Wisdom From The Top with Guy Raz

Explorer Erling Kagge shares insights on the value of failure and silence from extreme exploration. Topics include childhood experiences with jazz musicians, dyslexia, conquering the Three Poles Challenge, and the importance of silence in leadership and self-discovery.

Jeff Jones, seasoned executive, shares insights on crisis management at H&R Block, Uber, and Target. From Target data breach to leading H&R Block during economic downturn and pandemic, Jeff's journey showcases resilience, effective communication, and transparency in navigating crises. Highlights include his transition from ad guy to marketer, Target's transformation, and challenges in the transportation and financial sectors. Jeff emphasizes the importance of leadership qualities and transparency during crisis management.

Target's CEO, Brian Cornell, discusses his journey in transforming the struggling retailer into a lasting brand. Topics include navigating retail challenges, reinventing the company, making effective business decisions, investing in in-store experience, and staying grounded in the evolving retail landscape.

Sarah Robb O'Hagan, known for transforming Gatorade after facing career failures, shares her journey. From getting fired at Virgin to leading successful marketing campaigns at Nike and Gatorade. She reveals the challenges of rebranding Gatorade post-acquisition and the importance of resilience in overcoming business hurdles.

Jacqueline Novogratz shares her journey from investment banking to creating Acumen, delivering over $100 million to help low-income communities worldwide. She discusses empowering women in Africa, the transformative power of listening in leadership, and advocating for a more equitable capitalist system prioritizing social impact over profit.

Explore the inception and success of BET, led by Debra Lee, the first Black-owned business on NYSE. Learn about Lee's transition from lawyer to CEO and the challenges she faced. Dive into the evolution of BET's programming and the importance of representation for women of color in leadership roles.

Leena Nair's inspiring journey from a small Indian town to becoming the CEO of Chanel, overcoming gender bias and excelling in HR. Discussion on prioritizing employee well-being during the COVID-19 crisis and the importance of therapy for personal growth. Exploring Unilever's innovative recruitment processes and strategies for business continuity in challenging times.

Shellye Archambeau knew as a teenager she wanted to grow up and become a CEO. But when Shellye started as an undergraduate at the Wharton School of Business in 1980, there were just two female CEOs of large corporations, and none of the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies were Black. Despite the lack of representation, Shellye became the first Black woman to lead a division of IBM overseas. She broke barriers and took risks leading to a successful career with leadership positions at Blockbuster, Zaplet and MetricStream. In this 2022 conversation with Guy Raz, Shellye discusses her book Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms, and details both her singular approach to leadership and her advice for taking ownership of one’s career.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kenneth Chenault, the first African American CEO of American Express, shares his journey of breaking barriers and transforming AmEx into a credit card powerhouse. He discusses handling racism, aspirations, and encounters with mentors, along with promoting financial literacy and navigating challenges in business. The podcast also touches on wealth inequality, corporate responsibility, and the importance of values in society.

Jason Fried, CEO of 37signals, advocates for limited work hours and unconventional work practices. Topics include promoting work-life balance, resisting growth to prioritize independence, Basecamp's remote work culture, advocating for a 40-hour workweek, staying small for long-term success, and the debate of born skills vs learned skills.