Chief Awareness Officer – The Key Ingredient for a Successful CEO? (Part 3 of a 4-Part Series): Awareness of Our (Business) Environment – Navigating Challenges and Opportunities | Kevin Ford

How does an award-winning CEO manage the complexities of leading a rapidly evolving business landscape? Join us for part 3 of this special 4-part series where I speak with Kevin Ford, the dynamic CEO of Calian, as we unpack the multifaceted nature of business awareness. Kevin sheds light on the ever-changing nature of geographical markets and the unique conditions affecting publicly traded companies, stressing how crucial it is for leaders to stay informed amidst a constant influx of data.

Transparent and honest communication becomes our next focus, especially during turbulent times. Kevin discusses the significance of creating an environment where information flows freely up and down the hierarchy. He highlights the importance of mental preparedness for unexpected challenges and staying composed and receptive to input during sudden changes. By fostering such a culture, leaders can effectively navigate dynamic situations and build a resilient organizational culture.

We then turn our attention to technological disruptions, particularly cybersecurity and A.I. Kevin emphasizes the necessity of relying on subject matter experts to navigate these complex areas while balancing offense and defense in business strategy. He highlights the importance of recognizing knowledge gaps and assembling teams to cover those blind spots. 

Wrapping up, we set up our final conversation where we explore the role of mindset, emotions, and behaviors that are foundational for being a successful Chief Awareness Officer.

What You’ll Learn:

• The Multifaceted Nature of Business Awareness.

• Effective Communication in Turbulent Times.

• The Vital Role of Mental Preparedness and Composure When Dealing With the Unexpected.

• How to Adapt to Technological Changes.

• The Secrets to Building a Resilient Team and Culture.

• Leveraging Emotional Intelligence to Harness the Power of Experience

Podcast Timestamps:

(00:00) - Understanding the Business Environment

(07:22) – The Necessity of Transparent Communication and Mental Preparedness When Dealing with the Unexpected

(18:28) – The Importance of Stepping Back for Moving Forward

(24:35) – Navigating Technological Disruptions in Business: A.I. and Cybersecurity

(28:33) – Recognizing Your Knowledge Gaps to Address Your Blind Spots

More of Kevin Ford:

Kevin is the President and CEO of Calian Group, a solutions company with services in health, IT, systems engineering, and more. Leading the company since 2015, Kevin focuses on teamwork, integrity, and commitment. As you’ll hear in this series of episodes, he’s aware of how he works with others, affects them, and can improve himself. Kevin is also proud to shine a light on how we can improve our leadership by improving ourselves.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-ford-5426948 

Key Topics Discussed:

CEO Mindset, Chief Awareness Officer, Self-Awareness, Positive Leadership, Adaptability, Market Awareness, Proactive Leadership, Publicly Traded Company, Data Influx, Market Conditions, Collective Awareness, Transparent Communication, Turbulent Times, Technological Disruptions, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Offense and Defense, Business Strategy, ESG, Climate Change, Governance, Resilience, Mindset, Emotions, Behaviors

More of Do Good to Lead Well:

Website: https://craigdowden.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdowden/