers and communities with the opportunity to own their share of America's prosperity and future.The Forum highlights innovative policies and practices, features firsthand experiences and perspectives of employee owners, and fosters dialogue and engagement to drive concrete actions toward expanding employee ownership.We are grateful to our Forum Champions — the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, JPMorganChase, and EO Equals — for their principal support of the Forum. We also thank McKinsey & Company, a Forum Ally, for its generous contribution.As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. To the extent elected officials are in attendance, they are attending and speaking in their official capacity and not as a political candidate. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute or of Rutgers University.

Why should HR think of themselves as the business instead of supporting the business?How can AI amplify human potential and performance?My guest on this episode is Vicki Walia, Chief People and Experience Officer at Prudential FinancialDuring our conversation Vicki and I discuss the following: Why HR leaders need to see themselves as part of the business, not partners to it.How AI can amplify human potential and performance.How Vicki thinks about the AI "time dividend” and who should get the benefit. Why a high performance culture starts at the individual level. Why clarity, tools, and candid feedback are the three ingredients teams need.Connecting with Vicki: Connect with Vicki on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leadersHR Leader's Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

For CEOs, the first 100 days often get the most attention. But the final chapter of a CEO’s tenure can be just as consequential. In this episode, senior partner Carolyn Dewar speaks with Charles Lowrey, former executive chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, about what it takes to finish strong and manage a successful leadership transition. Lowrey reflects on his unexpected path to the CEO role, the lessons he learned while leading through the pandemic, and why he began discussing succession with the board before officially taking the job. He explains how Prudential developed internal candidates, planned the handover in detail, and worked to make the market’s reaction to the transition “a huge yawn.” The conversation also explores the personal side of stepping away: preparing for life after the CEO role, avoiding the temptation to remain too involved, and finding new ways to contribute. For current and aspiring CEOs, Lowrey offers practical guidance on legacy, succession, and the discipline required to lead until the very end. Related insights A CEO For All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest The Strategic CEO LinkedIn newsletter Sending it forward: Successfully transitioning out of the CEO roleSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

We speak with David Blanchette about his career, both in research and in investment management for individual investors. We talk about his public tiff with finfluencer Dave Ramsey, common investment mistakes, some surprising results from his research, and, of course, the only dirty word in finance.   David is Head of Retirement Research with Prudential Financial, and a Portfolio Manager for PGIM. He is a CFA charterholder, holds a BBA from the University of Kentucky, MSFS in Financial Services from The American College of Financial Services, an MBA in Analytic Finance from Chicago Booth, and a Ph.D. In Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University.   What David is Reading Right Now: Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today by Hal Hershfield   David's Music Recommendation: "Self Destructor" by Chevelle   ___ Join Us At The Private Wealth Leadership Forum: October 1-2, 2026 | Westin, Las Colinas CFA Institute and CFA Society Dallas/Fort Worth will convene CIOs, portfolio managers, advisors, and family office leaders for a 1.5-day event exploring how investment strategies are evolving. Attendees will gain practical insights into integrating private markets and alternatives into portfolios, managing liquidity and risk, improving tax efficiency, adapting advisory models amid consolidation and technological change, and guiding clients through liquidity events and generational wealth transitions. Click Here To Register  Member exclusive discount: CFA Society Dallas/Fort Worth members, you can use one of your $40 discounts to this event! Email us at info@cfadfw.org for more information.   ___ Get updated when new episodes release by joining our list: https://bit.ly/4dwwTgD Connect with CFA Society Dallas/Fort Worth: LinkedIn | Instagram| www.cfasociety.org/dallasfortworth

Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Maura Harris, Founder of Maura Harris & Company, an operational due diligence (ODD) consulting boutique. With over 25 years of experience in alternative asset management, Maura has worked for premier asset managers, fund of funds, RIAs, and family offices. Her core services include Operational Due Diligence (ODD) Readiness, ODD Document Review, ODD Full Reviews, ODD Audit and ODD Verification, as well as add-on specialty due diligence. Prior to working with private clients, Maura was the Head of Due Diligence at Bostwick Capital, a fund of funds, from 2016 to 2024. In addition, she provided consulting and advisory services for a broad range of firms including AITEC, a technology peer group, Centrl Inc., a fintech company digitizing investor questionnaires, Symphonic Leadership Partners, a change management advisory group, and Harness All Possibilities, a nonprofit helping individuals transform their value to meet the future of work. From 2006 to 2015, Maura developed and managed the operational due diligence program at The Permal Group. Permal was a global multi-strategy, multi-manager investing in hedge funds, private equity, and real assets. Prior to Permal, she worked in accounting, operations and due diligence at GAM Investments and Bank of America Alternative Group, as well as the private equity group at Prudential Financial. In this episode, we discus Maura's core area of expertise – operational risk and due diligence (ODD) for family offices. She explains why this discipline is important and what families, family office executives, and family advisors should do to stay focused on in this specialized field of ODD. Maura leads us through the different types of operational risks family offices need to understand and mitigate and outlines the various dimensions of ODD that she covers in her work with family offices. One practical need and challenge for family offices is how to assess managers and vendors for operational risks. Maura talks about this need and how family office leaders should think about and manage these external risks that are affecting their operation. Maura explains how family leaders and family office executives should think about the value of ODD and offers her tips on the best methods and tools to articulate, measure, and mitigate these operational risks. Enjoy this highly instructional conversation with a deep expert in the ODD discipline as applied to family enterprises and family offices.

Major shipping routes including the Strait of Hormuz face potential blockages while countries from Kuwait to Vietnam implement emergency energy measures. This emerging supply chain crisis is reshaping global trade patterns and creating both risks and opportunities across multiple sectors.Today's Stocks & Topics: CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF), Market Wrap, Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU), Global Supply Chain Crisis 2.0: Energy Disruption and Investment Implications, Are We in Trouble?, Meren Energy Inc. (MRNFF), Altria Group, Inc. (MO), Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP-72t), Shale Oil.Introducing our Third Annual InvestTalk Market Madness! Join the mayhem before May 18th at 11:59 pm PST for the chance to win $1,500! Fill out your bracket below: https://kppfinancial.com/investtalk-madnessOur Sponsors:* Check out Anthropic: https://claude.ai/invest* Check out Pebl: https://hipebl.ai* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/INVESTAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode, Gordon sits down with Katie Fernands, former Marketing Director at Prudential Financial and former VP Growth Marketing Manager at U.S. Bank, to explore the deeply human side of money. From personal loss and becoming a primary caregiver to shaping ultra-high-net-worth strategies, Katie shares how her lived experiences transformed her understanding of financial stability. She reveals how curiosity drew her into the industry, why “simplicity is a superpower,” and how AI should free us for deeper human connection—not replace it. Tune in for a future-facing conversation on emotional money and why the most rational decisions often begin with understanding what we feel.

We are knee deep into earnings season, and WSJ's Take On the Week co-hosts Telis Demos and Miriam Gottfried dive right into what companies they'll be keeping an eye on this week. Our hosts compare the divergent strategies of Chevron and ExxonMobil as they navigate geopolitical instability in Venezuela and a push for cheap oil from President Trump. Telis and Miriam highlight some rising and and not-so-rising stars in the AI story: Seagate and Meta. Then they look at the return of the “Sell America” trade amid recent policy volatility and tariffs After the break, Miriam is joined by Greg Peters, co-chief investment officer for public fixed income at PGIM, the asset management business of Prudential Financial, to discuss the risks facing the bond market. Peters explains why the market shrugged off recent concerns over Fed independence. Next, he shares how he hedges the winner-take-all risk in the AI buildout. And finally, Peters shares his biggest concern as an investor over the next year.  This is WSJ's Take On the Week where co-hosts Telis Demos, Heard on the Street's banking and money columnist, and Miriam Gottfried, WSJ's private equity reporter, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We'd love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com Further Reading Chevron's Dilemma in Venezuela: Support Trump's Vision Without Losing Money Trump's $50 Oil Price Goal Is Doable, but Painful AI Is Causing a Memory Shortage. Why Producers Aren't Rushing to Make a Lot More. Meta Lays Off 1,500 People in Metaverse Division Trump Calls Off Tariffs on Europe Over Greenland Japan's Long-Dated Bond Yields Hit Record Highs For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ's Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ's Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.  Follow Miriam Gottfried here and Telis Demos here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S&P futures are down (0.7%) and pointing to a lower open today. Asian equities ended Monday trading broadly higher. Mainland China and Hong Kong technology stocks led the rally after policy announcements supported several sectors. Australia and Taiwan also posted gains, while Thailand was the only major market to close lower. European markets are mostly lower in early trading. The Sentix investor confidence index for the Eurozone, due today, will provide insight into early 2026 sentiment, though caution persists following a downward trend at the end of 2025. Companies Mentioned: Warner Bros. Discovery, Sun Country Airlines, Prudential Financial, AT&T, Verizon

Kalli Chapman, VP of Global Media and Sponsorships at Prudential Financial, joins host Tim Finnigan to dismantle the wall between brand and performance marketing. Kalli argues this separation hurts the industry. She believes all marketing efforts must drive outcomes, whether through immediate sales or long-term growth. The conversation shifts to data strategies. Kalli warns against hoarding data without a plan. She suggests marketers prioritize actionable metrics over vanity numbers. Effective teams use data to tell a clear story about the consumer journey rather than simply reporting statistics. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Verisk Marketing Solutions or Verisk Analytics. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. This podcast is not intended to replace legal or other professional advice. The Lead Intelligence, Inc. (dba Verisk Marketing Solutions) and Verisk Analytics LLC names and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. VERISK MARKETING SOLUTIONS DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

This week, Jack Sharry talks with Suzanne Schmitt, Managing Director at Next Chapter. Suzanne brings a wealth of knowledge from her extensive career at firms such as Fidelity Investments, New York Life Insurance, Prudential Financial, and Lincoln Financial. At Next Chapter, Suzanne reframed and realigned needs to outcomes that benefited advisors and three generations of clients and their families. Today, she leads the NextGen engagement and growth strategies.  Suzanne talks with Jack about the implications of aging and its impact on consumers, advisors, and the industry as a whole. She shares key findings from Next Chapter's advisor study, which highlights the industry's need to better prepare advisors to navigate complex family dynamics, health events, caregiving challenges, and solo aging. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (01:49) - Suzanne's career background (04:04) - Next Chapter's advisor study  (05:44) - Key findings from Next Chapter's advisor study  (08:54) - How Next Chapter addresses the aging population issue (12:50) - Helping advisors connect with families during moments that matter (18:11) - Age and gender weighted revenue (21:57) - Highlights from the Next Chapter's white paper (24:28) - Suzanne's key takeaways (25:05) - Suzanne's interests outside of work Quotes "The industry is not adequately prepared to help advisors engage families on health and non-financial matters. The industry is also not adequately prepared to help advisors detect cognitive change in their clients." ~ Suzanne Schmitt "Knowing the percentage of the current revenue in your book held by women is incredibly important, and engaging them on issues of caregiving is an absolute home run." ~ Suzanne Schmitt "A lot of advisors don't start because they don't know where to start. Getting used to asking simply 'what has changed with your health since we last talked' is one of the best questions you can work into your repertoire." ~ Suzanne Schmitt Links  Suzanne Schmitt on LinkedIn NextChapter Steve Gresham Fidelity Investments New York Life Insurance Prudential Financial Lincoln Financial LPL Financial McKinsey Connect with our hosts LifeYield Jack Sharry on LinkedIn Jack Sharry on Twitter Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Want a behind-the-scenes look at how real leaders make ethics practical on a day-to-day basis? In this conversation with Noreen Fierro at Principal Financial Group®, you'll hear how, as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, she builds trust by asking questions, owning mistakes, and keeping teams aligned to values, not just outcomes. You'll also get an insider's view of the rigorous Ethisphere “World's Most Ethical Companies” application—what it takes, why cross-functional collaboration matters, and how to sustain momentum over months. You'll come away with fresh, usable ideas: pausing unsustainable busywork, watching for stress signals, and turning misses into shared learning instead of blame. Plus, you'll discover a mentoring approach grounded in humility, self-awareness, and long-term relationships that helps people grow with confidence.  Noreen is Senior Vice President and Enterprise Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Principal Financial Group®. She joined Principal® in 2022. Her career spans 30 years in the financial services industry, both in-house in legal and compliance roles and as outside counsel. Prior to joining Principal in 2022, she was Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer at Guardian Life and before that held various senior-level positions at Prudential Financial. You'll hear Noreen's passion for strong leadership in our conversation, and she speaks often about it at industry events. You'll discover: How vulnerability (and “I don't know yet”) elevates leadership.A practical playbook for complex, months-long ethics initiatives. What to do after a miss: learn, don't blame. Ways to protect your team's capacity and values in real time.A mentoring style that blends humility, curiosity, and care.Check out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today's episode is with an experienced private markets and distribution executive who has been educating the wealth channel and distributing private markets investment solutions at some of the industry's largest investment platforms.We sat down in Prudential's Newark studio with PGIM's Global Head of Alternative Investments, Dominick Carlino. PGIM is the $1.4T global asset management business of Prudential Financial.At PGIM, Dominick is responsible for driving the continued development and distribution of alternative investments tailored to the firm's wealth channel investors globally.Dominick joined the firm in 2023, bringing over 20 years of experience in alternatives distribution. He was most recently MD, Head of Alternative Investments Distribution at Merrill Lynch.Dominick and I had a fascinating conversation about the intersections between insurance and asset management and the evolution of distribution. We covered:How the distribution of private markets investment solutions has evolved.The benefits of an integrated platform across insurance and asset management.Navigating the playing field of collaboration and competition between asset managers and insurance companies.The importance of education.How, why, and where evergreen funds will be adopted.Thanks Dominick for sharing your perspectives and wisdom on insurance and private markets. We hope you enjoy.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus' technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.Show Notes00:00 Message from our Sponsor, Ultimus01:18 Welcome to Alt Goes Mainstream01:55 Guest Introduction: Dominick Carlino03:34 Dom's Background and Career Journey03:55 Early Career and Transition to Alternatives05:03 Experience at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch05:18 Evolution of Private Markets Distribution07:08 Wealth Channel and Private Markets09:08 Joining Prudential and PGIM10:25 Prudential's Capabilities and Strategy12:47 Asset Liability Matching in Private Markets14:22 Liquidity Risk and Private Markets16:16 Education and Evergreen Funds17:06 Credit Risk in Private Credit18:14 Vertical Integration and Acquisitions19:35 Partnerships and Strategic Growth20:22 Market Shakeout and Scale22:09 Product Set and Innovation23:24 Advisor and Client Needs24:45 Evergreen Funds and Market Trends26:13 Specialized Strategies in Private Markets26:41 Distribution and Education28:16 Skills for Effective Distribution30:54 Organizational Alpha and Trust31:56 Brand and Stability33:11 Partnerships and Long-term Solutions33:49 Insurance and Tax-Advantaged Strategies34:12 Asset Managers and Insurance Partnerships35:42 Private Markets in Retirement Plans36:17 Future of Private Markets36:41 Keys to Winning in Private Markets37:29 Prudential's Competitive Advantages37:48 Conclusion and Guest FarewellThe opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of PGIM, Inc. PGIM, Inc. is not responsible, endorses nor confirms its accuracy. All trademarks and other intellectual property used or displayed are the ownership of their respective owners. Unless noted otherwise in this podcast, PGIM, Inc. is not affiliated with, nor  endorses any mentioned company or any linked third-party content. PGIM and its affiliates may develop and publish research that is independent of, and different than, the recommendations contained herein. PGIM's personnel other than the author(s), such as sales, marketing and trading personnel, may provide oral or written market commentary or ideas to PGIM's clients or prospects or proprietary investment ideas that differ from the views expressed herein.Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

We will look into how advances in AI are creating a rift between workers and investors, even as major tech companies continue job cuts. Today's Stocks & Topics: The Progressive Corporation (PGR), Oil, Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR), Market Wrap, Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU), MetLife, Inc. (MET), Lennox International Inc. AI, Jobs & Investors: Growing Divides in the Workplace, (LII), Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK), Wall Street Rally, VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX), Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC), Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VXUS), The Fed.Our Sponsors:* Check out Anthropic: https://claude.ai/INVEST* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/investtalk* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with David Blanchett and Daniel Gutman from Prudential Investment Management and Prudential Retirement Services, respectively. We discuss recent innovations within the insurance product space to provide an "insurance overlay" on top of investment managed programs, affording retirees deferred lifetime income with the flexibility in managing their existing investment programs. Our guests also share recent insights into post-retirement spending patterns based on a May 2025 research paper, "Retirees: Doing Better with Less," which can be found at https://www.davidmblanchett.com/research.

In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Noreen Fierro.Noreen Fierro is Senior Vice President, Enterprise Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Principal Financial Group She joined Principal in 2022. Prior to joining Principal, Noreen has had a 30- year career in the financial services industry both in-house in legal and compliance roles and as outside counsel. Most recently, Noreen served as the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer at Guardian Life (2016-2021). Prior to her time at Guardian, Noreen spent 10 years at Prudential Financial in various senior compliance/legal roles. She started her career in private legal practice doing defense and regulatory work for large broker-dealers and insurance companies.Connect with Noreen on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/noreen-fierro-09a5228

What happens when you're suddenly asked to lead the very people who used to be your peers?For Carolynn Smith, that moment came with her first big promotion. It taught her lessons about courage, discomfort, and how leadership often begins by stepping into the unknown.Today, Carolynn is Head of U.S. Service and Enterprise Process Excellence at Prudential Financial. She oversees large-scale transformation efforts and shapes how customer care is delivered at one of the country's leading financial services companies.In this conversation, guest host Karen Lellouche Tordjman sits down with Carolynn to talk about seeking discomfort, the role of AI in reimagining customer experience, and what it really takes to grow into leadership. Along the way, Carolynn reflects on raising a family while rising through the ranks, and why leaning into discomfort has been her best teacher.1:59 Core Values and a Promotion3:13 Business vs. Personal Relationships4:50 Surround Yourself With People Smarter Than You8:18 Seeking Discomfort 10:15 “Work-Life Blend”14:03 AI and Customer Experience17:45 Managing Customer ExpectationsLinks:Carolynn Smith on LinkedInSuchi Srinivasan on LinkedInKamila Rakhimova on LinkedInKaren Lellouche Tordjman on LinkedInAbout In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn't just arrived—you were truly in your element?About The Hosts:Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders.Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.Karen Lellouche Tordjman is a Managing Director & Senior Partner at BCG. She has spent over 2 decades in the firm supporting clients across Europe, the US and Latin America. She leads the Customer Experience topic globally for BCG, and is an expert in omnchannel & AI transformation.Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.

The ‘AI in Business' podcast connects enterprise leaders with the best insights on how AI is driving measurable impact across regulated industries. In this episode, we highlight Prudential Financial's perspective on scaling AI in customer experience, an area facing both significant opportunity and unique regulatory challenges. By featuring Abhii Parakh, VP and Head of Customer Experience at Prudential Financial, this episode links directly into ongoing conversations with financial services leaders about digital transformation, customer trust, and the rise of agentic AI. Listeners will gain actionable context for how insurance companies can responsibly adopt AI, improve employee and customer outcomes, and prepare for a rapidly changing future of customer interaction. This episode is sponsored by Cognigy. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the ‘AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

Today, I'm joined by Matthew Veland, President of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Metro DC and Dyanna Volek, proud Filipina American and native San Franciscan who during the day, works in government affairs and is a champion of the Filipino community. We discuss: Biggest challenges that Filipino business owners face Need to address mental health and business owners' relationship to money Entrepreneurial and mental health resources for business owners Ways we can support Filipino-owned businesses on both coasts ========================================= Matthew Veland is a highly respected financial planner with Prudential Financial in the Washington D.C. area, distinguished by his deep commitment to empowering Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) business owners and medical professionals. Beyond his professional expertise in financial planning, Matt is a leading advocate for the local Asian American business community, with a particular focus on the significant economic contributions of these enterprises. As the current President of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Metro DC, Matthew spearheads an organization dedicated to uplifting and empowering over 200 entrepreneurs and business owners across the DMV region. Under his leadership, the Chamber actively promotes economic development, fosters networking opportunities, and amplifies the voices of Filipino American businesses. Further demonstrating his dedication to community development, Matthew is also a co-founder and Treasurer of FilExcellence, a non-profit committed to fostering personal empowerment and professional development within the Filipino diaspora. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgveland/ IG: mgveland Dyanna Volek is a proud Filipina American and native San Franciscan who blends civic service with cultural passion. By day, she navigates government affairs with over a decade of experience in public affairs—but her heart beats for community, culture, and connection. Outside the office, Dyanna is a champion of holistic wellness and vibrant living, spotlighting the local businesses that are the lifeblood of cities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dyannavolek/ IG: dyannaluna ================================================= For more mental health and entertainment content,   Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/color_of_success/ https://www.facebook.com/colorofsuccess https://www.tiktok.com/@colorofsuccesspodcast Subscribe to our YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiaS5_HScsbFOJE5lYrEsxw To purchase Dr. Wong's book: https://www.amazon.com/Cancel-Filter-Realities-Psychologist-Podcaster/dp/1960299239/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ESHqItd-7JIevntWhPXNHw.D6QfeRDu2mzbsQQ9vUM-uSzxKxxYNNsNxjw2DOzSrfI&qid=1705532812&sr=8-1

Ep. 238 Field hockey taught Linda to pause and ask "Why do you love the game?" That question has helped her transform both sports teams and billion-dollar organizations. Linda's team manages $111 billion in assets and are part of the 1.4 trillion dollar investment arm of Prudential Financial. She began her career as a lawyer, but her love for math and problem-solving helped her rise to the top in the finance world. Don't miss: Why EQ is leadership's real X-Factor in the age of AI How eye rolls and emails reveal your culture The "color-dot" system Linda uses for decoding personalities Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights.  Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/  Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to Joey Morris and Lilly Mae Stewart for making this episode possible.

McDonald's, Ingram Micro, Prudential Financial, Nippon Steel and so much more is why we can't have nice things this past week!

Cloud costs are spiraling for many organizations. In this On Cloud podcast Pooja Kumar, VP Cloud Strategy & Transformation at Prudential Financial and Tim Potter, Principal, US Engineering Leader for Insurance, Investment Management, and Real Estate at Deloitte, discuss how to rein them in with FinOps-driven cost control, AI-powered automation, and culture change.

Due to the US holiday, 4th of July, I am re-publishing one of our greatest hits and most popular episodes. The “Best of 2024” episode features sixteen don't miss moments from HR executives and thought leaders who…So, who can you expect to learn from on this episode? Rhonda Morris, CHRO, ChevronJeffrey Pfeffer, Professor Stanford University and Author of 16 books including the “7 Rules of PowerKerrie Peraino, Chief People Officer at VerilyKevin Wilde, Executive Leadership and Talent Development Expert & AuthorKelly Monahan, Managing Director, Research Institute at UpworkDave Ulrich, Bob Eichinger, and Allan ChurchLybra Clemons, a C-Suite executive with experience leading talent, culture, and DEI Shaun Mayo, Chief People Officer, Arizona Cardinals Football ClubAmy Kates, Organization Design Expert, Consultant, Educator, and Author of Five BooksKevin Cox, Founder and President of LKC Advisory & Anthony Nyberg, Director, Center for Executive Succession at University of South CarolinaJordana Kammerud, SVP & CHRO, CorningLucien Alziari, EVP and CHRO of Prudential Financial, IncGinger King, CHRO, Kohler Co.Tim Richmond, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, AbbVieStephanie Lilak, EVP & Chief People Officer, Mondelez InternationalPrasad Setty, Lecturer, Stanford GSB, Advisor, Former VP at Google, People Ops and WorkspaceEpisode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leadersHR Leader's Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

In this insightful episode, Tom Hendry, SVP and Treasurer at New York Life Insurance Company, shares how embracing diverse roles and challenges throughout his career helped him become a strategic finance leader. Discover how saying “yes” to opportunity, embracing turbulence, and building business acumen turned treasury from a cost center into a driver of value.Tom Hendry is the Senior Vice President and Treasurer at New York Life Insurance Company, one of the largest and most respected mutual life insurers in the U.S. With a career spanning over 30 years, Tom brings a wealth of experience across investment banking, consulting, asset liability management, and treasury leadership.Main topics discussed:Tom's career journey to date and current role leading treasury at New York Life.Lessons learned from economic downturns and working on commercial mortgage workouts.Navigating two careers at Prudential Financial, including leading pension risk transfer deals.Transitioning into mainstream treasury and evolving the function into a profit center.Managing relationships with banks, regulators, and rating agencies through trust and transparency.The transformation of treasury from back-office support to strategic partner.Embracing AI and technology as tools to enhance small treasury teams.Communicating effectively with stakeholders: boards, C-suite, and internal teams.Skills tomorrow's treasurers need: business acumen, adaptability, and partnership orientation.Career advice: own your path, stay curious, be solutions-oriented, and embrace every opportunity.You can connect with Tom Hendry on LinkedIn. ---

Wagner Denuzzo is the author of Leading to Succeed, a book on essential skills for the new workplace. He is currently a consultant and coach at his own firm. Previously, he served as the VP and Global Head of Leadership Development at IBM, as well as the VP and Head of Capabilities for the Future of Work at Prudential Financial.He is a seasoned leader in organizational development, human capital strategy, and leadership transformation, with over two decades of experience across global enterprises, consulting firms, and startups.In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to effectively transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurship and the importance of collaboration in achieving success.Wagner and I discuss:Wagner's journey from humble beginnings in Brazil to a successful corporate career [02:16]The pivotal moment that led Wagner to become an entrepreneur [04:41]The role of community in organizational success [07:13]How to leverage personal experiences for professional growth [10:04]The significance of listening in consulting engagements [13:14]The importance of shared leadership and collective purpose [20:12]Strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome as an entrepreneur [22:48]Insights on building effective teams through the lens of quantum physics [25:10]Learn more about Wagner at https://a.co/d/azLLRXK.Thank you to our sponsor:The Smashing the Plateau CommunitySign up now to gain exclusive access to handpicked, succinct strategy insights from our podcast guests – your journey to success is just a click away!

Generative AI has changed everything - from how we build to how we design. In this episode, we're joined by Alex Shin, Senior Product Designer at Prudential Financial, to talk about how UX is evolving in the age of LLMs.Alex shares his journey from studying Social Policy to UX and conversation design, including how he helped launch Prudential's first customer-facing chatbot in 2022.We talk about how Prudential's NLU-based chatbot is consistently getting customer satisfaction scores above industry standards and how the company is exploring generative AI solutions for both internal and customer-facing services.We also dive into the collaboration between design and tech teams at Prudential, and how this partnership ensures solutions are technically feasible while prioritising user needs. This episode is for designers navigating the transition to generative AI, tech leaders trying to balance innovation with user experience and anyone interested in how big financial institutions are using AI to improve customer service.This episode is brought to you by NLX.NLX is a conversational AI platform enabling brands to build and manage chat, voice and multimodal applications. NLX's patented Voice+ technology synchronizes voice with digital channels, making it possible to automate complex use cases typically handled by a human agent. When a customer calls, the voice AI guides them to resolve their inquiry through self-service using the brand's digital asset, resulting in automation and CSAT scores well above industry average. Just ask United Airlines.Shownotes: Subscribe to VUX World: https://vuxworld.typeform.com/to/Qlo5aaeWSubscribe to The AI Ultimatum Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/kanesimmsGet in touch with Kane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanesimms/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Brand is the promise, the experience is the reality.” This week, Lacey Peace sits down with Abhii Parakh, Head of Customer Experience at Prudential Financial, to unpack exactly how the 150 year old legacy brand created a scalable culture of empathy, innovation, and action. From defining what CX really means to implementing belief-driven rituals and artifacts, Abhii shares a behind-the-scenes look at Prudential's remarkable shift.You'll hear how Prudential turned feedback from a single paper-fatigued customer into a multi-year digital transformation, why they built a champion network of 100+ internal customer advocates, and how they're blending human insight with emerging AI technologies to drive predictive customer experiences. This isn't about generic platitudes — it's about measurable change, internal momentum, and leadership buy-in.If you're leading CX at scale, battling organizational silos, or just wondering how to make customer experience more than a department, this is the episode you've been waiting for. Subscribe for more insider conversations with the most customer-obsessed minds in business. Key Moments:  00:00 Who is Abhii Parakh, CSM at Prudential?04:56 Building a Customer-Centric Culture10:19 Scaling Customer Experience Globally13:58 Three Elements of Culture: Artifacts, Rituals & Beliefs28:05 Impact of Predictive Analytics & Debunking NPS35:22 Adopting AI at Prudential: Challenges, Success & Predictions45:23 The Difference Between Generative AI & Agentic AI 50:27 Future of AI and Ethical Considerations –Are your teams facing growing demands? Join CX leaders transforming their AI strategy with Agentforce. Start achieving your ambitious goals. Visit salesforce.com/agentforce Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org

Episode SummaryIn this episode, Host Chris Moody is joined by Eric Feige to discuss how businesses can win with go-to-market (GTM) strategies by setting realistic digital transformation goals, fostering cross-functional alignment, and leveraging tools like Demandbase for scalable growth. Eric's breadth of experience—from entrepreneurship to consulting with Fortune 500 companies—offers unique perspectives on the practical steps organizations can take to achieve revenue growth, avoid common pitfalls, and innovate without unnecessary risk. Eric also shares advice on using AI and composable technology to accelerate success in go-to-market strategies.Key TakeawaysCross-Functional Collaboration is Essential: GTM success requires alignment across sales, marketing, technology, and compliance teams, with a clear P&L owner driving the effort.Set Realistic Digital Transformation Goals: Break down large initiatives into achievable milestones that deliver short-term wins and lay the foundation for long-term growth.Leverage Tools to Scale Without Additional Labor: Platforms like Demandbase help integrate insights, streamline workflows, and enable scalable, personalized outreach without adding overhead.The Importance of Beacon Projects: Start with “beacon projects” that showcase clear value across teams and convert skeptics into advocates for change, aligning everyone on revenue objectives.AI as a Catalyst for Personalization: While AI can help optimize content and enable hyper-personalized messaging, its impact is amplified when integrated with robust go-to-market platforms.Quotes"AI enables us to scale personalization, but success still lies in orchestrating the right data, systems, and teams."Best Moments (03:30) – The Foundations of Cross-Functional GTM Success(08:40) – Setting Realistic Digital Transformation Goals(13:10) – Tools for Scalable Revenue Growth(19:50) – Introducing Beacon Projects(26:25) – AI's Role in GTM TransformationResource RecommendationsBooks:Beastie Boys Book by Michael DiamondAbout the GuestEric Feige is a seasoned leader and digital transformation expert with experience as a venture-backed entrepreneur, digital strategist, and head of digital at top organizations like Deloitte, KPMG, JP Morgan, and Prudential Financial. As the Managing Director at VShift, Eric helps businesses unlock sustainable revenue growth by aligning digital goals with cross-functional collaboration across sales, marketing, and technology teams.Website: ⁠https://www.vshift.com/⁠⁠Connect with Eric⁠.

Learn how Prudential Financial continues to serve all stakeholders through clarity of purpose.     Prudential Financial has served its local community of Newark, New Jersey, for 150 years, and that's one reason it is a recipient of The Conference Board 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards. How does the company choose when and where to invest, and how does it scale those efforts globally?      Join Steve Odland and guest Lata Reddy, senior vice president, inclusive solutions, at Prudential Financial and chair of the Prudential Foundation, to find out about Prudential's commitment to Newark, why partnerships are essential, and why the company chose "inclusive solutions” as the best title to describe their corporate responsibility mission.    The 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards, taking place on April 23, celebrates organizations that have moved beyond public commitments to fully integrate responsible business practices into their core strategies, driving measurable, positive impacts on their organizations, stakeholders, and society.    (01:25) Prudential's Legacy in Newark (02:36) Newark's Evolution and Prudential's Role (06:38) Global Impact and Local Prioritization (10:51) Employee Engagement and Volunteerism (16:29) Inclusive Solutions and Corporate Strategy (20:49) Looking Ahead: Future Strategies     For more from The Conference Board:  2025 Corporate Responsibility Summit  2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards Dinner  Infusing Community Needs into Products and Services: Lessons from Prudential   

Advances in medicine and healthy living mean that more and more people will live to be 100. But just because their bodies can last doesn't mean their bank accounts will keep up. Retirement, and especially a long retirement, takes careful planning and sophisticated financial literacy. It's impossible to know what the future economic world will look like, but accounting for the unexpected and finding good guidance is essential. In this talk sponsored by Aspen Institute supporter Prudential Financial, two financial planning experts lay out the options for saving later in life and spread the word on the importance of preparation. Penny Pennington is the managing partner of Edward Jones and Rob Falzon is the vice chair of Prudential. Barron's economic reporter Megan Leonhardt moderates the conversation. aspenideas.org

Sis, it's time to stop waiting for permission to put yourself first. In this episode of Wake Up Happy, Sis!, we're flipping the script on outdated narratives and diving into what it really means to love your damn self—fully, fiercely, and unapologetically. Joining us are two incredible guests: Kimberly Pack, a trauma-informed coach and business strategist who helps people own their presence and beat burnout, and Jide Ofoma, an entrepreneur and business strategist helping others bridge the gap between corporate life and entrepreneurship. Together, we'll unpack the emotional, physical, and professional aspects of self-love, helping you build a heart-first approach to life that prioritizes YOU. This episode is for the woman who's been told to grind, hustle, and sacrifice—but is ready to rewrite her story. You'll walk away with real tools to nurture your body, fortify your mind, and fall madly in love with the most important person in your life: YOU. Keywords: self-love, Black women empowerment, radical self-care, emotional wellness, professional resilience, mindset coaching, self-worth, prioritizing yourself, breaking burnout, entrepreneurship and self-care Kimberly Pack is the founder of Ascend Together, a business strategy and wellness practice. A certified trauma informed coach with two decades of experience helping individuals and teams achieve their goals. She has worked at companies such as Prudential Financial, Anheuser-Busch, and United Airlines. Kimberly helps her clients cut the noise, tap into their secret sauce, and achieve professional success in the face of challenges and setbacks. They become the CEO of their lives! Her signature topics include Beat Burnout w/ Sacred Rest, Confidence Unleashed: Own Your Presence, Building Your Professional Tribe, Setback Bounceback, and the Myths of Black Excellence. Kimberly is a Chicago native and graduate of Spelman College and Harvard Law School.

Get ready for a conversation that goes beyond boardrooms! Jason Bloomfield, Global Head of Change and Experience Design at Ericsson, brings over 20 years of experience from roles at M&G PLC, Prudential Financial, and MetLife. From navigating M&A integrations to reshaping direct-to-consumer strategies, he's seen it all in organizational transformation. In this episode, Jason shares deeply personal moments—like how his parents' separation shaped his resilience—and how he transforms challenges into opportunities. Whether you're facing change at work or in life, Jason's insights will resonate and inspire. Key Highlights of Our Interview: 0:36—It's All About Giving Back 4:02—From Upper Middle Class to Crash Course in Adulting: Why Unwanted Life Experiences Can Be Your Best Teachers “I was in the middle of high school, where focus on study really needs to ramp up. Instead, I was learning home economics by necessity and dealing with my parents' rapidly deteriorating relationship.” 14:04—Building Resilient Relationships: Navigating Anxiety and Fear During Mergers & Acquisitions 17:26—Being human: How is it possible to scale empathy to 100,000 people across 180 countries? 24:44—Navigating Company Pride: When Heritage Turns into Hurdles “It's quite a thing to come into a company that has 140, 150 years behind it. Pride can at times obscure a line of sight on the way forward.” 31:11—Asking the Right Questions: The Surprising Reasons Retirees Didn't Want to Go Paperless “We thought retirees were less digitally comfortable, but it turns out it was a trust issue—without something physical, they feared companies might alter their records behind the scenes. Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Jason Bloomfield ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 2.5% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 3.5 Million+ Downloads 80+ Countries

The “Best of 2024” episode features sixteen don't miss moments from HR executives and thought leaders...So, who can you expect to learn from on this episode?Rhonda Morris, CHRO, ChevronJeffrey Pfeffer, Professor Stanford University and Author of 16 books including the “7 Rules of PowerKerrie Peraino, Chief People Officer at VerilyKevin Wilde, Executive Leadership and Talent Development Expert & AuthorKelly Monahan, Managing Director, Research Institute at UpworkDave Ulrich, Bob Eichinger, and Allan ChurchLybra Clemons, a C-Suite executive with experience leading talent, culture, and DEIShaun Mayo, Chief People Officer, Arizona Cardinals Football ClubAmy Kates, Organization Design Expert, Consultant, Educator, and Author of Five BooksKevin Cox, Founder and President of LKC Advisory & Anthony Nyberg, Director, Center for Executive Succession at University of South CarolinaJordana Kammerud, SVP & CHRO, CorningLucien Alziari, EVP and CHRO of Prudential Financial, IncGinger King, CHRO, Kohler Co.Tim Richmond, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, AbbVieStephanie Lilak, EVP & Chief People Officer, Mondelez InternationalPrasad Setty, Lecturer, Stanford GSB, Advisor, Former VP at Google, People Ops and WorkspaceEpisode Sponsor:Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

Episode 241: When is mastering the basics a differentiator? In an industry where complexity is the norm, Prudential Group Insurance has made a counterintuitive strategic choice. While many companies chase innovation through digital transformation and enhanced features, Prudential has discovered that operational excellence—the "absence of noise"—can be a more powerful differentiator. Abhii Parakh and Mike Estep reveal why group insurance demands a fundamentally different approach to customer experience than high-touch industries like hospitality or travel. For Prudential, success depends not on bells and whistles, but on excelling at the foundational elements: reliable execution, friction-free processes, and consistent delivery. "The absence of noise is a tremendous win," Mike emphasizes. "That's not the long-term goal for us. But if you don't get those things right, you won't get the chance to get to the nirvana state where you are separating yourself from the competition because of the experiences you created.” Learn how Prudential delivers seamless experiences across its ecosystem of brokers, employers, and employees by prioritizing simplicity and operational excellence. Discover why, in complex B2B2C environments, flawless execution of core processes can be a more powerful differentiator than feature innovation. Guests: Abhii Parakh, Head of Customer Experience, Prudential Financial, and Mike Estep, President, Group Insurance, Prudential Financial Host: Rob Markey, Partner, Bain & Company Give Us Feedback: We'd love to hear from you. Help us enhance your podcast experience by providing feedback here in our listener survey: https://bit.ly/CCPodcastFeedback Want to get in touch? Send a note to host Rob Markey: https://www.robmarkey.com/contact-rob Time-stamped List of Topics Covered: [00:01:16] Overview of group insurance products [00:03:21] The broker, employer, and employee experience [00:06:46] Employees' challenges with insurance products [00:10:21] Eliminating friction to enable differentiation [00:19:02] Customer experience as a growth driver [00:35:48] Overcoming challenges in survey feedback Time-stamped Notable Quotes: [00:05:24] “Modern life is exhausting. The last thing you want to deal with is friction with your group insurance carrier—about reports, getting your commission check, or that we're screwing up the bill and you're getting heat from that client. It doesn't need to be rocket science. There's beauty in simplicity and intuitive experiences that are void of friction.” [00:08:31] “The absence of noise is a tremendous win. That's not the long-term goal for us. But if you don't get those things right, you won't get the chance to get to the nirvana state where you are separating yourself from the competition because of the experiences you created.” [14:01] “Feedback—while painful to hear—is something you can use as a tool to help get other people in the organization to respond and make improvements that will help you, personally, be successful because they're resolving problems of your customers.”

Curious what really makes those elusive HR professionals' brains itch? Us too. So we knew we had to bring in the big guns to ask. In this episode, we sit down with Bruce Wallace, Chief People Officer at Newman's Own.  Bruce became Chief People Officer at Newman's Own in September 2020, overseeing Human Resources for both Newman's Own, Inc. and Newman's Own Foundation. He brings over 25 years of HR experience across industries including healthcare, retail, consumer products, and financial services. Before joining Newman's Own, Bruce served as VP and Senior HR Business Partner at Prudential Financial, where he provided HR support to key areas such as Product & Pricing, Sales, and Operations. His career began in sales and sales management before transitioning into HR, where he gained experience working with start-ups and Fortune 50 companies. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of Connecticut, a Master's in Human Resources and Finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an executive coaching certification from Columbia University. On the personal side, Bruce has three daughters -- two taxer-payers, and one college junior – and lives in the Greater Hartford area with another HR professional, his wife of 25 years.   Some of the things you'll hear are: - What he believes is the Career Advancement Conundrum and how to get through that - The #1 thing he looks for when he's keeping an eye on talent that'll rise - The biggest misstep you can make in an interview - Newman's Own's innovative 50% Ruled initiative - The 3 things he needs every day to make work suck less   Connect with Bruce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-wallace-0613/ Newman's Own LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newmans-own/mycompany/  If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie   To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com  If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)   Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?”quiz  Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "As long as you're learning and staying open to where each step can take you, you'll remain adaptable in how you grow and apply your experience. This flexibility allows you to move within an organization without being locked into one path." “Everyone has different perspectives. So it's really just allowing the perspective of each person to contribute to the success of the organization.” "The best days I have are when I get three belly laughs." "Our number one job as leaders is to knock down barriers and give people the things they need."  

Buyer Personas – Revised and Expanded: Gain Deep Insight Into Your Customers' Buying Decisions and Win More Business by Jim Kraus and Adele Revella   ABOUT THE BOOK: A fresh look into understanding your prospective customer's buying decisions to influence them and win more business Building on the groundbreaking success of the first edition, this newly revised and updated version of Buyer Personas enables marketers to stop wasting time and resources on their best guesses and start drilling down to understand what buyers truly care about―then harness this newfound knowledge to create strategies and messages that break through the clutter and reach buyers on their level. In a world where buyers frequently struggle to get the information they need to evaluate competitive alternatives and feel confident in their choices, this book lays out a step-by-step approach used by hundreds of companies to understand what buyers want to know and experience as they search for a solution to meet their needs, weigh their options, and make a buying decision. In this book, you'll learn: Why understanding the buying decision is far more important than knowing a few things about the individuals or roles involved in that decision How to develop a modern Buyer Persona based on five types of buying insights that will inform nearly every marketing and sales decision you make Why interviewing recent buyers is the best way to develop your Buyer Persona and how to do it effectively How to use AI and quantitative survey research to enhance your Buyer Persona Ways to use Buyer Persona insights to increase awareness of your products and services, drive consideration, and convert more business The revised and expanded Buyer Personas is a complete guide to go beyond benefit-heavy, undifferentiated marketing and focus only on what buyers care about most. It earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of entrepreneurs, executives, marketers, and other business professionals looking to influence their prospective buyers. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jim Kraus is the President of Buyer Persona Institute, and a principal of Knowledge Systems & Research, Inc., a leading global market research and consulting firm. Jim has decades of experience leading research teams and developing growth strategies through informed decisions, including executive roles at both IBM and Prudential Financial. And, interesting fact – he's a personal trainer on the side! Click here for this episode's website page with the links mentioned during the interview... https://www.salesartillery.com/marketing-book-podcast/buyer-personas-jim-kraus