Unlocking Careers Without College | Lawrese Brown | 634
Release Date: 03/23/2025
Leveraging Thought Leadership
What if your greatest impact as a leader begins after your "official" career ends? , former Managing Director and Senior Partner at and author of "", joins Peter Winick to share insights from his extraordinary shift from consulting titan to impactful thought leader. Joe reveals how the disruptions of COVID-19 inspired him to write his book—not just as a professional calling card, but to encourage executives to lead with heartfelt generosity and empathy. He emphasizes that legacy leadership isn't measured by revenue alone but by meaningful connections, personal growth, and empowering...
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How do you grab the attention of the smartest person in the room and introduce an idea that could fundamentally change their approach to leadership? In this insightful episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, , President of and author of The Leadership Wake Up Call, joins Bill Sherman to discuss her pioneering work in developing emotional intelligence (EQ) for surgeon leaders—a skill set largely overlooked in traditional medical training. Gina shares how her journey from managing medical device teams in Fortune 500 healthcare organizations led her to recognize a critical gap: Surgeons...
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What if the worst-performing team you’ve ever seen could become the best—without changing a single person? Today, Peter Winick sits down with , former U.S. Navy captain and author of the mega-bestseller "". Michael shares the extraordinary turnaround story of the USS Benfold—once one of the lowest-ranked ships in the fleet—and how he transformed its culture by focusing on something rare in the military: personal connection. He didn’t ask for a new crew. He didn’t get a bigger budget. What he did instead? Interviewed all 310 sailors, created personal index cards with their goals,...
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What happens when a philosopher, a pyrotechnics entrepreneur, and a tech ethicist walk into a boardroom? You get —author of , host of a by the same name, and founder of , a consultancy helping Fortune 500 companies navigate the ethical risks of AI. In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, we explore the collision of ethics, emerging tech, and organizational complexity. Reid shares his unorthodox journey from selling fireworks out of a Honda to advising top executives on responsible AI. He discusses how AI creeps into organizations like a Trojan horse—through HR, marketing, and...
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How do you prepare a first-time leader to succeed when everyone’s watching? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Bill speaks with , former and author of the upcoming book " "(June 2025). Noel spent his distinguished career at UPS mentoring new leaders and guiding them through the challenging transition from individual contributor to manager. Recognizing a critical gap in available resources specifically designed for newly promoted frontline leaders, he decided to write the book he wished he'd had earlier in his career. Noel introduces powerful frameworks, including the "4 by...
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How do you build genuine trust when AI-driven automation floods our lives? In this engaging episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, I sit down with , author of "", to explore the irreplaceable role of authentic human connection in today's tech-heavy marketing landscape. Ashley argues that while AI can streamline content creation and amplify messaging, the core elements of trust—authenticity, empathy, and credibility—can only be forged through real human interactions. We discuss practical ways marketers can move beyond outdated funnel approaches, introducing Ashley's innovative "Content...
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What if your next client already feels like they know you—before you’ve ever spoken a word? This week on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter talks with , founder of , a peer advisory group for high-performing CEOs. Jim shares insights from advising over 125 CEOs across 40 states, leading organizations with revenues from $25 million to over $2 billion. His unique perspective offers a window into how top leaders are using thought leadership as both consumers and creators. We dig into why CEOs crave curated content that helps them grow—and why books and podcasts still dominate their...
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Have you ever wondered why some nonprofits make a huge impact while others struggle to grow? The difference isn't always their mission—it’s their ability to fundraise and scale effectively. , founder of the , joins us today to reveal why bigger doesn’t always mean better in the nonprofit sector. James spent 25 years witnessing smaller nonprofits achieve incredible results—only to remain largely invisible due to weak fundraising skills. We dive into the critical business skills most nonprofit founders lack, from building fundraising teams to understanding marketing ROI. James explains...
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What if your greatest business challenge could become your launchpad into thought leadership? Today, Bill Sherman sits down with , visionary behind and bestselling author of , to explore how a journey from entrepreneur to industry thought leader unfolds—often unintentionally. Aaron shares how his frustration with data gaps in the home care space led to the founding of a data analytics company and, unexpectedly, a national reputation as a thought leader. Along the way, he leveraged the insights of thinkers like Brian Tracy and Michael Gerber, and later deepened his impact through a...
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Can a 150-year-old New York City institution thrive in the digital age? , CEO of the iconic , joins us to reveal how they turned crisis into innovation. Founded to support immigrant communities, the Y evolved into a world-renowned cultural hub. Seth shares how, despite the initial shock of COVID-19 closures, the organization quickly pivoted, transforming itself into a global digital platform overnight. Discover how they scaled online to reach millions—expanding their audience far beyond Manhattan. Seth explains key lessons learned, including tapping into an international market hungry for...
info_outlineIs college really the only path to career success?
In this compelling episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman speaks with Lawrese Brown, author of "I Don't Have to Go to College: Discover Well-Paying Jobs that Don't Require a Four-Year College Degree". Lawrese passionately challenges outdated ideas about success, advocating alternative pathways like apprenticeships, boot camps, and vocational training.
Originally, Lawrese targeted her message to parents, aiming to reshape perceptions about college as the only route to financial stability. However, she discovered parents often held strong, traditional beliefs about higher education. Shifting her focus directly to students opened powerful conversations. Today's youth, she found, are eager for practical guidance and alternative routes aligned with their true interests.
Lawrese reveals how crucial it is for students to trust their instincts, choose careers based on personal values, and recognize multiple forms of intelligence beyond academics. She argues that greater awareness and visibility of non-college paths will empower students, improve self-esteem, and encourage more fulfilling career choices.
Lawrese pushes listeners to rethink the "college-or-bust" narrative and advocates celebrating individual paths to success.
Three Key Takeaways:
• College isn't the only pathway to career success. Alternative routes like apprenticeships, vocational training, and boot camps offer viable, fulfilling opportunities.
• Targeting the right audience matters. Shifting the message from parents, who often hold traditional views on education, directly to students can open doors to meaningful conversations and greater openness.
• Empowering young people with practical knowledge of alternative career paths encourages informed decisions, higher self-esteem, and more aligned, fulfilling careers.
Lawrese Brown emphasizes the importance of crafting your own unique career path, a message echoed by Tony Martignetti in his episode on personal leadership journeys. Check out Tony’s insights for more on challenging conventional thinking. Together, these conversations inspire you to redefine success on your own terms, driven by passion, curiosity, and genuine fulfillment.