The Executives' Exchange

Episode 059 – D.G. Macpherson, Chairman and CEO, W.W. Grainger  Tune in to the Executives’ Exchange as we welcome Grainger’s visionary Chairman and CEO, D.G. Macpherson. As the leader behind one of Fortune 100’s best companies to work for, D.G. shares how he expanded his business for the future while becoming more connected to customers. Hear about D.G.’s journey from the US Air Force to Grainger.      00:00 – Intro   01:01 – Macpherson’s upbringing & family history  03:52 – Macpherson's path to the military  06:10 – Experience before Grainger   09:48 – The pathway to CEO  12:38 – Leading Grainger through challenges  16:50– The Grainger Edge  20:09 – Addition of technology  23:03 – Development in leadership talents  26:01 – Message from our sponsor, Shure   26:34– The future of Grainger   29:25 – Expanding on AI   32:16 – Rapid Fire Questions  39:40 – Outro    Episode Link: Grainger    Host: Margaret Mueller, President & Chief Executive Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago    Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago       Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.     Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated.    For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones.    Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram 

Episode 058 – Stephanie Morimoto, CEO, Asutra On this episode of the Executives’ Exchange, Stephanie Morimoto, Chief Executive Officer at Asutra, reflects on her journey transitioning from burnout to wellness entrepreneur. Stephanie shares the positive outcomes of focusing on developing relationships, self-care, and magnesium! Hear how she created a company that prioritizes wellness and inclusivity.   00:00 – Intro 01:07 – Morimoto’s childhood & inspiring family history 04:53 – Highschool & college journey   09:25 – The powerful impact of education 12:26 – Morimoto’s winding path to Asutra 15:37 – Joining the entrepreneurship world & hitting burnout 18:13 – The shift in hustle culture  22:33 – Asutra’s goal in self-care 24:22 – Message from our sponsor, Shure 24:53 – The power of magnesium 27:38 – Purchasing Asutra & rebranding 30:01 – The meaning behind Asutra 30:49 – Asutra’s core values in workplace culture 37:09 – Pros & cons of declining venture capital 40:39 – Navigating the business realm as a female Asian American entrepreneur 44:04 – Creating meaningful business partnerships  47:47 – Future plans for Asutra 52:07 – Rapid Fire Questions 56:19 – Outro   Episode Link: Asutra   Host: Margaret Mueller, President & Chief Executive Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago   Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago      Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.    Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated.   For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones.   Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

Episode 057 – Marc Schulman, President, Eli’s Cheesecake Company In this episode of the Executives' Exchange, Marc Schulman, President of Eli's Cheesecake Company, engages in a discussion with guest host, Travis C. Hunter, Jr., Chicago Office Managing Partner for KPMG. Together, they delve into Marc's journey, revealing his significant influence on the culinary industry and his crucial role in the growth of Eli's Cheesecake Company, all intertwined with his family's captivating history. 0:00 – Intro 1:45 – Schulman family history 5:45 – First public debut of Eli’s Cheesecake 7:03 – Life lessons from Eli Schulman 11:15 – Eli’s Cheesecake impactful events 16:50 - Message from sponsors, Shure 17:24 – Marc Schulman’s education and early career interests 22:00 – Expansion of the business and the brand 23:32 – Inspiration from Hershey, Wrigley, and Sara Lee 25:45– Marc taking over the company 26:52 – Importance of lifelong learning 27:52 – Keeping the business alive during hard times 29:25 – Acquiring more land from the City of Chicago to expand locations 31:34 – How you grow your business 31:54 – Expanding your lines: Partnerships in food service and retail 34:10 – Continual creation and innovation 35:15 – Passing on the legacy to Marc’s daughter 39:24 – The outlook of Eli’s Cheesecake Company 43:25 – Rapid fire questions 47:37 - Outro Episode Link: Eli’s Cheesecake Company Guest Host: Travis Hunter Jr., Chicago Office Managing Partner, KPMG Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated. For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability, and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones. Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

Episode 056 – Marc Benioff, CEO & Founder, Salesforce  On this episode of the Executives’ Exchange, we spotlight a recognized leader in the world of business, Mark Benioff. Mark is the CEO of Salesforce, as well as a New York Times bestseller, and an advocate for ethical business practices. Hear what insights Mark thinks helped to propel Salesforce to its extreme success and explore the principles that guide Mark’s leadership.    00:00 – Intro  00:19 –greetings banter (his new tower being opened)  01:39 – early life, video games, leading up to salesforce  05:03 – career path, college, guidance/ mentors  08:11 – AI, where it's going and how its transforming salesforce  17:32 – leadership style, innovation   20:36 – Shure Sponsor  21:05 – How to help better vision the future  23:56 – How salesforce operationalizes its values as well as personal values in business  28:35 – 1:1:1 model and philanthropy  34:52 – Chicago investments, the new tower opening again, singer song writers  41:11 – Closing remarks  41:48 – Outro  Episode Link: Salesforce  Host: Margaret Mueller, President & CEO, The Executives’ Club of Chicago  Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago  Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated. For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability, and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones.  Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram 

In this episode of the Executives' Exchange, we explore the remarkable journey of Kristi Ross, a visionary entrepreneur, co-founder, and former co-CEO of Tastytrade, Inc., a trailblazing financial media company headquartered in Chicago. Get ready to dive into Kristi Ross' incredible journey and discover her upcoming ventures that are set to revolutionize the coffee industry!  0:00 - Intro  0:47 - Introducing Kristi 1:49 - Kristi experiencing the loss of her mother 6:13 - Kristi's childhood dream job & mentors 9:40 - From CFO to CEO, learning from numbers 13:30 - More "actionable" media 14:25 - Understanding culture in mergers & acquisitions  19:23 - TastyTrade & dough 23:25 - Funding & entrepreneurship  27:20 - Message from sponsors, Shure  27:50 - Leaving TastyTrade 32:22 - Coffee & connections - Uniting the world through coffee 41:41 - Creating a collective impact 48:11 - Kristi's biggest wish for the finance industry  49:25 - Rapid fire questions  54:28 - Outro   Episode Link: U3 COFFEE Host: Margaret Mueller, President & CEO, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated. For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability, and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones. Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

Tune in to the Executives’ Exchange for a powerful conversation between Wendell Dallas, Nicor Gas CEO, and Ralph Cleveland, President of the American Association of Blacks in Energy. In this episode, they delve into Wendell's career, sharing insights on mentorship and why being a mentor keeps you grounded. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on August 22, 2023.     0:00 - Intro  0:22 - Introducing Dallas  1:45 - Early childhood and upbringing  6:47 - Where Dallas went to school  7:56 - Influence of Dallas’ grandmother   10:03 - Dallas on being a father, and his kids  11:00 - Principles and lessons learned through raising kids  15:36 - Passions in the role Dallas is in as a CEO  21:28 - Greatest success as the CEO of Nicor Gas  27:48 - Dallas’ first winter in Chicago  28:31 - Message from sponsors, Shure  29:02 - How Dallas shapes his career over time– networking, mentors, etc  36:29 - Being president of a company in a post-Covid world  41:01 - Rapid fire questions  43:42 - Outro     Episode Link: Nicor Gas  Guest Host: Ralph Cleveland, President, The American Association of Blacks in Energy Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated. For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones. Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

Episode 053 - Natalie A. Brown, CEO, Mesirow On this episode of The Executives' Exchange, Natalie A. Brown (CEO of Mesirow) shares with us her success story and how your career path can stray from the original plan. Join us in hearing her advice for aspiring young girls today and what the financial industry needs to work on.  00:00 – Intro  1:13 – Early life   5:10 – Early influences & role models 6:45 – Early career path 12:57 –  The negative connotation of luck for women 17:17 – From CFO to CEO  19:28 – Life as a mother and CEO 21:43 – Message from sponsor, Shure  22:13 – Education and career planning for children 26:51 – Being a woman in finance  28:41 – Diversity and inclusivity within organizations  32:25 – Leading with authenticity and vulnerability  36:43 – Work vs. personal relationships 37:51 – Civic work 39:39 – Work to be done in the finance industry  40:58 – What gives hope (post-pandemic) 44:03 – Advice to past self and younger generations  45:53 – Rapid fire questions 1:01:59 – Outro   Episode Link: Mesirow Host: Margaret Mueller, President & CEO, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated. For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones. Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

Episode 052 - John M. Holmes, Chairman, President, and CEO, AAR CORP On this episode of The Executives' Exchange, we are privileged to feature one of Chicago’s next generation of civic leaders John M. Holmes, Chairman, President, and CEO of AAR CORP. With an illustrious career spanning over two decades in the aviation sector, Holmes is known for his strategic thinking, operational excellence, and effective leadership.  00:00 – Intro  1:08 – Early life   5:35 – College  10:51 – Investment banking analyst/career path  16:10 –  AAR   19:33 – Experience led to CEO 25:04 – Challenges in the aviation industry/COVID effects  37:21 – Message from sponsor, Shure  37:52 – New terminal at O’Hare  40:03 – Civic work  46:12 – How to encourage CEOs to engage in Civic work  49:05 – Raising kids in the city  51:48 – Bringing bees to AAR CORP 53:51 – DJ hobby  55:24 – Future of aviation  57:47 –  Advice for young generation  59:17 – Rapid fire questions 1:01:59 – Outro     Episode Link: AAR CORP Host: Margaret Mueller, President & CEO, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated. For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones. Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

Episode 051 – Dr. Joanne Pike, President and CEO, The Alzheimer’s Association  In this episode, we have the honor of featuring Dr. Joanne Pike, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, discussing her life journey, professional experiences, and the organization's efforts to combat Alzheimer's disease while delving into critical issues in public health and the nonprofit sector. 00:00 – Intro   00:21 – Introducing Dr. Joanne Pike  01:00 – Dr. Pike background & early influences  01:30 – Early childhood   02:24 – Pursuing Psychology & Philosophy Degree  03:17 – How degree influenced personal & professional development   03:43 – Challenges in health that changed her perspective  05:15 – Experience with the American Cancer Society & Preventative Health Partnership  08:05 – Lessons learned in Public Health career, Navigating COVID-19 Pandemic   10:00 – Personal experiences with Alzheimer’s  12:36 – Advice and Resources for those with Alzheimer’s  13:52 – Pike’s Research with The Alzheimer’s Association  16:33 – Initiatives & Programs Developed   18:11 – Message from sponsor, Shure  18:43 – Biggest challenges within the association  20:50 – The most promising area in Alzheimer’s research   22:31 – Long-term goals for The Alzheimer’s Association & Alzheimer’s Impact Movement  24:30 – Most important qualities for a CEO in the non-profit sector  26:14 – Perspective on the evolvement of public health  29:10 – Health challenges facing society today   31:46 – Rapid fire questions  33:13 – Outro    Episode Link: The Alzheimer’s Association Host: Christine Schyvinck, President & Chief Executive Officer, Shure Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated. For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones. Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

Episode 050 – Allison Robinson, Founder and CEO, The Mom Project    In this episode, we have the honor of featuring Allison Robinson, the esteemed Founder and CEO of The Mom Project. From her experience at Procter & Gamble, Allison discovered a profound passion for empowering mothers. Get inspired as Allison unveils the origins of The Mom Project, a venture dedicated to supporting and providing opportunities for mothers and their families.    00:00 – Intro  00:45 – Introducing Allison  00:58 – Allison background and early influences  02:56 – First real job (Hostess)  04:42 – First corporate job (Proctor and Gamble Sales)  09:03 – The start of The Mom Project  16:07 – The purpose and mission of The Mom Project  19:34 – Business side of The Mom Project  22:52 – Message from sponsor, Shure  23:22 – Company family leave policies  28:50 – Negative corporate culture on family leave  33:20 – Role Models, Serena Williams  34:38 –#1 thing learned in fundraising  39:39 – Women in the workforce post-Covid  42:40 – The gig economy and the importance of The Mom Project and the difference between the two  45:47 – Benefits of The Mom Project  46:38 – The Mom Project in the next year, the next 5 years  48:32 – Rapid fire questions  50:09 – Outro    Episode Link: The Mom Project    Host: Margaret Mueller, President & CEO, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago    Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated. For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones.  Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram