Wisdom From The Top with Guy Raz

Mark King, CEO of Taco Bell, shares his experience revolutionizing the sports industry and applying those strategies to the fast food world. He discusses his success in leading Taco Bell through the pandemic and his background in revolutionizing the golf industry. King also talks about navigating lawsuits, building a disruptive brand, and the importance of reenergizing company culture. He reflects on the power of fear and continuous growth in leadership.

Ken Coleman, America's Career Coach, shares insights on finding work with meaning. He discusses his journey to broadcasting, the challenges and importance of connections in the industry, and the revival of the Ken Coleman Show. He emphasizes the importance of aligning talent, passion, and mission to find fulfillment and success in work.

Joe Keohane, a longtime journalist, talks about the benefits of connecting with strangers. He explores how talking to strangers can increase happiness, empathy, and trust. They discuss techniques for starting conversations and building confidence. The podcast also examines the importance of talking to strangers in early human societies and addresses the fear of rejection. The speaker shares their personal transformative journey of writing a book and embracing optimism.

Science writer and investigative reporter David Epstein discusses the importance of having a wide range of interests for successful outcomes in sports and life. He explores the role of coaches in athlete development, uncovers steroid use in sports, challenges the 10,000-hour rule, and highlights the advantages of being a generalist. Contrasting examples of success, including Tiger Woods and Roger Federer, demonstrate that generalists often excel in various fields.

BJ Fogg, founder of Stanford's Behavior Design Lab, shares insights on creating good habits. Learn about the Tiny Habits Method, designing golden behaviors, and the importance of celebrating success in habit formation. Discover how to untangle unhealthy habits and develop new habits by feeling good about oneself.

Stacey Vanek Smith, a journalist with years of experience in business and economics, discusses her book 'Machiavelli for Women' where she explores how Niccolò Machiavelli's principles can empower women in the workplace. She covers the challenges women face, such as underrepresentation in leadership roles and the gender pay gap, and offers strategies to overcome them. The podcast also emphasizes the importance of individual action, building support networks, and making decisions that align with personal values.

Chad Sanders shares his experiences as a black man in white environments, the power of cinema, and the importance of confronting racism. He discusses conforming to a white work culture, embracing authenticity, and the unexpected opportunity to meet Spike Lee. The speaker reflects on the power of collaboration, using trauma as a tool for growth, and the importance of choosing empowering partners.

Robin Ganzert, CEO of American Humane, discusses her journey revitalizing the organization, transitioning to the nonprofit sector, navigating financial crisis, inheriting and restructuring a nonprofit organization, raising money, and building an empowered leadership team.

Ken Hicks, CEO of Foot Locker, shares how storytelling transformed the company during the recession. Transition from military to business, lessons from retail legends, leadership and empowerment, turning around distressed companies, differentiating Footlocker brands, and continuous learning and accountability.

Josh Silverman, CEO of Etsy, shares the challenges faced by Etsy and how they successfully turned the company around. He discusses crisis management, the challenges of being CEO of Skype, navigating internal culture, Etsy's commission increase, and leadership lessons.