The Executive Appeal with Alex D. Tremble

On this episode of The Executive Appeal Alex D. Tremble (Founder and CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions & Keynote Speaker) and Tony Franklin (VP, Sales and Client Partnerships at DIRECTV) as they share invaluable insights on overcoming fear to achieve success in leadership roles. Discover practical strategies for managing and leveraging fear to drive towards your organizational goals effectively. Don't miss out on this empowering discussion!BioTony Franklin is VP, of Advertising Sales, and Client Partnerships at DIRECTV. Tony is a seasoned professional with over 26 years of media experience leading teams and driving innovation, revenue & and transformation across sales organizations. Tony has a long and successful record of coaching and building high-performing sales teams.Tony has been with the AT&T Family since 2020 (Xandr/WarnerBros Discovery/DIRECTV). In his current role, he is responsible for driving advertising revenue from Holding Companies as well as Independent/Mid-Market Agencies and Clients for DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM products and solutions.Throughout his career, Tony has worked in TV, Print, and Digital Advertising Sales. Tony started his career in 1997 as an Account Executive selling Cable TV advertising for TCI Media Services and Cablevision Rainbow Advertising. He also served as the VP for Global Sales at JustPremium

On today's episode of The Executive Appeal join Alex Tremble (CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions & Keynote speaker) and Nicole Killette (Human Resources Director at MedStar Health) as they reveal powerful insights on eliminating distractions to discover authentic happiness. Learn actionable strategies to gain clarity, understand personal desires, and achieve fulfillment in both professional and personal spheres. Tune in to this enlightening episode and embark on a journey toward genuine happiness and self-awareness.BioNicole joined MedStar Medical Group, LLC in 2016 as an HR Business Partner providing support primarily to specialty service lines and in 2019, she was promoted to HR Manager and began providing HR guidance to a team of HR professionals. In 2021, Nicole was again promoted to Director, Human Resources and currently oversees HR support for almost 4,000 associates, leaders and physicians. Throughout her career, Nicole has conducted many leader trainings in healthcare and human resources, served as a presenter in several Leadership Development Forums, worked as one of the primary trainers for many of MedStar’s HR initiatives and served as a strategic partner in assisting with the development of career ladders for many entry-level healthcare positions.When asked why she has always worked in healthcare and never tapped into other industries, Nicole stated that she believes there’s nothing more important than providing care for those who care for patients! Prior to her role at MedStar Nicole served in leadership positions at HCR ManorCare and The League for People with Disabilities.

On today's episode of The Executive Appeal join Alex D. Tremble (CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions & Keynote speaker) and Elizabeth Massing (Chief Human Resources Officer of 14 West and the Agora Companies) as they reveal the pivotal role of curiosity in executive leadership. Discover how asking the right questions can propel your organization and team to new heights, paving the way for unparalleled success at the highest levels of leadership. Tune in to gain invaluable insights and strategies for achieving your leadership goals.BioElizabeth Massing, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of 14 West and the Agora Companies, is a seasoned professional with an innate ability to connect with authentic individuals and foster human connections. With over 20 years of global experience, she embodies women leadership working her way through Agora’s ranks from intern to C-suite. Her journey began like many in the publishing industry, evolving into a fulfilling career marked by passion for people and innovative workplaces.Elizabeth is a matchmaker by nature who supports a range of strategic partnerships on behalf of Agora, addressing challenges from talent acquisition to brand awareness. Beyond her corporate role, she's deeply committed to community service, recognized as the 2019 Ally Partner of the Year by the Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce.In her role at 14 West, Elizabeth builds inclusive workplaces globally and educates on leadership. Her journey from intern to a key leader showcases her commitment to diversity. She actively supports Baltimore organizations, championing women's leadership and the arts community. Elizabeth's story is not just about climbing the corporate ladder but reshaping it for others.

On today's episode of The Executive Appeal host, Alex D. Tremble, connects with Brooks Rainwater (President and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council).Discover how executive leaders achieve success for themselves and their companies by strategically convening the right people. Join host Alex D, Tremble in conversation with expert Brooks Rainwater as they delve into the art of effective leadership through assembling the perfect team. Tune in for insights, strategies, and actionable advice on driving success through strategic convening.Brooks serves as President and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council, an outcomes-driven research and innovations network of more than 160 leading North American public libraries. Under his leadership, ULC champions the future of public libraries by engaging and uplifting members, focusing intently on equity and inclusion and leading on core policy issues that drive our communities forward. Throughout his career, Brooks has worked to advance urban policies that expand local democracy and provide funding for local programs related to economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and sustainability. Prior to joining ULC in July 2022, Brooks served as Senior Executive & Director, Center for City Solutions at the National League of Cities where he drove the organization’s research agenda and oversaw technical assistance efforts and leadership education. Brooks holds a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

On today's episode of The Executive Appeal our host Alex Tremble speaks with Jamie Fischer (Vice President of Operations for DriveTime Automotive group).Discover how executives can forge deeper connections with employees through increased transparency. Join us as Jamie Fischer shares invaluable insights and strategies to foster trust and collaboration in the workplace.Jaime is an award-winning executive, a mentor and a visionary leader in the automotive industry. Serving as the Vice President of Operations for DriveTime Automotive group headquartered in Tempe, Arizona she leads and manages diverse teams across various functions to deliver exceptional results and customer satisfaction while driving innovation and transformation in their operations. She is originally from Florida, has a Masters degree from the University of Alabama and, more importantly, is a mother of two teenagers and a proud wife of 20 years.

Dr. Kumar & Amit Ramlall discuss embracing ignorance as a leader, overcoming challenges, discovering purpose, and the significance of humility and effective communication in leadership. They highlight the power of focusing on unique strengths, learning from personal challenges, and the importance of testing leaders' thinking for impactful contributions.

Beth Gullette is Chief People Officer at Well and an executive board member at the Institute for Contemporary Leadership. She has served as a trusted adviser to senior executives, boards and investors and a thought leader on issues of individual and organizational change, culture, leadership development, executive selection assessment and cultivating high performance teams. Prior to her role at Well, Beth served as the Managing Partner at Contemporary Leadership Advisors; Vice President, Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness (LOE) at AlixPartners; and Senior Faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership. Beth also received her Ph.D., in Clinical Psychology from Duke University and B.A. from William and Mary.

Michael Raimondi has accumulated extensive work experience in various roles and industries. At the time of this interview Michael currently served as the Vice President of HR Operations at The Hollister Group, where they collaborate with executive leadership to define the organization's long-term mission and goals. Michael is responsible for talent management, attraction, onboarding, training, and implementing technology solutions. Additionally, Raimondi manages the HR team and ensures compliance with employment laws and regulations.Prior to their current role, Raimondi held positions of increasing responsibility at The Hollister Group. Michael served as the Vice President of Administrative & HR Staffing, where they developed and executed talent acquisition and hiring processes for the entire organization. Michael also oversaw EEO compliance training. Before that, Raimondi was the Division Director of Administrative & HR Staffing, responsible for leading a team and managing the division's recruitment, hiring, and performance management processes.Raimondi's earlier experience includes serving as a Recruiting Director for Administrative & HR Staffing, where they provided efficient customer service, oversaw job postings and recruiting strategies, and ensured a diverse candidate pool. Michael also worked as a Higher Education Recruiter, responsible for full-cycle recruitment for various positions at colleges and universities.Prior to their tenure at The Hollister Group, Raimondi worked as an Admissions Representative at Le Cordon Bleu College, where they led a team of recruiters and guided prospective students in choosing the right educational program. Michael also worked as a General Manager at West Elm Variety, overseeing day-to-day operations, customer service, purchasing, and budget analysis. Raimondi started their career in customer service as a part-time employee at Ellsworth Supply.Overall, Michael Raimondi has a diverse and well-rounded background in HR, staffing, recruitment, and operations management.Michael Raimondi pursued their education in the field of Business Administration and Management. Michael first obtained an Associate's degree in Business Administration and Management from Quincy College, where they studied from 2001 to 2004. Michael then pursued a Bachelor's degree in the same field from Bridgewater State College, completing their studies from 2004 to 2006. Making further progress in their educational journey, Michael earned a Master's degree in Business Administration and Management from Eastern Nazarene College, studying from 2011 to 2012. In addition to their formal education, Michael Raimondi also obtained a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification from HRCI in March 2021.

Chad Thompson currently serves as the Chief People Officer at LanzaTech and has over 28 years of HR experience spanning 3 industries. LanzaTech is leading the development of clean and pollution free manufacturing. Global outsourcing, information technology, Energy and chemical manufacturing. Chad has extensive international experience having worked in the Caribbean , Latin America, North America and Asia Pacific and responsible for operations in Africa and Europe.HR Generalist with experience in HR shared service, benefits administration, HR business partnership, organization design, change management and strategic HR as well as Mergers and acquisition. He is a trusted advisor and executive team member and has a proven track record of building leadership capability within HR and strong business partnership. Ability to lead.Prior to this role, Chad served in various leadership roles such as the HR Director for North America Exploration and Production at Chevron.

Meet today's guest Adrienne Trimble Vice President and Chief Diversity & Culture Officer for Sysco Corporation. She is a known thought leader for advancing corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. She has led DEI and social innovation initiatives for large, complex organizations nationally and globally. Additionally, she has served as the leader of a non-profit national organization, with global affiliates, providing certification and development for minority owned businesses.Adrienne began her work in inclusion at Toyota Motor North America, where she worked closely with the company’s senior leadership team in developing advocacy and accountability measures to integrate DEI processes across the organization’s business operations. During her tenure, she aligned diversity, equity and inclusion with the business strategy to help position Toyota as the #1 sales leader in the African American, Hispanic American and Asian American markets. She also worked closely with the company’s external diversity advisory board, chaired by the honorable Alexis Herman. She led the company’s rise on the DiversityInc Top 50 list from #42 to #25 in two short years. She also firmly solidified the company’s recognition by third party advocacy organizations such as Black Enterprise Best Companies for Diversity, Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.Adrienne oversaw Toyota’s Supplier Diversity initiative from 2005-2012. In this role, she grew the company’s diverse supplier base to reflect an increase in spend that exceeded 300 percent, topping nearly $3B in spend with diverse suppliers. Toyota received numerous accolades under Trimble’s direction, including Corporation of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) as well as Corporation of the Year honors from several of the organization’s affiliates. In recognition of her efforts to advance economic development for diverse suppliers, The Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder and CEO of Rainbow PUSH, presented Adrienne with the Corporate Leader Award and Women in Leadership Award.Securing the future and recognizing supplier diversity as part of the larger goal of economic inclusion have been enduring truths in Adrienne’s career. She served as an executive on loan as the president and CEO for the National Minority Supplier Development Council from August 2018 – February 2021. One of the hallmarks of her leadership with NMSDC was to re-establish the long-term vision for the organization. Within 18 months, she reversed the organization’s decline in corporate members and certified minority business enterprises. In the spring of 2019, Adrienne testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Financial Services Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion, to further underscore the economic benefits of supply chain inclusion.A graduate of Wilberforce University, Adrienne holds a Bachelor of Science in organization management. In 2014, she was appointed to the board of trustees of her alma mater. Other board and committee leadership positions include The Herndon Institute Corporate Board Director Development Cohort, VisitDallas Diversity Advisory Council, and The Collin County Business Alliance. Previous executive committee roles include the Billion Dollar Roundtable, and Unidos, the leading civil rights organization for Hispanic and Latino Americans. Adrienne has previous human resources leadership experience in financial services, healthcare and media broadcasting industries.MAIN TAKEAWAYS:00:00:06 - Introduction to The Executive Appeal Podcast00:03:15 - Personal Reflection on Visiting a Gravesite00:05:18 - Discussing Expectations and Personal Choices00:06:06 - Leadership Roles and Personal Expectations00:07:05 - Making Decisions Based on What's Right00:07:37 - Personal Anecdote on Leadership and Expectations00:08:40 - Adrienne's Nontraditional Career Path00:10:18 - The Importance of Taking Opportunities00:11:17 - Encouraging Others to Pursue Their Potential00:12:11 - The Impact of Role Models in Leadership00:13:17 - Adrienne's Experience with Career Changes00:14:29 - The Importance of Taking Risks in Career00:15:33 - Alex's Personal Reflection on Parenting and Judgments00:16:28 - Alex's Professional Speaking and DEI Focus00:17:08 - The Importance of Being in the Room Where Decisions Are Made00:18:07 - The Impact of Taking on Extra Work00:19:25 - Withholding Judgment from Leaders00:20:08 - The Complexity of Executive Decisions00:21:05 - The 80% Rule in Decision Making00:22:03 - The Expectations of Higher Leadership Roles00:22:52 - Advice for Aspiring Senior Leaders00:24:20 - The Cost of Climbing the Career Ladder00:25:25 - Taking Risks and Stepping Out on Faith00:26:29 - The Value of Helping Leaders00:27:27 - Adrienne's Personal Loss and Team Support00:28:38 - Encouraging Action and Adding Value00:29:25 - Final Thoughts and Encouragement from Adrienne