Hanna Skandera | President & Chief Executive Officer at Daniels Fund | Sowing Seeds of Generosity
Release Date: 03/13/2024
Brad Martin | Chairman of RBM Ventures, Vice Chairman of FedEx Corporation, and Retired Chairman and CEO of Saks Incorporated
The Wow Factor
Brad Martin has significant experience in leadership, corporate strategy, public company governance, and entrepreneurial ventures. He served nearly 20 years as Chairman and CEO of Saks Incorporated. During his tenure, the enterprise grew from a $70 million annual revenue 10-store chain into one of the largest department store businesses in the United States. He has previously served on the Boards of Caesars Entertainment, Dillard’s, Chesapeake Energy, First Horizon, Gaylord Entertainment, Lululemon Athletica, and Ruby Tuesday. Brad served five terms as a member of the Tennessee House...
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Lt Col Dan Rooney: Air Force Fighter Pilot and Founder of The Folds of Honor Foundation | The Power of Synchronicity: Lt Col Dan's Journey of Faith, Leadership, and Purpose
The Wow Factor
Lt Col Dan Rooney, an Air Force fighter pilot and a force for good. From humble beginnings above his garage, he founded The Folds of Honor Foundation to provide educational scholarships to the families of disabled or fallen military members, and, beginning in 2022, the mission was expanded to include first responders. In his new book, FLY INTO THE WIND: How to Harness Faith and Fearlessness on Your Ascent to Greatness, Lt Col Rooney demonstrates how we are all connected by God, and the path to fulfillment begins with changing ourselves to better one another. Lt Col Dan shares his faith...
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Tim Goeglein | Vice President of External and Government Relations for Focus on the Family | The Best Days are Yet to Come
The Wow Factor
Tim Goeglein is Vice President of External and Government Relations for Focus on the Family. Formerly, he served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush and as a deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. He was the President’s principal outreach contact for conservative and faith-based groups. Tim’s extensive resumé includes serving as a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation and as a communications director for U.S. Senator Dan Coats of Indiana and Gary Bauer at the Campaign for Working Families. Tim has authored a memoir, “The Man in the Middle: Faith...
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Paul Saber | President & CEO Manna Development Group, LLC | Being a True Servant Leader
The Wow Factor
Paul Saber has been a restaurant owner since 1980. He was the Owner/Operator of McDonald’s restaurants from 1985-2001. In 2003, Paul became President and CEO of Manna Development Group, LLC, and currently holds the Area Development Agreement for Panera Bread. In 2022, Paul was the recipient of the Fierce Brand Love Award. Paul served on the Board of Directors of several Christian ministries and served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association from 2007 to 2009. I’m excited to have Paul Saber on the podcast this week to share his experiences and insights...
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Kevin Lavelle | Co-Founder and CEO of Harbor | A New Way to Monitor Your Kids
The Wow Factor
Kevin Lavelle is the Co-Founder and CEO of Harbor. Kevin brings a wealth of experience from his role as the Founder and Chairman of Mizzen+ Main, having invented the world's first performance fabric dress shirt. With a successful growth round raised from L Catterton, partnerships with world-renowned athletes like Phil Mickelson and JJ Watt, and a background in omnichannel retail, Kevin is not only a dedicated entrepreneur but also a loving husband and father of two. Kevin joins me on the show to discuss his brand-new venture, Harbor. Kevin shares his frustration with current baby...
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Dallen Peterson | Founder of Merry Maids and Author | Honoring God Through Business
The Wow Factor
Dallen Peterson is the Founder of Merry Maids and author of an amazing business book, titled “Rags, Riches & Real Success.” In his book, he shares his remarkable true story and success principles based on personal faith. He shares the story of the founding of Merry Maids, its phenomenal growth, and how it eventually became part of the ServiceMaster family. Dallen’s book also shares the seven principles for real success, all life truths that come from serving God. Dallen joins me on The Wow Factor podcast to share his thoughts on the importance of hard work, perseverance, and humility...
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Porter Garner | President and CEO of The Association of Former Students at Texas A&M University | Value-Driven Leadership
The Wow Factor
Porter graduated from Texas A&M in 1979 with a BBA in marketing. He joined The Association of Former Students as Field Director in 1981. Over the last 23 years as President and CEO, he has inspired innovation and led initiatives to achieve The Association’s vision to become the premier alumni organization. Porter serves on the board of Baylor Scott & White Hospital – College Station Region, and he and his wife, Lisa ’91, are Endowed Century Club donors to The Association of Former Students, Eppright Distinguished Donors, and members of the Texas A&M Legacy Society. ...
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Flip Flippen | Chairman and Founder at The Flippen Group | | Give Your Heart Freely
The Wow Factor
Flip is the Chairman and Founder of Flippen Group, one of North America's fastest-growing educator training, corporate talent, and team development companies. Flippen associates give themselves relentlessly each day to “Building relationships and processes that bring out the best in people.” Flip and his wife Susan, CEO, were named Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2011, the only couple ever to receive this prestigious award. Founded in 1990, Flippen Group was chosen by Texas Monthly magazine as #2 in the listing of Best Companies to Work For in Texas. The company’s...
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David Olaricksiri | Founder of Royal Kingdom Industry| How God’s Advice Helped Create Business Success
The Wow Factor
David Olaricksiri founded Royal Kingdom Industry in 1990 with the vision of exporting Thai goods throughout the world. The business supplies and exports high-quality coolers all over the world. David joins me on the show to share the reason behind the name of his company and why he chose it to honor the Kingdom of Heaven. He credits God with leading him to start a business and his continued gratitude for God’s daily guidance and shares his personal experience of facing giants in business with God's grace, and how his faith has sustained and supported him throughout his life....
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Adam Christing | Founder and President of Clean Comedians | How Clean Comedy Connects People
The Wow Factor
Adam is an accomplished comedian, speaker, and entertainer with a passion for making people laugh and bringing joy to audiences worldwide. With over 30 years of experience, Adam has performed for thousands of corporate clients, including Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and more. In 2021, he received the “Best of Los Angeles Award” as the #1 Event Master of Ceremonies. He has appeared on over 100 radio and TV shows, including CNN, Fox News, Entertainment Tonight, and NBC Nightly News. Adam has also been featured in national magazines and newspapers, including USA Today, FORTUNE, and The...
info_outlineHanna Skandera joined the Daniels Fund as a Board member in 2019 and was subsequently selected as president and CEO in 2020 due to her proven track record of transformative leadership and impact in both public and private sector organizations. Hanna is nationally recognized for her expertise in education, with significant improvements in student achievement during her leadership in New Mexico, where she served as secretary of education under Governor Susana Martinez. Hanna has founded multiple education initiatives and leadership programs and has been a visiting professor of Education Policy and Impact at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, Distinguished Teaching Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, and a research fellow with the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Additionally, Hanna currently serves on the boards of Academic Partnerships, Daniels Fund, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, MGT, Newsela, and Philanthropy Roundtable.
I’m so excited to have Hanna join me on The Wow Factor this week, sharing her journey from secretary of education in New Mexico to President and CEO at The Daniels Fund. She encourages being bold and inspiring generational impact. We discuss why transparency inspires others to be transparent and how Bill Daniels' approach to relationships was rooted in his understanding of the value of sharing oneself to help others. She shares the eight key giving areas of The Daniels Fund and gives an insight into the stories behind them. Hanna also digs into the value of personal relationships, how mentors have helped her move forward in life, and how working with the people around you can help you change and shape the world for generations.
“Everyone is made with a purpose and has the opportunity to give back.” - Hanna Skandera
“When you believe that things are not possible, you'll deliver on that belief. When you believe that they are, you will deliver on that.” - Hanna Skandera
“You are sowing seeds that can last not just for your life, but for lifetimes to come.” - Hanna Skandera
This Week on The Wow Factor:
- How Hanna’s involvement in running a nonprofit in her senior year at school shifted her career trajectory from business to full-time nonprofit work
- Why mentors are so valuable and how her mentor has provided wise advice and guidance throughout her career
- Hanna’s experience of the mentorship program at Stanford University, some of the inspirational leaders she met, and how it led to an invitation to join California Governor Schwarzenegger’s administration
- Why Hanna was so honored to join Governor Martinez as her secretary for education, helping to improve education in the state
- The importance of changing beliefs and mindsets to achieve success, particularly for marginalized communities
- Why we need leaders to challenge existing thought patterns and inspire others to believe in the possibility of change
- Hanna shares her journey with the Daniels Fund, a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better through its grants program, scholarship program, and ethics initiative.
- How Bill Daniels' legacy lives on through his commitment to giving back to communities and individuals, inspiring others to do the same.
Hanna Skandera’s Words of Wisdom:
Be bold and courageous. You only live once, but live like it lasts for generations to come.
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