Ep. 104: Behind-the-scenes stories that only his children can offer to celebrate his 68th birthday. Learn how to be present and apply Walter’s “never die easy” code of conduct to work in your career and life. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-104/ a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Brian Schnorr and Savannah Hill for making this episode possible.

Ep. 103: Alabama Football shaped this global investment management firm executive who has led Polen Capital to earn “Best Place to Work” six years in a row. You will learn how to use storytelling to build trust in your organization and how to replace a culture of fear with one of continuous improvement. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-103/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Caitlin Wilkey and Dylan Tolley for making this episode possible.

Ep. 102: When Mike and Bob Bryan retired from professional tennis in 2020, they held 118 doubles titles and 16 grand slam doubles championships. They spent 439 weeks ranked #1 in the world, which doubled the streak of any other duo. And while singles tennis tends to capture the popular imagination more than doubles, the brothers' infectious energy on the court earned them the ATP Tour "fan favorites" for 13 consecutive years. These charismatic geniuses of the court valued their relationship more than winning, offering a fitting lesson for any leader who knows that how you react to your teammates when you lose can determine how well you improve to win the next time. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-102/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Brian Schnorr, Sevas Cardona, and Dane Massey for making this episode possible.

Ep. 101: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX with the first woman to be signed to a collegiate scholarship at UCLA. There she earned All-American honors four times, spent her summers as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, and won silver at the 1976 Olympics.  The barrier breaker went on to have an All-Star career in women’s professional basketball before moving into the broadcast booth and now the front office as the Vice President of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.  Subscribe to the podcast here for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Dane Massey and Brian Schnorr for making this episode possible.

REWIND EPISODE: To celebrate Father’s Day we are highlighting an interview I did with the first family of golf when our book Best Seat in the House: 18 Golden Lessons from a Father to His Son released in 2021. Although Jack Nicklaus is widely regarded as the best golfer of all time, with a record number of PGA major championships, his life and values show that true legacy lives on through your children, grandchildren, and others we are blessed to call family and friends. Subscribe to the podcast here and receive a free chapter of Great Teams: 16 Things High Performing Organizations Do Differently andtoday’s show notes! Special thanks to Francisco Nunez and Tara Openshaw for making this episode possible.

There is ONE question we have asked every guest and we have compiled our favorite answers here. What are the elements that take a collection of individuals and make them a team? How can you go from just “wearing the same jersey” and “carrying the same business card” to a great team?  You will learn from: (2:00) Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian. (4:00) Team Building Expert Simon Sinek. (6:30) Ernst & Young’s Beth Brooke and Kristy Ingram. (9:30) Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. (11:00) Healthcare Executive Quint Studer. (14:30) NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. (15:30) Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. (17:30) Chick-fil-A VP of Corporate Social Responsibility Rodney Bullard. (19:00) ESPN Senior Vice President and Founder of espnw Laura Gentile. (20:00) Leadership Expert John C. Maxwell. Special thanks to Francisco Nunez, Brett Rutherford, and Savannah Hill for making this episode possible.

Ep. 99: When you’ve played on teams with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and for coaches like George Karl and Mike Krzyzewski, you know how to contribute to a team made up of talented people. Michael applied the lessons he learned from basketball to business as the founder of Twenty-Two Ventures, an angel investment company that has mentored and invested in 85 technology and media companies around the world. Visit CorporateCompetitorPodcast.com/99 for your free bonus resource to next-level your learning. In this episode: 3:00 How Team USA went from a collection of talent to a band of brothers. 10:30 Why understanding character builds culture. 12:00 Why your most important investment is in a leader rather than a product. 14:00 Why autonomy is superior to empowerment. 16:00 How your physical and emotional fatigue will show up in your business. 17:30 The real problem with the “lone genius” syndrome in tech startups. 20:30 Mentoring can also teach you what you do NOT want to do. 22:30 How to change your perspective of failure. 31:00 How to exude what you expect. Special thanks to Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 98: Ed led the nation in stolen bases playing baseball at the University of Pacific where he learned the value of hard work.  Although professional baseball in the Majors was out of his reach, Ed poured his energies into World Financial Group, one of the most prolific financial service companies in the world, achieving incredible success that eventually earned him a spot on the Forbes 50 Wealthiest Under 50 List. In his new book, The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success, he draws on 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and coach to top athletes, entertainers, and business executives to reveal powerful strategies to help you live an extraordinary “one more” life. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-98/  for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Brian Schnorr for making this episode possible. BONUS: I recommend you add another podcast to your queue. It is called The Leadership Podcast hosted by Jan and Jim who have become friends after I was a guest! They have more than 300 episodes to choose from with guests including Dan Pink, Margaret Heffernan, and Carole Robin. https://theleadershippodcast.com/tlp299-a-loss-is-not-a-failure-unless-you-make-it-an-excuse/

Ep. 97: Virginia’s Crew team shaped one of the 100 highest-ranking women in technology who serves as Chapter Chair of YPO San Francisco Bay. In this episode, Joanna dips an oar into her experiences as an elite rower to discuss the importance of mastering the hard-won habit of learning from failure. "Einstein once said, 'If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.’ He was talking about the difference between success and failure as learning what your strengths are. I didn't know I was a good athlete until I found rowing. The same applies to recruitment." Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-97/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Julia Monkarsh and Dane Massey for making this episode possible. BONUS: I recommend you add another podcast to your queue. It is called The Leadership Podcast hosted by Jan and Jim who have become friends after I was a guest! They have more than 300 episodes to choose from with guests including Dan Pink, Margaret Heffernan, and Carole Robin.

Ep. 96: Known for his televised tightrope walks over Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Times Square, and an active volcano, Nik has been walking the wire since he took his first steps, but he had never experienced fear until a tragic accident in 2017. For the first time, he felt overwhelming fear, and Nik had to find it in himself to move on, release the past, and get back out on the wire. Most of us will never walk a tightrope, but we face things that scare us every day. Whether you are putting yourself out there socially or seeking a dream job, all of us allow anxieties and fears to hold us back. In this episode, he shares his story so that we can learn: 5:30 Why everything matters when no one is watching. 13:00 The power of creative risk-taking. 25:00 How to heal and move forward from trauma. 38:00 The difference between healthy and unhealthy fear. Subscribe here https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-96/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Francisco Nunez, Savannah Hill, and Brett Rutherford for making this episode possible. BONUS:  I recommend you add another podcast to your queue. It is called The Leadership Podcast hosted by Jan and Jim who have become friends after I was a guest! They have more than 300 episodes to choose from with guests including Dan Pink, Margaret Heffernan, and Carole Robin.

Ep. 95: With six marathons,13 half marathons, and intermual ping pong ;) to his credit, Mark Cole has earned the right to compare leadership to a running event—no, not a distance competition, but relay racing.  If the two runners are out of sync during the hand-off, notes Mark, they will slow the team down regardless of how fast the individual runners may be. High-performing corporate teams function the same way, and it is the leader’s job to ensure the individuals are “humming” in harmony so that when it comes to pivot, everybody is working at the same pace. The Maxwell Leadership enterprise is committed to helping you lead powerful, positive change through values-based leadership, and as CEO, Mark Cole is the greatest champion of YOU becoming the best leader you can be. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-95/ for this episode’s bonus resource! Special thanks to Jake Decker, Lauren Hafner, and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

REWIND EPISODE: To celebrate Mother’s Day we are highlighting one of the first episodes we recorded with Carla Vernon. Carla’s mother Cynthia was a NASA Hidden Figure and in this episode, Carla describes her as a brave trailblazer. To all of the moms listening today, Happy Mother’s Day! I respect your commitment and appreciate all that you do!  Subscribe to the podcast http://podcast-subscribe.donyaeger.com for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Francisco Nunez and Brett Rutherford for making this episode possible. BONUS:  I recommend you add another podcast to your queue. It is called The Leadership Podcast hosted by Jan and Jim who have become friends after I was a guest! They have more than 300 episodes to choose from with guests including Dan Pink, Margaret Heffernan, and Carole Robin.

Ep. 93: David has helped 28 NBA All-Stars reach their professional pinnacle. Since then, he has applied his mindset and leadership optimization programs to help Fortune 500 CEOs, tech moguls, Hollywood actors, and musicians develop better habits. “Since 80 percent of what we do each day is habitual,” David pointed out, “we need to be intentional about our habits.”  For a free gift and today's show notes visit our website: https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-93/  Special thanks to Lauren Hafner and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible. BONUS:  I recommend you add another podcast to your queue. It is called THE LEADERSHIP PODCAST hosted by Jan and Jim who have become friends after I was a guest! They have more than 300 episodes to choose from with guests including Dan Pink, Margaret Heffernan, and Carole Robin. 

Ep. 92: FAT Brands Inc include brands you know and love like Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Fatburger, and after the largest restaurant acquisition of 2021, they now have 17 brands across 40 countries with 2,300 restaurants. How could they manage such exponential growth? According to Andy, you cannot expect to hit a grand slam without first mastering the basics of getting on base, “My view of success is always trying to hit singles and doubles, then home runs will come your way when the time is right.” Visit  https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-92/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Dane Massey and Xinyi Yang for making this episode possible.

Ep. 91: World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Phaidra Knight recently starred in Halle Berry's movie Bruised and launched an activewear collection called PSK Collective. In this episode, she recalls the moment she was blindsided, the plane ride afterward, and her "resilience" lesson that we can learn. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-91/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Savannah Hill for making this episode possible.

REWIND EPISODE: In honor of MLB Opening Day, we are highlighting episode 14 with World Series Champion David Ross for #ThrowbackThursday. We wrote a New York Times best-selling book together that teaches how to create environments that recognize and celebrate people who can become invaluable without ever being most valuable.  Download the bonus "bookmark" resource here! Special thanks to Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 90: Jake is the founder of one of the fastest-growing sports construction companies with clients that include the NFL, SEC, Big 12, and hundreds of high schools around the country. “Above all,” he shares, “If you aspire to leadership, don't just perform well yourself, bring out the best in other people." You will learn: How the New Orleans Saints’ field made its way to Jake’s High School in Kansas. How Mammoth uses “small-town” values to generate big-time results. How to be optimistic and opportunistic. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-90/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Lauren Hafner and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 89: Dick Vitale and Jim Valvano shaped this business icon. Michael spent 33 years climbing the ladder at Xerox before OfficeMax hired him as Executive Vice President where he led a $3.6 billion dollar division.  In 2012, he was named Chairman and CEO of the nutrition and weight loss company, Medifast. Under his leadership, Medifast's stock rose from $4 to $218 per share. I knew Michael would be the perfect guest after reading his book From the Bench to the Boardroom. In the promotions for the book, Duke’s Coach Mike Krzyzewski described him as persistent and determined even in his current role as a board member of the V Foundation. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-89/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Lauren Hafner and Xinyi Yang for making this episode possible.

Ep. 88: Coach K and Duke Basketball shaped this sportscaster and lawyer. As a four-year starter on Duke’s basketball team and former member of the coaching staff of two national championship teams, Jay learned the art of being demanding without being demeaning– an art at which Jay says Coach K excelled. “He was very demanding,” noted Jay. “But his criticism never cut into your character as a person or an athlete. It was about your performance.” This way of managing people balances keeping teammates confident and accountable to each other. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-88/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Savannah Hill for making this episode possible. You Will Learn: (16:00) How to leverage your body language. (20:00) The danger of “becoming your own opponent.” (30:00) How to increase your mental toughness. (38:00) The difference between “not missing a shot” and “making the shot” in any performance.

Ep 87: Baylor Men’s Basketball coach joins us to celebrate March Madness and discuss his road to the 2021 national championship that began when he turned his job interview into a successful recruiting session. Coach Drew shares a treasury of leadership learnings that reflect the rich basketball culture from which he comes. You will learn: 6:00 Habits of a consummate learner. 11:30 How “the smart take from the strong.”  14:00 Why culture trumps talent every day on high-performing teams. 25:00 The phone calls Coach Drew made after winning the National Championship. Visit  https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-87/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Brett Rutherford for making this episode possible.

Ep. 86: Mari rose to Senior Vice President as Intuit grew from 30 to 3,000 employees and went from $7 million to $700 million in revenue. She has fashioned a 20+ year career in which she has held CEO, President, and SVP positions in startups and Fortune 50 companies and built some of the world's most successful consumer brands, including Quicken (Intuit, Inc.), BabyCenter (Johnson & Johnson), and Diner Dash (PlayFirst Mobile Games). As a three-sport athlete in high school, Mari opted not to try out for Stanford's track team and satisfy her competitive drive playing intramurals, eventually helping her team win the Intramural Co-Ed Flag Football championship. "Winning that championship was nothing to sneeze at," Mari said. Neither is the passion, experience, and perspective Mari brought to every endeavor, including board roles, advising CEOs, mentoring entrepreneurs, and advancing women in leadership. Visit  https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-86/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! Special thanks to Florida State's Savannah Hill for making this episode possible.

Ep. 85: With 1M TikTok followers — tripple any Major League Baseball team — the minor league baseball team in Savannah, Georgia creates raving fans. In this episode, the team's owner Jesse Cole helps you design the ultimate customer experience through tools that identify friction points in your current processes. Visit  https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-85/ for a free gift and today's show notes! You Will Learn: (5:00) How to use “Idea Paloozas” to grow good ideas from the seeds of bad ideas. (10:00) The “secret shopper” method Jesse uses to learn how fans really feel. (15:30) Why customer experience trumps sales and revenue metrics every day. (17:00) How to identify points of friction in your company. (Hint: NOT surveys!) (26:30) How to have more fun at work. (30:00) How to recharge through an “energy audit” of your calendar. (36:00) How to create a vision like Walt Disney. Special thanks to Florida State's Lauren Hafner for making this episode possible.

Ep. 84: Tennessee Basketball shaped the first woman to dunk in a nationally televised basketball game. At six-foot-five inches tall, the Pensacola native commands a sweeping view of the impact sports can have on business leadership. “As you progress in your life, you’ll only be alone if you don't bring someone along with you,” she observed. Michelle has been mentored by some of the best and she constantly reaches back to make sure that she is bringing others along. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-84/ for free access to Michelle’s Brilliant Brainstorming workbook! Episode breakdown:  5:00  The secret to changing your next “what if” statement. 12:00  The lesson boxing great Roy Jones, Jr. taught her about mentorship. 20:00  How to empower people through communication. 26:00  How to make your meetings more efficient . 28:00  The benefit of practicing the most underestimated quality — helpfulness. 31:00  Why every person should wear a “whatchamacallit” to stand out. 36:00  The best way to ask for advice. 39:00  Why “brilliant brainstorming” is your greatest leadership tool. 41:00  Three questions you should ask yourself to get better every day. Special thanks to Florida State's Brian Schnorr for making this episode possible.

Ep. 83: When Chris became the first person with Down syndrome to complete an IRONMAN Triathlon, he etched his name in the Guinness Book of World Records and received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance from Tim Tebow at the ESPYS. The process that got Chris over the finish line was a self-improvement model they developed called 1% Better. Today, they share this model with organizations teaching that while you may never be "the best," you can be 1% better when you stop imposing self-limitations and begin the journey to reach your goals. You will learn: The difference between a goal and a dream — and how you can achieve both. How to overcome setbacks, avoid burnout, and learn from your mistakes. How to make self-improvement a celebration of life rather than a grind. Visit  https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-83/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 82: Dr. Rice was the first woman on the College Football Playoff Committee and one of the first two women to be invited to join the previously all-male Augusta National Golf Course. You may know her as Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and Director of Stanford’s Hoover Institution, but in this episode, you will learn her background as a figure skater, tennis player, and a football savant. Her football coach father taught her so much about the game, she could break down defenses at just six years old! Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-82/ for a free ebook chapter on building great teams and today’s show notes!

Ep. 81: Football and basketball shaped Don Yaeger! This episode caps off a month of podcasts featuring John C. Maxwell’s League of Extraordinary Leaders: Joel Manby, Valorie Burton, Tim Elmore, and Jeff Henderson. In this episode, you will learn: How to establish rapport during an interview.  Why Michael Jordan opened up to Don about his relationship with his father. How you can be invaluable without being most valuable. What Don is best known for on the basketball court. (Hint: It’s not his vertical.) Subscribe here for a free ebook on How to Build Great Teams and today’s show notes: https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-81/

Ep. 80: Basketball shaped this leader who Chick-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy called “one of the five greatest people ever to work at Chick-Fil-A.” Jeff has founded a new company called The For Company, which helps individuals and organizations achieve excellence by answering two key questions: “What are we known for? And what do we want to be known for?” The leader’s job is to engage his or her team in answering these questions and then, in the role of servant-leader, work to align each team member’s dreams, goals, and special talents with the mission of “shrinking the gap” between what you are known for now and what you want to be known for.  You will learn: (9:00) How to prevent confusion in the office space. (10:00) How to take a “vision inventory.” (11:30) How to prevent systems and scale from driving out humanity. (18:00) How to “honor the audience” as a keynote speaker. (19:00) Chick-Fil-A’s distinguishing customer characteristic. (22:00) How Chick-Fil-A got involved in college bowl games. (25:30) The important difference between success and excellence. (29:30) How to put the “social” back into social media to reclaim customer loyalty. (32:00) The international sign that someone needs encouragement. (34:00) Why Jeff carries a pack of thank you cards everywhere he goes. (40:00) How to make customers — not the brand — the true stars. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-80/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 79: Track shaped this author of 37 books. Tim Elmore has helped sports powerhouses like Ohio State and LSU, and corporate juggernauts like Home Depot and Chick-fil-A, improve team performance by visualizing excellence while learning to embrace ideas that may seem contradictory at first but can lead to great insight. You will learn: What Martin Luther King, Jr. teaches us about leading with absence as well as presence. How uncommonly effective leaders leverage both their strengths and blind spots. Why emotional intelligence (EQ) impacts our professional success more than intelligence (IQ). The key difference between a “guard dog” and a “guide dog” as a habitude for developing bold and creative teams. Visit  https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-79/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 78: Valorie has been featured on the Today Show, Dr. Oz, and now she is joining four other distinguished writers and motivational speakers as part of John C. Maxwell's League of Extraordinary Leaders. She grew up participating in track and gymnastics until she reached high school, at which point she discovered two life-changing activities: cheerleading and leadership! An only child and daughter of a career military man, Burton took naturally to leadership on the first real “team” she ever joined. Although she recalls being a bit too “Patton-like” as a young leader, she took away lessons that served her well as the author of 13 books and founder of Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute (CaPP), headquartered in Atlanta. Lessons include: The 3:1 principle of good to bad news and the ratio is critical to building strong teams, and how to begin meetings with a "win or a grin" moment. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-78/ for today’s FREE DOWNLOAD! +Connect with Valorie: ValorieBurton.com and CaPPInstitute.com,

Ep. 77: Albion College baseball shaped this business icon. When Joel Manby took over as CEO of SeaWorld, the company was smack in the middle of national controversy following the 2013 release of the documentary Blackfish. Learn how he led with love and came to an agreement with the Humane Society through dialogue, not monologue, in this episode. You will learn: How guarding future Hall of Famer Magic Johnson taught Joel how to focus on his strengths. The difference between DO goals and BE goals — and why the latter matters. How his “Undercover Boss” episode changed his leadership philosophy forever. Dolly Parton’s lesson in getting honest feedback. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-77/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 76: In the spirit of year-end reflection, Don Yaeger uses the last episode of 2021 as a chance to invite podcast producer Savannah Gallagher on the show for a fun behind-the-scenes look recording the first 75 episodes of Corporate Competitor Podcast. Visit http://podcast-subscribe.donyaeger.com/ for a free gift when you subscribe! Their energetic conversation includes: The emotional connection made with longtime Sony Pictures TV Chairman Steve Mosko Previewing a project with National Champion Baylor Basketball Coach Scott Drew. Revealing a NEW partnership with John C. Maxwell as Don joins his ‘League of Extraordinary Leaders.’ Three questions you should ask yourself before 2022. One technique to apply to get the most out of the personal growth you have already accomplished.

Ep. 75: John Maxwell Company’s Executive Vice President offers her success secrets for executives looking for ways to unleash their team’s motivations and make the best use of their time. “People don't lack a hope and a dream, they lack a leader and a plan.” You will learn: How to motivate your team by listening to their dreams and hopes. Motivating yourself (and your team) by replacing perfection with purpose. Devoting more precious time and energy to things you're good at.  How taking a moment to reflect on, and bring closure to, every day helps you prioritize. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-75/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 74: Texas High School Football shaped Steve Dulin. In his 20 years running Milestone Construction, the company never missed a deadline and never came in over budget… for 20 years. Learn how in this episode! You will learn: (6:30) Why every company needs to find “down-field” blockers. (9:15) How to remain calm under pressure. (13:00) How to lose graciously. (22:00) The importance of “calling” in choosing a line of work. (28:00) The three basic traits of well-run teams. (29:30) The definition of company culture. (30:30) The importance of great processes. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-74/ for a free gift!

Ep. 73: Basketball with Kevin Garnett shaped this marketing maven. As a boy growing up tall in South Carolina, Ryan Alford developed plenty of drive going toe-to-toe with another intense basketball player, young Kevin Garnett, and even played briefly on the same AAU team as the now NBA Hall of Famer. After graduating from Eastside High School, Ryan went to college at Clemson, not to pursue basketball but rather business. From there, he worked as a “Mad Man” in New York before returning to South Carolina to join Erwin Penland, a South Carolina ad agency. Before he was through there, Ryan would be part of a team that built a $50 million advertising account with Verizon Wireless, including the launch of the iPhone, beating out several big Manhattan agencies in the process. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-73/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 72: Former hockey coach John Bacon offers lessons he learned turning the nation’s worst high school hockey team into one of its most celebrated.  Subscribe here https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-72/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! You will learn: 5:00 Why a star system demotivates the entire team. 11:00 The best way to make your team “special.” 12:00 How to be patient with results, but not behavior. 14:30 Mentors are far more important than pay for your first job. 18:00 How to put values over victories 22:00 How to measure statistics in business. 23:30 Why silos are death for team spirit. 24:45 How to break down the sales vs. service silo. 30:00 How to increase discretionary energy. 35:00 How to handle credit given to you and your team. 38:00 The heartwarming story of John’s player Scooter Special thanks to Florida State's Brian Schnorr for making this episode possible.

Ep. 71: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers shaped Casey Crawford. Movement Mortgage’s growing team of 4,000 have serviced about one out of every 45 home purchases in the U.S. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Casey used profits from its banking business to fund the opening of two tuition-free Title 1 schools serving the underserved and marginalized communities in which Movement operates.  You will learn: What it means to make “love” a core value of your company. Why a paycheck will never be enough to satisfy your best people. How to balance love and a competitive spirit in the marketplace. How to maximize your value as a leader of your organization. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-71/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 70: Hockey shaped this Toronto-raised CEO! Mark’s career has taken him from Cisco Systems to Palo Alto Networks and numerous other places before he took the reins at Alteryx, where he has come to view his leadership as something like a curator in chief, one who is responsible for the development journey of each member of his team. This journey begins with understanding their goals, which in turn reflect their ideas of “what success looks like.” Mark appreciates ambition and hunger in others and seeks to provide pathways for their success. He used to invite his old bosses - including Cisco’s legendary leader John Chambers - along on sales calls so he could learn from them and sound them out on his future career plans. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-70/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 69: John Crowley’s life story was made into a major motion picture called Extraordinary Measures, starring Brandon Fraser and Harrison Ford. This podcast offers its own life and business lessons straight from John himself, including the business he created to save his own children’s lives that grew into a global biomedical giant. You will learn: (19:00) How to recruit “passionate entrepreneurs.” (20:00) How to lead empathetically. (43:00) Three steps you need to take to turn big dreams into reality. (44:00) Why spreadsheets should be set aside on day one of corporate retreats. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-69/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 68: Minnesota Vikings football shaped this business icon. Fran Tarkenton played professional football for 18 years! He reinvented the position of quarterback by honing the craft of scrambling with the ball rather than allowing himself to be sacked by opposing defenders. Today, the 81-year-old CEO, who has founded more than 20 businesses, hasn’t slowed down one bit. You will learn: The business lesson he learned playing at Georgia. Why he values curiosity above all other leadership qualities. The surprising football failure that continues to fuel his drive for business success. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-68/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 67: Oklahoma basketball shaped this leader. Renzi is the Founder and CEO of Saxum and is nationally recognized for his political intelligence and public relations insight. He serves as a member of the governing board of the University of Oklahoma and on the global board of directors for YPO. In this conversation you will learn: [9:30] What leadership is NOT. [16:30] How to train yourself to overcome adversity. [28:00] How to create value for your team. [32:30] How to balance support and challenge. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-67/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 66: Growing up as the oldest of nine children whose parents ran a dental practice out of their home in New York, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian sought refuge on basketball courts and baseball diamonds, playing “just about every sport there is involving a ball.” But no childhood bathroom squabble or station wagon road trip could prepare him for the challenge of leading a world-class company through years of challenge to become the most profitable competitor in its industry. Listeners will learn the “dare” that led Ed to run his first marathon at the tender age of 58, and the $1.6 billion “thank you” he gave Delta employees after beating bankruptcy.  Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-66/ for a free gift, today’s show notes, and access to the full interview archive!

Ep. 65: Playing and coaching basketball-shaped this business icon. Long before he became a famous NBA coach with the New York Knicks and an analyst at ESPN, Jeff Van Gundy coached high school basketball in Rochester, New York, and Kevin LeGrett was all the wiser and better equipped to lead because of their relationship. Upon graduating from college embarking on a career of his own, Kevin developed a reputation for generating tremendous bottom-line profit growth for the biggest media companies in the world, including CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, and currently iHeartMedia. In this podcast, Kevin connects listeners to the great chain of learning and leading he’s enjoyed through the years, including:  Why leaders should “talk to themselves… but not listen to themselves." How to find your team’s "extra dimension." Why do great coaches and leaders have great skill sets and mindsets... and also great resets. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-65/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 64: Robert “Bob” Glazer is a serial entrepreneur who has worked at think tanks such as Arthur D. Little and incubators such as Cambridge Innovation Center before founding a host of his own companies and charities. His longest-running priority, Acceleration Partners, began in 2007 and works with clients worldwide to develop and scale their affiliate partner programs. He thinks people glamorize entrepreneurship to their detriment. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-64/ for a free gift and today’s show notes! You Will Learn 3:00 Are you in a vicious circle or vicarious circle? 5:00 How to fight through the pain of learning something new. 7:00 Why hard work beats talent. 14:00 The #1 trait entrepreneurs need to have. 15:00 How to avoid being a “WANTrepreneur.” 24:00 How Friday Forward was born The key to a great culture. 29:00 Why you should not call your coworkers “family.”

Ep. 63: Rafe played linebacker for a Super Bowl Denver Broncos team and considered coaching until his entrepreneurial drive kicked into gear and led him to buy ODS Security Solutions. Over 15 years, he led the company through explosive growth, increasing his workforce from a team of 30 to more than 1,000. In 2016, he became a co-founding partner of CEO Coaching International with twelve-time triathlete Mark Moses. Whether he is coaching a client or a member of his team, Rafe believes in using difficult conversations to forge the best possible solutions, with the proviso that once a decision is made, agreement may be optional—commitment to it is not. “When the huddle breaks, you may not be the one carrying the ball to glory and a touchdown,” Rafe noted, “but you have to execute your part to the fullest of your ability. The same is true in business.”  You will learn: [3:00] What it was like to go to the Super Bowl his rookie year. [13:00] How to overcome the “I don’t belong here” feeling. [14:00] How to focus on what you can control. [21:00] Importance of preparations and reflection. [24:00] How to ask better questions while networking. [33:00] How to take a group of individuals and make them a team. [35:00] How to give real-time actionable feedback. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-63/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 62: Football, basketball, and track shaped Mark Steffe, an Illinois native responsible for guiding First Command Financial Services in its efforts to make lifelong financial security possible for all military families. When an employee isn’t performing up to snuff, Mark wants his supervisors to avoid telling them to sell more, deliver more, get better results, work harder, and the like. Instead, he wants the leaders to “roll up their sleeves, get their hands a little bit dirty and help people get to a better place—not just tell them to get to a better place.” Today, if you walk the halls of First Command— which maintains more than $35 billion in managed accounts and mutual funds and has more than $62 billion in life insurance coverage in force for some 280,000 military families— you will hear your fair share of sporting metaphors. Listeners will enjoy learning how to be an agile leader, motivate with mission, and make love a core value. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-62/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 61: Cornell track and field shaped this entrepreneur.  Lokai’s brand of beaded bracelets has become a phenomenon sold in 5,000 locations in 170 countries. The bracelets each contain a droplet of mud from the Dead Sea and water from Mount Everest to represent the highs and lows of earth and of life. Steven paid his dues going “door-to-door” around New York City, trying to get stores to display his bracelets, and was rejected 95 percent of the time. Eventually, his hard work (and his discovery by celebrities like Justin Bieber, Cam Newton, and Blake Lively) helped the company turn the corner… and they haven’t looked back since.  Six years later, he founded his second company Elements, which produces functional wellness drinks formulated to consistently balance the body’s stress levels.  Listeners are sure to enjoy his descriptions of getting his businesses off the ground as well as the differences and similarities of being a founder versus a CEO, including why the numbers count… but aren’t everything, and baking social responsibility into your bottom line. Steven offers a distinctive blend of unwavering confidence and hard-won humility that is sure to inspire and awaken your own creative juices. And one thing’s for sure: you’ll never look at a baton handoff in a track relay the same way again. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-61/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 60: Baseball shaped this highly competitive and goal-oriented executive. Adi Ignatius is a leader who comes to play—whether the “play” involves slow-pitch softball or transforming the country’s oldest and most influential academic business journal. His success includes writing for the Wall Street Journal, receiving a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize, writing for the Far Eastern Economic Review, Time Asia, and Time Magazine, where he became Executive Editor and Deputy Managing Editor before stepping down from Time to take the top job at HBR in 2009. At HBR he was challenged with leading the transformation of a venerable and beloved business journal into a leading-edge digital platform. That he achieved this and kept the Review’s fiercely loyal readership engaged testifies to the inventiveness and flexibility of Adi’s mind. In this episode, he shares stories and observations about the relationship between baseball and business. These include the batter whose appearance made him see business in a whole new light and the three key ingredients that keep winning teams winning together.   Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-60/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!

Ep. 59: University of Florida Crew shaped this technology leader. John O’Shea’s career at Tech Data started in 1994 when he was hired from a temp agency. Flying up the ranks as swiftly as one of those sculls plying the waters of a crystal clear lake—“I was averaging a new job every six or eight months!”—he rose to the position of President of Global Business Units at TD Synnex. He has developed a distinctive leadership style that CEO Rich Hume called strong and informed. You will learn: Two things effective leaders always do when handing out a compliment Two essential conditions winning teams must-have for effective debate The conversation every great leader has with a high-performing employee The single quality is shared by the most dynamic and resilient teams. Visit https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-59/ for a free gift and today’s show notes!