Leadership Next

What does a duck know about selling insurance? Nothing, unless you're Aflac. The famous duck has been the company's mascot since 2000. On this episode of Leadership Next, Diane talks to Aflac CEO Dan Amos about running the company started by his family, shifts in the insurance landscape, and, of course, the duck.   Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

Cybersecurity is front and center for business today, regardless of industry. That fact has helped fuel Palo Alto Networks’ growth in recent years. According to CEO Nikesh Arora, this week’s guest on Leadership Next, data security is no longer just a problem for the IT department—it impacts decision-making across all levels of an organization. Diane spoke to Arora about his long career in tech and finance, the security implications of the AI boom, and how growing up the son of an Indian Air Force officer prepared him to be a leader.Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops and Raisin Bran. These are just a few of the popular cereals that made the Kellogg Company a global leader in breakfast. But over the decades Kellogg's has expanded far beyond cereal into a snack powerhouse as well, with brands like Pringles, Pop-Tart's and the fan favorite Cheez-It crackers. Trouble is, while its snack business was growing quickly, its cereal business was in decline. Last year, Kellogg's split in to two companies. Its North American cereal business is now a standalone company called WK Kellogg Co, and its snack brands and international cereals are run out of the newly formed Kellanova company. On this week's episode of Leadership Next, Kellanova CEO Steve Cahillane talks to Diane about the tough choice to separate the companies, why Pringles are a hit overseas, and the love affair between Cheez-It and Taco Bell.Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

Kendra Scott started her jewelry company with $500 in 2002 out of her house in Austin. Today it’s a billion-dollar jewelry brand with both mass-market and premium lines and hundreds of retail stores across the country. On this week's episode of Leadership Next, Diane Brady talks to Kendra Scott CEO Tom Nolan about the company's growth plans, his unlikely path to the CEO role, the process of taking over for a founder, and what being CEO of a female dominant company has taught him about leadership.Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

Artemis Patrick, President and CEO of Sephora North America and the first woman in this role, shares insights on modernizing beauty retail. She highlights the growing influence of beauty influencers and social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Patrick discusses the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in retail, alongside Sephora's technological innovations like skin scanning tools that enhance in-store experiences. Her personal journey from foster care to leadership brings a unique perspective on empathy and resilience in the beauty industry.

If you shop on the internet, you’ve probably seen Klarna—and its buy-now, pay-later installment offers—when shopping at major retailers like Bloomingdale's, Foot Locker, or Sephora. The company’s plans allow shoppers to break up purchases into four equal payments, with no interest. Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski says installment plans fill a gap in the market, allowing customers some payment flexibility without the interest and fees found with typical credit cards.But Klarna does much more than just installments. On this week’s episode of Leadership Next, Michal and Diane Brady talk to Siemiatkowski about Klarna’s early adoption of AI, why the company also offers credit cards, and its growth plans.Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa started Warby Parker as a business school project in 2010. The premise was simple: shake up the old-line optical business by selling frames online, and at a lower price than traditional retail. Today, Warby Parker is one of the biggest players in optical, a robust online business leveraging e-commerce but with a growing retail footprint of some 250 stores as well.On this episode of Leadership Next, Michal talks to Neil and Dave about Warby Parker's founding story, changing consumer behavior, and how to remain innovative as a company matures beyond startup mode.Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte. 

GE Appliances started making products for cooking and heating way back in 1907. Today, it’s one of the largest manufacturers of appliances in the U.S. On this episode of Leadership Next, Alan and Michal talk to GE Appliances president and CEO Kevin Nolan about the company’s culture of entrepreneurship, keeping up with changes in consumer behavior, and why “nugget ice” has become a game changer.Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

Its origin story dates back to the birth of the United States. Today, some 240 years later, Bank of New York—the bank founded by Alexander Hamilton—is a global giant that powers large swaths of the worldwide financial system.On this week's episode of Leadership Next, Alan talks to BNY CEO Robin Vince about cybersecurity, how to build an enduring company culture, and how a 240-year-old firm innovates for the future.A note for listeners: This interview was recorded before BNY Mellon rebranded as BNY. Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

In 1922, 25 military veterans came together to start USAA. At the time, military families were having difficulty getting car insurance. Fast-forward to today, and USAA provides insurance and financial services to millions of veterans and their families. This clear mission, says CEO Wayne Peacock, has actually helped the 102-year-old company remain innovative.On this episode of Leadership Next, Peacock talks to Alan and Michal about inflation’s impact on the insurance and housing sectors, hiring military veterans, and how early investments in technology gave USAA an advantage during the pandemic.Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.