Corporate Competitor Podcast

Ep. 202: Princeton Track shaped this executive who became the Managing Director of Exaltare Capital Partners (ECP) and expanded ECP Planet Fitness from 15 to 100 units. Omar serves on the boards of Urban Air, The Good Feet Store, and the International Franchise Association, embodying his belief that "no one creates value by themselves.” Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights. Learn more about the Franchise Ascension Initiative Omar mentioned: https://pages.franchise.org/ifa-franchise-ascension-initiative/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to Libby Klemeyer and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

REWIND EPISODE: In celebration of 200 episodes published, we are “rewinding” back to one of my favorite conversations from 2022— my interview with Dr. Condoleezza Rice. You may know her as Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and Director of Stanford’s Hoover Institution, but in this episode you will learn her background as a figure skater, tennis player, and a football savant. Her football coach father taught her so much about the game, she could break down defenses at just six years old! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes my favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.  Episode Breakdown: 3:00 The elements Condoleezza looks for when identifying a great team. 10:00 How football served as a “bridging language.” 12:00 Behind the scenes of the College Football Playoff Committee (CFP). 13:00 How serving on the CFP taught her to assess teams “with a coach’s eye.” 15:00 How to be a better listener and recognize common ground. 19:00 Lessons learned from being “terrible” at figure skating. 25:00 The moment she was invited to join Augusta National Golf Club. 28:00 What she learned playing golf with Bubba Watson. 36:00 How to eliminate gossip on your team.” Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Jim Kavanaugh, a celebrated CEO leading World Wide Technology, shares how his professional soccer background shapes his leadership style. He discusses the significance of teamwork and a strong workplace culture, emphasizing that confidence must be grounded in integrity. Kavanaugh highlights lessons from Olympic soccer, like the value of diversity and resilience. He reflects on fostering cohesion within teams and the need for accountability to cultivate long-term success, proving that hard work remains timeless in the business world.

Ep. 199: Cornell Football shaped this executive, who still holds three of the six longest punts in the program's history, and his 'yards per punt' average still ranks in the top 10 all-time.  Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.  “When I went to Cornell, I walked over to the quarterback huddle with six or eight quarterbacks, but the coach grabbed me by the shoulder pad and said, 'Hey, Charles, we don't have a punter. Congratulations! You're the starting punter.' You could have hit me over the head with a sledgehammer,” he recalled. “That was not what I wanted to hear.” Learn how Charles applies the lessons from that experience to his leadership today! -- Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Frank Nunez for making this episode possible.  

Ep. 198: Growing up in small town South Dakota, this CEO learned to play golf on some of the roughest terrain: sand. While he cheerfully concedes he isn't the world's best golfer, Steve, who played on his high school’s team, took what he learned about persistence and applied it to his career at Great Clips. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.  Listeners looking to expand their operations will learn lessons including: How franchisees and franchisors should push each other to make sure they all improve. The importance of the three Ps: patience, performance, and presence. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to Lilly Mae Stewart and Ethan Salzberg for making this episode possible.

Ep. 197: New York firefighter Stephen Siller never showed up to his tee time with his brothers on September 11th, 2001. When he received news of the attack, Stephen turned around and drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back, and raced on foot 1.7 miles through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others. Today his family continues to honor his memory by retracing Stephen’s steps in a fundraiser that provides mortgage-free homes to fallen first responder families with young children. Having raised more than $500 million and provided 1,200 homes, Frank Siller shares the valuable leadership lessons he's gained through the journey. DONATE to T2T here! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s impactful quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.  Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to Chase Skipper and Jack Martha for making this episode possible.

Ep. 196: Baseball and tennis influenced the life of the author Oprah calls “The Ultimate Comeback Coach.” Tim Storey has impacted millions of people in 75 countries through his keynote speeches and books. Whether he's working one-on-one with celebrities like Robert Downey Jr. and Kanye West or sharing his wisdom on interviews like this one, Tim always inspires those around him. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.  Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to Lilly Mae Stewart and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.  

Ep. 195: Basketball was Josh’s primary sport and he was good enough at it that in his senior year of high school he was invited to play in the Tri-Valley League All-Stars game in Massachusetts! He recounts how he initially felt somewhat out of place, but the game had an incredible ending! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.  In this episode, Josh shares valuable insights gained from his 26-year tenure at Disney, revealing how he leads a team of 180,000 cast members. Lessons include: How to turn “imposter syndrome” into a genuine adventure that pushes your limits. The power of insatiable curiosity to clear a pathway through unfamiliar territory. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to Vince Jones and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.  

Ep. 194: Georgetown Soccer shaped this executive who, after playing for the Hoyas, took on the role of the program's play-by-play announcer. Two decades later, he’s only missed one game. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply Dan’s insights.  In this episode you will learn: Why people with strong interests outside your company make your company better. How to tap into the unheard voices in your firm to get game-changing feedback. The one question Helfrich asks job candidates to assess self-awareness and humility. Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to T.J. Percell and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.    

Ep. 193: Cricket shaped the longest-tenured CEO ever featured on Corporate Competitor! Since 1988, he has managed to avoid burnout by "focusing on the most important things." Today, he diligently reviews weekly reports from his leadership team, posing questions such as, "What did you do this week to enhance your talent and service, expand your marketing within the team or community, improve technology, and advance social responsibility?"  Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.  Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.  Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.