Profiles In Leadership

Leslie Grandy is an author, speaker, and CEO advisor who guides companies, teams, and product leaders to expand their creative capacity to invent and innovate for customers, disrupt and grow their market opportunities, and maintain relevance in a fast-changing world. Organizations like Oracle, Starbucks, and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers turn to Leslie to ignite creativity across their workforce and empower everyone, regardless of role or level, to identify novel solutions and think expansively. Leslie’s book, "Creative Velocity," debuts in early 2025.Leslie’s career has taken her on a 25+ year journey, from a successful career in the film industry in Los Angeles as a member of the Directors Guild of America to iconic brands, such as Amazon, Best Buy, Discovery, T-Mobile, and Apple. She’s built teams from the ground up and led multiple first-to-market products; she was on the front end of the earliest digital media subscription services from major content brands like Major League Baseball, NASCAR, CNN, and ABCNew

Joeserved as MD and Senior Partner at BCG. In The Generous Leader,Joeshares a performance review: He was told he was not the best at problem-solving solo; but with others, he could solve any challenge. His manager identified his key strength - a person who could connect.Joespent 37 years with BCG, co-founded the Washington DC office, led office systems, started BCG’s NA Public Sector business, led BCG North America, founded and chaired BCG’s Center for Inclusion and Equity.Joeearned his BA from Whitman College, MBA from HBS.Joeis currently serving his second term as Whitman’s Board Chair. Joehas been married to Sarah for over 40 years, has four children, eight grandchildren.  

Former leadership coach to IBM’s top executives, Head of Organization Development at Honeywell, and fellow with McKinsey’s Change Center, Todd has taught world leaders at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, developed doctoral students at Columbia University, and trained tens of thousands of leaders globally to “Get to Candor”.As the founder of Holzman Leadership, a global consultancy, Todd’s Real Work Process has been used by numerous Fortunate 500, FTSE 100, and Global 2000 companies to transform their leaders, cultures, and business results.Todd holds a B.S. in Industrial Labor Relations (Cornell), an M.A. in Organizational Psychology (Columbia), and an Ed.M. in Leadership & Adult Development (Harvard).

Amy Lafko is a leadership and organizational design expert, mainstage speaker, author, and facilitator. Known for her “People First” method, she brings a step-by-step process to put employee engagement and empowerment into practice. Having spent 20+ years in healthcare leadership roles, her work is inspired by her personal transformation as a leader.  That inspiration and her energy is multiplied every time she assists someone with their own shift in mindset and intentions.  Her book, People First: A Proven Method for an Exceptional Healthcare Practice was an Amazon bestselling new release. In addition to founding Cairn Consulting Solutions, LLC and being certified in TTI Success Insights DISC, Driving Forces and Emotional Intelligence, Amy has earned her MSPT from Ithaca College, her MBA from Loyola University of MD. 

Dr. Laura is a professional speaker and organizational psychologist who inspires driven self-starters to transform theirrelationship with themselves to accomplish more than ever while making everything easier! While sharing revelationson radical self-acceptance she uniquely leverages humor to resonate with audiences. She is an approachable, funny,warm, alluring, optimistic, curious and delightful speaker and guest! Even as a USA Today and Wall Street JournalBest-selling author, Dr. Laura doesn't fit the typical "academic" personality of her PhD peers.Some of her noteworthy achievements include being hired by NASA to transform culture following the Columbiaaccident, working with Disney to lead radical shifts in performance management for their leaders, and inspiringYahoo’s global teams to seek transformation from the inside-out.Fun is always abounding in Dr. Laura’s life; so when she’s not serving a mass self-acceptance movement you can findher water skiing, floating in a sunny pool (likely on a large peacock

Bill is a world-renowned keynote speaker, business owner, and partner at the Institute for Health and Human Potential (IHHP). Over the last 30 years, he’s worked with leaders and high-pressure performers around the world — from the U.S. military and Olympic athletes to executives at global organizations like IBM, Marriott and Rolls Royce. As a partner at IHHP — one of Profit Magazine’s fastest 100 growing companies — Bill has access to insights gained from monthly surveys of 40,000 people. Years of studying how people perform under pressure has led him to formulate a radical new method for building high-performing leadership teams, which he explores in his upcoming book The Last 8%.

Rebecca Shaddix is a seasoned marketing executive and go-to-market strategist with a proven track record of driving significant revenue growth across various industries. With a unique background that combines deep technical expertise, data-driven marketing, and empathetic leadership, Rebecca has led high-growth companies in education, healthcare, and SaaS to impressive success. Her approach is rooted in a research background, allowing her to blend analytical thinking with creative marketing strategies.  As a Forbes contributor and recognized thought leader, Rebecca brings insights into the societal impacts of technology, particularly in areas such as AI's role in solving global issues and fostering diversity in tech. Her ability to align technology-driven solutions with broader missions while driving substantial business results sets her apart in the marketing and leadership landscape.

Claudia Longo is a dynamic leader and social entrepreneur whose journey is one of resilience and purpose. A former Division 1 athlete, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 18, just months before beginning her collegiate soccer career at the University of Washington. Despite this challenge, she returned to the field, playing several successful seasons for the Huskies while earning her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience. After graduating, Claudia turned her experience into action, founding MS, I’mpossible, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering young adults living with MS. Through community support and financial aid programs, the organization provides critical resources to those navigating life with the disease. Claudia is also the Managing Director at BoardReady, where she plays a pivotal role in increasing diversity of thought in corporate boardrooms. Under her leadership, BoardReady has expanded its reach, helping companies build stronger, more forward-thinking boards. Her influence extends

Jimmy McKay and I sit down and discuss what I have learned doing interviews for my Podcast over 8 years and more than 235 interviews.  He wanted me to rank my top 10 impactful moments but I just couldn't do it because there are so many to choose from.  So I picked 10 I thought were great and didn't rank them but shared them as they were profound to me.  Jimmy was a pioneer in Podcasting and has shared some of his knowledge with me as I launched my show.  He has done exceptionally well and embraced those of us who have tried to follow in his footsteps.  It was an honor and pleasure to sit down with him and share ideas and experiences.

Franklin J. Rooks Jr. is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (“PCPS”), where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and a Master of Physical Therapy Degree. After graduating from PCPS, he earned a Master of Business Administration (“MBA”), with a concentration in finance, from DrexelUniversity, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Along with his college roommate, he went on to be a founding partner of PRO Physical Therapy, an outpatient physicaltherapy business based in Wilmington, Delaware. At the time that it was sold to the private equity firm KRG Capital, the business had 18 locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. After selling PRO Physical Therapy, Mr. Rooks earned his juris doctor degree from Delaware Law School. He is licensed topractice law in the State of New Jersey and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mr. Rooks also represents healthcare providers in breachof contract matters and also provides general legal advice pertaining to contracting and compliance with fe

Israel David Duran, compelling speaker andbusiness growth partner, has empowered countless entrepreneurs worldwide to unleash their potential.After a transformative car accident in 2018, Duran dedicated himself to serving others, guiding them to personal and professional growth. He inspires purposeful leaders to build profitable businesses that impact the world.As a sought-after speaker, Duran's dynamic stagepresence motivates audiences to embrace theirpurpose and drive. With his guidance, individualslearn to share their stories effectively, enhancingcredibility and fostering personal growth.

DanJ.Berger(www.danjberger.com) is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, author, and community builder dedicated to fostering connection and belonging. His book,The Quest: The Definitive Guide to Finding Belonging(Forbes Books), cements his place as a thought leader on this essential human need. As the founder of Social Tables, an award-winning event design software company acquired by Blackstone-owned Cvent for $100 million,Danrevolutionized the events industry, helping people connect at scale. A recipient of multiple awards including the Pacesetter Award from the Events Industry Council, he now leads Assemble Hospitality Group, reimagining corporate retreats to cultivate belonging and transform team dynamics.An avid community builder,Danfounded the Idaho Israel Alliance, a nonprofit combating antisemitism in the wake of the October 7 attacks in Israel. He also spearheaded a prominent Idaho men’s group and is an active participant in YPO and Tiger 21. He holds an MBA from Georgetown University and lives in Boise

Dan Rootenberg is the CEO of Spear,  which he co-founded in 1999, working out of a small treatment room in midtown Manhattan. He had a singular vision for combining clinical excellence with a five-star customer service experience. Spear has since grown to 55+ locations throughout NYC, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey and CT, employing over 950+ people currently and is continuing to expand further.Dan’s focus on organizational leadership has resulted in several honors and recognitions from business, medical and academic institutions. Dan is an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® New York finalist, National Entrepreneur of the month winner and an Olympic Team medical coordinator. Spear has been named to the Inc5000 list of fastest growing private companies in America seven times, received Columbia University’s Award for Leadership in Clinical Education twice and has been named by SmartCEO magazine as a Future50 company five times.Dan has been honored with the National Practice of the Year award twice, by two indus

Interview on Profiles in Leadership with Rebecca FitzsimmonsOutlineIntroduction and Background of Rebecca Fitzsimmons Rebecca Fitzsimmons, founder of Tactical Harmony, an online business focused on holistic leadership and mindset strategies.Rebecca shares her background, starting from her upbringing in a small town in northeastern Ohio, her degree in forensic and investigative science, and her internship with the FBI.Rebecca explains her transition from forensics to becoming an NCIS Special Agent, detailing her 13.5 years with NCIS and her roles in criminal investigations, counter-terrorism, and counter-intelligence.She discusses her decision to leave NCIS after nearly 15 years to explore new sectors and eventually start her own business.Rebecca's Journey from NCIS to EntrepreneurshipRebecca elaborates on her reasons for leaving NCIS, including her desire to serve in a different sector and her leadership experience.She describes her transition to a technology company and her current role as an entrepreneur ru

BobKaplan just brought out a new book, GRAPPLING: Leaders Striving To Improve. It’s short stories, fictionalized cases, meant to bring executive coaching to life, which is often a struggle, a wrestling match with yourself. GRAPPLING is a novel approach to writing about leadership and self-improvement, and very readable.Bob’s previous book is Fear Your Strengths—What You’re Best At Is Probably Your Biggest Problem. He is founder and president ofKaplanDeVries, a leadership-consulting firm. Learn more at KaplanDeVriesand http://kaplandevries.com/booksBobhas a bachelor’s degree in English and a doctorate in organizational behavior from Yale, and lives in New York City with his wife, Becky. 

NeilTrickettis a physical therapist, and private practice marketing expert. Neil built a 7 figure PT practice with his wife, Amy, in which he transitioned out of in 2010. He then founded Practice Promotions, and has built that to be one of the largest multi-7 figure marketing agencies in North America, specializing in Rehabilitation. Neil's passion is for helping practice owners scale their business by leveling up their marketing systems and websites. Neil's company, Practice Promotions, currently services over 1200 clinic locations across the U.S. and Canada.

Adrian Koehler, the no-nonsense leadershipengagement expert and Senior Partner at Take NewGround, is the go-to guide for fast-moving leaders.Dedicated to breaking through barriers, he spendshis time helping entrepreneurs and enterpriseleaders cut through the noise and createtransformative outcomes. Adrian coachesexecutives globally, encouraging authenticleadership and fostering courage for meaningfulchange. His passion for human performance has ledhim to diverse contexts, from Fortune 500organizations to startups and healthcare, makingAdrian a catalyst for real talk and impactful results.Adrian Koehler extends his influence beyond theboardroom as the co-host of "Raising The Bar" and"The Naked Leadership Podcast." Drawing on hisbackground in philanthropy, ministry, activism, andmedicine, he thrives in difficult conversations andengaging complexity, challenging listeners to liveauthentically. Currently residing in the heart ofHollywood, with his children Scout and Charli, Adrianis on a mission to inspire authen

John D. Marvin is a visionary entrepreneur, acclaimed columnist, and influential leader dedicated to empowering others to unlock their full potential. As President and CEO of Texas State Optical, John has cultivated a thriving business network while spearheading initiatives in health and wellness consulting and eyecare partnerships. With a steadfast commitment to personal growth, John has spent years studying the transformative power of mindset and the “inner game” in achieving success. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Through his unwavering dedication to making a difference, John D. Marvin epitomizes the essence of leadership and empowerment, making him a compelling guest for any podcast seeking to inspire and motivate their audience. TSO brings in around 110M$ in revenue annually.      

Nancy is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner atRallyday Partners, a private equity firm built byfounders for founders, focused on lower middlemarket growth companies.Nancy’s experience as an entrepreneur informs her role as an investor at Rallyday Partners. Nancy and thefounding team at Rallyday wanted to build the private equity firm that they would have wanted to partnerwith on their own entrepreneurial journeys. In practice, this involves a multi-stakeholder approach and anintense focus on purpose, culture, leadership development alongside the typical focus on growth and financialreturns. Rallyday’s purpose statement is to Empower leaders to go even bigger, create the most value for themost people, and share in the experience of a lifetime. As Managing Partner, Nancy leads efforts to identifynew investment opportunities and guides value creation efforts in partnership with portfolio companyleadership teams. Nancy leads Rallyday’s investments in Highbar Health, Livefront, Nimble Gravity, andKicksaw and suppor

Lawrence Armstrong is the chairman of Ware Malcomb, a leading design firm that he helped grow from 3 offices to over 46 offices globally. He started at the company in 1984 and eventually purchased it from the founders in 1992. As an architect and artist, Lawrence has leveraged both his creative and strategic skills to drive the firm's success.Balancing Creativity and Business @ 3:28Lawrence believes it's important for architects and designers to develop both their creative and business skills. He advocates for "whole brain" thinking, drawing inspiration from Renaissance figures like Leonardo da Vinci who excelled in diverse domains. Lawrence's own background as an internationally exhibited artist has complemented his work as a business leader.Scaling and Integrating a Geographically Distributed Firm @ 7:00Under Lawrence's leadership, Ware Malcomb expanded from 3 offices to over 46 offices across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a "one team" culture and consistent