The Chief Executive Podcast

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit, featuring Asheesh Advani, CEO of Junior Achievement Worldwide and co-author of Modern Achievement. Order Modern Achievement: https://a.co/d/eGHXedC Watch now: https://www.chiefexecutivealliance.com/post/cea-summit-asheesh-advani-ja-worldwide Asheesh leads an organization that impacts over 15 million young people annually across 118 countries, fostering entrepreneurship, self-efficacy, and leadership skills in the next generation. In this conversation, he shares insights on: • The Future of Achievement: Why traditional goal-setting is outdated in a world where young professionals will have 20 jobs and 7 careers on average. • Self-Efficacy & Entrepreneurship: How JA programs instill an unshakable belief in success through hands-on experience. • Innovation & Adaptability: A framework for navigating change—fixed, flexible, and freestyle—that empowers leaders at all levels. • Building a Meaningful Network: The power of surrounding yourself with mentors and how relationships drive career success. Asheesh’s perspective is a must-hear for leaders, educators, and anyone passionate about shaping the future workforce. #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Entrepreneurship #ChiefExecutiveSummit #MarkThompson

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit, featuring Mike Clem, CEO of Sweetwater, the nation’s largest online retailer of musical instruments and audio/video equipment for creators. Mike shares his inspiring journey from tech and e-commerce professional to leading Sweetwater—a $1.5 billion company with over 10 million customers and a culture centered on building lifelong relationships. After two pianos and four trumpets later, Mark is sold on Sweetwater. Key insights from the conversation: Heart and Culture: Sweetwater thrives by fostering one-to-one relationships and providing over-the-top customer service, from free tech support to personalized guitar inspections. Mike discusses how this culture was shaped by founder Chuck Surack, who started the company in 1979 in the back of a VW bus. Leadership Transition: Mike shares how his 20 years with Sweetwater prepared him to step into the CEO role, including his commitment to preserving its people-first culture while navigating rapid growth. Employee Engagement: With 2,700 employees, Mike emphasizes the importance of leadership accountability for team happiness and engagement, noting how this approach strengthens customer experiences. Balancing Stakeholders: Learn how Mike leads with heart while balancing the needs of employees, customers, investors, and the community. This is a masterclass in scaling with purpose and staying true to core values in leadership. Don’t miss it!

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit, featuring Geoff Smart, Chairman and Founder of ghSMART and a leading expert in CEO and C-suite readiness. Geoff shares his transformative approach to leadership assessment and development, offering invaluable insights for aspiring and current executives. Key Highlights: Beyond Psychology Tests: Geoff explains why traditional tools like cognitive tests often fall short at the executive level. Forensic Leadership Analysis: Discover Geoff’s unique method of evaluating leadership through a detailed examination of past experiences and performance, validated by peer and board feedback. Role-Specific Readiness: Insights into tailoring leadership development to the strategic needs of an organization. Geoff also discusses groundbreaking research, including the three key traits that increase team success by 20 times: prioritization, talent management, and result-focused relationships. These principles, combined with a rigorous selection process, drive long-term success for leaders and organizations alike. Don't miss this conversation about aligning leadership excellence with organizational strategy. Listen now.

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit featuring Tom Gruber, co-creator of Siri and a pioneer in humanistic AI. This conversation dives deep into Tom's remarkable journey and the future of artificial intelligence, offering unique insights for leaders navigating this transformative era. Key Highlights: The Origins of Siri: Tom reflects on building Siri with a small team of 24 and the pivotal decision to join Apple, sharing personal anecdotes about working with Steve Jobs and embedding AI into the iPhone. AI's Role in Leadership: Discover how leaders can embrace AI to augment human capabilities rather than replace them, emphasizing collaboration and critical thinking in a tech-driven workplace. Humanistic AI: Tom advocates for AI systems designed to enhance human potential and address global challenges, from education to mental health care. Navigating Risks: Learn how to balance AI’s powerful potential with the ethical responsibility to prevent unintended consequences, such as misinformation or system failures. Tom's vision for AI goes beyond automation—it’s about empowering humanity. Whether you're leading a Fortune 500 company or an emerging startup, this episode is a must-listen for understanding AI's role in shaping the future. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with actionable insights.

Join Mark on this week’s episode of the Chief Executive Podcast for an insightful discussion with Niren Chaudhary, former Chairman of the Board and CEO at Panera Brands, and David Reimer, CEO and Managing Partner of The ExCo Group. Niren and David share strategies for leading in an era of profound change and the evolving demands on today’s CEOs. Key takeaways include: The Evolving CEO Role David emphasizes the need for CEOs to stay adaptable in an ever-changing environment. Building a Resilient Pipeline Both leaders stress the importance of fostering curiosity and resilience in future executives, preparing them to lead in unpredictable times. Creating Psychological Safety Niren underscores the value of challenging ideas and embracing dissent: "Don’t tell me why you agree with me, tell me why you disagree." Data Meets Judgment Niren encourages leaders to use data for informed decisions but warns against waiting for perfection—act when "70% certain" and trust your judgment for the rest. Discover how today’s leaders can stay agile and foster innovative cultures. Tune in to learn these strategies for navigating modern leadership challenges.

Join Mark for an in-depth episode of the Chief Executive Summit featuring Melissa D. Smith, CEO of WEX. Over her decade of leadership, Melissa has transformed WEX into a powerhouse in the fintech space, driving innovation and growth while navigating major milestones like the company’s IPO and the challenges of the global pandemic. In this compelling conversation, Melissa delves into: Creating a Culture of Inclusivity: Melissa explains how fostering an environment where employees can be their authentic selves has helped WEX build diverse, high-performing teams. The Power of Strategic Risk-Taking: From large acquisitions to leveraging AI and data, she shares her approach to taking informed risks that propel the company forward. Developing Future Leaders: Melissa emphasizes the importance of clarity in talent development, outlining how WEX builds a strong leadership pipeline by focusing on both experience and behavior. Melissa's candid insights on resilience, innovation, and the future of fintech make this episode a must-watch for executives looking to lead with purpose in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit featuring John Dickerson, renowned journalist, CBS News Prime Time anchor, and author. Together, they delve into the complexities of leadership in times of change and volatility. Through John's unique perspective, drawn from his experiences and his book 'The Hardest Job in the World', they explore various aspects of presidential leadership, including decision-making, the impact of media, team building, and adaptation to change. The dialogue also delves into the evolving role of CEOs and the intersection of politics and corporate America.

This week on the Chief Executive Summit, we are thrilled to share a conversation with Mark’s dear friend and inspiration, Curtis Martin, NFL Hall of Fame running back. Curtis overcame incredible challenges throughout his life, including poverty, violence, and the loss of loved ones. He'll share how these experiences shaped his approach to leadership and building trust. Key Takeaways: Vulnerability is Key: Curtis reveals the importance of vulnerability in building trust. Leading with Authenticity: He emphasizes the power of being a real leader, not one who's always right. The Strength of Listening: Understanding someone's pain is crucial for building trust, as Curtis demonstrates through a powerful story. Consistency is King: Trust is built through consistent actions, not just grand gestures. Don't miss this inspiring episode! Tune in to hear the full conversation with Curtis Martin.

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Podcast featuring his early interview with Jensen Huang, Co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA. Listen as he recounts his extraordinary journey from reform school in Kentucky to becoming a tech titan and visionary leader in the semiconductor industry. Reflecting on early experiences, Huang shares how they shaped his character and approach to adversity. Join us as we explore his inspiring story and pivotal moments that led to today's highly anticipated "AI Woodstock" event, where NVIDIA unveils its latest chips. Tune in to discover the evolution of NVIDIA and the technological advancements shaping our future.

Join us for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit Show hosted by Mark Thompson! In this exclusive interview, Adrian Mitchell, COO & CFO of Macy's, reveals the keys to transparent leadership, strategic trade-offs, and building a customer-centric approach. Discover valuable insights that can transform your business strategies and drive retail success. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from an industry expert.