Celebrating 15 years of YOU!
A Seat at the Table
In this special episode, celebrating 15 years of the Leading Women Executives program, co-founders Cheryl Francis and Sheila Penrose, along with CEO Deb DeHaas, reflect on their journey in creating impactful leadership programs. Discover the lessons learned, the milestones achieved, and the legacy being built as they continue to inspire a new generation of women leaders. Sponsored by Discover, this episode marks the culmination of our 2024 podcast season, showcasing the power of leadership, collaboration, and resilience.
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Being a Corporate Athlete
A Seat at the Table
In this episode, Deb DeHaas, CEO of Corporate Leadership Center, is joined by Sarah Robb O'Hagan, CEO of EXOS, to explore Sarah’s remarkable personal and professional journey. Sarah shares pivotal moments from her career, including her roles at iconic companies like Nike, Gatorade, and Equinox and how those experiences shaped her leadership philosophy. Together, they discuss the importance of resilience, strategic branding and fostering corporate wellness. Sarah also highlights EXOS’ innovative approach to combating burnout and the value of the four-day workweek in improving employee...
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Evolving an Iconic Product to an AI Enabled End-to-End Customer Experience
A Seat at the Table
In this episode, we feature LanTing Garra, Senior Director of Innovation and Design at Motorola Solutions and an LWE Fellow from Fall 2016. LanTing discusses her career evolution from Industrial Design to AI-supported end-to-end customer experience design. She shares the challenges she faced and overcame while leading a critical project for the company’s iconic public safety product line. LanTing also talks about influencing change within the company, integrating AI, building a supportive network of colleagues, and ensuring younger team members gain visibility with senior management.
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Inclusive Insights: Cultivating Change in the Boardroom
A Seat at the Table
This episode features a conversation between Lori Nishiura Mackenzie, co-founder of the Stanford VMware Women's Leadership Innovation Lab and faculty member of Leading Women Executives; and Deb DeHaas, CEO, Corporate Leadership Center. Lori and Deb talk about Stanford’s recent research and playbooks around board diversity and culture, along with Deb’s real-life experience and advice across her many years of serving on corporate, nonprofit, and higher education boards. SHOW NOTES: 4:27 The Impact Lab 6:07 Inclusive seats of power 8:24 The importance of focusing on building an inclusive...
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The Leadership Ledger: Insights from Aflac’s Chief Accounting Officer
A Seat at the Table
This episode features Robin Blackmon, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at Aflac. Robin shares her wonderful, winding journey in Finance and HR that led her to where she is today. You’ll also hear insights on learning from others in big and small ways, the importance of relationships and practice when it comes to boards, and a few tips on wellness and stress management. SHOW NOTES: 2:41 The goal was not necessarily to end up here 6:11 The value of gaining HR experience to succeed in Finance 10:20 Thoughtful transitions for...
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Leading in a Legacy: Insights from Kohler’s Chief Sustainable Living Officer
A Seat at the Table
This episode features Laura Kohler, Chief Sustainable Living Officer, Kohler. Laura shares insights about the legacy of Kohler and her journey within the company, and Kohler’s culture of innovation, sustainability and purpose. Laura also discusses the importance of re-skilling, the role of technology in sustainability, and how her personal values have played a role in her leadership journey. SHOW NOTES: 1:51: Kohler's Legacy Values: Resilience, Persistence and Innovation 6:49: What started as cast iron farm implements 11:20: The importance of sustainability and DEI as cultural competencies...
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Leading the Charge: Leadership Insights from the Energy Industry
A Seat at the Table
This episode features Jennifer Montague, President and Chief Operating Officer for Columbia Gas of Virginia. Montague is also a Leading Women Executives Fellow, Fall 2018. Jennifer provides insights about innovation in the energy industry and delivers advice and experience about growing as a leader through taking on P&L roles, smartly planning for technology and people, advantages to working overseas, and creating smart plans for work-life balance. SHOW NOTES: The importance of P&L experience in carving a pathway to leadership [4:39] Excitement and opportunity in the energy...
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Harvesting Insights: A look at technology and leadership in precision agriculture
A Seat at the Table
This episode features Deanna Kovar, President, Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division: Small Agriculture & Turf Care, Europe, Africa, and Asia, Deere & Company. Kovar is also a Leading Women Executives Fellow, Spring 2017. This conversation explores the history and evolution of technology and innovation in Deere and Company and shares insights into precision agriculture and how it impacts all of us. Kovar also shares meaningful leadership lessons learned and the necessary adjustments on how to better lead in our rapidly changing world of technology. SHOW NOTES: About...
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Leading With Purpose
A Seat at the Table
In this episode, Kelly Tufts, Vice President, Field Talent at Discover and Leading Women Executives Fellow, Spring 2015, discusses her focus on finding meaningful and impactful ways to lead with purpose. In her role at Discover, Kelly has been integrally involved in the opening of a new contact center in Chatham, a disinvested neighborhood in Chicago. Through this work and other civic roles, Kelly is able to help employees, customers and community members thrive, as well as chart her personal growth as a leader. Kelly also shares how adopting a growth mindset has empowered her to serve as a...
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Chicago to Qatar to Cannes… Where Creativity Meets Leadership
A Seat at the Table
In this episode, Jennifer DelVecchio, Senior Director Global Content and Culture at McDonald’s (Leading Women Executives Fellow, Fall 2022), shares her leadership journey, that has allowed her to travel the world while tackling unique and challenging growth opportunities. Throughout these experiences, Jennifer has fostered and developed her creativity as a way to approach new challenges, solve complex problems, and find new ways to connect with others. Discussion Questions We encourage you to connect with your peer board, team or colleagues to discuss the podcast. Please use...
info_outlineA key component of the Leading Women Executives curriculum focuses on negotiations, including how to recognize opportunities to negotiate, positions vs. interests, and different strategies for successful outcomes.
In this episode, Tracy Hedrick, Vice President, Card Operations, Discover Financial Services; Ambassador Fall 2020, and Heather Lindsay, Associate Vice President, Customer Service, Medicaid Operations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas; Ambassador Spring 2021, share their stories from recent negotiations and what they learned about themselves in the process.
SHOW NOTES:
‘Every Ask is an Opportunity to Negotiate’ [4:36]
The Difference Between Positions vs. Interests [5:35]
Asking, Bending, Shaping [8:56]
Tackling the ‘Nos’ [12:47]
Advice on How to Prepare for Negotiations [14:42]