From transitioning from tennis to entrepreneurship to embracing fear and taking risks, this podcast explores Alvaro's journey from valedictorian to luxury real estate success. It delves into the power of passion, innovative business approaches, and the importance of consistent daily actions for personal growth. The guest shares insights on mindset, success, and seizing control for future achievements.

About the Guest:Chris Winton, from his early days in Memphis, initially struggled with his academic performance while juggling two jobs to support his family. However, an internship through the InRoads program at FedEx altered the trajectory of his life. This opportunity ultimately led him to become a key figure in both FedEx and Tesla, gaining profound insights from iconic CEOs Fred Smith and Elon Musk.What Will You Learn?Authenticity in Leadership: Winton emphasizes the importance of authenticity in interactions, particularly in job interviews and leadership roles, encouraging genuine conversations over scripted responses.Setting Personal Goals: Addressing the challenge of decision-making in a world of endless choices, Winton advises setting clear personal goals as the starting point for a successful career journey.Mentorship and Humility: Highlighting the significance of giving and receiving support, Winton shares a mentor's lesson about the metaphorical image of "He Ain’t Heavy," stressing the value of seeking knowledge and humility in leadership.Preparation and Passion: From his journey to the C-Suite, Winton advocates doing thorough homework and cultivating a deep passion for the work, emphasizing that success requires dedication and an unwavering commitment to learning.Story Summary:Chris Winton's journey from a teenager in Memphis to influential roles in major corporations like FedEx and Tesla showcases the transformative power of opportunities. His experiences underline the pivotal lessons learned from mentors and CEOs, shaping his beliefs about authenticity in leadership, setting goals, fostering mentorship, and the importance of preparation and passion in achieving success. Winton's insights reflect a blend of personal growth and professional development, emphasizing the essence of authenticity, goal-setting, mentorship, and dedication in carving one's path to success in both life and business.Join us to learn Chris’ insights on authentic leadership, setting goals, mentoring with humanity, and preparing with passion.Thought Leadership Segment:In today's 'Thought Leadership Spotlight' segment, Daren Howard, Managing Partner for Dale Carnegie Training Mid-South, guest underscores the importance of aligning with your leader's direction and recognizing the significance of servant leadership within your organization. Much like Chris Winton, our guest underscores that forging personal connections is the key to rallying people to your cause, with no limits to where they will follow. 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. 

Who is Deena Ghazarian?Deena Ghazarian is a former retail executive at Macy's who has transitioned into a tech executive and is currently the CEO of Austere, an award-winning technology accessories company. She is also the co-founder of Chloe Nickie, a women's shoe business that provides higher-end brands at reasonable prices and donates a significant portion of its profits to support autism spectrum disordersWhat will you learn?1. The Value of Listening and Collaboration: Deena Ghazarian highlights the importance of actively listening to others before making significant decisions. Takeaway: Actively engaging in conversations and seeking input from others can lead to more informed and successful choices.2. Building a Strong Professional Network:  Deena emphasizes that her network has consistently led to career opportunities and advises against burning bridges. Takeaway: Nurturing and maintaining professional relationships can open doors to various opportunities and should be treated as an asset.3. Being a Servant Leader and Mentor: Deena promotes mentoring others regardless of their age or experience, fostering a culture of mentorship. Takeaway: Mentoring not only fulfills but also helps individuals become better leaders and peers, fostering personal and professional growth for both mentors and mentees.4. Embracing Leadership and Entrepreneurship: Deena's journey from fashion to technology leadership illustrates the transformative power of leadership and entrepreneurship. Takeaway: A willingness to adapt and seize opportunities, even in different industries, can lead to personal and professional growth, as well as the creation of innovative ventures.Story Summary:Deena Ghazarian's career journey took her from the fashion world as a retail executive at Macy's to becoming a tech executive and the CEO of Austere, a technology accessories company. She co-founded Chloe Nickie, a women's shoe business that supports autism spectrum disorders through its profits. Deena emphasizes the significance of listening to others, building a strong network, and being a mentor, regardless of age or experience, to achieve personal and professional growth. She encourages individuals to embrace the power of leadership and entrepreneurship.Join us and listen to Deena’s experience and insights about the importance of open communication, networking, mentorship, and adaptability in our career journey.Dale Carnegie Thought Leadership Segment:Melissa Marshall, President of Dale Carnegie North Dakota & Northwest Minnesota, embodies servant leadership and resilience, drawing inspiration from a profound Dale Carnegie quote: "Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." Much like Deena, Melissa emphasizes that during difficult times, we can overcome adversity and positively influence both ourselves and those around us.  Adopt a positive mindset, accept adversity with confidence, and look for opportunities. 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. 

Vala Afshar, Chief Digital Evangelist for Salesforce, shares his inspiring journey from an Iranian refugee to a thought leader in technology. He discusses the importance of personal branding, resilience, and building connections. He also emphasizes the qualities of effective leadership and enhancing client relationships for positive outcomes.

Aarash Darroodi, General Counsel of Fender Musical Instruments, shares his journey from Iran to the US and offers advice on storytelling, cross-cultural collaboration, innovative leadership, networking, and strategic decision-making. The podcast also explores his commitment to modernizing the legal system, his resilience amidst war and immigration challenges, embracing career opportunities, the power of connection and learning from failure, excitement for emerging technologies and globalization, and the significance of connecting to humanity for personal growth.

Britta Wilson, former VP of Inclusion & Outreach at Pixar, shares insights on cultivating resonant content, fostering a culture of belonging, and promoting compassionate community service. She discusses turning setbacks into growth opportunities, embracing a non-linear career path, and the art of active listening. Learn about the power of curiosity in leadership, the importance of culture in creating belonging, and the significance of compassion in leadership.

Who are Redfoo and Piers Ridyard?Redfoo, born Stefan Kendal Gordy, is a multi-platinum-selling singer and two times Grammy nominee, songwriter, producer, and Web3 coder. Despite facing hurdles and criticism, Redfoo pursued his passion for music and achieved success. He is best known for his hit single "Party Rock Anthem" in 2011 and his performance for Super Bowl Half-Time Show in 2012. However, he has recently shifted his focus towards coding, considering it the ultimate creativity that combines math, science, engineering, and language.Piers Ridyard is CEO of Radix, a Web3 and DeFi company. He collaborates with Redfoo to create accessible and user-friendly digital platforms. They both share a common goal of making Web3 and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) easily approachable for everyone. They collaborated to develop #Scrypto, a programming language that simplifies the process of building on Web3 and DeFi, enabling individuals to create projects in a short time frame.What will you learn?The potential for personal growth and reinvention when transitioning to new career paths or passions.Effective leadership skills and strategies for driving transformative advancements in a chosen field.The idea process of development of user-friendly programming languages that facilitate easy participation in digital innovation.The importance of fostering relationships, nurturing communities, and promoting collaboration in driving innovation within decentralized technologies.Story Summary:Growing up, Redfoo harbored aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player, only to have his dreams dashed when his mother asserted that his height would prevent him from making it. Undeterred, he turned his attention to music, immersing himself in rap and showcasing his talent with a Casio keyboard. Despite facing further skepticism from his father, the influential music industry figure Barry Gordy, who doubted his vocal abilities, Redfoo defied the odds and achieved remarkable success as a multi-platinum rapper. These experiences taught him the importance of pursuing personal dreams and not allowing external opinions to sway his path.Driven by a newfound passion, Redfoo has recently shifted gears towards coding, which he regards as the epitome of creativity. His journey led him to connect with Piers Ridyard, the CEO of Radix, who was impressed by Redfoo's knowledge and inquisitiveness about programming. Together, they organized Foo Hack, an event that brought together their shared love for chess and the objective of creating a non-hackable, web-based application. Their collaborative efforts aim to build digital platforms that are user-friendly and accessible, with the introduction of Scrypto, a programming language designed to simplify the adoption of Web3 and Decentralized Finance for individuals of all backgrounds.Central to the endeavors of Redfoo and Ridyard is the recognition of the influence of building relationships and community. Redfoo emphasizes the significance of people skills, the ability to trust and judge character, and the desire to learn from others. His initial connection with Radix and Piers was fostered through shared humor, vegan food, and a shared affinity for dogs. Ridyard, as a CEO, emphasizes the importance of aligning people with a common vision and understanding their motivations. Both individuals firmly believe that networking is not solely about personal gain but about cultivating a network that nurtures collective innovation and inspiration. By bringing people together, they have witnessed the remarkable outcomes that arise from the mutual exchange of energy and ideas.Join us and listen to Redfoo and Piers’ insights about building confidence, overcoming doubt, pursuing our passion, and recognizing the benefits of networking for our community, not just for ourselves.Thought Leadership Segment:In our Thought Leadership Segment Christine Ramirez, Managing Partner of Dale Carnegie South Florida, shares her valuable insights on building confidence in both our personal and professional lives. Listen to Christine’s insights on gaining confidence and get a valuable resource on how to face doubts, pause when needed, and continue to seek the inner strength to overcome challenges, pursue ideas, and our dreams, and thrive in various aspects of life. 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. 

Who is Merrie WilliamsonMeet Merrie Williamson, an accomplished leader with a diverse background. With 20 years of experience leading engineering teams at Intel and currently serving as the Corporate Vice President of Azure Infra at Microsoft, Merrie's career trajectory has been remarkable. In this episode, Merrie shares her personal journey of discovery and the pivotal moment that led her to embrace empathy and transition into her current leadership role as CVP of Azure Infrastructure and Digital & App Innovation at Microsoft.Gain insights into the following key areas:•            Merrie's Leadership Style: Discover how Merrie's unique leadership style, rooted in empathy, has helped her navigate the challenges of leading diverse teams in the tech industry.•            Career Transition Moment: Learn about Merrie's transformative shift from engineering to sales leadership and the valuable lessons she gained from engaging directly with customers and understanding the intersection of technology, sales, marketing, and business transformation.•            Diversity in the Tech Industry: Explore the importance of diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, as Merrie shares her experiences and insights on creating an inclusive work environment.•            The Power of Mentoring, Coaching, and Executive Presence: Delve into the significance of mentoring, coaching, and developing executive presence, as Merrie highlights their impact on personal growth and leadership development.Merrie’s journey from engineering to sales at Azure and Microsoft was a significant and eye-opening shift. She transitioned from working with complex technologies in the cloud supply chain to engaging directly with customers, understanding their technology needs, and guiding them through business transformation.This transition became Merrie’s "empathy moment," where she gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of sales and developed empathy for engineering, sales, and marketing. As a leader, Merrie leverages a diverse "knowledge base" within her company, drawing expertise from various departments. She adopts a coaching approach to empower her managers and teams to make informed decisions.Merrie emphasizes the importance of looking inward and approaching team members authentically. She values the support of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), such as women in tech and Black tech networks, as a sounding board for ideas, coaching, and peer mentoring. Through these communities, Merrie found her voice and was able to engage with senior managers and trusted individuals.As a leader, Merrie recognizes the significance of role modeling and continuous learning. She prioritizes understanding when team members need breaks to rejuvenate and perform their best in challenging tasks.Also, listen to our thought leadership spotlight featuring Travis Daniels, CEO of Dale Carnegie Washington, who reflects on the vital role of empathy in today's business environment. Learn how applying Dale Carnegie's principles and approaching situations with an open mind can elevate your leadership effectiveness. 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. 

Who is Ron Carter?Ron Carter is a veteran of the technology industry, an inventor, and a visionary whose work has helped great technology products enter the market. In 2003, he filed a patent for the first video doorbell—now known as Ring. He is revolutionizing the industry with his latest first-generation technology that addresses security in the e-commerce sector, using mobile applications for improved security, access, and logistics. Due to his tremendous technological contributions, he became a member of the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only organization of high-level technology leaders with deep knowledge and diverse experience in the industry.   Read on to meet the founder and CEO of 1AHEAD, Ron Carter! What will you learn from his story?How to build on your entrepreneurial and inventive mindsetsHow to build on the determination to transform an idea into reality How to re-start your business from zeroWhy leading with a human-centric style is important?Build on each other’s ideas to motivate others and forms a highly effective teamWhy do you need to learn about his leadership style?Ron Carter's approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration, inclusivity, and empowerment, all of which can be useful in fostering a positive work environment and motivating team members to achieve their best work.The Story:Meet Ron Carter, a veteran of the technology industry and the inventor of the first video doorbell—now known as Ring. He is revolutionizing the industry with his latest first-generation technology that addresses security in the e-commerce sector using mobile applications for improved security, access, and logistics. Despite facing multiple setbacks, including losing everything and battling cancer, he never gave up and continued to pursue his dream. He founded 1Ahead Technologies, which is in the process of developing and manufacturing GLO, an AI-powered video doorbell that uses a patented digital key to create a one-time code that can be sent to package delivery drivers who can place packages in a secure lockbox or inside the home.Carter's leadership style emphasizes recognizing the ability of others before oneself and building a team approach. He believes that a leader should only be a director to keep things on track and rely on the people around them because most leaders don't know it all. Carter advises trusting your instincts, being true to yourself, and focusing on how successful you can become instead of how wealthy you can become.Our Thought Leadership Spotlight appearance this week is Neville de Lucia, President of Dale Carnegie Central & Eastern North Carolina.  He highlights how leaders can grow individuals and teams to become successful.Join us and get inspired to take command of your ideas, leverage individual strengths, and build highly effective teams. Related Information:Home | Gloai (glo-ai.com)About | Mysite (1aheadtechnologies.com)   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. 

Silvina Moschini is an Argentinian entrepreneur and businesswoman. She is the founder, president & chairwoman of Unicoin, a next-generation cryptocurrency designed to be stable and profitable because it’s backed by a portfolio of equity stakes in the companies part of Unicorn Hunters,  is a new groundbreaking investment platform that will spotlight emerging growth companies looking to hit the coveted $1B “unicorn” valuation mark while rallying individual investors worldwide to help fund these breakout ventures. She is highly respected in the fields of technology and the digital transformation of the workplace. In 2020, she became the first Latin American woman to lead a company to unicorn status, with an evaluation of more than $1.6 billion through a Global Private Offering. In addition, she’s co-founder, president, and chairwoman of the board of TransparentBusiness for workplace transformation. She founded SheWorks!, a digital platform that provides women access to remote opportunities. She is a judge on Unicorn Hunters TV show that helps entrepreneurs find investors, attracting more than 300 million viewers in Latin America, Europe, and Africa. Silvina received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Tech and was selected “Woman of the Decade” by the Women Economic Forum. She is now based in Miami.When she was a child, Silvina’s dad told her that if she wanted to be a princess, she should be the one who made her own castle. From then on, that shaped her idea of becoming a “princess entrepreneur.” After holding a vice president job with a large company, Silvina left the corporate world. She was initially hired for her innovative mindset and energy but was almost fired for the same reasons. She decided that if she wanted to work in a company that she would love, she would need to create it.In short fashion, she learned a great deal about entrepreneurship. “It was hard because I came from a corporate background with a lot of people doing a lot of things for me, and when you're an entrepreneur … you need to do everything.”Silvina quickly realized that it was more difficult to raise capital and hire people as a woman. So, she tapped into her financial savvy to raise money through crowdfunding. Afterward, she created her own company to hire and train remote workers with a particular focus on women. She has learned many lessons in her career, but most importantly, you must be prepared when opportunities arise. She believes you live by design. We need to plan the things we want to happen.Silvina’s restless entrepreneurial energy keeps her continuously innovating. She aims to transform the way people invest and transact. Her belief is that alternative forms of currency are needed to address the current instability of traditional currency markets. She’s already sold more than $315 million worth of Unicoin in less than a year. Her leadership style is grounded in several fundamental concepts: inspire others, bring out the best in everybody, and work together toward a goal. She admits that she picked up some of these principles from reading How to Win Friends and Influence People early in her career, helping her learn the importance of building relationships and communication. The use of communications and relationship building is a key anchor for creating businesses that always bring things together.Our Thought Leadership Spotlight appearance this week is Adriana Cruz, General Manager of Dale Carnegie Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She describes how Dale Carnegie’s principle “Arose in the other person an eager want” helped her build her own castle and business.Join us and get inspired to take command of your thoughts, chase your dreams, and build your own castle. 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.