Navigating the Unknown: Leadership Lessons from GlaxoSmithKline, Labcorp, J&J, and The Appalachian Trail with Cris Howard
Release Date: 02/05/2024
Hiring (and Radical Transparency) Matters, with Global Medical Response VP Innovative Practices, Matt Dusa
Hiring Matters
Are you tired of navigating the murky waters of leadership, constantly extinguishing fires as you strive to build your team and acquire new customers? If these challenges resonate with you, it's time to explore a different approach and consider the power of radical transparency. Join host Ken Schmitt and special guest Matt Dusa, VP of Innovative Practices for the Specialty Fire Rescue Division of Global Medical Response as we embark on a journey to revolutionize your leadership style and business strategy. In this episode, we delve into the philosophy of radical transparency, where...
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Recruiter Rant: Interviews that Don't Suck
Hiring Matters
Fed up with companies asking irrelevant interview questions, Ken is dropping some truth bombs about interviews. He challenges the status quo and reveals that years of experience are about as useful as a paper umbrella in a hurricane when it comes to predicting performance. With nearly nine out of 10 new hires crashing and burning due to issues unrelated to their tenure, like motivation and emotional intelligence, Ken pulls no punches in calling out the obsession with irrelevant metrics. He shreds the myth that past experience is a golden ticket to success, emphasizing that it's not about what...
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Hiring (and Onboarding) Matters: Leadership Insights from Target & Cencora with Michelle Byers
Hiring Matters
Ever feel like you've hired someone only to watch them vanish into the Bermuda Triangle of new hires? Well, the mystery of successful onboarding is about to be solved! Michelle Byers, a seasoned expert with 17 years of fine-tuning her craft in human capital management at top-tier organizations like Target and Cencora, is going to show you how to guide your new hire toward a smooth landing with air traffic controller expertise. Michelle reveals how to use your team as your co-pilot and unveils the single most crucial activity every leader must undertake within the first 30 days of a new...
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Recruiter Rant: Quit Jacking Up Job Descriptions
Hiring Matters
Are your job descriptions repelling potential rockstar employees faster than you can say "Monday morning meeting"? Do they read like a laundry list of demands or a cryptic puzzle that even Sherlock Holmes couldn't solve? In our latest Recruiter Rant, Ken challenges the status quo of job descriptions by diving headfirst into the absurdity of ridiculous requirements and outrageous expectations. (Read: degrees, specific industry experience, arbitrary skills such as "good communication skills" or proficiency in Word and Excel.) He confronts the gaping chasm between these archaic job specs...
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Hiring (Raving Fans) Matters: What Nike Taught Me with Tim Mitchell
Hiring Matters
From the iconic halls of Nike to the dynamic landscape of Boost, our guest, , is sharing the secrets behind building global empires and the transformative power of passion-driven leadership. Join host Ken as he delves into Tim's incredible journey, spanning from his early days in the Midwest with a journalism degree to leading Nike's matrix organization and overseeing the company's evolution from $5 billion to $40 billion. Tim shares insights on Nike's strategic shifts and the importance of adaptability as Nike transitioned from wholesale to a category-focused approach and later emphasized...
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Recruiter Rant: Exorcising Ghosting in Hiring
Hiring Matters
Ever feel like you're stumbling in the dark when it comes to understanding why candidates or hiring managers vanish into thin air? Ken is tackling one of his biggest pet peeves and one of the most irksome frustrations in the business world: ghosting. From seasoned executives to top-tier job seekers, ghosting continues to plague the hiring process, leaving professionals scratching their heads. But fear not! Ken is here to shine a bright light on this elusive phenomenon, offering invaluable insights and strategies to tackle it head-on. Join Ken as he delves deep into the heart of the matter,...
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Hiring Matters: Season 3 Trailer
Hiring Matters
HIRING MATTERS — DON’T MESS IT UP! Join Ken, a seasoned expert with nearly three decades in executive recruiting, and his executive guests as they unveil the secrets of Recruiting, Retention, and Real HR Strategies, sharing their ‘secret sauce’ for building and retaining top-performing teams. They’ll dissect the art and science of building exceptional teams, retaining top talent, and implementing effective HR strategies that work in today’s competitive landscape. But that’s not all – brace yourself for our “Recruiter Rant” episodes, where Ken unveils the industry’s...
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Navigating the Unknown: Leadership Lessons from GlaxoSmithKline, Labcorp, J&J, and The Appalachian Trail with Cris Howard
Hiring Matters
This week, you're invited to venture beyond the boardroom into the wilderness, daring to challenge the very essence of comfort zones. Join Ken and our distinguished guest, the true trailblazer , as they navigate uncharted territories, embrace discomfort, and uncover the striking parallels between success in leadership and the courage to confront the unknown. Join us on a captivating exploration of Cris's illustrious three-decade career, where she honed leadership skills in Fortune 500 companies like J&J, GlaxoSmithKline, and Labcorp. Mastering the art of building and managing...
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Behind the Curtain: Wisdom from Zappos and Netflix with Rico Nasol
Hiring Matters
We’re unraveling the essence of leadership with a true pioneer in the field, . With over 14 years of leadership experience at Netflix and Zappos, Rico has spearheaded creative teams for groundbreaking organizations and brings a wealth of insights. He unveils the wisdom from his latest book, 'The Seven Figure Leader,' emphasizing that knowledge is free, but implementation is the true challenge for leaders. Join us as Rico delves into the importance of confidence, clarity, and culture for today's leaders, drawing from his journey of problem-solving and impactful leadership. Rico...
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EQ vs. IQ and Ego in Leadership with Zach White
Hiring Matters
The interplay between emotional intelligence (EQ), intellectual prowess (IQ), and the delicate dance with one's ego creates a symphony that either propels or hinders leadership. While a high IQ may open the door to innovative ideas and strategic thinking, it is the often underestimated EQ that holds the key to unlocking genuine connections and navigating the complex landscape of human emotions. In this episode, we delve into the complexities of effective leadership with my captivating guest—Zach White, the visionary founder of Oasis of Courage, a global coaching firm committed to shaping...
info_outlineThis week, you're invited to venture beyond the boardroom into the wilderness, daring to challenge the very essence of comfort zones. Join Ken and our distinguished guest, the true trailblazer Cris Howard, as they navigate uncharted territories, embrace discomfort, and uncover the striking parallels between success in leadership and the courage to confront the unknown.
Join us on a captivating exploration of Cris's illustrious three-decade career, where she honed leadership skills in Fortune 500 companies like J&J, GlaxoSmithKline, and Labcorp. Mastering the art of building and managing global teams, Cris shares real-world experiences, emphasizing that leadership is more about asking the right questions than having all the answers.
But the adventure doesn't stop there. Cris's narrative takes an unexpected turn as she leaves her prestigious position at Labcorp. Experience the awe-inspiring tale of resilience and determination, where someone with zero hiking experience embarks on a 2200-mile odyssey through the Appalachian Trail—14 states, 5 months, and a profound journey into the unknown. Cris's transition from the boardroom to the trail becomes a testament to universal leadership principles, showcasing how resilience, adaptability, and strategic thinking prove indispensable in both worlds.
In this thought-provoking discussion, Cris leaves us with a powerful takeaway: leadership thrives when you push beyond your comfort zone. It's about asking the right questions, not having all the answers. Cris challenges the conventional notion of failure, presenting it as an ongoing narrative rather than a final chapter. She advocates for viewing challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth, highlighting the importance of perseverance and continuous problem-solving.
Join us for an episode that challenges norms, inspires change, and proves that true leadership happens when you step into the unknown.
About Cris Howard:
Cris Howard is a seasoned clinical operations executive with 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. As the Global Head of Project Delivery at Labcorp Drug Development, she led a team of 300 professionals across 24 countries and 29 locations, delivering operational excellence and strategic innovation for drug development projects.
Cris is passionate about transforming the clinical research landscape through agile and patient-centric solutions. She created and scaled the PM Academy, a pioneering initiative that optimized project team performance and achieved $11.7M in savings ahead of schedule. She also inspired employee loyalty and retention, winning the HERO's Award and being selected for the ELEVATE Women's Executive Leadership program.
Cris is a globally recognized speaker, educator, and board member in the field of project management and holds multiple degrees and certifications.
She is also an avid hiker and a retired elite triathlete, who founded the Women for Tri Foundation and completed 12 IRONMAN competitions.