Take Command: A Leadership Podcast

Hosted by Dale Carnegie Flagship Podcast, Joe Hart

Business Management Careers Education

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107

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Embark on a journey of real-life business insights and inspiring personal growth narratives. Welcome to Dale Carnegie Take Command: A Leadership Podcast, where we seek to uncover what leadership means in today’s world. Hosted by Joe Hart, CEO of Dale Carnegie, we’ll be talking to diverse leaders across various industries to help unlock your potential for success. We’ll be sharing real-life insights into leadership—which in turn can help spark the next level of your growth as a leader.

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60 recent

June 9, 202644 min

Do the Right Thing, Every Time: Lessons on Leadership and Agency

About the Guest: Eric Ries has been a force in entrepreneurship and innovation for over twenty years. He is the creator of the Lean Startup method and the author of The Lean Startup, The Leader’s Guide, and The Startup Way. His ideas have shaped how startups and large companies approach growth, decision-making, and innovation. As a founder, Eric has applied his principles with ventures like The Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE); Answer.AI, an AI research lab; the Lean Startup Co.; Virgil, a legal services startup; and IMVU, where many of the concepts that became the Lean Startup method were forged. He has served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Harvard Business School and IDEO. Eric lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children. What You Will Learn: How to create systems and cultures that encourage experimentation and learning Lessons in influencing and leading without formal authority Why long-term thinking matters for both founders and teams The importance of compounding small, deliberate actions over time Insights on how Lean Startup principles can transform established organizations Join us for a deep dive into leadership, innovation, and the mindset that allows founders and executives to build companies that last. Eric’s approach is practical, disciplined, and forward-thinking. Tune in to gain strategies that go beyond theory and into the real-world application of building lasting organizations. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

May 12, 202647 min

No Shortcuts, No Excuses: Building What Lasts

About the Guest Janice Bryant Howroyd is the Founder and CEO of The ActOne Group, a global workforce solutions company operating in more than 30 countries. She is recognized as the first African American woman to build a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. A best-selling author and global speaker, she has been honored for entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation, and has advised leaders across business, government, and education. Her work focuses on connecting people to opportunity through a deeply human-centered approach to business. What You Will Learn: Why “no shortcuts, no excuses” is a leadership mindset for long-term success How asking better questions and listening drives stronger outcomes Why resilience is essential when facing adversity How AI is changing work but increasing the need for human skills Why people must remain at the center of leadership and growth Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

April 14, 202631 min

Running the Long Game: Small Steps, Big Impact.

About the Guest Jake Rawson leads Craft Sportswear North America with a focus on innovation, resilience, and performance. Inspired by the principles of Dale Carnegie, he has built a culture that values collaboration, encouragement, and incremental improvement. Beyond business, Jake applies the same endurance mindset to family and coaching, proving that small, consistent actions can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Whether guiding his team, developing athletes, or mentoring his children, he turns lessons into action and emphasizes the power of patience, persistence, and positivity. What You Will Learn: How treating business like an endurance sport drives long-term success The power of small, incremental gains in leadership and personal growth Practical applications of Dale Carnegie’s principles in work and life Why saying “yes” to opportunities can unlock hidden potential Building confidence, resilience, and positive habits in yourself and others Join us for a candid conversation about perseverance, mindset, and growth. Jake isn’t just running a business—he’s running the long game, stacking wins, and showing how small steps lead to big results. Tune in today and discover the incremental edge in life and leadership. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

March 24, 202633 min

Grit Is Not Optional: Leading Through Crisis with Courage and Heart

About the Guest: Mr. Wai Phyo is a leading entrepreneur and business leader in Myanmar whose companies span food manufacturing, nationwide distribution, and technology. He is Managing Director of Yathar Cho Industry Ltd. and Cho Cho Industry Ltd., among the largest instant noodle manufacturers in the country, and also oversees Myanmar Zarla Distribution, one of the largest B2B distribution platforms. His technology ventures include Parama Technologies, OneLink Technologies, and Cannopy Technologies. He serves as Vice President of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, founding President of the Myanmar Young Entrepreneurs Association, and is a 2017 Eisenhower Fellow. Wai Phyo is known for his resilience in a volatile environment, his commitment to developing future leaders, and his focus on preparing organizations for an AI-driven future. He believes in reskilling and redeploying people so they can thrive as technology evolves. Hear more about how he turned a family business into a multi-company enterprise in this episode of the Take Command Podcast. What You Will Learn: Why grit is essential to extraordinary leadership and how to build it through failure How to move from scattered expansion to focused, synergistic growth Why succession is a privilege and how to prepare leaders to step up confidently How to create a culture of ownership, trust, and shared responsibility How to apply empathy, respect, and genuine interest in a modern organization How AI can boost productivity while creating new opportunities through reskilling Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast to explore what it takes to lead through uncertainty and build something lasting. Wai Phyo combines humility, long-term thinking, and a strong belief in people. He doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but his journey offers clear lessons for any leader looking to turn challenges into opportunity. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

March 10, 202638 min

Nothing to Lose, Everything to Build

About the Guest: Wemimo Abbey grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where he witnessed his mother borrow at 400% interest to fund his education. That early experience inspired him to co-found Esusu, helping millions of Americans get credit for paying rent and access fair financial services. Abbey has been recognized on the TIME100 NEXT List and named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023. He serves on the SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the University of Minnesota Crookston Board of Trustees, LEDA, and co-chairs the LACMA Director Circle. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota and earned an M.P.A. from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. What You Will Learn: How to turn early adversity and rejection into entrepreneurial success The power of resilience, faith, and purpose in leadership Why failure is a stepping stone and “falling forward” accelerates growth Strategies for building mission-driven companies that create tangible impact Lessons on teamwork and collaboration: going far together, not just fast alone Discover how to lead with impact, embrace failure as a tool for growth, and create opportunities for others while building a sustainable business. Join Joe and Wemimo for a conversation full of inspiration, practical wisdom, and the mindset needed to make a difference. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

February 24, 202628 min

Beyond Shareholders: Rethinking What Winning Means

About the Guest: Ivan Tornos grew up in Madrid, Spain, facing profound loss—his father, uncle, and brother all passed at 45 from cancer—which fueled his mission to "alleviate pain and extend life" in healthcare. Now CEO of Zimmer Biomet, a century-old medtech giant, he's expanding from orthopedics into robotics, AI, and infection prevention, aiming to become "the boldest medtech company on Earth." Early in his career, Ivan struggled with leadership until embracing purpose alongside execution. "Once you get the purpose right and you're authentic about it, that's not enough—you gotta inspire performance and manage performance," he explains, outlining his 4P algorithm honed over 31 years at companies like J&J and Baxter. Listen to hear how he "fired himself from email," blocks personal KPIs in his calendar (like gym time and calling his 90-year-old mom), and prioritizes patients over short-term shareholders—creating low turnover and high engagement at a $20B+ market cap firm. What You Will Learn: The 4P leadership model (Purpose, Plan, People, Processes) for turning vision into results How to define winning holistically across spiritual, personal, physical, mental, and professional dimensions with personal KPIs Why saying no and ruthless calendar audits (every Sunday) beat busyness every time Balancing hugs and "kicks" as a leader, plus allowing failure for bold innovation Ivan delivers transformative advice for leaders at any level, rooted in Dale Carnegie authenticity. "Purpose equals a sense of urgency when you're dealing with other people's lives," he says. Discover how to lead with intention, build unbreakable teams, and live carpe diem when you listen to this inspiring episode of the Take Command Podcast. Join Joe and Ivan for stories, frameworks, and the discipline to win big. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

February 10, 202644 min

Keep Sharp in Chaos: A Surgeon's Mindset Hack

About the Guest:Sanjay Gupta comes from a family of trailblazers. His mother, the first woman engineer hired at Ford Motor Company—a refugee who fled India at age 5—took Dale Carnegie courses to conquer public speaking fears, making How to Win Friends and Influence People a family staple. Inspired by her grit, Sanjay pursued neuroscience early, became a White House fellow, and joined CNN just before 9/11, evolving from healthcare wonk to global reporter on wars, disasters, and outbreaks—while still operating in war zones.That’s why Sanjay is CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, a practicing neurosurgeon at Emory, a bestselling author (Keep Sharp), and a Dale Carnegie graduate. He credits the course (taken at 16–17) for turning speaking terror into TV poise for millions. Hear more about blending medicine, media, and mentorship when you listen to this episode of the Dale Carnegie Taking Commandpodcast.What You Will Learn:Insights into how family resilience shapes bold careersLessons in humility as a leadership superpower ("Say 'I don't know'—it galvanizes teams")Stories about Dale Carnegie's hacks like using names and unsolicited praise notesThe hard truth on brain health: movement grows neurons, but brisk walks beat sprints for optimal resultsJoin us for this deep dive into balancing dual careers, learning from everyone, and optimizing your mind for peak performance. Sanjay isn’t just a reporter—he’s a perpetual student turning lessons into action. Tune in today to learn from one of the best. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

January 27, 202638 min

Driven: Danica Patrick on High-Performance Mindset and Modern Leadership

About the Guest:Danica Patrick grew up in a household where discipline and high standards were the norm, with her father urging, “get up, don’t waste the day.” She started go-karting at 10 and by 14 had dominated nearly every race, which led sponsors to fund her Dale Carnegie course.Her grit propelled her to become a trailblazing race car driver—the first woman to win an IndyCar race, lead laps at the Indy 500, and finish it—while also building a career as an author, podcast host, and media personality. Her mantra of blind faith and expanding comfort zones has guided her journey, proving that “when things are meant for you, they go fast.” Hear her full story on this Take Command episode.What You Will Learn:How embracing early discomfort, like leaving high school to race in England, can forge unshakable confidenceThe role of passion and cumulative effort in bouncing back from setbacksMindset shifts like leaning into change, pushing harder, and knowing when to pivotInsights on resilience, health hacks from her Pretty Intense era to modern biohacking, and her vision for a driving school rooted in real workJoin us for Danica’s candid reflections and practical advice. She doesn’t just talk about success—she shows how courage, grit, and curiosity drive it. Tune in today to learn from one of the most daring and inspiring athletes of our time. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

January 13, 202638 min

Seismic Shift in the Age of AI: Building Teams That Feel Seen, Heard, and Valued

About the Guest:Michelle K. Johnston, Ph.D., traces her passion for leadership and connection back to childhood, when she discovered Dale Carnegie’s work in her father’s study and learned the lesson of genuine connection through Carnegie’s story of his dog, Tippy. That early spark shaped her path as a leadership professor, executive coach, bestselling author, and podcast host.Her first book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, emerged from her work with healthcare executives navigating constant change. Her latest collaboration with the world’s number one executive coach, Marshall Goldsmith, launched in London following Thinkers50 conversations on why humanity will always outperform technology.Michelle encourages leaders to shift their focus from the constant “what” of tasks to the critical “who” of people, starting with themselves. A former Loyola University leadership professor, she now coaches CEOs and senior executives to rethink calendars, rebuild engagement, and lead in ways that reduce burnout and increase results. Her message is clear: connection isn’t soft. It drives retention, satisfaction, and real business performance.What You Will Learn:Why today’s loneliness epidemic rivals the health impact of smoking 15 cigarettes a dayHow your calendar reveals your true priorities and how to redesign it around peopleWhy digital meetings don’t automatically create connectionSimple questions that deepen trust and engagementHow small language shifts can transform feedback and relationshipsThis episode of Take Command is a thoughtful, energizing conversation about leading with heart in a high-tech world. Michelle blends timeless Dale Carnegie principles with modern leadership realities, offering practical wisdom you can apply right away. Tune in to connect more deeply and lead more effectively. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

December 9, 202542 min

Eagles Don’t Fly in Packs: Courage, Faith, and Leadership

About the Guest:John Hope Bryant leads the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of financial literacy services for youth and adults. Recognized globally, he was named to the Forbes BLK50 List in 2024 and TIME Magazine’s inaugural The Closers List. A best-selling author and CNBC contributor, he reaches millions through his ‘Straight Talk’ series and continues to advance economic opportunity and inclusive capitalism.What You Will Learn:Why becoming the person you’re meant to be often confuses othersHow courage, optimism, and faith drive leadershipLessons from Dale Carnegie on influence and growthThe mindset shifts that separate good leaders from great onesJoin us for this inspiring conversation with John about acting boldly, embracing fear, and evolving into your best self. Lukas Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 