Walking The Walk

Randy Pennington’s resume and credentials are impressive. I consider him one of the best thinkers in leadership today. Simple is usually best, however, and if you want to really know Randy and his work, it’s wrapped up nicely in this simple line from his website:Randy Pennington helps leaders deliver positive results in a world of endless uncertainty and change. And that’s what we’re talking about in this episode of Walking the Walk…Learn more about Randy and how he can help your organization at: PenningtonGroup.com

Jared Nichols is a futurist. I know that’s not what I thought it was––and it might not be what you’re thinking it is either! Jared Nichols is a futurist, advisor, and faculty member at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business, in Graduate and Executive Education. He is the founder of The Foresight Academy where he teaches leaders, teams, and individuals, how to think like futurists so they can create the best future possible, for themselves and here’s why I knew we were singing in harmony––the people they serve.Jared hold’s a Master’s Degree in Strategic Foresight, and is sought out by leaders, organizations, and entrepreneurs to help them identify how emerging trends in technology, media, business, and public policy, may fundamentally change society and shape the future.Learn more about Jared and how he can help you focus on the future at: TheNewFuturist.com

When you create a culture of excellent customer experience––great things happen. How do you create this culture?Mike Neill, founder of ServiStar Consulting walks that walk––and that’s what we’re talking about on today’s episode…Mike Neill was a highly successful credit union exec when he founded ServiStar. Designed exclusively for credit unions, ServiStar Consulting offers a program that develops a member-centric team of employees that exceed member expectations and grow profitable relationships.While Mike’s work focuses on credit unions––I believe any business can benefit from his ideas––Learn more about Mike and his services at: ServiStarConsulting.com!

Tam Veillueux helps you achieve clarity! Don't you have distractions, detractions––things that just muddy up the picture and get in the way of your success? Tam helps you draw a clear picture––literally––of who you are, what's in your way and how to confidently gain momentum.That's what we're talking about today on Walking the Walk…Learn more about Tam and "Let Me Draw You a Picture" at: ChooseBigChange.com

I have to admit––I approached this conversation as a skeptic! Jeet Banerjee started his first business in high school. He's now 25 and has launched several successful businesses––and he has a program where he says he can help you do it too…Let's find out!Learn more about Jeet and watch his TEDx talk at: jeetbanerjee.com

Dorcas Muthoni was just 24 years old when she launched OPENWORLD, now one of the leading e-government and business software firms in Eastern Africa. She’s also the founder of AfChix which provides mentoring and training for women in computing in Kenya and across Africa. She has served on the boards of several other global tech companies and is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of African society, government and enterprise though technology.Learn more about Dorcas and OpenBusiness at OpenBusiness.co.ke

The martial arts philosophy that had the most impact on my life––and continues to––is this:“Perfection is not a destination––it’s a never-ending process.”Jeff Dalton embodies this philosophy and his innovations in agile processes seem to me to be one of the most powerful expressions of this ideology.Jeff is the President and Certified Lead Appraiser at Broadsword solutiona, and the author of “agileCMMI,” Broadsword’s leading methodology for incremental and iterative performance improvement. He is  principle author of the CMMI Institute’s “Guide to Scrum and CMMI: Improving Agile Performance with CMMI” and is in high demand internationally as a keynote speaker.On this episode we take a deep dive into the "Agile" leadership philosophy and how you can make it work in your organization!Learn more about Jeff and Agile at these links:http://2018agile.orghttp://BroadswordSolutions.com

There’s a lot of talk about helping veterans these days. Today we’ll meet someone who is walking the walk in that area––an amazing community leader, Jen Fullmer, the executive director of Boots 2 Roots on this episode of Walking the Walk…Jen Fullmer is the Executive Director of Boots 2 Roots, a non-profit initiative connecting our veterans with meaningful civilian employment.Jen knows the challenges of the military/civilian transition first hand. She served 24 years in the Air Force, retiring with the rank of colonel. And she wasn’t flying a desk––she flew 90 B-1 combat missions to Afghanistan and Iraq.Learn more about Jen and Boots2Roots at Boots2Roots.org

Empowering women in business is certainly a hot topic today. Judy Hoberman does much more than talk about it. She’s Walking on the Glass Floor––and that’s what she’s talking about on this episode of Walking the Walk…Judy Hoberman is an internationally renowned speaker and author of Selling in a Skirt. Her new book is Walking on the Glass Floor––7 Essential Qualities of Women Who Lead. Judy talks about these qualities and you can walk on that glass floor too!Learn more about Judy and her work at WalkingontheGlassFloor.org

Can you really be a human focused company these days and still produce significant gains on the bottom line?Melissa Smith of WEX seems to think so…Melissa started her career at WEX Incorporated in 1997 as a senior financial analyst. Twenty years later, she’d the CEO. She was the Mainebiz 2012 Woman to Watch. This year she was inducted into the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame and was named Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year. Melissa is also very active in non-profit work and is the co-founder of the Executive Women’s Forum as well as co-founder of sheJAMS, an all-women training club that allows women to train together in a non-competitive spirit. In 2017 Melissa was able to report a 23% revenue growth for WEX. That while introducing several people forward initiatives like a generous maternity leave program and an amazing sabattical program for managers!Melissa proves that a focus on people can be profitable!

“Success is not a destination…"Darshan Chandaria is one of the most dynamic, innovative and influential business leaders in the world today––and he’s just getting started!The philosophy he lives by: “Success is not a destination but a continuous journey.”We’ll explore that philosophy and much more today with Darshan Chandaria on Walking the Walk…Learn more about Darshan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan-chandaria-7143a57/

In the ongoing debate over barriers to women in business and leadership, there are some remarkable leaders who simply take action to empower women no matter what the obstacles. Nana Wanjau is one such leader!Already an established business leader, Nana Wanjau took a break from corporate life to establish a family. She then launched a successful real estate firm in Kenya, led the Rotary Club in Nairobi and established several initiatives to serve women across Africa and the world including Branding Beyond Borders and Power Woman International.Nana is an extraordinary example of the type of leader we talk about––a leader in business, in the community and the home. Join us as we talk about power, women, and leadership through sharing and service with Nana Wanjou!Learn more about Nana at BrandingBeyondBorders.comand at PowerWomanInternational.com

William R. Patterson is CEO of The Baron Solution Group, a Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise. He is also a Senior Field Chairman with First Financial Security, Inc. William was named a Top 20 Business Icon by Exceptional People Magazine. he's a four-time award-winning lecturer and international best-selling author who uses his trademark approach, The Baron Solution™, to coach, train and motivate nonprofit leaders, small business owners, executives, sales professionals and investors.William is an internationally recognized business and wealth coach who has created over 150 products and has been a featured guest on over 1,000 television and radio programs. William is a contributor to Inc. Magazine and Microsoft Small Business blogs as well as a business and financial expert for networks such as CBS and SiriusXM Radio. William’s breakthrough book, The Baron Son has been translated around the world and featured in the Forbes Book Club.For more information on William and his programs, visit BaronSeries.com

There is no “glass ceiling” for Catherine Schoenenberger. The president of Stay Safe Traffic Products, one of America’s leading providers of traffic control and safety equipment, Catherine is now the national president of NAWIC… The National Association of Women in Construction. What does the future hold for women leaders in American construction? Join us on this episode of Walking the Walk and find out!​Learn more about Catherine Schoenenberger at StaySafeTraffic.com!And learn more about NAWIC at NAWIC.org!

Lots of controversy over NFL players these days. Criminal behavior, domestic violence and protests are driving some diehard fans from the game.Do players care about the fans? Do they REALLY care about their communities? Or are they just a bunch of spoiled millionaires getting rich off a child’s game and our adult obsession with it?Today you’re going to meet one player who really does care––Corey Jackson––and you’re going to learn about his initiative that supports and cultivates the best that professional athletes have to offer––far beyond sports…

Elizabeth Hayes is the CEO of Infinity Credit Union in Maine and was recently named one of the "Women to Watch" in business by MaineBiz magazine.​When we saw that one of Elizabeth's favorite quotes came from Lao Tzu, we knew she and Jim would have a fascinating conversation. Here's the quote:"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves."Elizabeth and Jim will talk about this concept and many more on this episode of Walking the Walk!

Joe Calloway helps great companies get even better. His workshops and interactive keynote presentations help develop leaders, create more effective teams, and improve performance for successful businesses who know that they can, and should, be doing more with the people and resources that they already have.Joe’s client list reads like an international Who’s Who in business, ranging from companies like Proctor & Gamble and Coca Cola to Cadillac and American Express. Joe also works extensively with small to mid-sized businesses, franchisees, and a range of professional services organizations.And he’s the author of seven books on business performance, including Becoming A Category of One, Be The Best At What Matters Most, Magnetic: The Art Of Attracting Business, and his latest book, Keep It Simple.To me, Joe is a dear friend and one of my most trusted mentors. Today we’re talking about his latest crusade to help you become a better leader and take your business to the next level…Disruption!Learn more about

I met Brad Douglas last year when I presented at the Heartland Credit Union Association Conference in Kansas City. Brad was introduced to me as their new CEO.Brad graduated Summa Cum Laude from William Jewell College, went on to earn a law degree at the University of Missouri and then moved into a successful career in both non-profit and private sector leadership. Se served as Director and Chair of the CommunityAmerica Credit Union in Kansas City and was a Regional Administrator for the SBA among other adventures.All that is impressive enough––but what really struck me about Brad, and what we talked most about when we met, was his love of history. General George Patton said, 

“Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable.”Brad embodies this sentiment perfectly. Today on Walking the Walk we’ll talk with Heartland Credit Union Association CEO Brad Douglas on how today’s leaders benefit from studying leaders of the past and how history can he

Erik Fogg is a co-author of Wedged: How You Became a Tool of the Partisan Political Establishment…And How to Start Thinking For Yourself Again!You'll find Wedged on Amazon, and learn more about Eric at ReconsiderMedia.comWhether you're a political leader, a community leader or a business leader, there are issues that can drive a wedge between the people on your team, or between you and the people you serve. And sadly, some of these issues are purposely manufactured and promoted!In this episode Erik and I will discuss how to recognize "wedging" issues in your organization and how to resolve them peacefully and productively!

By rights, Chris Powell would have every legitimate excuse to be more than happy with an ordinary life. Instead, he's overcome his limits to become a teacher, author, motivational speaker and athlete…Chris was born with cerebral palsy. He has limited use of his hands and has experienced frequent falls because of cerebral palsy. As a young child, he needed assistance from his family to accomplish minimal tasks. Dressing, feeding and bathing were some of the daily living activities that his family provided.​In 1998, Chris received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Maryland. On the day of graduation, Chris actually walked to receive his degree. Although it took 10 years for Chris to receive a degree, it was worth it. It was a dual accomplishment. Not only did Chris receive his degree, but he attained valuable life skills in the process. Constant drive and determination led Chris to fulfill his goal.​Learn more about Chris at OvercomeYourLimits.com!