Power & Impact

Hosted by Jim McCann Power & Impact

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159

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Power & Impact brings a sharp focus on conversations with top CEOs, executives, and thought leaders. Together, we'll explore their journeys to success, the challenges they've faced, and how they're using their influence to drive meaningful change in their industries and communities.

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60 recent

June 16, 202641 min

The Power of Someone Who Believes in You | With Larry Long Jr.

Larry Long Jr. lost his father more than a decade ago. He still hears his voice every day. As a struggling freshman baseball player at the University of Maryland, Larry found himself mired in a brutal slump. His father sat him down and delivered a message he didn't necessarily want to hear: Fix your mindset and everything else will follow from that. The lesson stuck: Larry went on to hit .319 in ACC play that season, and the advice has continued to guide him throughout his life and career. In this week's episode of _Power & Impact_ , Larry reflects on his father's influence and the setbacks that shaped his journey. We trace his growth from a student-athlete into an internationally recognized speaker, coach, and author, exploring the philosophies that drive his success. Our conversation dives into why relationships will always matter more than resumes, how sales is ultimately an act of service, and what young people entering today's competitive workforce can do to carve out their own opportunities. As we celebrate Father's Day, this episode serves as a beautiful tribute to the legacy of the people who believe in us and the wisdom that continues to light our way long after they're gone.

June 9, 202637 min

The Human Side of Grief and the Power of Ritual | With William Villanova

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sat down with William Villanova, president of the iconic Frank E. Campbell funeral home in New York City. After more than 25 years in funeral service, William has guided families through some of life's most difficult moments while helping preserve traditions that have endured across generations. Our conversation explored how those rituals are adapting to a changing world. Technology now allows services to reach loved ones across continents, but the purpose remains the same: creating a space where people can come together and honor a life. If anything, the disruptions of the pandemic reinforced how deeply people need those moments of connection. We also discussed a subject many of us tend to put off indefinitely: planning for the end of life. We make plans for our careers, our finances, and our families, yet often avoid conversations about our own wishes, leaving loved ones to make difficult decisions without guidance. William has seen how powerful those conversations can be. Far from being morbid, they can provide clarity, reduce uncertainty, and reflect what matters most to us. In that sense, preparing for the inevitable is less about death than it is about giving a final gift to the people we leave behind.

June 2, 202639 min

What a 173-Year-Old Company Knows About the Future of AI | With Judy Marks

Most of us step into an elevator without giving it a second thought. That's exactly how Judy Marks likes it. In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I speak with the CEO of Otis Worldwide Corp. about the invention that helped make modern cities possible — and what it can teach us about another technology now reshaping daily life. Otis moves 2.5 billion people every day, and Judy sees firsthand how trust, safety, engineering, and human judgment all have to work together before people will fully embrace a new way of moving through the world. Judy believes AI will transform nearly every industry, though she sees the future as "human-led and AI-enabled." Her advice for graduates and business leaders alike centers on lifelong learning, communication, judgment, and adaptability. She also offers a fascinating perspective on the question: What can a 173-year-old elevator company teach us about navigating one of the biggest technological shifts in history? As you'll see in this week's podcast, the answer is a lot.

May 26, 202645 min

The Death of Corporate Integrity — And How to Bring It Back | With Eric Ries

In this episode of _Power & Impact_, Eric Ries, creator of Lean Startup, joins Jim McCann to reveal why even the most successful businesses can lose sight of the core values that first propelled them to greatness—insights found in his new book, Incorruptible. From Costco and Johnson & Johnson to AI, venture capital, Wall Street pressure, and the future of leadership, Eric breaks down the hidden forces that push companies toward short-term thinking, corruption, and cultural collapse. He explains why metrics can become dangerous, why trust is disappearing in modern business, and why the next generation of leaders must rethink what success actually means. The conversation takes a fascinating turn into artificial intelligence, where Eric warns that society may be moving faster than it understands — and why the world could be headed toward a "Chernobyl moment" for AI if innovation outpaces responsibility.

May 19, 202646 min

AI Is Moving Fast. Are We Ready? | With Sol Rashidi

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I speak with Sol Rashidi about one of the biggest questions facing leaders, workers, students, and families today: How do we prepare for a future that is arriving faster than almost anyone expected? Sol is an AI strategist, board adviser, and former chief AI officer who has spent years helping organizations understand how artificial intelligence is changing business. She brings s deep expertise and real concern to this conversation, especially as companies race to adopt AI before they've fully thought through the implications for governance, security, and the people whose work will be affected. We talk about what AI may mean for career paths, classrooms, consulting firms, startups, and family life. Sol explains why efficiency alone is not enough and why critical thinking and judgment may become more valuable than ever. Sol never loses sight of the human side of the issue. AI fluency is becoming essential, but technology alone will not determine the future. The question is whether we can use these tools wisely while preserving the expertise and relationships that make work — and life — meaningful.

May 12, 202641 min

The Future Belongs to Those Who Keep Learning | With John Donovan

In this week's Power & Impact, I speak with John Donovan, the former CEO of AT&T Communications, about what it takes to lead when technology is changing the ground beneath your feet. John had a front-row seat to some of the most important technological shifts of the past several decades, including the rise of fiber communications, smartphones, and cloud computing. One of his most important insights is that real innovation happens when an idea reaches customers at the right time and helps them do something better. That lesson feels especially relevant today. As AI reshapes the workplace, leaders cannot promise that every job will stay the same. What we can do is invest in people, help them learn, and build cultures where curiosity and continuous improvement are part of the daily rhythm. John offers a simple formula: Try to do your job a little better each day, do something kind for a teammate without expecting credit, and steal a little time each day to get better. Change may be unavoidable, but how we meet it is still up to us. As John says, the future will belong not only to those who understand the technology, but also those who keep learning and bringing others along.

May 5, 202641 min

Why the Best Leaders Don't Trust Their Own Thinking | With Sam Reese

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I speak with Sam Reese, CEO of Vistage, about a problem almost every leader eventually faces: The more responsibility you have, the fewer people you can be fully honest with. In this week's episode of _Power & Impact_ , I speak with Sam Reese, CEO of Vistage, about a problem almost every leader eventually faces: The more responsibility you have, the fewer people you can be fully honest with. That is where Vistage comes in. The organization brings CEOs and business leaders into confidential peer groups where they can wrestle with the decisions they cannot easily bring to employees, boards, or even family members. Sam knows that need personally. Early in his first CEO role, he felt so overwhelmed that he tried to quit. A board member told him he did not need to walk away. He needed help. That experience changed the course of his career. Today, Sam leads a global organization of more than 45,000 members, giving him a rare view into what leaders are struggling with right now: AI, culture, uncertainty, remote work, burnout, and the loneliness that comes with being the person expected to have the answer. Our conversation explores what separates the best leaders from everyone else: humility, the willingness to listen, and the courage to let others challenge your thinking before the stakes get too high.

April 28, 202636 min

He Reached the Top Then Chose to Serve | With Honorable Peter Beshar

In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with the Honorable Peter Beshar, whose career has spanned law, corporate leadership, and a deep commitment to public service. In our conversation, Peter looks back on his early work with former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance during the effort to bring peace to Bosnia — and how that experience shaped his belief in blending private-sector success with public service. He also shares lessons from his 18 years at Marsh McLennan, where he helped guide the company through crisis, and what he learned about leadership from CEO Dan Glaser. After a long and successful run at Marsh McLennan, Peter felt the pull to serve again. He was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate to become general counsel to the Department of the Air Force. Shaped by a journey spanning elite law firms, corporate boardrooms, global conflict zones, and the Pentagon, Peter offers a rare perspective on leadership and service. His story is a masterclass in leadership, risk-taking, and purpose — and a reminder that the most meaningful work often comes when you answer the call to serve.

April 21, 202636 min

The Code Behind Greatness And Why Most People Miss It | With Alan Guarino

What does it really take to achieve greatness—not just in title or success, but in how you lead, live, and show up every day? In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with Alan Guarino, vice chairman at Korn Ferry and author of The Greatness Code, to explore what it takes to build a meaningful and lasting career. Alan draws on a life shaped by an immigrant family, his time at West Point, and decades advising CEOs and serving at senior levels of government. At the center of the conversation is Alan's framework for greatness. He defines it through stamina, courage, resilience, persistence, and passion — what he calls "SCRPP" — and connects it to the importance of social capital. Progress, in his view, comes from both personal effort and the relationships that provide honest feedback and support along the way. We also explore how these ideas apply across different stages of life and work. The conversation covers balancing career and family, building trust, and developing the self-awareness to learn from setbacks. Alan emphasizes that growth comes from understanding your role in both success and failure, and from surrounding yourself with people who will challenge and support you. If you don't have a code — a combination of grit, self-awareness, and strong relationships — you're navigating without a map. This episode helps you start building one.

April 14, 202641 min

From Newsrooms to New Beginnings: One CEO's Next Chapter | With David Landsberg

What does it look like when a seasoned business executive brings private-sector rigor to a mission built around human potential? In this episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with David Landsberg, President and CEO of Goodwill South Florida, to talk about a career that began at the Miami Herald during the upheaval of the early internet era and evolved into leading one of the most ambitious workforce-development organizations in the region. David reflects on what he learned while navigating the collapse of traditional media, managing change inside a legacy institution, and leading through disruption. He also explains how those lessons shaped his approach at Goodwill, where the mission is not simply to train people, but to put them to work. At Goodwill South Florida, that means creating real jobs and pathways for people with disabilities and others facing barriers to employment. This conversation is about leadership, adaptation, and the power of work to restore confidence, dignity, and a sense of belonging.