Take Command: A Leadership Podcast

About the Guest:It takes a lot to stand out among greatness, and Wonya Lucas’s family is home to some heavy hitters—from her dad, the first Black general manager in Major League Baseball, to her mom, whose bright idea in a Turner Broadcasting meeting turned into Cartoon Network, to her uncle, the late great Hank Aaron. But Wonya has made just as much a name for herself with her storied career.  Wonya graduated with an engineering degree from Georgia Tech before going to work for Westinghouse for many years. But engineering wasn’t enough. After a stint at Wharton to earn dual Finance and Marketing degrees, Wonya continued on her path of greatness, eventually earning positions such as EVP/GM at The Weather Channel, CMO of Discovery Communications, and president and CEO of Hallmark Media. Today, Wonya serves on the boards of many companies and organizations, always striving to bring her dual-brained personality to tackle any problem.What You Will Learn:Strategies for staying grounded and accessible as a leaderInsights into how the tiniest voice can have the biggest impactLessons in how marketing is about showing different types of loveStories of how staying intellectually curious about people can lead to opportunityJoin Joe and Wonya as they discuss leadership, family, purpose, and the role we all play in developing the community around us. Wonya offers a very clear first and second step, both learned from her father, to being a great leader. And who wouldn’t want to follow in her amazing shoes? Tune in today so you don’t miss a single drop of wisdom.   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. 

About the Guest:Being only the 9th CEO in Deluxe Corporation’s 109-year existence, Barry McCarthy feels the weight of that history, saying, “You start with a deep sense of humbleness that you are carrying on a legacy that has been so significant for so long.” But that doesn’t mean Barry will treat any company with kid gloves. He says, “I think of myself as something of a fixer, a reinventor, an innovator.” And there’s no better spot to drive innovation than in how we connect as people within a company. Barry has made it his mission to extend humble leadership, a listening ear, and a helping hand to all those he is responsible for. As a firm believer in mentorship at every level of an organization, Barry is here to spread his wisdom to us today.What You Will Learn:Strategies for focusing on what you can do for people, not what they can do for youInsights into the three critical things that together help people succeed as leadersLessons on why kindness, decency, and respect will get you further than demandsJoin us to discover why Barry says employees are “the most important asset the company has.” You’ll learn new ways to support your team and build your organization. From setting visions that inspire people to the importance of being transparent when things aren’t going well, the advice in this episode is not to be missed. Listen in today!   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. 

In this engaging discussion, Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman Communications, shares his journey from a Chicago upbringing to leading a global firm. He emphasizes the importance of humble leadership and the qualities of integrity and dependability in forging meaningful connections. Richard reveals how trust is crucial in today’s business landscape and offers insights on creativity in leadership. He also advocates for charitable giving as a way to leave a lasting legacy, all while reminding us that personal ties are more vital than ever.

About the Guest:Meet Sharon Price John, President and CEO of Build-a-Bear Workshop and an all-around powerhouse of a woman. Sharon dives deep into her roots to guide who she is today. Coming from a small town, she felt restricted and couldn’t wait to get out and go to college (the first in her family to do so). But she also says, “I didn't really start growing until I made peace with the value that the small-town experience had created for me.” Today, Sharon uses her skills and empathy to connect consumers with precious moments and inspire Build-a-Bear’s workers to live the company’s mission. Of course, her path hasn’t always been smooth, but as she says, “Everybody's journey has ups and downs…It's not that you have those, it's what you do with them.” And Sharon has done a lot. In addition to leading Build-a-Bear to peak success, her first book—Stories and Heart: Unlock the Power of Personal Stories to Create a Life You Love—is available on Amazon. What You Will Learn:Strategies for overcoming limiting thoughtsInsights into why we tend to take the scenic route to our dreamsLessons in why ignoring the odds is sometimes the best way to beat themReminders for why leadership should never be considered a “burden”Join us for Sharon’s episode to learn more about how she took Build-a-Bear from a $49 million annual loss to their most profitable years ever. Her thoughts on social responsibility, communication skills, and empathy will transform the way you look at leadership and your responsibility to people and future generations. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the great Sharon Price John. 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. 

About the Guest:Meet Aaron Witt, a man who loves dirt. Or, more specifically, loves the industries that hold our society together. As founder, CEO, and chief “dirt nerd” of BuildWitt, Aaron uses his marketing chops to bring light to the jobs and people who keep our world running. Aaron says he loves the purpose of the dirt industries because they support everybody else, just as Aaron tries to support his team and clients by becoming the best leader he can be.What You Will Learn:The “chores” that, when put into place daily, can lead to a better lifeWhy consistently practicing your “free throws” is more important than nailing it the first timeStrategies for moving forward with your desires so you don’t end up regretting the chances you didn’t takeTips on prioritizing yourself as a leader in order to do your best for others This insightful episode is not to be missed! Join us and listen to Aaron's wisdom to learn what the path to leadership really looks like.   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. 

Lisa Sun, a dynamic entrepreneur and former McKinsey consultant, shares her journey from a young cashier in her family's restaurant to founding a successful fashion and content brand. She discusses the importance of viewing feedback as a gift and explores six forces that hinder personal growth. Lisa emphasizes the need for genuine self-acceptance over performative confidence and highlights how embracing your inner child can empower you. With wisdom from Dale Carnegie, she showcases how confidence can transform leadership and communication.

David Meltzer shares his journey from millionaire to bankruptcy, focusing on pursuing his potential. He discusses overcoming setbacks, aligning mindset-heartset-handset, and the power of asking for help. Learn about transforming mindset, embracing gratitude, and managing adversity in this insightful podcast.

Scott Osman always thought he never needed an executive coach. Jacquelyn Lane had an epitome when she vigorously tried to defend a mistake she had made when one of her supervisors asked her, “What does it serve you to be defensive here?”Both now run 100 Coaches Agency, an organization representing the world’s best coaches, founded by internationally renowned author, coach, and educator, Marshall Goldsmith. During their Take Command Podcast conversation, Osman and Lane share their passion for the importance of coaching removing career-limiting thinking and unlocking leadership potential. From their own experiences, they strongly affirm that coaching changed their lives. Here are a few of their insights:Coaching matters. Lane defines coaching as the “ability to learn, grow and develop, which is often about taking feedback to be open to change and input from others. They're simply things that we can't see in ourselves. And so coaching is an outside perspective that helps us learn, grow, and be better.” Both Lane and Osman agree that securing a professional coach is best, but if people are not ready for that yet, they should seek out their bosses or peers to give them clear, honest feedback. Osman describes coaching this way, “The world around you is changing, and the coach can help guide you through that change to deal with the things that are different and also help you either to be different or better … So, the very first hurdle is being open to change.”Embrace expansion. Osman admits he told many potential coaches that he was feeling good and didn’t need any help until one coach changed his mind. The coach explained: ‘“If that's the case, then how about we work on expansion?’” Osman explains. “And he went on to explain it in that first session. He said, ‘Look, if you believe that things are good the way they are this is a self-limiting belief and it's stopping you from thinking beyond where you are now.’” Ten years later, Osman says, “Coaching is not about fixing a problem; coaching is very often about creating expansion.”Beware of blind spots. Osman and Lane say everyone has them, even if they vehemently deny they do. “There are just these glaring blind spots that are by the nature of blind spots invisible to me,” Osman explains, “and I need someone from the outside who has a different perspective and a different experience and a different point of view to help me see what I don't see.” Lanes offers this colorful analogy: “The saying goes: the jam can't read the label on the jar, right? None of us can see ourselves from the outside. And similarly, you know, if I think of so many great leaders who become aware of challenges in their business that they simply didn't see, only because they asked some of the other people in the business. For example, front-line workers.” Osman tells the story of Hubert Joly, the former Best Buy CEO who turned around the company, in part, by traveling the country asking employees for their advice.Ask questions. One method corporate leaders are successful is when they create safe spaces where their employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and criticisms. Osman and Lane say leaders must be willing to ask questions.“It's amazing how few people, especially leaders,” Lane says, “ask for feedback or ask for the ideas and suggestions of people beneath them. Many leaders think that it's their job to have the answers or to fill the space with their ideas, input, and insight. But that's simply not the case, and sometimes just creating the space … just asking for it opens up that flow of information once again.”   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. 

Join host for a discussion with Asheesh Advani, CEO of Junior Achievement, on topics like building self-confidence, leadership coaching, resilience, and the power of surrounding oneself with smart people. Asheesh shares insights from his journey and the importance of empowering others to succeed.

Retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, Robin Holdren, discusses lifelong learning, authenticity, and building credibility through respect in leadership. She shares her experiences in showing empathy during Desert Storm and helping others reach their goals at ABB.