Corporate Competitor Podcast

Brian Peterson, AmeriLife Executive and former President and CEO of TruChoice Financial Group, discusses leadership lessons from sports, transitioning into new roles, nurturing company culture for success, and the importance of communication and cultural values in leadership.

Ep. 185: Baseball shaped this leader originally from Italy, who manages a global workforce of 400,000 team members serving clients in 150 countries and generated an impressive $50 billion in revenue last year. You will learn lessons in: Turning mentorship into an expectation in your organization’s promotion structure. Using onboarding to hire employees who demonstrate a high probability of cultural fit. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply Carmine’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 Libby Klemeyer and Arianna Aly for making this episode possible.  

Ep. 184: Ashland University basketball shaped this HR exec who learned a lesson in preparation while racking up double digit steals game after game. “I would study film of the point guard as she was running down looking over to the coach and calling the play, so I knew exactly where they were going to pass it,” she shared.  Now she’s studying what happens at LKQ, where she never misses an earnings calI and the chance to meet with investors or to walk the floors of departments outside of HR to better understand the business and how she can help it move forward. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply Gen’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.  

Ep. 183: Cal Basketball shaped Dave who was drafted by the Boston Celtics, only to be denied an NBA career because of a player’s strike and injury. But he pivoted to a career in finance and now serves as Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors. In the 25 years since he joined, the firm has grown from $10 billion in assets under management to nearly $700 billion. You will learn: How to use powerful storytelling to effect changes in corporate culture. How to hire “characters with character” rather than clones in your organization. The case for involving your most junior people early on in evaluating important hires. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply Dave’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 Hannah Edwards for making this episode possible.  

Target's CEO, Brian Cornell, shares how his sports background shaped his leadership style, emphasizing humility and teamwork. He discusses the importance of effective communication, retail fundamentals, and clear roadmaps for business success. Cornell also highlights the benefits of team immersion trips and strategic shifts for business growth.

Ep. 181: Colgate Football shaped this leader whose family of companies serves more than 38.5 million people. You will learn how to model calm presence and total responsibility to your team when these qualities are needed most. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply Pat’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 Hannah Edwards and Catherine Pattillo for making this episode possible.

Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph shares insights on leadership development, no vacation policy, and developing excellent talent evaluators. The podcast delves into the impact of sports on leadership, startup challenges, overcoming doubt in entrepreneurship, empowering employees, building high-performing teams, navigating momentum in business and sports, and Netflix's unique culture.

Ep. 179: Field Hockey at the University of Pennsylvania shaped this non-profit leader. Good Sports – “a food bank for sporting goods” – just hit their $100 million donation milestone.   If you are a leader who wants to learn how to make a larger impact through your clearly defined mission, you have much to learn from Melissa’s experience building Good Sports! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply Melissa’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 toward personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Libby Klemeyer and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 178: Baseball and basketball shaped Jeff who leads 60,000 global tax professionals. While he doesn’t do his own taxes, Jeff does “file” several practical tips in this episode including: The best way to begin team meetings by “checking in” and “checking out” How to frame questions that are “provocative” but also productive rather than aggressive or alienating.  How to rescue an unproductive meeting by figuratively getting everyone on your leadership “out on the balcony” to get some distance on what’s going sideways. The important difference between the “failing fast” and “learning more” mindsets. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. 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 Nicklas Urban for making this episode possible.

Ep. 177: Baseball, football, and fencing in college shaped this leader who has received 30 promotions during his decades-long career—showcasing his determination to equip those around him with a team-first mindset that produced an impact across the company. You will learn: The critical business lesson he learned from taking a called third strike during a Little League All-Star. The difference between leading a team and transforming a team. Why risk-taking is essential to swing momentum in your favor. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. --- 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 and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.