Discerning Good Professional Advice from Bad with Tom Schwyn
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
Release Date: 02/15/2022
Life 2.0: Finding Purpose Beyond Retirement
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
In today's episode of Executive Decisions, host Sarah Delahanty speaks with Todd and Cindy Shinabarger about their inspiring journey of transitioning from demanding careers to what they call “Life 2.0”—a purposeful and fulfilling phase of life dedicated to service and impact. Todd and Cindy share their experiences of stepping into volunteer roles with Operation Mobilization, where their skills in IT and science transformed projects and systems, helping the organization achieve excellence. They reflect on the importance of being intentional, crafting a plan, and seeking purpose beyond...
info_outline
From Airplanes to Orthopedics: Leadership Lessons Learned Along the Journey with Todd Davis
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
In today's episode of Executive Decisions, host Sarah Delahanty sits down with Todd Davis who shares his rich career history from building airplanes to his executive career in the orthopedic industry. Todd reflects on his journey from managing older union workers while still in his 20’s to his transition into executive leadership roles. He emphasizes the importance of work ethic, persistence, and building relationships, sharing valuable insights from his experiences. Todd also discusses his post-executive life, engaging in mentorship, fundraising efforts for his community, and continuous...
info_outline
A Holistic Approach to Professional and Personal Development with Dr. Drew Flamm
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
In today's episode of Executive Decisions, host Sarah Delahanty sits down with Dr. Drew Flamm, President of Grace College & Seminary, to explore the formative experiences that shaped his leadership path and the value of embracing a spectrum of opportunities. Dr. Flamm shares personal stories of early financial discipline, the impact of mentorship on his career, and the significance of lifelong learning in both personal and professional realms. Through anecdotes and advice, the conversation delves into the integration of personal interests with family life, highlighting the holistic...
info_outline
From Pacemakers to Entrepreneurship: Navigating the Medical Device Industry with Tim Early
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
In this episode of Executive Decisions, guest hosted by Seth Whicker, guest Tim Early, CEO of DreamOn Group, shares his insightful journey from an early career decision to move from New York to Florida, leading to a pivotal role in the medical device industry with Cordis Corporation. Tim reflects on his educational transitions, notably from West Point to Rochester Institute of Technology, and his shift from accounting to packaging engineering, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's strengths with career choices. The episode delves into Tim's experiences with changing industry...
info_outline
Cultivating Diverse Leaders and Inclusive Culture with Dionna Topps James
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
Dionna has been with Whirlpool Corporation for 15 years and currently leads the Whirlpool Sales Enablement Team as well as being the Chief of Staff for the Sales SVP. She is responsible for creating strategies and experiences to enable profitable sales growth for both Whirlpool and its Trade Customers. Dionna has held various positions with escalating responsibility within training, operations, sales and merchandising. As an accomplished sales leader she has been awarded National Sales Manager of the year and has delivered record breaking profitable growth in each of her respective role...
info_outline
From a Service Station Garage to Financial Advisory: Insights on Risks, Rewards, and the True Measure of Wealth with Dennis McKeever
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
Dennis McKeever has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh along with a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of California, Irvine. Dennis retired from Dow Chemical after a thirty year career where he primarily served as a senior manager in Research and Development. However, he also had two business management experiences – first as the manager of the Chemicals business for Latin America and subsequently as the VP for the Polyolefins and Elastomers business unit for Dow North America. After retiring from Dow, he served for six years as the...
info_outline
From Frogman to CEO: How Special Ops Skills Translate to Corporate Success with Matt Stevens
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
Matt Stevens transitioned from the U.S. Navy in July 2017 after serving for 26 years as a SEAL. He attended The Honor Foundation’s (THF) inaugural East Coast class in the Spring of 2016, joined the THF SOF Advisory Board in the Spring of 2017, and then joined THF’s Board of Directors in February 2018. Throughout his career, Matt served as a Special Operations Executive leading high-performing teams conducting our nation’s most sensitive operations, cultivating interagency relationships and executing plans in dynamic environments. Matt served on the leadership team of an emerging...
info_outline
Balancing Growth and Experience with Ed Mohr
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
Ed Mohr is the retired Vice President of Total Rewards at Whirlpool Corporation, a Fortune 200 company specializing in home appliances. With a background in HR, manufacturing, and logistics, Ed has accumulated 29 years of experience in various roles. In his current position, he is accountable for executive compensation, broad-based compensation, global mobility, benefits, health, wellness pensions, and 401 k plans globally. As a member of the Global Senior HR Leadership Team, he plays a crucial role in shaping the company's human resources strategies. Ed holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing...
info_outline
Blazing Trails and Giving Back with Jenée Velasquez
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
Jenée Velasquez is the Executive Director of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, a prestigious organization dedicated to philanthropy and community development. Velasquez began her professional journey as the Chief Executive Officer of Midland County's Economic Development Corporation, Midland Tomorrow, where she played a pivotal role in driving economic growth and prosperity. Prior to that, she served as the Manager of Economic Development Services and the first Downtown Development Authority Coordinator in Midland. She also worked for the Manhattan, Kansas Convention, and Visitors...
info_outline
TACTICAL | Executive Compensation
Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors
In this episode of Executive Decisions Podcast, host Sarah Delahanty, a certified financial planner, talks about how her firm, SYM Financial Advisors, helps executives understand and maximize their executive compensation and benefits. She emphasizes the importance of diversifying risks and making sure clients have a game plan for the year, including determining what may be beneficial to exercise relating to stock options, selling or retaining restricted stock units, participating in employee stock purchase plans, and deferred compensation plans. Sarah also explains the complexities around tax...
info_outlineTom Schwyn is the Vice President of Global Legal Operations and GPO General Counsel at Whirlpool, one of the world’s leading kitchen and laundry appliances brands. Tom has an incredible career story, having joined Whirlpool as an electrical engineer back in 1987. As Vice President of the Legal Operations department, today Tom is tasked with mitigating risks, optimizing value, and promoting global collaboration across legal departments. He is planning to retire by the end of 2021.
Tom joins me today to share the many pieces of advice he followed that helped him get to where he is today. He describes what his first job was like and the lessons it taught him that he still carries to this day. He explains how young people can plan ahead without feeling stressed out or burned out. He shares some of the reasons why great leaders stumble and how they can correct themselves to prevent those experiences again. Tom also describes some of his fondest moments in the industry, his favorite taco recipe, and his advice for young professionals who have no idea how to manage their finances.
"Have a plan, but be open to opportunities that present themselves to you." - Tom Schwyn
This week on Executive Decisions:
- Tom's first job and what the experience taught him
- Tom's advice to those who are about to embark on their professional journey
- What Tom considers to be terrible advice that is frequently given to young professionals
- What it takes to enjoy a long career
- Some of the decisions Tom would want to revisit
- The four qualities that define success for someone in Tom's position
- Why Tom believes many good leaders fail as they climb the ranks
- Some of the most significant risks Tom took in his career
- The tough experiences Tom encountered and his key takeaways from them
- The best way to mentally recover from a loss
- Debunking some of the common myths in the industry
- Separating good advice from bad advice as a young professional
- Tom’s fondest moments, his Ted Talk topic, and financial advice
Our Favorite Quotes:
- "We can't be everything to everybody." - Sarah Delahanty
- "Sometimes, it's not important to be the loudest voice in the room. Zsometimes, it’s better to listen and treat everyone with respect." - Sarah Delahanty
- "Failures of integrity are hard to come back from." - Tom Schwyn
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Tom Schwyn:
About SYM Financial and Executive Decisions Podcast
Executive Decisions is a show for business leaders. In each episode, host and financial advisor Sarah Delahanty sits down with executives and local experts who serve them. Together, they tackle some of the harder questions that business leaders face today. From inspiring creativity in the workplace, to managing company politics, to making the best choices with executive compensation, taxes, and lifestyle — our show delivers stories and lessons learned across many industries and lifetimes.
Email Sarah at [email protected] with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.
Follow SYM Financial on Facebook
Subscribe here:
iTunes
Android
Google Play
Stitcher
Spotify
And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast.