CPO Michelle Anastasi, Pros & Cons of Long Tenure at Same Company
Release Date: 01/28/2020
Medical Reasons for Having Executive Presence with Laura Hamiriani
CXO Conversations
In this episode, host Michael Mitchel interviews Laura Hamirani, a speech language pathologist specializing in therapy for voice disorders. They discuss vocal executive presence and preventing vocal strain in the new Zoom culture. Laura emphasizes the importance of vocal warm-ups, breathing techniques, and vocal hygiene for maintaining a healthy voice. They also explore the impact of remote work and virtual platforms on voice issues. Laura shares advice on improving executive presence vocally and how it can prevent vocal cord strain. Takeaways • Speaking in a...
info_outline
The Evolution of Executive Presence: Authenticity and Connection w/ Anna Conrad
CXO Conversations
In this episode of CXO Conversations, Michael Mitchel interviews Anna Conrad, CEO of Impact Leadership Solutions, about executive coaching and the changing landscape of executive presence. They discuss the importance of reflection, self- awareness, and personal growth in executive coaching. They also explore how executive presence has evolved over the years, emphasizing the need for authenticity, connection, and integrity. Anna shares tips for projecting executive presence in virtual meetings, including being mindful of backgrounds, showing up fully, and being present. They also touch on the...
info_outline
The Value of an Internal Sherpa in Career Growth
CXO Conversations
In this episode of CXO Conversations, Michael interviews , Managing Partner of Sunstone Management Advisors, about the skills he gained during his career growth in the insurance industry and the advice he received throughout his career. They discuss the importance of building a diverse skill set and over earning your pay. They also emphasize the value of having an internal Sherpa who actively promotes and advocates for your career growth. he key takeaways from the conversation are: 1) Build your skill set and portfolio to enhance your career prospects, 2) Find an internal Sherpa...
info_outline
How Your Personal Brand Will Grow Your Career
CXO Conversations
is the CFO of who is a seasoned financial veteran with a track record of turning companies around. He joins us today to share his insights on leadership and building a strong personal brand. With a resume that includes nine transactions and executive roles in multiple industries, Abbas knows a thing or two about navigating the complex world of business. He's been involved in everything from high-growth startups to turnarounds, giving him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing today's leaders. During the conversation, Abbass discusses the importance of...
info_outline
CRO Andre Cuenin on Three Core Values to Success
CXO Conversations
Veracode’s CRO Andre Cuenin joins CXO Conversations and shares his journey from sales to the C suite. He doesn’t like the title Chief Revenue Officer as it puts the focus on him versus the customer. Andre moved from presales to sales by having a post presentation conversation with a customer; he casually asked for the signature. During the conversation, Andre shares his three core management philosophies: Authenticity; be more authentic, gain and share experiences and value wisdom Importance of having a plan; don’t chase the money- chase the dream Go the extra mile; there’s...
info_outline
Hootsuite CFO Dave Wynne on Building a Successful Career
CXO Conversations
In this episode, , CFO of Hootsuite, discusses his career journey, from starting as a consultant to becoming a leading financial executive. He shares how his foundational consulting experience applies across different industries and shaped him into the leader he is today. Dave dives into his unique perspective on the CFO role, comparing it to the central nervous system of a company. He also explores the evolution of the CFO position and the changing demands it requires. Key takeaways for listeners include: The importance of finding a work culture aligned with your values and ethics. How...
info_outline
Season 7 Preview: Inspiring Insights from CXO Conversations
CXO Conversations
Join for a sneak peek into the upcoming season of CXO Conversations. We've lined up a stellar lineup of guests who share their invaluable perspectives and experiences on leadership, innovation, and success. From , CFO of , discussing the power of internal sponsorship, to , former CEO of , sharing insights on scaling a business successfully. , CFO of , dives into building trust and transparency, while , CEO of , shares his management philosophies. Get ready for a season packed with actionable advice and inspiring stories. Stay tuned! More episodes and resources: Thank you to ...
info_outline
CXO Conversations Season Finale + AI Tips
CXO Conversations
As CXO Conversations wraps up another season, host Michael Mitchel reflects on the increasing role of AI in our daily lives. From streamlining tasks to enhancing productivity, Michael shares practical examples of how AI is making an impact, both personally and professionally. Join us for a brief yet insightful episode, and stay tuned for the return of engaging interviews next spring! More episodes and resources: Thank you to for being a sponsor of CXO Conversations Podcast. Association for Corporate Growth in its role as the hub of the middle market business community for...
info_outline
C Suite Skills for all Industries with John Vranas
CXO Conversations
In this special edition of CXO Conversations, host revisits an engaging dialogue with , who at the time was the Chief Development Officer for the Humane Society of America. This episode covers a breadth of topics that all can benefit from; from program creation to donor ( or sales) engagement and executive leadership preparation. John's insights transcend organizational boundaries, offering actionable strategies applicable to both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. His journey from volunteering to leadership underscores the transformative power of personal experiences, while his emphasis...
info_outline
Transforming a Company: From Warehouses to Tech with Food Maven's CEO Ben Deda
CXO Conversations
Join host Michael Mitchel as he welcomes back Ben Deda, CEO of Food Maven, for a revealing look at the company's four-year journey. Explore key milestones, strategic shifts, and insights into navigating challenges in the food industry. Gain valuable lessons in leadership, resilience, and adaptability while gaining optimism for the future of Denver's startup ecosystem. Full show notes and resources: Key highlights include: Strategic Evolution: Ben Deda outlines Food Maven's strategic shift towards a tech-centric model, reflecting on their trajectory over the past four years. ...
info_outlineToday we’re going to discuss the pros and cons of staying with the same company for an extended period, creating an HR organization from scratch, and the lessons that Michelle Anastasi has learned throughout her career.
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Michelle is an outgoing CPO who has worked at CompSych, GiveForward, Dell and ASAP Software. She earned her Business Administration degree from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
GET IN TOUCH WITH ON LINKEDIN
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Podfly Productions: Podfly.net
Veterans of Foreign Wars: VFWpost1.org
OC Executive Search: OCExecutiveSearch.com
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[1:52] Michael introduces Michelle Anastasi and asks her to share an interesting tidbit about herself — She has had a bear visit her kitchen while she was home!
[4:00] Michelle touches on the roles she embodied and the mentors that guided her during her 16-year stint at the same software company, from the accounting department to building an HR department from scratch.
BUILDING HR FROM THE GROUND UP [6:18] Michelle breaks down how she went about tackling the HR department build with very little experience from establishing priority lists to finding the right mentors.
REGRETS? [11:50] Michelle admits to having made her share of mistakes, but she wouldn’t trade any of them — she does share the one thing she would have done differently: networks and relationships.
STARTING FROM SCRATCH [12:36] Michelle packs so much advice in a minute, you won’t believe it — we counted 11 really important and insightful tips.
SHAKING ASSUMPTIONS [15:30] Behaviors can help in preventing people from pigeonholing you — think about your executive presence and be strategic.
WHY SO LONG? [18:46] Michelle opens up on the reasons why she stayed so long at ASAP, the first of which is that she kept having opportunities to learn and be challenged. She touches on the increasingly short windows companies get to show how engaging they can be to new hires.
THE DELL MERGER [22:21] She did work through a few mergers, but Dell was at a different scale! She talks us through the ups and downs of the experience.
C-SUITE, CPO VS CHRO [25:38] Though there seems to be a push away from the human resources terminology, Michelle sees very little difference between the roles themselves. She delves into what best prepared her for the C-Suite, including a tough boss that knows how to push you outside your comfort zone.
GETTING TO THE C-SUITE [30:04] Michelle hands out fistfuls of advice for aspiring CPOs.
SURPRISES AND REWARDS [33:22] Michelle shares the aspects of being a CPO that she finds surprising and rewarding — even if a lot of the work is covered by NDA!
OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE [33:50] Michelle’s approach to HR is influenced by having lived overseas and being culturally aware.
A BAD CALL [35:18] Michelle shares the time she joined a company led by a narcissist.
MBA [36:56] Michelle touches on the value her MBA has had in her career.
CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES [38:15] What are the things Michelle looks for in a successful candidate to hire.
BEST WORST JOB MICHELLE EVER HAD [39:19] Waitressing is such a good background for everything in life!
FINAL THOUGHTS AND GOOD READS [42:02] Michelle shares a very generous amount of titles to read and a recap of her tips for emerging CXOs.
[44:20] Michael thanks Michelle for coming on the podcast to share her insight and closes out the podcast with his favorite takeaways.
We hope you learned something today and enjoyed the conversation. Please give us 5 stars on iTunes and share your comments so we can improve and ask the questions you want to hear.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin
Tribes: We need you to lead us, by Seth Godin
Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders, by L. David Marquet
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek
The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers,
by Ben Horowitz
SPECIAL THANKS TO